---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6979b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6979b"
heading: "Law enforcement authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6979b"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter VII — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §6979b. Law enforcement authority


The Attorney General of the United States shall, at the request of the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) and on the basis of a showing of need, deputize qualified employees of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to serve as special deputy United States marshals in criminal investigations with respect to [violations](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) of the criminal provisions of this chapter.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 7010, formerly § 7012, as added Pub. L. 98–616, title IV, § 403(b)(1), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3272; renumbered § 7010, Pub. L. 99–339, title II, § 201(c)(2), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 654.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7010 of Pub. L. 89–272, which was classified to section 6979a of this title, was renumbered section 3020 and transferred to section 6939b of this title.