---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 70012"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "70012"
heading: "Navigational hazards"
release: "119-102"
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/46/70031.md?p=2) shall establish a program to encourage fishermen and other [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) operators to report potential or existing navigational hazards involving [pipelines](#c) to the [Secretary](/usc/46/70031.md?p=2) through Coast Guard field offices.
- (b) **Secretary’s Response.—**
  - (1) **Notification by the operator of a pipeline.—** Upon notification by the operator of a [pipeline](#c) of a hazard to navigation with respect to that [pipeline](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/46/70031.md?p=2) shall immediately notify Coast Guard headquarters, the [Pipeline](#c) and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, other affected Federal and [State](/usc/46/112.md) [agencies](/usc/46/101.md), and [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) owners and operators in the [pipeline](#c)’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](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/46/70031.md?p=2) shall promptly determine whether a hazard exists, and if so shall immediately notify Coast Guard headquarters, the [Pipeline](#c) and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, other affected Federal and [State](/usc/46/112.md) [agencies](/usc/46/101.md), [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) owners and operators in the [pipeline](#c)’s vicinity, and the owner and operator of the [pipeline](#c).
- (c) **Pipeline Defined.—** For purposes of this section, the term “pipeline” has the meaning given the term “pipeline facility” 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.)