---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 562a"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "562a"
heading: "Project depths for national defense purposes; waterways for general commerce"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/562a"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — River and Harbor Improvements Generally"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §562a. Project depths for national defense purposes; waterways for general commerce


The Chief of Engineers, under the direction of the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of the Army, is hereby authorized to maintain authorized river and harbor projects in excess of authorized project depths where such excess depths have been provided by the United States for defense purposes and whenever the Chief of Engineers determines that such waterways also serve essential needs of general commerce.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–483, title I, § 117, Aug. 13, 1968, 82 Stat. 737.)