Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§9151 Prohibited acts

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 99— - OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - ENFORCEMENT › § 9151

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is illegal for certain people connected to ocean thermal energy conversion facilities, plantships, or vessels documented under U.S. law — including U.S. citizens and nationals, foreign nationals on those ships, and anyone under U.S. jurisdiction by an international agreement — to do any of five things. They must not violate the chapter, its rules, or a license term; refuse to let federal officers who are allowed to inspect or enforce these rules board or search such a ship; assault or interfere with those officers during an inspection; resist a lawful arrest for these offenses; or help someone else avoid arrest when they know that person broke these rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §9151

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is unlawful for any person who is a United States citizen or national, or a foreign national in or on board an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship or on board any vessel documented or numbered under the laws of the United States, or who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States by an international agreement to which the United States is a party—
(1)to violate any provision of this chapter; or any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant to this chapter; or any term or condition of any license issued to such person pursuant to this chapter;
(2)to refuse to permit any Federal officer or employee authorized to monitor or enforce the provisions of section 9120 and 9153 of this title to enter or board an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship or any vessel documented or numbered under the laws of the United States, for purposes of conducting any search or inspection in connection with the monitoring or enforcement of this chapter or any rule, regulation, order, term, or condition referred to in paragraph (1) of this section;
(3)to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with any such authorized officer or employee in the conduct of any search or inspection described in paragraph (2) of this section;
(4)to resist a lawful arrest for any act prohibited by this section; or
(5)to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the apprehension or arrest of another person subject to this section knowing that the other person has committed any act prohibited by this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in pars. (1) and (2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–320, Aug. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 974, known as the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 9101 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–623 substituted “in or on board an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship or on board any vessel” for “on board an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship or other vessel” in provisions preceding par. (1). Par. (2). Pub. L. 98–623 substituted “to enter or board” for “to board”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 9151

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73