33 USC § 1955 - Federal information clearinghouse

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s1955"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 1955 - Federal information clearinghouse"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "1955"
section_name: "Federal information clearinghouse"
chapter_number: 33
chapter_name: "MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "NOAA AND COAST GUARD PROGRAMS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–449, § 104, formerly § 6, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3338; Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 607, Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1578; renumbered § 104 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 2(a)(2), 6(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1986, 1990.)"
---


# § 1955. Federal information clearinghouse

The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Interagency Committee, shall—

**(1)** maintain a Federal information clearinghouse on marine debris that will be available to researchers and other interested persons to improve marine debris source identification, data sharing, and monitoring efforts through collaborative research and open sharing of data; and

**(2)** take the necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality of such information (especially proprietary information), for any information required by the Under Secretary to be submitted under this section.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–449, § 104, formerly § 6, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3338; Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 607, Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1578; renumbered § 104 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 2(a)(2), 6(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1986, 1990.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—, which directed substitution of “Under Secretary” for “Administrator”, was executed by making the substitution in both introductory provisions and par. (2), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2012—Par. (2).  struck out “by the fishing industry” after “to be submitted”.