Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§2350 Corrosion prevention

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 2350

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must promote and add corrosion‑prevention work to water projects whenever possible. Contractors on those projects must, when practical, follow best practices and industry standards for coatings, materials, and cathodic protection design; hire certified coating applicators and cathodic protection technicians/engineers; protect the environment and handle hazardous materials carefully; use industry‑certified inspectors; and follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules. Corrosion prevention activities mean things like applying and inspecting protective coatings on steel and concrete (including parts that sit in water), installing and testing cathodic protection systems, doing those tasks through industry‑accredited programs or training/apprenticeship programs (see section 3102 of title 29 or the National Apprenticeship Act of August 16, 1937), and other related work the Secretary approves. In the first annual report to Congress after December 16, 2016 (under section 556 and section 2295(b)), the Secretary must describe what was done and which projects used these activities.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §2350

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary shall encourage and incorporate corrosion prevention activities at water resources development projects.
(b)In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary, to the greatest extent practicable, shall ensure that contractors performing work for water resources development projects—
(1)use best practices to carry out corrosion prevention activities in the field;
(2)use industry-recognized standards and corrosion mitigation and prevention methods when—
(A)determining protective coatings;
(B)selecting materials; and
(C)determining methods of cathodic protection, design, and engineering for corrosion prevention;
(3)use certified coating application specialists and cathodic protection technicians and engineers;
(4)use best practices in environmental protection to prevent environmental degradation and to ensure careful handling of all hazardous materials;
(5)demonstrate a history of employing industry-certified inspectors to ensure adherence to best practices and standards; and
(6)demonstrate a history of compliance with applicable requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
(c)In this section, the term “corrosion prevention activities” means—
(1)the application and inspection of protective coatings for complex work involving steel and cementitious structures, including structures that will be exposed in immersion;
(2)the installation, testing, and inspection of cathodic protection systems;
(3)the carrying out of an activity described in paragraph (1) or (2) through a program in corrosion prevention that is—
(A)offered or accredited by an organization that sets industry standards for corrosion mitigation and prevention; or
(B)an industrial coatings applicator program that is—
(i)an employment and training activity (as defined in section 3102 of title 29); or
(ii)registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and
(4)any other activities related to corrosion prevention the Secretary determines appropriate.
(d)In the first annual report submitted to Congress after December 16, 2016, in accordance with section 556 of this title, and section 2295(b) of this title, the Secretary shall report on the corrosion prevention activities encouraged under this section, including—
(1)a description of the actions the Secretary has taken to implement this section; and
(2)a description of the projects utilizing corrosion prevention activities, including which activities were undertaken.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Apprenticeship Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(B)(ii), is act Aug. 16, 1937, ch. 663, 50 Stat. 664, which is classified generally to chapter 4C (§ 50 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 50 of Title 29 and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 118–272 added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4). 2016—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–322 added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

“Secretary” Defined Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of Pub. L. 113–121, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 2350

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73