U.S. Code » Title 33 » Chapter CHAPTER 27— OCEAN DUMPING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— REGULATION

33 U.S.C. § 1413

Dumping permit program for dredged mate­rial

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(a) Issuance by Secretary of the Army

Subject to the provisions of subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section, the Secretary may issue permits, after notice and opportunity for public hearings, for the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of dumping it into ocean waters, where the Secretary determines that the dumping will not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities.

(b) Independent determination of need for dumping, other methods of disposal, and appropriate locations; alternative sitesIn making the determination required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall apply those criteria, established pursuant to section 1412(a) of this title, relating to the effects of the dumping. Based upon an evaluation of the potential effect of a permit denial on navigation, economic and industrial development, and foreign and domestic commerce of the United States, the Secretary shall make an independent determination as to the need for the dumping. The Secretary shall also make an independent determination as to other possible methods of disposal and as to appropriate locations for the dumping. In considering appropriate locations, he shall, to the maximum extent feasible, utilize the recommended sites designated by the Administrator pursuant to section 1412(c) of this title. In any case in which the use of a designated site is not feasible, the Secretary may, with the concurrence of the Administrator, select an alternative site. The criteria and factors established in section 1412(a) of this title relating to site selection shall be used in selecting the alternative site in a manner consistent with the application of such factors and criteria pursuant to section 1412(c) of this title. Disposal at or in the vicinity of an alternative site shall be limited to a period of not greater than 5 years unless the site is subsequently designated pursuant to section 1412(c) of this title; except that an alternative site may continue to be used for an additional period of time that shall not exceed 5 years if—(1) no feasible disposal site has been designated by the Administrator;(2) the continued use of the alternative site is necessary to maintain navigation and facilitate interstate or international commerce; and(3) the Administrator determines that the continued use of the site does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health, aquatic resources, or the environment.(c) Concurrence by Administrator(1) Notification

Prior to issuing a permit to any person under this section, the Secretary shall first notify the Administrator of the Secretary’s intention to do so and provide necessary and appropriate information concerning the permit to the Administrator. Within 30 days of receiving such information, the Administrator shall review the information and request any additional information the Administrator deems necessary to evaluate the proposed permit.

(2) Concurrence by Administrator

Within 45 days after receiving from the Secretary all information the Administrator considers to be necessary to evaluate the proposed permit, the Administrator shall, in writing, concur with (either entirely or with conditions) or decline to concur with the determination of the Secretary as to compliance with the criteria, conditions, and restrictions established pursuant to sections 1412(a) and 1412(c) of this title relating to the environmental impact of the permit. The Administrator may request one 45-day extension in writing and the Secretary shall grant such request on receipt of the request.

(3) Effect of concurrence

In any case where the Administrator makes a determination to concur (with or without conditions) or to decline to concur within the time period specified in paragraph (2) the determination shall prevail. If the Administrator declines to concur in the determination of the Secretary no permit shall be issued. If the Administrator concurs with conditions the permit shall include such conditions. The Administrator shall state in writing the reasons for declining to concur or for the conditions of the concurrence.

(4) Failure to act

If no written documentation is made by the Administrator within the time period provided for in paragraph (2), the Secretary may issue the permit.

(5) Compliance with criteria and restrictions

Unless the Administrator grants a waiver pursuant to subsection (d), any permit issued by the Secretary shall require compliance with such criteria and restrictions.

(d) Waiver of requirements

If, in any case, the Secretary finds that, in the disposition of dredged material, there is no economically feasible method or site available other than a dumping site the utilization of which would result in non-compliance with the criteria established pursuant to section 1412(a) of this title relating to the effects of dumping or with the restrictions established pursuant to section 1412(c) of this title relating to critical areas, he shall so certify and request a waiver from the Administrator of the specific requirements involved. Within thirty days of the receipt of the waiver request, unless the Administrator finds that the dumping of the material will result in an unacceptably adverse impact on municipal water supplies, shell-fish beds, wildlife, fisheries (including spawning and breeding areas), or recreational areas, he shall grant the waiver.

(e) Federal projects involving dredged material

In connection with Federal projects involving dredged material, the Secretary may, in lieu of the permit procedure, issue regulations which will require the application to such projects of the same criteria, other factors to be evaluated, the same procedures, and the same requirements which apply to the issuance of permits under subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section and section 1414(a) and (d) of this title.

(Pub. L. 92–532, title I, § 103, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1055; Pub. L. 102–580, title V, §§ 504, 506(b), Oct. 31, 1992, 106 Stat. 4866, 4869.)Editorial NotesAmendments

1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–580, § 506(b), inserted “maximum” before “extent feasible” and inserted three sentences at end.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–580, § 504(a), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “Prior to issuing any permit under this section, the Secretary shall first notify the Administrator of his intention to do so. In any case in which the Administrator disagrees with the determination of the Secretary as to compliance with the criteria established pursuant to section 1412(a) of this title relating to the effects of the dumping or with the restrictions established pursuant to section 1412(c) of this title relating to critical areas, the determination of the Administrator shall prevail. Unless the Administrator grants a waiver pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary shall not issue a permit which does not comply with such criteria and with such restrictions.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–580, § 504(b), inserted before period at end “and section 1414(a) and (d) of this title”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section effective 6 months after Oct. 23, 1972, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 92–532, set out as a note under section 1411 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2021 · leading case: Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. Douglas M. Costle, in His Off. Capacity as Adm'r, Env't Prot. Agency (Ocean Dumping), 629 F.2d 118 (D.C. Cir. 1980).
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Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. Douglas M. Costle, in His Off. Capacity as Adm'r, Env't Prot. Agency (Ocean Dumping), 629 F.2d 118 (D.C. Cir. 1980). · cites it 5× “MPRSA § 103(a), 33 U.S.C. § 1413 (a) (1976). “Dredged material” is defined as “any material excavated or dredged from the navigable waters of the United States.”
Save Our Sound Fisheries Ass'n v. Callaway, 387 F. Supp. 292 (D.R.I. 1974). · cites it 13× “See Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1413 ; Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, 33 U.”
Manatee Cnty. v. Gorsuch, 554 F. Supp. 778 (M.D. Fla. 1982). · cites it 4× “Thus, the Corps is authorized to issue permits for the disposal of dredged materials, 33 U.S.C. § 1413 , and the EPA has permit authority for all other wastes.”
Sierra Club v. James M. Sigler, Etc., Pelican Terminal Co. & Galveston Wharves, Intervenors-Appellees, 695 F.2d 957 (5th Cir. 1983). “§ 1344 , section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1413 , and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899, 33 U.”
Half Moon Bay Fishermans' Mktg. Ass'n v. Carlucci, 857 F.2d 505 (9th Cir. 1988). · cites it 3× “§§ 4321 , et seq (1982), Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuary Act (“MPRSA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1413 (a) (1986), and all regulations promulgated under these statutes, with regard to the initial dumping of 500,000 cubic yards of dredged materials at site BIB.”
Nat. Resources Def. Council, Inc., & the State of New York, Intervenor-Appellant v. Howard H. Callaway, as Sec'y of the Army, 524 F.2d 79 (2d Cir. 1975). “The change was Congress’ enactment of 33 U.S.C. § 1413 (d), which provides that the Secretary of the Army may authorize the dumping of nonconforming dredge spoil in the ocean if he concludes that no other economically feasible method or site is available.”
Save Our Sound Fisheries Ass'n v. Callaway, 429 F. Supp. 1136 (D.R.I. 1977). “33 U.S.C. § 1413 . See SOSF I, supra, at 300-303.”
Town of Huntington v. Marsh, 859 F.2d 1134 (2d Cir. 1988). · cites it 2× “33 U.S.C. § 1413 . Congress amended the Ocean Dumping Act in 1980 to require that dumping of dredged material in Long Island Sound by federal agencies, or by private parties whose projects exceed 25,000 cys of waste, be subject to the environmental testing criteria of the Act.”
Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. Benn, 491 F. Supp. 1234 (S.D.N.Y. 1980). “Finally, defendants state that because the EPA has “the final word” on issuing dumping permits, see 33 U.S.C. § 1413 (c), that agency is equally responsible for NYD’s policies.”
City of New York v. United States Env't Prot. Agency, 543 F. Supp. 1084 (S.D.N.Y. 1981). “33 U.S.C. § 1413 (a). The validity of the regulations that govern dredged materials is not before this Court.”
Town of Huntington v. Marsh, 884 F.2d 648 (2d Cir. 1989). “In addition to the process mandated by NEPA, see 42 U.S.C. § 4322 (2)(c) (1982), this case is governed, as Huntington I held, by the substantive standards set by the Ocean Dumping Act, see 33 U.”
Clean Ocean Action v. York, 861 F. Supp. 1203 (D.N.J. 1994). · cites it 3× “I directed the Port Authority (i) to establish that the permit was lawfully issued under the regulations adopted pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1413 (“MPRSA”) either because the dioxin present in the sediment was only in…”
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