---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9124"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9124"
heading: "Civil actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9124"
units:
  - "Chapter 99 — Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion"
  - "Subchapter I — Regulation of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Facilities and Plantships"
---

# §9124. Civil actions

- (a) **Jurisdiction—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section, any [person](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) having a valid legal interest which is or may be adversely affected may commence a civil action for equitable relief on his own behalf in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia whenever such action constitutes a case or controversy—
  - (1) against any [person](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) who is alleged to be in [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) of any provision of this chapter or any regulation or condition of a license issued pursuant to this chapter; or
  - (2) against the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) where there is alleged a failure of the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) to perform any act or duty under this chapter which is not discretionary.

  In suits brought under this chapter, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce any provision of this chapter or any regulation or term or condition of a license issued pursuant to this chapter or to order the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) to perform such act or duty, as the case may be.

- (b) **Notice—** No civil action may be commenced—
  - (1) under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section—
    - (A) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice of the [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) to the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) and to any alleged violator; or
    - (B) if the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) or the Attorney General has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action with respect to such matters in a court of the United States, but in any such action any [person](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) may intervene as a matter of right; or
  - (2) under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice of such action to the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2).

  Notice under this subsection shall be given in such a manner as the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) shall prescribe by regulation.

- (c) **Right of Administrator or Attorney General to intervene—** In any action under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/42/9102.md?p=2) or the Attorney General, if not a party, may intervene as a matter of right.
- (d) **Award of costs—** The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party whenever the court determines that such an award is appropriate.
- (e) **Other remedies not restricted—** Nothing in this section shall restrict any right which any [person](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) or class of [persons](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement or to seek any other relief.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–320, title I, § 114, Aug. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 990.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–320, Aug. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 974, known as the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9101 of this title and Tables.