33 U.S.C. § 491 : US Code - Section 491: Approval of and deviation from plans; exemptions

Search 33 U.S.C. § 491 : US Code - Section 491: Approval of and deviation from plans; exemptions

When, after March 23, 1906, authority is granted by Congress to
any persons to construct and maintain a bridge across or over any
of the navigable waters of the United States, such bridge shall not
be built or commenced until the plans and specifications for its
construction, together with such drawings of the proposed
construction and such map of the proposed location as may be
required for a full understanding of the subject, have been
submitted to the Secretary of Transportation for the Secretary's
approval, nor until the Secretary shall have approved such plans
and specifications and the location of such bridge and accessory
works; and when the plans for any bridge to be constructed under
the provisions of sections 491 to 498 of this title, have been
approved by the Secretary it shall not be lawful to deviate from
such plans, either before or after completion of the structure,
unless the modification of such plans has previously been submitted
to and received the approval of the Secretary. This section shall
not apply to any bridge over waters which are not subject to the
ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used and are not
susceptible to use in their natural condition or by reasonable
improvement as a means to transport interstate or foreign commerce.