Federal · Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

33 U.S.C. § 682: Malicious injury to works; injury to navigable waters by hydraulic mining; penalty

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Willfully damaging dams or hydraulic mining that injures navigable waters is a criminal offense punishable by fine up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment up to five years.

Read the full statutory text

Any person or persons who willfully or maliciously injure, damage, or destroy, or attempt to injure, damage, or destroy, any dam or other work erected under the provisions of this chapter for restraining, impounding, or settling purposes, or for use in connection therewith, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not to exceed the sum of $5,000 or be imprisoned not to exceed five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. And any person or persons, company or corporation, their agents or employees, who shall mine by the hydraulic process directly or indirectly injuring the navigable waters of the United States, in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

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