SUBCHAPTER III—NEW YORK HARBOR, HARBOR OF HAMPTON ROADS, AND HARBOR OF BALTIMORE
§441. Deposit of refuse prohibited; penalty
The placing, discharging, or depositing, by any process or in any manner, of refuse, dirt, ashes, cinders, mud, sand, dredgings, sludge, acid, or any other matter of any kind, other than that flowing from streets, sewers, and passing therefrom in a liquid state, in the waters of any harbor subject to this subchapter, within the limits which shall be prescribed by the supervisor of the harbor, is strictly forbidden, and every such act is made a misdemeanor, and every person engaged in or who shall aid, abet, authorize, or instigate a violation of this section, shall, upon conviction, be punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, such fine to be not less than $250 nor more than $2,500, and the imprisonment to be not less than thirty days nor more than one year, either or both united, as the judge before whom conviction is obtained shall decide, one-half of said fine to be paid to the person or persons giving information which shall lead to conviction of this misdemeanor.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §1,
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Section 1 of act June 29, 1888, superseded act Aug. 5, 1886, ch. 929, §3,
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
§442. Liability of officers of towing vessel
Any and every master and engineer, or person or persons acting in such capacity, respectively, on board of any boat or vessel, who shall knowingly engage in towing any scow, boat, or vessel loaded with any such prohibited matter to any point or place of deposit, or discharge in the waters of any harbor subject to this subchapter, or to any point or place elsewhere than within the limits defined and permitted by the supervisor of the harbor, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §2,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§443. Permit for dumping; penalty for taking or towing boat or scow without permit
In all cases of receiving on board of any scows or boats such forbidden matter or substance as described in
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888, enacted
Section 3 of act June 29, 1888, as originally enacted, provided as follows:
"In all cases of receiving on board of any scows or boats such forbidden matter or substance as herein described, it shall be the duty of the owner or master, or person acting in such capacity, on board of such scows or boats, before proceeding to take or tow the same to the place of deposit, to apply for and obtain from the supervisor of the harbor appointed hereunder a permit defining the precise limits within which the discharge of such scows or boats may be made; and any deviation from such dumping or discharging place specified in such permit shall be a misdemeanor within the meaning of this act; and the master and engineer, or person or persons acting in such capacity, on board of any towboat towing such scows or boats, shall be equally guilty of such offense with the master or person acting in the capacity of master of the scow, and be liable to equal punishment."
Section 3 was amended by act Aug. 18, 1894, to read as follows:
"In all cases of receiving on board of any scows or boats such forbidden matter or substance as herein described, the owner or master, or person acting in such capacity on board of such scows or boats, before proceeding to take or tow the same to the place of deposit, shall apply for and obtain from the supervisor of the harbor appointed hereunder a permit defining the precise limits within which the discharge of such scows or boats may be made; and it shall not be lawful for the owner or master, or person acting in such capacity, of any tug or towboat to tow or move any scow or boat so loaded with such forbidden matter until such permit shall have been obtained; and every person violating the foregoing provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand nor less than five hundred dollars, and in addition thereto the master of any tug or towboat so offending shall have his license revoked, or suspended for a term to be fixed by the judge before whom tried and convicted. And any deviation from such dumping or discharging place specified in such permit shall be a misdemeanor, and the owner and master, or person acting in the capacity of master, of any scows or boats dumping or discharging such forbidden matter in any place other than that specified in such permit shall be liable to punishment therefor as provided in section one of the said Act of June twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight [
Section 3 was further amended by act May 28, 1908, ch. 212, §8, to read as set forth in this section and
§444. Dumping at other place than designated dumping grounds; penalty; person liable; excuses for deviation
Any deviation from such dumping or discharging place specified in such permit shall be a misdemeanor, and the owner and master, or person acting in the capacity of master, of any scows or boats dumping or discharging such forbidden matter in any place other than that specified in such permit shall be liable to punishment therefor as provided in
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is act Aug. 18, 1894, ch. 299,
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888, enacted
§445. Equipment and marking of boats or scows
Every scow or boat engaged in the transportation of dredgings, earth, sand, mud, cellar dirt, garbage, or other offensive material of any description shall have its name or number and owner's name painted in letters and numbers at least fourteen inches long on both sides of the scow or boat; these names and numbers shall be kept distinctly legible at all times, and no scow or boat not so marked shall be used to transport or dump any such material. Each such scow or boat shall be equipped at all times with a life line or rope extending at least the length of and three feet above the deck thereof, such rope to be attached to the coaming thereof, also with a life preserver and a life buoy for each person on board thereof, also with anchor to weigh not less than two hundred and seventy-five pounds, and at least one hundred feet of cable attached thereto; a list of the names of all men employed on any such scow or boat shall be kept by the owner or master thereof and the said list shall be open to the inspection of all parties. Failure to comply with any of the foregoing provisions shall render the owner of such scow or boat liable upon conviction thereof to a penalty of not more than $500: Provided, That the requirements in regard to life line or rope contained in this section shall not apply to any scow or boat the deck outside the coaming or rail of which shall not exceed one foot in width: And provided further, That on any such scow or boat its name or number and owner's name painted in letters and numbers, at least fourteen inches long on both ends of such scow or boat, shall be a compliance with the provisions of this section in regard to name, number, and owner's name.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888, enacted
Provisos are from act Feb. 16, 1909.
§446. Inspectors; appointment, powers, and duties
Each supervisor of a harbor is authorized and directed to appoint inspectors and deputy inspectors, and for the purposes of enforcing this subchapter and the Act of August 18, 1894, entitled "An Act making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes" (
First. To arrest and take into custody, with or without process, any person or persons who may commit any of the acts or offenses prohibited by this subchapter, or who may violate any of the provisions of the same: Provided, That no person shall be arrested without process for any offense not committed in the presence of the supervisor or his inspectors or deputy inspectors, or either of them: And provided further, That whenever any such arrest is made the person or persons so arrested shall be brought forthwith before a magistrate judge, judge, or court of the United States for examination of the offenses alleged against him; and such magistrate judge, judge, or court shall proceed in respect thereto as authorized by law in case of crimes against the United States.
Second. To go on board of any scow or towboat engaged in unlawful dumping of prohibited material, or in moving the same without a permit, as required in
Third. To arrest and take into custody any witness or witnesses to such unlawful dumping of prohibited material, the said witnesses to be released under proper bonds.
Fourth. To go on board of any towboat having in tow scows or boats loaded with such prohibited material, and accompany the same to the place of dumping, whenever such action appears to be necessary to secure compliance with the requirements of this subchapter and of the Act aforesaid.
Fifth. To enter gas and oil works and all other manufacturing works for the purpose of discovering the disposition made of sludge, acid, or other injurious material, whenever there is good reason to believe that such sludge, acid, or other injurious material is allowed to run into tidal waters of the harbor in violation of
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of August 18, 1894, referred to in provision preceding First paragraph, and Act aforesaid, referred to in Fourth paragraph, mean act Aug. 18, 1894, ch. 299,
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888, enacted
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Magistrate judge" substituted in text for "magistrate" pursuant to section 321 of
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§447. Bribery of inspector; penalty
Every person who, directly or indirectly, gives any sum of money or other bribe, present, or reward, or makes any offer of the same to any inspector, deputy inspector, or other employee of the office of any supervisor of a harbor with intent to influence such inspector, deputy inspector, or other employee to permit or overlook any violation of the provisions of this subchapter, shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, and be imprisoned not less than six months nor more than one year.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888, enacted
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§448. Return of permit; penalty for failure to return
Every permit issued in accordance with the provisions of
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 3 of act June 29, 1888. Said section 3 of act June 29, 1888 enacted
§449. Disposition of dredged matter; persons liable; penalty
All mud, dirt, sand, dredgings, and material of every kind and description whatever taken, dredged, or excavated from any slip, basin, or shoal in any harbor subject to this subchapter, and placed on any boat, scow, or vessel for the purpose of being taken or towed upon the waters of that harbor to a place of deposit, shall be deposited and discharged at such place or within such limits as shall be defined and specified by the supervisor of the harbor, as in
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §4,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 4 of act June 29, 1888, which enacted
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§450. Liability of vessel
Any boat or vessel used or employed in violating any provision of this subchapter, shall be liable to the pecuniary penalties imposed thereby, and may be proceeded against, summarily by way of libel in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §4,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of section 4 of act June 29, 1888, which enacted
§451. Supervisor of harbor; appointment and duties
An officer of the Corps of Engineers shall, for each harbor subject to this subchapter, be designated by the Secretary of the Army as supervisor of the harbor, to act under the direction of the Chief of Engineers in enforcing the provisions of this subchapter, and in detecting offenders against the same. Each such officer shall have personal charge and supervision under the Chief of Engineers, and shall direct the patrol boats and other means to detect and bring to punishment offenders against the provisions of this subchapter.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §5,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1958—
1952—Act July 12, 1952, transferred enforcement responsibilities of this section from a Naval officer to the Army district engineer at New York.
1949—Act June 29, 1949, struck out "shall receive the sea-pay of his grade and" after "this officer".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§451a. Harbors subject to this subchapter
The following harbors shall be subject to this subchapter:
(1) The harbor of New York.
(2) The harbor of Hampton Roads.
(3) The harbor of Baltimore.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §6,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1958—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by
§451b. Waters included within subchapter
For the purposes of this subchapter—
(1) The term "harbor of New York" means the tidal waters of the harbor of New York, its adjacent and tributary waters, and those of Long Island Sound.
(2) The term "harbor of Hampton Roads" means the tidal waters of the harbors of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton Roads, and their adjacent and tributary waters, so much of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as lies within the State of Virginia, and so much of the Atlantic Ocean and its tributaries as lies within the jurisdiction of the United States within or to the east of the State of Virginia.
(3) The term "harbor of Baltimore" means the tidal waters of the harbor of Baltimore and its adjacent and tributary waters, and so much of Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as lies within the State of Maryland.
(June 29, 1888, ch. 496, §7, as added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on sixtieth day after Aug. 28, 1958, see section 2 of
§452. Taking shellfish or otherwise interfering with navigation in New York Harbor channels; penalty; arrest and procedure
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to engage in fishing or dredging for shellfish in any of the channels leading to and from the harbor of New York, or to interfere in any way with the safe navigation of those channels by ocean steamships and ships of deep draft.
Any person or persons violating the foregoing provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both, such fine to be not more than $250 nor less than $50, and the imprisonment to be not more than six months nor less than thirty days, either or both united, as the judge before whom conviction is obtained shall decide.
It shall be the duty of the United States supervisor of the harbor to enforce this section, and the deputy inspectors of the said supervisor shall have authority to arrest and take into custody, with or without process, any person or persons, who may commit any of the acts or offenses prohibited by this section: Provided, That no person shall be arrested without process for any offense not committed in the presence of the supervisor or his inspector or deputy inspectors, or either of them: And provided further, That whenever any such arrest is made the person or persons so arrested shall be brought forthwith before a magistrate judge, judge, or court of the United States for examination of the offenses alleged against him; and such magistrate judge, judge or court shall proceed in respect thereto as authorized by law in case of crimes against the United States.
(Aug. 18, 1894, ch. 299, §2,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of act June 29, 1888, ch. 496,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Magistrate judge" substituted in text for "magistrate" pursuant to section 321 of
§453. Regulations for navigation of Ambrose Channel; exclusion of tows and sailing vessels
The Secretary of the Army is authorized to make such rules and regulations for the navigation of Ambrose Channel as he may deem necessary or expedient to insure its safe use in all kinds of weather, night and day, for all vessels under control and running under their own power, and to this end he may, in his discretion, forbid its use to tows of every description and to sailing vessels.
(Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 144, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of act June 29, 1888, ch. 496,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
§454. Consent of Congress to obstruction of waters by New York City
The consent of Congress is given to the city of New York, in the State of New York, to obstruct navigation of any river or other waterway which does not form a connecting link between other navigable waters of the United States, and lying wholly within the limits of said city, by closing all or any portion of the same or by building structures in or over the same when the said city shall be lawfully authorized to do so by the State of New York: Provided, however, That any such obstruction shall be unlawful unless the location and plans for the proposed work or works before the commencement thereof shall have been filed with and approved by the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Engineers; and when the plans for any such obstruction have been approved by the Chief of Engineers and by the Secretary of the Army it shall not be lawful to deviate from such plans either before or after the completion of such obstruction, unless the modification of such plans has previously been submitted to and received the approval of the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of the Army: And provided further, That the city of New York shall be liable for any damage that may be inflicted upon private property by reason of any of the provisions of this section.
The right to alter, amend, or repeal this section is expressly reserved, and the United States shall incur no liability for the alteration, amendment, or repeal thereof to the city of New York, or to the owner or owners, or any other persons interested in any obstruction which shall have been constructed under its provisions.
(June 25, 1910, ch. 436, §§1, 2,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of act June 29, 1888, ch. 496,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
Transfer of Functions
Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army and other offices and officers of Department of the Army under