United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025
§ 2503.
Prohibition
After 6 months after November 18, 1988 , no public vessel shall dispose of potentially infectious medical waste into ocean waters unless—
(1)
(A)
the health or safety of individuals on board the vessel is threatened; or
(B)
during time of war or a declared national emergency;
(2)
the waste is disposed of beyond 50 nautical miles from the nearest land; and
(3)
(A)
in the case of a public vessel which is not a submersible, the waste is sterilized, properly packaged, and sufficiently weighted to prevent the waste from coming ashore after disposal; and
(B)
in the case of a public vessel which is a submersible, the waste is properly packaged and sufficiently weighted to prevent the waste from coming ashore after disposal.
cite as: 33 USC 2503
