Title 33 › Chapter 39— SHORE PROTECTION FROM MUNICIPAL OR COMMERCIAL WASTE › Subchapter I— SHORE PROTECTION › § 2602
To carry municipal or commercial waste in coastal waters, a vessel (except a public vessel) must have a permit from the Secretary of Transportation and must show a number or other marking set by the Secretary under title 46. The vessel owner or operator must apply for the permit and give contact info, the vessel’s name and ID, where it works, how much it can carry, what it carried in the past year (listed as municipal, commercial, medical, or other waste), any extra information the Secretary asks for, and an acknowledgment. A permit starts 30 days after it is issued, can last no more than 5 years, can be renewed for up to 5 years only by the original applicant, and ends if the vessel is sold. The Secretary can refuse a permit if the owner or operator has a pattern of serious violations of this law or certain other federal environmental and navigation laws. The Secretary, after talking with the Administrator, must approve or deny a complete application within 30 days. If denied, the applicant will be told why and can ask for a hearing. Permits must be kept as the Secretary requires; for documented vessels, the permit may be added to the vessel’s documentation. The Secretary can also put permit details into the vessel information system under title 46.
Full Legal Text
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 2602
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60