---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 70012"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "70012"
heading: "Navigational hazards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/70012"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Security and Drug Enforcement"
  - "Chapter 700 — Ports and Waterways Safety"
  - "Subchapter II — Ports and Waterways Safety"
---

# §70012. Navigational hazards

- (a) **Reporting Procedure.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/70101.md?p=6) shall establish a program to encourage fishermen and other vessel operators to report potential or existing navigational hazards involving pipelines to the [Secretary](/usc/46/70101.md?p=6) through [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) field offices.
- (b) **Secretary’s Response.—**
  - (1) **Notification by the operator of a pipeline.—** Upon notification by the operator of a pipeline of a hazard to navigation with respect to that pipeline, the [Secretary](/usc/46/70101.md?p=6) shall immediately notify [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) headquarters, the Pipeline and [Hazardous Materials](/usc/46/2101.md?p=17) Safety Administration, other affected Federal and State agencies, and vessel owners and operators in the pipeline’s vicinity.
  - (2) **Notification by other persons.—** Upon notification by any other person of a hazard or potential hazard to navigation with respect to a pipeline, the [Secretary](/usc/46/70101.md?p=6) shall promptly determine whether a hazard exists, and if so shall immediately notify [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) headquarters, the Pipeline and [Hazardous Materials](/usc/46/2101.md?p=17) Safety Administration, other affected Federal and State agencies, vessel owners and operators in the pipeline’s vicinity, and the owner and operator of the pipeline.
- (c) **Pipeline Defined.—** For purposes of this section, the term “pipeline” has the meaning given the term “pipeline [facility](/usc/46/70101.md?p=3)” in [section 60101(a)(18) of title 49](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-18).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, § 401(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4259.)