Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1955 Federal information clearinghouse

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 33A— - MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - NOAA AND COAST GUARD PROGRAMS › § 1955

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Under Secretary, working with the Interagency Committee, must create and run a federal clearinghouse of marine debris information that researchers and others can use to find debris sources, share and track data, and support joint research. The Under Secretary must also protect the privacy of any information people are required to send under this law, especially private or business-owned (proprietary) data.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1955

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Interagency Committee, shall—

(1)maintain a Federal information clearinghouse on marine debris that will be available to researchers and other interested persons to improve marine debris source identification, data sharing, and monitoring efforts through collaborative research and open sharing of data; and

(2)take the necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality of such information (especially proprietary information), for any information required by the Under Secretary to be submitted under this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–65, § 6(a), which directed substitution of “Under Secretary” for “Administrator”, was executed by making the substitution in both introductory provisions and par. (2), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 2012—Par. (2). Pub. L. 112–213 struck out “by the fishing industry” after “to be submitted”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1955

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73