Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§3702 Definitions

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - FEDERAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING › § 3702

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key terms used in the chapter. Coastal acidification: a drop in pH and changes to water chemistry in coastal oceans, estuaries, and the Great Lakes caused by air pollution, freshwater inflows, and extra nutrient runoff. Ocean acidification: a drop in pH and water-chemistry changes in the oceans, coastal waterways, and the Great Lakes caused by atmospheric carbon dioxide and decaying organic matter. Secretary: the Secretary of Commerce acting through NOAA’s Administrator. Subcommittee: the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. State: each U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories or possessions.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3702

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:
(1)The term “coastal acidification” means the decrease in pH and changes in the water chemistry of coastal oceans, estuaries, and Great Lakes from atmospheric pollution, freshwater inputs, and excess nutrient run-off from land.
(2)The term “ocean acidification” means the decrease in pH and changes in the water chemistry of the Earth’s oceans, coastal estuaries, marine waterways, and Great Lakes caused by carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the breakdown of organic matter.
(3)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(4)The term “Subcommittee” means the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.
(5)The term “State” means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Par. (1). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(4), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(1), substituted “and changes in the water chemistry of the Earth’s oceans, coastal estuaries, marine waterways, and Great Lakes caused by carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the breakdown of organic matter” for “of the Earth’s oceans and changes in ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide”. Par. (2). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(3), redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3). Par. (3). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(3), redesignated par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(2), substituted “National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology” for “Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council”. Par. (4). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4). Par. (5). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10643(5), added par. (5).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3702

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73