---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 2762"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "2762"
heading: "Submerged oil program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/2762"
units:
  - "Chapter 40 — Oil Pollution"
  - "Subchapter IV — Oil Pollution Research and Development Program"
---

# §2762. Submerged oil program

- (a) **Program—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** The Under [Secretary](/usc/33/2701.md?p=33) of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, in conjunction with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall establish a program to detect, monitor, and evaluate the environmental effects of submerged [oil](/usc/33/2701.md?p=23) in the Delaware River and Bay region. The program shall include the following elements:
    - (A) The development of methods to remove, disperse, or otherwise diminish the persistence of submerged [oil](/usc/33/2701.md?p=23).
    - (B) The development of improved models and capacities for predicting the environmental fate, transport, and effects of submerged [oil](/usc/33/2701.md?p=23).
    - (C) The development of techniques to detect and monitor submerged [oil](/usc/33/2701.md?p=23).
  - (2) **Report—** Not later than 3 years after July 11, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/33/2701.md?p=33) of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the activities carried out under this subsection and activities proposed to be carried out under this subsection.
- (b) **Demonstration project—**
  - (1) **Removal of submerged oil—** The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Under [Secretary](/usc/33/2701.md?p=33) of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall conduct a demonstration project for the purpose of developing and demonstrating technologies and management practices to remove submerged [oil](/usc/33/2701.md?p=23) from the Delaware River and other [navigable waters](/usc/33/2701.md?p=21).
  - (2) **Funding—** There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commandant of the Coast Guard $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–380, title VII, § 7002, as added Pub. L. 109–241, title VI, § 605(a)(2), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 555.)