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The law › Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters › Chapter 40

33 U.S.C. 2701: Definitions

Created in 1990 by Public Law 101-380. Changed by 5 later laws. 1 new law this Congress changed it.

6 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 14 U.S.C. 2508, 16 U.S.C. 3957, 33 U.S.C. 1321, 33 U.S.C. 1322, 43 U.S.C. 1356a.

2 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce (1), Environmental Protection Agency (1).

This Congress

  • S. 1071 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 · became law · changed (32), (39), (40), (42), (43), (44)

How it got here

2018

  • Pub. L. 115–232 struck out "(other than a vessel described in section 3703a(b)(3) of title 46)" before period at end. (John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019) Law text · (32)

2017

  • Pub. L. 115–91, §3508(b)(1)(A)(i)(I), substituted "onshore facility, offshore facility, or foreign offshore unit or other facility located seaward of the exclusive economic zone, any person or entity" for "onshore or offshore facility, any person". (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018) Law text · (26)
  • Pub. L. 115–91, §3508(b)(1)(A)(i)(II), substituted "offshore facility or foreign offshore unit or other facility located seaward of the exclusive economic zone, the person or entity that" for "offshore facility, the person who". (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018) Law text · (26)
  • Pub. L. 115–91, §3508(b)(1)(A)(ii), added subpar. (D), redesignated former subpars. (D) to (F) as (E) to (G), respectively, and in subpar. (G) substituted ", offshore facility, or foreign offshore unit or other facility located seaward of the exclusive economic zone, the person… (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018) Law text · (32)

2010

  • Pub. L. 111–281 inserted "In the case of a vessel, the term 'responsible party' also includes the owner of oil being transported in a tank vessel with a single hull after December 31, 2010 (other than a vessel described in section 3703a(b)(3) of title 46)." after "chartering the vesse… (Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010) Law text · (32)

2004

  • Pub. L. 108–293, §703(a), amended par. (26) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (26) read as follows: " 'owner or operator' means (A) in the case of a vessel, any person owning, operating, or chartering by demise, the vessel, and (B) in the case of an onshore facility, and an offshore fa… Law text · (26)
  • Pub. L. 108–293, §703(b), added pars. (38) to (44). Law text · (38), (39), (40), (41), (42), (43), (44)

1998

  • Pub. L. 105–383 amended par. (23) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (23) read as follows: " 'oil' means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil, but does not include petro… (Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998) Law text · (23)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.