[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 33, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 33CFR1.01-80]



[Page 10-11]

 

                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

 

         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

 

PART 1_GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents

 

                  Subpart 1.01_Delegation of Authority

 

Sec. 1.01-80  FWPCA and OPA 90 delegations.



    (a) This section delegates authority to implement provisions of 

section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), as 

amended [33 U.S.C. 1321] and provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

(OPA 90). The definitions in subsection (a) of section 311 of the FWPCA 

and section 1001 of OPA 90 [33 U.S.C. 2701] apply.

    (b) The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and 

Environmental Protection, is delegated authority to require the owner or 

operator of a facility to establish and maintain such records, make such 

reports, install, use, and maintain such monitoring equipment and 

methods, and provide such other information as may be required to carry 

out the objectives of section 311 of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321].

    (c) Each District and Area Commander is delegated authority within 

the Commander's assigned district or area to--

    (1) Deny entry to any place in the United States or to the navigable 

waters of the United States, and to detain at any place in the United 

States, any vessel subject to section 1016 of OPA 90 [33 U.S.C. 2716] 

that, upon request, does not provide evidence of financial 

responsibility;

    (2) Seize and, through the Chief Counsel, seek forfeiture to the 

United States of any vessel subject to the requirements of section 1016 

of OPA 90 [33 U.S.C. 2716] that is found in the navigable waters of the 

United States without the necessary evidence of financial 

responsibility;

    (3) Assess any class I civil penalty under subsection (b) of section 

311 of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321], in accordance with the procedures in 

subpart 1.07 of this chapter;

    (4) Assess any civil penalty under section 4303 of OPA 90 [33 U.S.C. 

2716a] in accordance with the procedures in subpart 1.07 of this 

chapter;

    (5) Board and inspect any vessel upon the navigable waters of the 

United States or the waters of the contiguous zone, except for public 

vessels; with or without warrant, arrest any person who, in the 

Commander's presence or view, violates a provision of section 311 of the 

FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321] or any regulation issued thereunder; and execute 

any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of competent 

jurisdiction, as prescribed in



[[Page 11]]



section 311(m)(1) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321(m)(1)];

    (6) Enter and inspect any facility in the coastal zone at reasonable 

times; have access to and copy any records; take samples; inspect 

monitoring equipment required by section 311(m)(2)(A) of the FWPCA [33 

U.S.C. 1321(m)(2)(A)]; with or without warrant, arrest any person who, 

in the Commander's presence or view, violates a provision of section 311 

of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321] or any regulation issued thereunder; and 

execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of 

competent jurisdiction, as prescribed in section 311(m)(2) of the FWPCA 

[33 U.S.C. 1321(m)(2)(A)]; and

    (7) Determine for purposes of section 311(b)(12) of the FWPCA [33 

U.S.C. 1321(b)(12)]--

    (i) Whether reasonable cause exists to believe that an owner, 

operator, or person in charge may be subject to a civil penalty under 

section 311(b) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321(b)]; and

    (ii) Whether a filed bond or other surety is satisfactory.

    (d) Each Coast Guard official predesignated as the On-Scene 

Coordinator by the applicable Regional Contingency Plan is delegated 

authority pursuant to section 311(c) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 1321(c)], 

subject to paragraph (e) of this section, in accordance with the 

National Contingency Plan and any appropriate Area Contingency Plan, to 

ensure the effective and immediate removal of a discharge and mitigation 

or prevention of a substantial threat of a discharge of oil or a 

hazardous substance by--

    (1) Removing or arranging for the removal of a discharge and 

mitigating or preventing an imminent and substantial threat of a 

discharge at any time;

    (2) Directing or monitoring all Federal, State, and private actions 

to remove a discharge, including issuance of orders;

    (3) Determining, pursuant to section 311(c) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 

1321(c)], whether a discharge or a substantial threat of a discharge of 

oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or 

onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial 

threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including, 

but not limited to fish, shellfish, wildlife, other natural resources, 

and the public and private beaches and shorelines of the United States); 

and, if it is, directing all Federal, State, and private actions to 

remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threatened discharge;

    (4) Determining, pursuant to section 311(e) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 

1321(e)], that there may be an imminent and substantial threat to the 

public health and welfare of the United States, and, if there is, may--

    (i) Determine an imminent and substantial threat as a basis for 

recommending referral for judicial relief; or

    (ii) Act pursuant to section 311(e)(1)(B) of the FWPCA [33 U.S.C. 

1321(e)(1)(B)], including the issuance of orders; and

    (5) Acting to mitigate the damage to the public health or welfare 

caused by a discharge of oil or a hazardous substance.

    (e) The authority described in paragraph (d) of this section does 

not include the authority to--

    (1) Remove or destroy a vessel; or

    (2) Take any other action that constitutes intervention under the 

Intervention on the High Seas Act [33 U.S.C. 1471, et seq.] or other 

applicable laws. For purposes of this section, ``intervention'' means 

any detrimental action taken against the interest of a vessel or its 

cargo without the consent of the vessel's owner or operator.



[CGD 91-225, 59 FR 66484, Dec. 27, 1994, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 

33662, June 28, 1996; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33361, June 19, 1997; USCG-2002-

12471, 67 FR 41331, June 18, 2002]