46 U.S.C. § 80503 — General authority of the Secretary

(a) In General. The Secretary of the department that runs the Coast Guard must carry out the Convention^* and this chapter within the United States.

(b) Regulations. The Secretary must write regulations to carry out this chapter. These regulations must:
(1) set up procedures for testing, inspecting, and giving initial approval to containers and container^* designs — including how to attach, cancel, and remove safety approval plates;
(2) set up procedures for container owners to periodically examine their containers, as the Convention requires; and
(3) provide a way to develop, collect, and share information about container safety and international container transport.

(c) Safety Approval Plates. If a container has no safety approval plate^*, but its owner^* proves it meets the Convention's standards, the Secretary may authorize a plate to be attached.

(d) Schedule of Fees. The Secretary may set a fee schedule for testing, inspecting, and initially approving containers and container designs — whether the Secretary performs the work or someone delegated authority under section 80506 does.

(e) Encouraging Intermodal Transport. The Secretary must, as much as possible, encourage developing and using intermodal transport — moving containerized cargo economically, safely, and quickly across land, air, and sea without having to reload it partway through.