Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§3407 Definitions

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - OCEAN EXPLORATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - EXPLORATION › § 3407

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines three key terms used in this subchapter. Characterization means collecting detailed data and making explanations about a specific marine area (the sea floor, under the seabed, the water column, or water features like currents) to support research, environmental protection, resource management, policy, or mission goals. Exploration means a first, multi‑science study of an unknown or poorly known marine area to assess its physical, chemical, geological, biological, archaeological, or other features. Map or mapping means collecting the data needed to describe sea floor details like depth and shape, bottom type, sediment composition and spread, underlying geology, and bottom‑dwelling plants and animals.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3407

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this subchapter:

(1)The terms “characterization”, “characterize”, and “characterizing” mean activities that provide comprehensive data and interpretations for a specific area of interest of the sea floor, sub-bottom, water column, or hydrologic features, such as water masses and currents, in direct support of specific research, environmental protection, resource management, policymaking, or applied mission objectives.

(2)The term 11 So in original. Probably should be “terms” and “mean”. “exploration”, “explore”, and “exploring” means 1 activities that provide—

(A)a multidisciplinary view of an unknown or poorly understood area of the sea floor, sub-bottom, or water column; and

(B)an initial assessment of the physical, chemical, geological, biological, archaeological, or other characteristics of such an area.

(3)The terms “map” and “mapping” mean activities that provide comprehensive data and information needed to understand sea floor characteristics, including depth, topography, bottom type, sediment composition and distribution, underlying geologic structure, and benthic flora and fauna.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3407

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73