# § 1401. Congressional finding, policy, and declaration of purpose
**(a)** **Dangers of unregulated dumping** Unregulated dumping of material into ocean waters endangers human health, welfare, and amenities, and the marine environment, ecological systems, and economic potentialities.
**(b)** **Policy of regulation and prevention or limitation** The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to regulate the dumping of all types of materials into ocean waters and to prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean waters of any material which would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities.
**(c)** **Regulation of dumping and transportation for dumping purposes** It is the purpose of this Act to regulate (1) the transportation by any person of material from the United States and, in the case of United States vessels, aircraft, or agencies, the transportation of material from a location outside the United States, when in either case the transportation is for the purpose of dumping the material into ocean waters, and (2) the dumping of material transported by any person from a location outside the United States, if the dumping occurs in the territorial sea or the contiguous zone of the United States.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 92–532, § 2, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052; Pub. L. 93–254, § 1(1), Mar. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 50.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (c), means , which is classified generally to this chapter, chapter 41 (§ 2801 et seq.) of this title, and chapters 32 (§ 1431 et seq.) and 32A (§ 1447 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation.
### Amendments
1974—Subsec. (b). struck out statement of the purpose of this Act as being the regulation of transportation of material from the United States for dumping into ocean waters, and the dumping of material, transported from outside the United States, if the dumping occurs in ocean waters over which the United States has jurisdiction or over which it may exercise control, under accepted principles of international law, in order to protect its territory or territorial sea, now covered by subsec. (c) of this section.
Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
, , , provided in part that amendment of subsecs. (b) and (c) of this section and sections 1402, 1411, and 1412(a), other than last sentence of subsec. (a), of this title, by shall become effective .
### Short Title of 1988 Amendment
> “This title [enacting sections 1414b and 1414c of this title, amending sections 1268, 1412a, and 1414a of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title
> “That this Act [enacting this chapter, chapter 41 (§ 2801 et seq.) of this title, and chapters 32 (§ 1431 et seq.) and 32A (§ 1447 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation] may be cited as the ‘Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972’.”
, , , provided:
## Executive Documents
### Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone of United States
For extension of territorial sea and contiguous zone of United States, see Proc. No. 5928 and Proc. No. 7219, respectively, set out as notes under , Public Lands.
### Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions
For provisions relating to environmental effects abroad of major federal actions, see Ex. Ord. No. 12114, , 44 F.R. 1957, set out as a note under , The Public Health and Welfare.
### Federal Compliance With Pollution Control Standards
For provisions relating to the responsibility of the head of each Executive agency for compliance with applicable pollution control standards, see Ex. Ord. No. 12088, , 43 F.R. 47707, set out as a note under , The Public Health and Welfare.