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Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§3702 Definitions

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. Coastal acidification means coastal waters and the Great Lakes become more acidic and their chemistry changes because of air pollution, freshwater input, and too many nutrients washing off the land. Ocean acidification means the oceans, coastal waters, and Great Lakes get more acidic from carbon dioxide in the air and from decaying organic matter. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of NOAA. Subcommittee means the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. State includes U.S. states, 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)Coastal acidification
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)Ocean acidification
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)Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(4)Subcommittee
The term “Subcommittee” means the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.
(5)State
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 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110