--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9163" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "9163" heading: "Relationship to other laws" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9163" units: - "Chapter 99 — Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion" - "Subchapter IV — Miscellaneous Provisions" --- # §9163. Relationship to other laws - (a) **Facilities and plantships as comparable to areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction located within a State—** - (1) The Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States shall apply to an [ocean thermal energy conversion facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=11) or [plantship](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13) licensed under this chapter and all of which is located seaward of the highwater mark, and to activities connected, associated, or potentially interfering with the use or operation of any such [facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=7) or [plantship](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13), in the same manner as if such [facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=7) or [plantship](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13) were an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction located within a [State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=15). Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to relieve, exempt, or immunize any [person](/usc/42/9102.md?p=14) from any other requirement imposed by Federal law, regulation, or treaty. - (2) [Ocean thermal energy conversion facilities](/usc/42/9102.md?p=11) and [plantships](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13) licensed under this chapter do not possess the status of islands and have no territorial seas of their own. - (b) **Responsibilities and authorities of States or United States within territorial seas; applicability of State law to facilities located beyond territorial seas—** - (1) Except as may otherwise be provided by this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall in any way alter the responsibilities and authorities of a [State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=15) or the United States within the territorial seas of the United States. - (2) The law of the nearest [adjacent coastal State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=1) to which an [ocean thermal energy conversion facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=11) located beyond the territorial sea and licensed under this chapter is connected by electric transmission cable or pipeline, now in effect or hereafter adopted, amended, or repealed, is declared to be the law of the United States, and shall apply to such [facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=7), to the extent applicable and not inconsistent with any provision or regulation under this chapter or other Federal laws and regulations now in effect or hereafter adopted, amended, or repealed: Provided, however, That the [application](/usc/42/9102.md?p=4) of [State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=15) taxation laws is not extended hereby outside the seaward boundary of any [State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=15). All such applicable laws shall be administered and enforced by the appropriate officers and courts of the United States outside the seaward boundary of any [State](/usc/42/9102.md?p=15). - (c) **Customs laws—** - (1) For the purposes of the customs laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Treasury, [ocean thermal energy conversion facilities](/usc/42/9102.md?p=11) and [plantships](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13) documented under the laws of the United States and licensed under this chapter shall be deemed to be vessels. - (2) Except insofar as they apply to vessels documented under the laws of the United States, the customs laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Treasury, including the provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended ([19 U.S.C. 1202](/usc/19/1202.md)), and other laws codified in [title 19](/usc/19.md), shall not apply to any [ocean thermal energy conversion facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=11) or [plantship](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13) documented under the laws of the United States and licensed under the provisions of this chapter, but all foreign articles to be used in the [construction](/usc/42/9102.md?p=6) of any such [facility](/usc/42/9102.md?p=7) or [plantship](/usc/42/9102.md?p=13), including any component thereof, shall first be made subject to all applicable duties and taxes which would be imposed upon or by reason of their importation if they were imported for consumption in the United States. Duties and taxes shall be paid thereon in accordance with laws applicable to merchandise imported into the customs territory of the United States. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 96–320, title IV, § 403, Aug. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 998; Pub. L. 98–623, title VI, § 602(a)(11), (12), (e)(6), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3411, 3412.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This chapter, referred to in text, 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. The Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, 46 Stat. 590, which is classified generally to chapter 4 (§ 1202 et seq.) of Title 19. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1654 of Title 19 and Tables. ### Amendments 1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–623, § 602(a)(11), inserted “and all of which is located seaward of the highwater mark,”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 98–623, § 602(a)(12), substituted “ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship documented under the laws of the United States and licensed” for “ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship licensed”. Pub. L. 98–623, § 602(e)(6), substituted “Secretary of the Treasury, including the provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1202), and other laws codified in title 19,” for “Secretary of the Treasury”. ### Executive Documents ### Territorial Sea of United States For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.