In this chapter:

(1) Administrator

The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2) Interagency Committee

The term “Interagency Committee” means the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee established under section 1954 of this title.

(3) Marine debris

The term “marine debris” means any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.

(4) MARPOL; Annex V; Convention

The terms “MARPOL”, “Annex V”, and “Convention” have the meaning given those terms under section 1901(a) of this title.

(5) Program

The term “Program” means the Marine Debris Program established under section 1952 of this title.

(6) Severe marine debris event

The term “severe marine debris event” means atypically large amounts of marine debris caused by a natural disaster, including a tsunami, flood, landslide, or hurricane, or other source.

(7) State

The term “State” means—

(A) any State of the United States that is impacted by marine debris within its seaward or Great Lakes boundaries;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(C) American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and

(D) any other territory or possession of the United States, or separate sovereign in free association with the United States, that is impacted by marine debris within its seaward boundaries.

Terms Used In 33 USC 1956

  • association: when used in reference to a corporation, shall be deemed to embrace the words "successors and assigns of such company or association" in like manner as if these last-named words, or words of similar import, were expressed. See 1 USC 5
  • State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7