---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1474"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1474"
heading: "Federal intervention actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1474"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Pollution Casualties on the High Seas: United States Intervention"
---

# §1474. Federal intervention actions


Upon a determination under [section 1472 of this title](/usc/33/1472.md) of a grave and imminent danger to the coastline or related interests of the [United States](/usc/33/1471.md?p=7), the [Secretary](/usc/33/1471.md?p=4) may—

- (1) coordinate and direct all public and private efforts directed at the removal or elimination of the threatened pollution damage;
- (2) directly or indirectly undertake the whole or any part of any salvage or other action he could require or direct under [subsection (1)](#1) of this section; and
- (3) remove, and, if necessary, destroy the [ship](/usc/33/1471.md?p=5) and cargo which is the source of the danger.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–248, § 5, Feb. 5, 1974, 88 Stat. 9.)