PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 27 

Public Law 114–120 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, 

and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Authorization Act 

of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

Sec. 101. Authorizations. 

Sec. 102. Conforming amendments. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Vice Commandant. 

Sec. 202. Vice admirals. 

Sec. 203. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 

Sec. 204. Acquisition reform. 

Sec. 205. Auxiliary jurisdiction. 

Sec. 206. Coast Guard communities. 

Sec. 207. Polar icebreakers. 

Sec. 208. Air facility closures. 

Sec. 209. Technical corrections to title 14, United States Code. 

Sec. 210. Discontinuance of an aid to navigation. 

Sec. 211. Mission performance measures. 

Sec. 212. Communications. 

Sec. 213. Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education. 

Sec. 214. Professional development. 

Sec. 215. Senior enlisted member continuation boards. 

Sec. 216. Coast Guard member pay. 

Sec. 217. Transfer of funds necessary to provide medical care. 

Sec. 218. Participation of the Coast Guard Academy in Federal, State, or other educational research grants. 

Sec. 219. National Coast Guard Museum. 

Sec. 220. Investigations. 

Sec. 221. Clarification of eligibility of members of the Coast Guard for combat-related special compensation. 

Sec. 222. Leave policies for the Coast Guard. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Survival craft. 

Sec. 302. Vessel replacement. 

Sec. 303. Model years for recreational vessels. 

Sec. 304. Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization. 

Sec. 305. Safety zones for permitted marine events. 

Sec. 306. Technical corrections. 

Coast Guard 

Authorization 

Act of 2015. 

Feb. 8, 2016 

[H.R. 4188] 


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130 STAT. 28 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

Sec. 307. Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty reporting. 

Sec. 308. Recreational vessel engine weights. 

Sec. 309. Merchant mariner medical certification reform. 

Sec. 310. Atlantic Coast port access route study. 

Sec. 311. Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels. 

Sec. 312. Program guidelines. 

Sec. 313. Repeals. 

Sec. 314. Maritime drug law enforcement. 

Sec. 315. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials. 

Sec. 316. Higher volume port area regulatory definition change. 

Sec. 317. Recognition of port security assessments conducted by other entities. 

Sec. 318. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification. 

Sec. 319. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research. 

Sec. 320. International port and facility inspection coordination. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman. 

Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards. 

TITLE V—CONVEYANCES 

Subtitle A—Miscellaneous Conveyances 

Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station, California. 

Sec. 502. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska. 

Subtitle B—Pribilof Islands 

Sec. 521. Short title. 

Sec. 522. Transfer and disposition of property. 

Sec. 523. Notice of certification. 

Sec. 524. Redundant capability. 

Subtitle C—Conveyance of Coast Guard Property at Point Spencer, Alaska 

Sec. 531. Findings. 

Sec. 532. Definitions. 

Sec. 533. Authority to convey land in Point Spencer. 

Sec. 534. Environmental compliance, liability, and monitoring. 

Sec. 535. Easements and access. 

Sec. 536. Relationship to Public Land Order 2650. 

Sec. 537. Archeological and cultural resources. 

Sec. 538. Maps and legal descriptions. 

Sec. 539. Chargeability for land conveyed. 

Sec. 540. Redundant capability. 

Sec. 541. Port Coordination Council for Point Spencer. 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 601. Modification of reports. 

Sec. 602. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes. 

Sec. 603. Use of vessel sale proceeds. 

Sec. 604. National Academy of Sciences cost assessment. 

Sec. 605. Coastwise endorsements. 

Sec. 606. International Ice Patrol. 

Sec. 607. Assessment of oil spill response and cleanup activities in the Great Lakes. 

Sec. 608. Report on status of technology detecting passengers who have fallen overboard. 

Sec. 609. Venue. 

Sec. 610. Disposition of infrastructure related to e-loran. 

Sec. 611. Parking. 

Sec. 612. Inapplicability of load line requirements to certain United States vessels 

traveling in the Gulf of Mexico. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 29 

‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS 

AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS 

‘‘Chap. Sec. 

‘‘27. Authorizations ............................................................................................ 2701 

‘‘29. Reports ......................................................................................................... 2901. 

‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 

‘‘2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 

‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 

‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal 

years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard 

as follows: 

‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 

not otherwise provided for— 

‘‘(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

‘‘(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and 

improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, 

and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for 

maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities 

and equipment— 

‘‘(A) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

‘‘(B) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and training 

costs, equipment, and services— 

‘‘(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

‘‘(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title— 

‘‘(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

‘‘(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research, 

development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, 

and human factors directly related to improving the performance of the Coast Guard’s mission with respect to search and 

rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental 

protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations, 

oceanographic research, and defense readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities and 

equipment— 

‘‘(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

‘‘(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training 

‘‘(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is authorized 

an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for 

each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The Coast Guard 

is authorized average military training student loads for each of 

fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as follows: 

‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student years. 

‘‘(2) For flight training, 165 student years. 

14 USC 2704. 

14 USC 2702. 

14 USC 

2701 prec. 

14 USC 

2701 prec. 


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130 STAT. 30 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘(3) For professional training in military and civilian 

institutions, 350 student years. 

‘‘(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years. 

‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘2904. Manpower requirements plan. 

‘‘§ 2904. Manpower requirements plan 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the President submits 

to the Congress a budget for fiscal year 2017 under section 1105 

of title 31, on the date on which the President submits to the 

Congress a budget for fiscal year 2019 under such section, and 

every 4 years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a manpower requirements plan. 

‘‘(b) SCOPE.—A manpower requirements plan submitted under 

subsection (a) shall include for each mission of the Coast Guard— 

‘‘(1) an assessment of all projected mission requirements 

for the upcoming fiscal year and for each of the 3 fiscal years 

thereafter; 

‘‘(2) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel assigned or available to fulfill such mission requirements— 

‘‘(A) currently; and 

‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each 

of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 

‘‘(3) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel required to fulfill such mission requirements— 

‘‘(A) currently; and 

‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each 

of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 

‘‘(4) an identification of any capability gaps between mission 

requirements and mission performance caused by deficiencies 

in the numbers of personnel available— 

‘‘(A) currently; and 

‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each 

of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; and 

‘‘(5) an identification of the actions the Commandant will 

take to address capability gaps identified under paragraph 

(4). 

‘‘(c) CONSIDERATION.—In composing a manpower requirements 

plan for submission under subsection (a), the Commandant shall 

consider— 

‘‘(1) the marine safety strategy required under section 2116 

of title 46; 

‘‘(2) information on the adequacy of the acquisition 

workforce included in the most recent report under section 

2903 of this title; and 

‘‘(3) any other Federal strategic planning effort the Commandant considers appropriate.’’. 

(b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

14 USC 2701. (1) by redesignating such section as section 2701; 

Assessment. 

14 USC 2904. 

14 USC 

2901 prec. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 31 

(2) by transferring such section to appear before section 

2702 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this section); 

and 

(3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 

not otherwise provided for. 

‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and 

improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, 

and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for 

maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities 

and equipment. 

‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and training 

costs, equipment, and services. 

‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title. 

‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, and human factors directly related to 

improving the performance of the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 

waters of the United States constituting obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and administrative costs associated 

with the Alteration of Bridges Program.’’. 

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERSONNEL END STRENGTHS.—Section 

661 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by redesignating such section as section 2703; and 

(2) by transferring such section to appear before section 

2704 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this section). 

(d) REPORTS.— 

(1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION

REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 14, United States Code, is 

amended— 

(A) by redesignating such section as section 2901; 

(B) by transferring such section to appear before section 2904 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this 

section); and 

(C) in subsection (b)— 

(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘described in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘described in section 2703’’; 

and 

(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘described in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘described in section 2701’’. 

(2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(A) by redesignating such section as section 2902; and 

(B) by transferring such section to appear after section 

2901 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by 

paragraph (1) of this subsection). 

(3) MAJOR ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of title 14, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(A) by redesignating such section as section 2903; 

(B) by transferring such section to appear after section 

2902 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by 

paragraph (2) of this subsection); and 

(C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this subchapter’’. 

(e) ICEBREAKERS.— 

14 USC 2903. 

14 USC 2902. 

14 USC 2901. 

14 USC 2703. 


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130 STAT. 32 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(1) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For fiscal years 

2016 and 2017, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may 

use funds made available pursuant to section 2702(2) of title 

14, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this 

section) for the selection of a design for and the construction 

of an icebreaker that is capable of buoy tending to enhance 

icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. 

(2) POLAR ICEBREAKING.—Of the amounts authorized to 

be appropriated under section 2702(2) of title 14, United States 

Code, as amended by subsection (a), there is authorized to 

be appropriated to the Coast Guard $4,000,000 for fiscal year 

2016 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 for preacquisition 

activities for a new polar icebreaker, including initial specification development and feasibility studies. 

(f) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant of the Coast 

Guard shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of 

the House of Representatives— 

(1) each plan required under section 2904 of title 14, United 

States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section; 

(2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of title 14, 

United States Code, as added by section 206 of this Act; 

(3) each plan required under section 2902 of title 14, United 

States Code, as redesignated by subsection (d) of this section; 

and 

(4) each mission need statement required under section 

569 of title 14, United States Code. 

SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

(a) ANALYSIS FOR TITLE 14.—The analysis for title 14, United 

States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to part 

II the following: 

‘‘III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Congress ................... 2701’’. 

(b) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 15.—The analysis for chapter 15 

of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 

relating to section 569a. 

(c) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chapter 17 

of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the items 

relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, and 663. 

(d) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 27.—The analysis for chapter 27 

of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of 

this Act, is amended by inserting— 

(1) before the item relating to section 2702 the following: 

‘‘2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.’’; 

and 

(2) before the item relating to section 2704 the following: 

‘‘2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.’’. 

(e) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 29.—The analysis for chapter 29 

of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of 

this Act, is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 

2904 the following: 

‘‘2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 

‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 

‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 

14 USC 

2901 prec. 

14 USC 

2701 prec. 

14 USC 

631 prec. 

14 USC 

561 prec. 

14 USC 

1 prec. 

14 USC 569 note. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 33 

(f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 569a(e)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 663(a)(1)’’ 

and inserting ‘‘under section 2902(a)(1)’’. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 

(a) GRADES AND RATINGS.—Section 41 of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ and inserting ‘‘admirals 

(two);’’. 

(b) VICE COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT.—Section 47 of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ and 

inserting ‘‘admiral’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of title 14, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice 

admiral,’’; 

(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice 

admiral,’’ each place it appears; and 

(3) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice 

admiral,’’. 

SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS. 

Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) The President may— 

‘‘(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no more than five 

positions of importance and responsibility that shall be held 

by officers who, while so serving— 

‘‘(i) shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the 

pay and allowances of that grade; and 

‘‘(ii) shall perform such duties as the Commandant 

may prescribe, except that if the President designates five 

such positions, one position shall be the Chief of Staff 

of the Coast Guard; and 

‘‘(B) designate, within the executive branch, other than 

within the Coast Guard or the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, positions of importance and 

responsibility that shall be held by officers who, while so 

serving, shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the pay 

and allowances of that grade.’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ‘‘under paragraph 

(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and 

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: 

‘‘(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while awaiting 

orders after being relieved from the position, beginning on 

President. 


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130 STAT. 34 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

the day the officer is relieved from the position, but not for 

more than 60 days; and’’. 

SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 

(a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO REMIT INDEBTEDNESS.—Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as 

follows: 

‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 

‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any part of 

a person’s indebtedness to the United States or any instrumentality 

of the United States if— 

‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the person served 

on active duty as a member of the Coast Guard; and 

‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or cancelling 

the indebtedness is in the best interest of the United States.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 13 of title 

14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 

to section 461 and inserting the following: 

‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 

SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM. 

(a) MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Section 572(d)(3) of 

title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as 

subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively; 

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph 

(C); 

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: 

‘‘(B) the performance data to be used to determine 

whether the key performance parameters have been 

resolved;’’; and 

(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as redesignated 

by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following: 

‘‘(D) the results during test and evaluation that will 

be required to demonstrate that a capability, asset, or 

subsystem meets performance requirements;’’. 

(b) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 2902 of title 14, United 

States Code, as redesignated and otherwise amended by this Act, 

is further amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘completion;’’ and 

inserting ‘‘completion based on the proposed appropriations 

included in the budget;’’; and 

(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘at the projected 

funding levels;’’ and inserting ‘‘based on the proposed appropriations included in the budget;’’; and 

(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c), and 

inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b) NEW CAPITAL ASSETS.—In the fiscal year following each 

fiscal year for which appropriations are enacted for a new capital 

asset, the report submitted under subsection (a) shall include— 

‘‘(1) an estimated life-cycle cost estimate for the new capital 

asset; 

‘‘(2) an assessment of the impact the new capital asset 

will have on— 

‘‘(A) delivery dates for each capital asset; 

Assessment. 

Cost estimate. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 35 

‘‘(B) estimated completion dates for each capital asset; 

‘‘(C) the total estimated cost to complete each capital 

asset; and 

‘‘(D) other planned construction or improvement 

projects; and 

‘‘(3) recommended funding levels for each capital asset 

necessary to meet the estimated completion dates and total 

estimated costs included in the such asset’s approved acquisition program baseline.’’; and 

(3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read 

as follows: 

‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

‘‘(1) the term ‘unfunded priority’ means a program or mission requirement that— 

‘‘(A) has not been selected for funding in the applicable 

proposed budget; 

‘‘(B) is necessary to fulfill a requirement associated 

with an operational need; and 

‘‘(C) the Commandant would have recommended for 

inclusion in the applicable proposed budget had additional 

resources been available or had the requirement emerged 

before the budget was submitted; and 

‘‘(2) the term ‘new capital asset’ means— 

‘‘(A) an acquisition program that does not have an 

approved acquisition program baseline; or 

‘‘(B) the acquisition of a capital asset in excess of 

the number included in the approved acquisition program 

baseline.’’. 

(c) DAYS AWAY FROM HOMEPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 

the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 

Coast Guard shall— 

(1) implement a standard for tracking operational days 

at sea for Coast Guard cutters that does not include days 

during which such cutters are undergoing maintenance or 

repair; and 

(2) notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the 

standard implemented under paragraph (1). 

(d) FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FLEET MIX ANALYSIS.—Not later 

than September 30, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate a revised fleet mix analysis of Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft. 

(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Section 2903 of 

title 14, United States Code, as redesignated and otherwise 

amended by this Act, is further amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and 

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Each report under 

subsection (a) shall include a plan that describes for the upcoming 

fiscal year, and for each of the 20 fiscal years thereafter— 

‘‘(1) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be 

decommissioned; 

‘‘(2) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be 

acquired to— 

Deadline. 

Notification. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 93 note. 


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130 STAT. 36 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘(A) replace the cutters and aircraft identified under 

paragraph (1); or 

‘‘(B) address an identified capability gap; and 

‘‘(3) the estimated level of funding in each fiscal year 

required to— 

‘‘(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft identified under 

paragraph (2); 

‘‘(B) acquire related command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; and 

‘‘(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shoreside infrastructure. 

‘‘(f) QUARTERLY UPDATES ON RISKS OF PROGRAMS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after the end 

of each fiscal year quarter, the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard shall submit to the committees of Congress specified 

in subsection (a) an update setting forth a current assessment 

of the risks associated with all current major acquisition programs. 

‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each update under this subsection shall 

set forth, for each current major acquisition program, the following: 

‘‘(A) The top five current risks to such program. 

‘‘(B) Any failure of such program to demonstrate a 

key performance parameter or threshold during operational 

test and evaluation conducted during the fiscal year quarter 

preceding such update. 

‘‘(C) Whether there has been any decision during such 

fiscal year quarter to order full-rate production before all 

key performance parameters or thresholds are met. 

‘‘(D) Whether there has been any breach of major 

acquisition program cost (as defined by the Major Systems 

Acquisition Manual) during such fiscal year quarter. 

‘‘(E) Whether there has been any breach of major 

acquisition program schedule (as so defined) during such 

fiscal year quarter.’’. 

SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 822 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The purpose’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Auxiliary may conduct a patrol of a 

waterway, or a portion thereof, only if— 

‘‘(1) the Commandant has determined such waterway, or 

portion thereof, is navigable for purposes of the jurisdiction 

of the Coast Guard; or 

‘‘(2) a State or other proper authority has requested such 

patrol pursuant to section 141 of this title or section 13109 

of title 46.’’. 

(b) NOTIFICATION.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard 

shall— 

(1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast Guard 

Auxiliary in the most recently completed fiscal year to determine whether such waterways are eligible or ineligible for 

Review. 

Deadline. 

Assessment. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 37 

patrol under section 822(b) of title 14, United States Code 

(as added by subsection (a)); and 

(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, provide to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

a written notification of— 

(A) any waterways determined ineligible for patrol 

under paragraph (1); and 

(B) the actions taken by the Commandant to ensure 

Auxiliary patrols do not occur on such waterways. 

SEC. 206. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 

Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 

(14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended in the second sentence by striking 

‘‘90 days’’ and inserting ‘‘30 days’’. 

SEC. 207. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 

(a) INCREMENTAL FUNDING AUTHORITY FOR POLAR ICE- BREAKERS.—In fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, 

the Commandant of the Coast Guard may enter into a contract 

or contracts for the acquisition of polar icebreakers and associated 

equipment using incremental funding. 

(b) ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND

SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION.—Section 222 of the Coast Guard and 

Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 

Stat. 1560) is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the 

Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall— 

‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment with respect 

to the Polar Sea; 

‘‘(2) make a determination of whether it is cost effective 

to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with other options to 

provide icebreaking services as part of a strategy to maintain 

polar icebreaking services; and 

‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 

‘‘(A) the assessment required under paragraph (1); and 

‘‘(B) written notification of the determination required 

under paragraph (2).’’; 

(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and inserting 

‘‘written notification’’; 

(3) by striking subsection (c); 

(4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 

(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (4) 

of this section)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘based on the 

analysis required’’; and 

(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and 

inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

Determination. 

Assessment. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 87 note. 

Deadline. 


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130 STAT. 38 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(i) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)(B)’’; 

(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ each place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘that subsection’’; and 

(iv) by striking ‘‘under subsection (a)(5)’’; and 

(C) in paragraph (3)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘in the analysis submitted under 

this section’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘(a)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a)’’; 

(iii) by striking ‘‘then’’ and all that follows through 

‘‘(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘then’’; 

(iv) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a period; and 

(v) by striking subparagraph (B); and 

(6) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (4) 

of this subsection) by striking ‘‘in subsection (d)’’ and inserting 

‘‘in subsection (c)’’. 

SEC. 208. AIR FACILITY CLOSURES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 676 the following: 

‘‘§ 676a. Air facility closures 

‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Coast Guard may not— 

‘‘(A) close a Coast Guard air facility that was in operation on November 30, 2014; or 

‘‘(B) retire, transfer, relocate, or deploy an aviation 

asset from an air facility described in subparagraph (A) 

for the purpose of closing such facility. 

‘‘(2) SUNSET.—Paragraph (1) shall have no force or effect 

beginning on the later of— 

‘‘(A) January 1, 2018; or 

‘‘(B) the date on which the Secretary submits to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, rotary 

wing strategic plans prepared in accordance with section 

208(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015. 

‘‘(b) CLOSURES.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on January 1, 2018, the Secretary may not close a Coast Guard air facility, except as 

specified by this section. 

‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS.—The Secretary may not propose 

closing or terminating operations at a Coast Guard air facility 

unless the Secretary determines that— 

‘‘(A) remaining search and rescue capabilities maintain 

the safety of the maritime public in the area of the air 

facility; 

‘‘(B) regional or local prevailing weather and marine 

conditions, including water temperatures or unusual tide 

and current conditions, do not require continued operation 

of the air facility; and 

‘‘(C) Coast Guard search and rescue standards related 

to search and response times are met. 

Effective date. 

14 USC 676a. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 39 

‘‘(3) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Prior to closing an 

air facility, the Secretary shall provide opportunities for public 

comment, including the convening of public meetings in communities in the area of responsibility of the air facility with regard 

to the proposed closure or cessation of operations at the air 

facility. 

‘‘(4) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—Prior to closure, cessation of 

operations, or any significant reduction in personnel and use 

of a Coast Guard air facility that is in operation on or after 

December 31, 2015, the Secretary shall— 

‘‘(A) submit to the Congress a proposal for such closure, 

cessation, or reduction in operations along with the budget 

of the President submitted to Congress under section 

1105(a) of title 31 for the fiscal year in which the action 

will be carried out; and 

‘‘(B) not later than 7 days after the date a proposal 

for an air facility is submitted pursuant to subparagraph 

(A), provide written notice of such proposal to each of 

the following: 

‘‘(i) Each member of the House of Representatives 

who represents a district in which the air facility is 

located. 

‘‘(ii) Each member of the Senate who represents 

a State in which the air facility is located. 

‘‘(iii) Each member of the House of Representatives 

who represents a district in which assets of the air 

facility conduct search and rescue operations. 

‘‘(iv) Each member of the Senate who represents 

a State in which assets of the air facility conduct 

search and rescue operations. 

‘‘(v) The Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives. 

‘‘(vi) The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(vii) The Committee on Appropriations of the 

Senate. 

‘‘(viii) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate. 

‘‘(c) OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary may implement 

any reasonable management efficiencies within the air station and 

air facility network, such as modifying the operational posture 

of units or reallocating resources as necessary to ensure the safety 

of the maritime public nationwide.’’. 

(b) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating shall prepare the plans specified 

in paragraph (2) to adequately address contingencies arising 

from potential future aviation casualties or the planned or 

unplanned retirement of rotary wing airframes to avoid to 

the greatest extent practicable any substantial gap or diminishment in Coast Guard operational capabilities. 

(2) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.— 

(A) ROTARY WING CONTINGENCY PLAN.—Not later than 

1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall develop and submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 

Proposal. 


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130 STAT. 40 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a contingency plan— 

(i) to address the planned or unplanned losses 

of rotary wing airframes; 

(ii) to reallocate resources as necessary to ensure 

the safety of the maritime public nationwide; and 

(iii) to ensure the operational posture of Coast 

Guard units. 

(B) ROTARY WING REPLACEMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENT

PLAN.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 

department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall develop and submit to the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation of the Senate a capital investment 

plan for the acquisition of new rotary wing airframes 

to replace the Coast Guard’s legacy helicopters and 

fulfil all existing mission requirements. 

(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The plan developed under 

this subparagraph shall provide— 

(I) a total estimated cost for completion; 

(II) a timetable for completion of the acquisition project and phased in transition to new airframes; and 

(III) projected annual funding levels for each 

fiscal year. 

(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chapter 

17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

after the item relating to section 676 the following: 

‘‘676a. Air facility closures.’’. 

(2) REPEAL OF PROHIBITION.—Section 225 of the Howard 

Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 

(Public Law 113–281; 128 Stat. 3022) is amended— 

(A) by striking subsection (b); and 

(B) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’. 

SEC. 209. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14, UNITED STATES 

CODE. 

Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 

amended— 

(1) in the analysis for part I, by striking the item relating 

to chapter 19 and inserting the following: 

‘‘19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program ................... 690’’; 

(2) in section 46(a), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and inserting 

‘‘section’’; 

(3) in section 47, in the section heading by striking ‘‘commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘Commandant’’; 

(4) in section 93(f), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may lease submerged 

lands and tidelands under paragraph (1) only if— 

‘‘(A) the lease is for cash exclusively; 

14 USC 

1 prec. 

14 USC 

631 prec. 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 41 

‘‘(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair market 

value of the use of the leased submerged lands or tidelands 

for the period during which such lands are leased, as 

determined by the Commandant; 

‘‘(C) the lease does not provide authority to or commit 

the Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to 

such submerged lands and tidelands, or obtain goods and 

services from the lessee; and 

‘‘(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited in the Coast 

Guard Housing Fund established under section 687.’’; 

(5) in the analysis for chapter 9, by striking the item 

relating to section 199 and inserting the following: 

‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’; 

(6) in section 427(b)(2), by striking ‘‘this chapter’’ and 

inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 

(7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the item relating 

to section 571, by striking the following: 

‘‘Sec.’’; 

(8) in section 581(5)(B), by striking ‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and 

inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 

(9) in section 637(c)(3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘it is’’ before ‘‘any’’; 

(10) in section 641(d)(3), by striking ‘‘Guard, installation’’ 

and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 

(11) in section 691(c)(3), by striking ‘‘state’’ and inserting 

‘‘State’’; 

(12) in the analysis for chapter 21— 

(A) by striking the item relating to section 709 and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘709. Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots; appointments in commissioned grade.’’; 

and 

(B) by striking the item relating to section 740 and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.’’; 

(13) in section 742(c), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and inserting 

‘‘subsections’’; 

(14) in section 821(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 26’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’; and 

(15) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 26’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’. 

SEC. 210. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in 

which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process for 

the discontinuance of an aid to navigation (other than a seasonal 

or temporary aid) established, maintained, or operated by the Coast 

Guard. 

(b) REQUIREMENT.—The process established under subsection 

(a) shall include procedures to notify the public of any discontinuance of an aid to navigation described in that subsection. 

Procedures. 

Notification. 

Public 

information. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 81 note. 

14 USC 

701 prec. 

14 USC 

561 prec. 

14 USC 

181 prec. 


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130 STAT. 42 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a process under subsection 

(a), the Secretary shall consult with and consider any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advisory Council. 

(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after establishing 

a process under subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate of the process established. 

SEC. 211. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 

Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate an assessment of the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s 

Standard Operational Planning Process with respect to annual mission performance measures. 

SEC. 212. COMMUNICATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that there are at least two communications systems described 

under paragraph (1)(B) and certified under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish and carry out a pilot program across not 

less than three components of the Department of Homeland Security 

to assess the effectiveness of a communications system that— 

(1) provides for— 

(A) multiagency collaboration and interoperability; and 

(B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation- and-acceptance-based multimedia communications; 

(2) is certified by the Department of Defense Joint Interoperability Test Center; and 

(3) is composed of commercially available, off-the-shelf technology. 

(b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the date on 

which the pilot program is completed, the Secretary shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 

Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 

the Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 

the Senate an assessment of the pilot program, including the 

impacts of the program with respect to interagency and Coast 

Guard response capabilities. 

(c) STRATEGY.—The pilot program shall be consistent with the 

strategy required by the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (Public Law 114–29). 

(d) TIMING.—The pilot program shall commence within 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act or within 60 days 

after the completion of the strategy required by the Department 

of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (Public 

Law 114–29), whichever is later. 

SEC. 213. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPERATIONS EDUCATION. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall establish an education program, for members 

and employees of the Coast Guard, that— 

Deadline. 

14 USC 470 note. 

Deadline. 

Determination. 

6 USC 194 note. 

Deadline. 

Assessment. 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 43 

(1) offers a master’s degree in maritime operations; 

(2) is relevant to the professional development of such 

members and employees; 

(3) provides resident and distant education options, 

including the ability to utilize both options; and 

(4) to the greatest extent practicable, is conducted using 

existing academic programs at an accredited public academic 

institution that— 

(A) is located near a significant number of Coast Guard, 

maritime, and other Department of Homeland Security 

law enforcement personnel; and 

(B) has an ability to simulate operations normally conducted at a command center. 

SEC. 214. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 

(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by inserting after section 428 the following: 

‘‘§ 429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel 

‘‘(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONNEL.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than one year 

after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

develop and implement a plan to conduct every two years 

a multirater assessment for each of the following: 

‘‘(A) Each flag officer of the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(B) Each member of the Senior Executive Service of 

the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(C) Each officer of the Coast Guard nominated for 

promotion to the grade of flag officer. 

‘‘(2) POST-ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS.—Following an assessment of an individual pursuant to paragraph (1), the individual 

shall be provided appropriate post-assessment counseling and 

leadership coaching. 

‘‘(b) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT DEFINED.—In this section, the 

term ‘multirater assessment’ means a review that seeks opinion 

from members senior to the reviewee and the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning 

of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related 

to section 428 the following: 

‘‘429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel.’’. 

(b) TRAINING COURSE ON WORKINGS OF CONGRESS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 60. Training course on workings of Congress 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the 

Commandant, in consultation with the Superintendent of the Coast 

Guard Academy and such other individuals and organizations as 

the Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop a training 

course on the workings of the Congress and offer that training 

course at least once each year. 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

14 USC 60. 

14 USC 

211 prec. 

Effective date. 

Deadlines. 

Plan. 

14 USC 429. 


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130 STAT. 44 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘(b) COURSE SUBJECT MATTER.—The training course required 

by this section shall provide an overview and introduction to the 

Congress and the Federal legislative process, including— 

‘‘(1) the history and structure of the Congress and the 

committee systems of the House of Representatives and the 

Senate, including the functions and responsibilities of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate; 

‘‘(2) the documents produced by the Congress, including 

bills, resolutions, committee reports, and conference reports, 

and the purposes and functions of those documents; 

‘‘(3) the legislative processes and rules of the House of 

Representatives and the Senate, including similarities and differences between the two processes and rules, including— 

‘‘(A) the congressional budget process; 

‘‘(B) the congressional authorization and appropriation 

processes; 

‘‘(C) the Senate advice and consent process for Presidential nominees; 

‘‘(D) the Senate advice and consent process for treaty 

ratification; 

‘‘(4) the roles of Members of Congress and congressional 

staff in the legislative process; and 

‘‘(5) the concept and underlying purposes of congressional 

oversight within our governance framework of separation of 

powers. 

‘‘(c) LECTURERS AND PANELISTS.— 

‘‘(1) OUTSIDE EXPERTS.—The Commandant shall ensure 

that not less than 60 percent of the lecturers, panelists, and 

other individuals providing education and instruction as part 

of the training course required by this section are experts 

on the Congress and the Federal legislative process who are 

not employed by the executive branch of the Federal Government. 

‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PRO BONO SERVICES.—In satisfying the requirement under paragraph (1), the Commandant 

shall seek, and may accept, educational and instructional services of lecturers, panelists, and other individuals and organizations provided to the Coast Guard on a pro bono basis. 

‘‘(d) COMPLETION OF REQUIRED TRAINING.— 

‘‘(1) CURRENT FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—A Coast 

Guard flag officer appointed or assigned to a billet in the 

National Capital Region on the date of the enactment of this 

section, and a Coast Guard Senior Executive Service employee 

employed in the National Capital Region on the date of the 

enactment of this section, shall complete a training course 

that meets the requirements of this section within 60 days 

after the date on which the Commandant completes the development of the training course. 

‘‘(2) NEW FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—A Coast Guard 

flag officer who is newly appointed or assigned to a billet 

in the National Capital Region, and a Coast Guard Senior 

Executive Service employee who is newly employed in the 

National Capital Region, shall complete a training course that 

meets the requirements of this section not later than 60 days 

after reporting for duty.’’. 

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 45 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning 

of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘60. Training course on workings of Congress.’’. 

(c) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on Coast Guard leadership development. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include the following: 

(A) An assessment of the feasibility of— 

(i) all officers (other than officers covered by section 

429(a) of title 14, United States Code, as amended 

by this section) completing a multirater assessment; 

(ii) all members (other than officers covered by 

such section) in command positions completing a 

multirater assessment; 

(iii) all enlisted members in a supervisory position 

completing a multirater assessment; and 

(iv) members completing periodic multirater 

assessments. 

(B) Such recommendations as the Commandant considers appropriate for the implementation or expansion 

of a multirater assessment in the personnel development 

programs of the Coast Guard. 

(C) An overview of each of the current leadership 

development courses of the Coast Guard, an assessment 

of the feasibility of the expansion of any such course, and 

a description of the resources, if any, required to expand 

such courses. 

(D) An assessment on the state of leadership training 

in the Coast Guard, and recommendations on the 

implementation of a policy to prevent leadership that has 

adverse effects on subordinates, the organization, or mission performance, including— 

(i) a description of methods that will be used by 

the Coast Guard to identify, monitor, and counsel 

individuals whose leadership may have adverse effects 

on subordinates, the organization, or mission performance; 

(ii) the implementation of leadership recognition 

training to recognize such leadership in one’s self and 

others; 

(iii) the establishment of procedures for the 

administrative separation of leaders whose leadership 

may have adverse effects on subordinates, the 

organization, or mission performance; and 

(iv) a description of the resources needed to implement this subsection. 

SEC. 215. SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBER CONTINUATION BOARDS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 357 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by striking subsections (a) through (h) and subsection 

(j); and 

Recommendations. 

Assessments. 

14 USC 

41 prec. 


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130 STAT. 46 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘(i)’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— (1) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such section 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in retired 

pay’’ 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning 

of chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking the item 

relating to such section and inserting the following: 

‘‘357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in retired pay.’’. 

SEC. 216. COAST GUARD MEMBER PAY. 

(a) ANNUAL AUDIT OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF MEMBERS

UNDERGOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of members 

undergoing permanent change of station 

‘‘The Commandant shall conduct each calendar year an audit 

of member pay and allowances for the members who transferred 

to new units during such calendar year. The audit for a calendar 

year shall be completed by the end of the calendar year.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning 

of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of members undergoing permanent 

change of station.’’. 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on alternative methods 

for notifying members of the Coast Guard of their monthly earnings. 

The report shall include— 

(1) an assessment of the feasibility of providing members 

a monthly notification of their earnings, categorized by pay 

and allowance type; and 

(2) a description and assessment of mechanisms that may 

be used to provide members with notification of their earnings, 

categorized by pay and allowance type. 

SEC. 217. TRANSFER OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL 

CARE. 

(a) TRANSFER REQUIRED.—In lieu of the reimbursement 

required under section 1085 of title 10, United States Code, the 

Secretary of Homeland Security shall transfer to the Secretary 

of Defense an amount that represents the actuarial valuation of 

treatment or care— 

(1) that the Department of Defense shall provide to members of the Coast Guard, former members of the Coast Guard, 

and dependents of such members and former members (other 

than former members and dependents of former members who 

are a Medicare-eligible beneficiary or for whom the payment 

for treatment or care is made from the Medicare-Eligible 

10 USC 1085 

note. 

Assessments. 

14 USC 

461 prec. 

14 USC 519. 

14 USC 

211 prec. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 47 

Retiree Health Care Fund) at facilities under the jurisdiction 

of the Department of Defense or a military department; and 

(2) for which a reimbursement would otherwise be made 

under section 1085. 

(b) AMOUNT.—The amount transferred under subsection (a) 

shall be— 

(1) in the case of treatment or care to be provided to 

members of the Coast Guard and their dependents, derived 

from amounts appropriated for the operating expenses of the 

Coast Guard; 

(2) in the case of treatment or care to be provided former 

members of the Coast Guard and their dependents, derived 

from amounts appropriated for retired pay; 

(3) determined under procedures established by the Secretary of Defense; 

(4) transferred during the fiscal year in which treatment 

or care is provided; and 

(5) subject to adjustment or reconciliation as the Secretaries 

determine appropriate during or promptly after such fiscal 

year in cases in which the amount transferred is determined 

excessive or insufficient based on the services actually provided. 

(c) NO TRANSFER WHEN SERVICE IN NAVY.—No transfer shall 

be made under this section for any period during which the Coast 

Guard operates as a service in the Navy. 

(d) RELATIONSHIP TO TRICARE.—This section shall not be construed to require a payment for, or the transfer of an amount 

that represents the value of, treatment or care provided under 

any TRICARE program. 

SEC. 218. PARTICIPATION OF THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY IN FEDERAL, STATE, OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH 

GRANTS. 

Section 196 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before the first sentence; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard 

may— 

‘‘(A) enter into a contract, cooperative agreement, lease, 

or licensing agreement with a qualified organization; 

‘‘(B) allow a qualified organization to use, at no cost, 

personal property of the Coast Guard; and 

‘‘(C) notwithstanding section 93, accept funds, supplies, 

and services from a qualified organization. 

‘‘(2) SOLE-SOURCE BASIS.—Notwithstanding chapter 65 of 

title 31 and chapter 137 of title 10, the Commandant may 

enter into a contract or cooperative agreement under paragraph 

(1)(A) on a sole-source basis. 

‘‘(3) MAINTAINING FAIRNESS, OBJECTIVITY, AND INTEGRITY.— 

The Commandant shall ensure that contributions under this 

subsection do not— 

‘‘(A) reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Coast 

Guard, any of its employees, or any member of the armed 

forces to carry out any responsibility or duty in a fair 

and objective manner; or 


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130 STAT. 48 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘(B) compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the Coast Guard, or any individual 

involved in such a program. 

‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—For purposes of this subsection, 

employees or personnel of a qualified organization shall not 

be employees of the United States. 

‘‘(5) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In this subsection 

the term ‘qualified organization’ means an organization— 

‘‘(A) described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 

section 501(a) of that Code; and 

‘‘(B) established by the Coast Guard Academy Alumni 

Association solely for the purpose of supporting academic 

research and applying for and administering Federal, State, 

or other educational research grants on behalf of the Coast 

Guard Academy.’’. 

SEC. 219. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 

Section 98(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘any appropriated Federal 

funds for’’ and insert ‘‘any funds appropriated to the Coast 

Guard on’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘artifacts.’’ and inserting 

‘‘artifacts, including the design, fabrication, and installation 

of exhibits or displays in which such artifacts are included.’’. 

SEC. 220. INVESTIGATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, 

is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Executive 

Service employees 

‘‘In conducting an investigation into an allegation of misconduct 

by a flag officer or member of the Senior Executive Service serving 

in the Coast Guard, the Inspector General of the Department of 

Homeland Security shall— 

‘‘(1) conduct the investigation in a manner consistent with 

Department of Defense policies for such an investigation; and 

‘‘(2) consult with the Inspector General of the Department 

of Defense.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning of 

such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item related 

to section 429 the following: 

‘‘430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Executive Service employees.’’. 

SEC. 221. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE COAST 

GUARD FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION. 

(a) CONSIDERATION OF ELIGIBILITY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 

is which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue procedures 

and criteria to use in determining whether the disability of 

a member of the Coast Guard is a combat-related disability 

for purposes of the eligibility of such member for combat-related 

special compensation under section 1413a of title 10, United 

States Code. Such procedures and criteria shall include the 

procedures and criteria prescribed by the Secretary of Defense 

Deadline. 

Procedures. 

Criteria. 

Determination. 

10 USC 1413a 

note. 

14 USC 

211 prec. 

Consultation. 

14 USC 430. 


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pursuant to subsection (e)(2) of such section. Such procedures 

and criteria shall apply in determining whether the disability 

of a member of the Coast Guard is a combat-related disability 

for purposes of determining the eligibility of such member 

for combat-related special compensation under such section. 

(2) DISABILITY FOR WHICH A DETERMINATION IS MADE.— For the purposes of this section, and in the case of a member 

of the Coast Guard, a disability under section 1413a(e)(2)(B) 

of title 10, United States Code, includes a disability incurred 

during aviation duty, diving duty, rescue swimmer or similar 

duty, and hazardous service duty onboard a small vessel (such 

as duty as a surfman)— 

(A) in the performance of duties for which special or 

incentive pay was paid pursuant to section 301, 301a, 304, 

307, 334, or 351 of title 37, United States Code; 

(B) in the performance of duties related to a statutory 

mission of the Coast Guard under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of section 888(a) of the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468(a)), including— 

(i) law enforcement, including drug or migrant 

interdiction; 

(ii) defense readiness; or 

(iii) search and rescue; or 

(C) while engaged in a training exercise for the 

performance of a duty described in subparagraphs (A) and 

(B). 

(b) APPLICABILITY OF PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA.—The procedures and criteria issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply 

to disabilities described in that subsection that are incurred on 

or after the effective date provided in section 636(a)(2) of the Bob 

Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 

(Public Law 107–314; 116 Stat. 2574; 10 U.S.C. 1413a note). 

(c) REAPPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION.—Any member of the 

Coast Guard who was denied combat-related special compensation 

under section 1413a of title 10, United States Code, during the 

period beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (b) 

and ending on the date of the issuance of the procedures and 

criteria required by subsection (a) may reapply for combat-related 

special compensation under such section on the basis of such procedures and criteria in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall specify. 

SEC. 222. LEAVE POLICIES FOR THE COAST GUARD. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, 

is further amended by inserting after section 430 the following: 

‘‘§ 431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard 

‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary 

of the Navy promulgates a new rule, policy, or memorandum pursuant to section 704 of title 10, United States Code, with respect 

to leave associated with the birth or adoption of a child, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall promulgate a similar rule, policy, or memorandum that provides leave to officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard 

that is equal in duration and compensation to that provided by 

the Secretary of the Navy.’’. 

Deadline. 

Regulations. 

14 USC 431. 

Time period. 

Effective date. 

Applicability. 


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130 STAT. 50 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning of 

such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item related 

to section 430 the following: 

‘‘431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard.’’. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

SEC. 301. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall require that 

a passenger vessel be equipped with survival craft that ensures 

that no part of an individual is immersed in water, if— 

‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion 

after January 1, 2016; and 

‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by the Secretary. 

‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD OF SAFETY.—The Secretary may revise 

part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 

as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such revision provides a 

higher standard of safety than is provided by the regulations in 

effect on or before the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard 

Authorization Act of 2015. 

‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Secretary may, in 

lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 or part 180 of title 

46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the 

enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, allow 

a passenger vessel to be equipped with a life-saving appliance 

or arrangement of an innovative or novel design that— 

‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is immersed in water; 

and 

‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of safety than 

is provided by such requirements as in effect before such date 

of the enactment. 

‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘built’ has the 

meaning that term has under section 4503(e).’’. 

(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 

(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 2016, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 

review of— 

(A) the number of casualties for individuals with 

disabilities, children, and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, reported to the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year period, by vessel type and area of operation; 

(B) the risks to individuals with disabilities, children, 

and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, by 

passenger vessel type and area of operation; 

(C) the effect that carriage of survival craft that ensure 

that no part of an individual is immersed in water has 

on— 

(i) passenger vessel safety, including stability and 

safe navigation; 

Time period. 

Deadline. 

46 USC 3104 

note. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 

211 prec. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 51 

(ii) improving the survivability of individuals, 

including individuals with disabilities, children, and 

the elderly; and 

(iii) the costs, the incremental cost difference to 

vessel operators, and the cost effectiveness of requiring 

the carriage of such survival craft to address the risks 

to individuals with disabilities, children, and the 

elderly; 

(D) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices, 

or measures in improving survivability of individuals with 

disabilities, children, and the elderly; and 

(E) the number of small businesses and nonprofit vessel 

operators that would be affected by requiring the carriage 

of such survival craft on passenger vessels to address the 

risks to individuals with disabilities, children, and the 

elderly. 

(2) SCOPE.—In conducting the review under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary shall include an examination of passenger vessel 

casualties that have occurred in the waters of other nations. 

(3) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update the review 

required under paragraph (1) every 5 years. 

(4) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted under paragraph (1), including updates thereto, the Secretary shall revise 

regulations concerning the carriage of survival craft under section 3104(c) of title 46, United States Code. 

(c) GAO STUDY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 

States shall complete and submit to the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report to determine any adverse or 

positive changes in public safety after the implementation of 

the amendments and requirements under this section and section 3104 of title 46, United States Code. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In completing the report under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall examine— 

(A) the number of casualties, by vessel type and area 

of operation, as the result of immersion in water reported 

to the Coast Guard for each of the 10 most recent fiscal 

years for which such data are available; 

(B) data for each fiscal year on— 

(i) vessel safety, including stability and safe 

navigation; and 

(ii) survivability of individuals, including individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; 

(C) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices, 

or measures; and 

(D) any available data on the costs of the amendments 

and requirements under this section and section 3104 of 

title 46, United States Code. 

SEC. 302. VESSEL REPLACEMENT. 

(a) LOANS AND GUARANTEES.—Chapter 537 of title 46, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(1) in section 53701— 

Examination. 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Regulations. 

Deadline. 


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130 STAT. 52 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (14) as 

paragraphs (9) through (15), respectively; and 

(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: 

‘‘(8) HISTORICAL USES.—The term ‘historical uses’ 

includes— 

‘‘(A) refurbishing, repairing, rebuilding, or replacing 

equipment on a fishing vessel, without materially 

increasing harvesting capacity; 

‘‘(B) purchasing a used fishing vessel; 

‘‘(C) purchasing, constructing, expanding, or reconditioning a fishery facility; 

‘‘(D) refinancing existing debt; 

‘‘(E) reducing fishing capacity; and 

‘‘(F) making upgrades to a fishing vessel, including 

upgrades in technology, gear, or equipment, that improve— 

‘‘(i) collection and reporting of fishery-dependent 

data; 

‘‘(ii) bycatch reduction or avoidance; 

‘‘(iii) gear selectivity; 

‘‘(iv) adverse impacts caused by fishing gear; or 

‘‘(v) safety.’’; and 

(2) in section 53702(b), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS AVAILABLE FOR HISTORIC

USES.—Of the direct loan obligations issued by the Secretary 

under this chapter, the Secretary shall make a minimum of 

$59,000,000 available each fiscal year for historic uses. 

‘‘(4) USE OF OBLIGATIONS IN LIMITED ACCESS FISHERIES.— 

In addition to the other eligible purposes and uses of direct 

loan obligations provided for in this chapter, the Secretary 

may issue direct loan obligations for the purpose of— 

‘‘(A) financing the construction or reconstruction of a 

fishing vessel in a fishery managed under a limited access 

system; or 

‘‘(B) financing the purchase of harvesting rights in 

a fishery that is federally managed under a limited access 

system.’’. 

(b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION TO CERTAIN FISHING VESSELS

OF PROHIBITION UNDER VESSEL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.—Section 

302(b)(2) of the Fisheries Financing Act (title III of Public Law 

104–297; 46 U.S.C. 53706 note) is amended— 

(1) in the second sentence— 

(A) by striking ‘‘or in’’ and inserting ‘‘, in’’; and 

(B) by inserting before the period the following: ‘‘, 

in fisheries that are under the jurisdiction of the North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council and managed under 

a fishery management plan issued under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific whiting fishery that 

is under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery Management 

Council and managed under a fishery management plan 

issued under that Act’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Any fishing vessel 

operated in fisheries under the jurisdiction of the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council and managed under a fishery 

management plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), 

or in the Pacific whiting fishery under the jurisdiction of the 

Definition. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 53 

Pacific Fishery Management Council and managed under a 

fishery management plan issued under that Act, and that is 

replaced by a vessel that is constructed or rebuilt with a loan 

or loan guarantee provided by the Federal Government may 

not be used to harvest fish in any fishery under the jurisdiction 

of any regional fishery management council, other than a 

fishery under the jurisdiction of the North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council or the Pacific Fishery Management 

Council.’’. 

SEC. 303. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4302 of title 46, United States Code 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e)(1) Under this section, a model year for recreational vessels 

and associated equipment shall, except as provided in paragraph 

(2)— 

‘‘(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 31 of 

the following year; and 

‘‘(B) be designated by the year in which it ends. 

‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manufacturer 

to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may alter a model 

year for a model of recreational vessel of the manufacturer and 

associated equipment, by no more than 6 months from the model 

year described in paragraph (1).’’. 

(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall only apply with respect 

to recreational vessels and associated equipment constructed or 

manufactured, respectively, on or after the date of enactment of 

this Act. 

SEC. 304. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION HARMONIZATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c) and 

not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall establish a process to harmonize the expiration 

dates of merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates, 

and radar observer endorsements for individuals applying to the 

Secretary for a new merchant mariner credential or for renewal 

of an existing merchant mariner credential. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 

process established under subsection (a)— 

(1) does not require an individual to renew a merchant 

mariner credential earlier than the date on which the individual’s current credential expires; and 

(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates, and 

radar observer endorsements for all individuals by not later 

than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(c) EXCEPTION.—The process established under subsection (a) 

does not apply to individuals— 

(1) holding a merchant mariner credential with— 

(A) an active Standards of Training, Certification, and 

Watchkeeping endorsement; or 

(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; or 

(2) who have been issued a time-restricted medical certificate. 

Deadlines. 

46 USC 7302 

note. 

46 USC 4302 

note. 

Effective date. 

Termination 

date. 


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130 STAT. 54 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

SEC. 305. SAFETY ZONES FOR PERMITTED MARINE EVENTS. 

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall establish and implement a process to— 

(1) account for the number of safety zones established 

for permitted marine events; 

(2) differentiate whether the event sponsor who requested 

a permit for such an event is— 

(A) an individual; 

(B) an organization; or 

(C) a government entity; and 

(3) account for Coast Guard resources utilized to enforce 

safety zones established for permitted marine events, including 

for— 

(A) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and 

(B) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required. 

SEC. 306. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

(a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151).’’ and 

inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 

(2) in section 2118— 

(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 

(1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 

(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘title’’ and inserting 

‘‘subtitle’’; 

(3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 

(A) by adding a period at the end of the item relating 

to section 3507; and 

(B) by adding a period at the end of the item relating 

to section 3508; 

(4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 

a semicolon; 

(5) in section 4506, by striking ‘‘(a)’’; 

(6) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking ‘‘Academy.’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; 

(7) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking ‘‘under this Act’’; 

(8) in the analysis for chapter 701— 

(A) by adding a period at the end of the item relating 

to section 70107A; 

(B) in the item relating to section 70112, by striking 

‘‘security advisory committees.’’ and inserting ‘‘Security 

Advisory Committees.’’; and 

(C) in the item relating to section 70122, by striking 

‘‘watch program.’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch Program.’’; 

(9) in section 70105(c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(xv)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘18, popularly’’ and inserting ‘‘18 

(popularly’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘Act’’ and inserting ‘‘Act)’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(D) paragraph’’ and 

inserting ‘‘(D) of paragraph’’; 

(10) in section 70107— 

(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘5121(j)(8)),’’ and 

inserting ‘‘5196(j)(8)),’’; and 

46 USC 

70101 prec. 

46 USC 

3501 prec. 

Deadline. 

33 USC 1231 

note. 


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(B) in subsection (m)(3)(C)(iii), by striking ‘‘that is’’ 

and inserting ‘‘that the applicant’’; 

(11) in section 70122, in the section heading, by striking ‘‘watch program’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch Program’’; and 

(12) in the analysis for chapter 705, by adding a period 

at the end of the item relating to section 70508. 

(b) GENERAL BRIDGE STATUTES.— (1) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 3, 1899, 

popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations 

Act of 1899, is amended— 

(A) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

operating’’; and 

(B) in section 18 (33 U.S.C. 502), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

operating’’. 

(2) ACT OF MARCH 23, 1906.—The Act of March 23, 1906, 

popularly known as the Bridge Act of 1906, is amended— 

(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by striking 

‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Homeland Security’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating’’; and 

(C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

operating’’. 

(3) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the Act entitled 

‘‘An Act making appropriations for the construction, repair, 

and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, 

and for other purposes’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 

499) is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 

place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department 

in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

(4) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 21, 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is amended— 

(A) in section 1 (33 U.S.C. 511), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

(C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

operating’’; and 

(D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

(5) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The General Bridge 

Act of 1946 is amended— 

(A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by striking 

‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 

46 USC 

70501 prec. 


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130 STAT. 56 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

and 

(B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears and 

inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

Guard is operating’’. 

(6) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The International 

Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 

(A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

(B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by striking ‘‘Secretary 

of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

operating’’; and 

(C) by striking section 11 (33 U.S.C. 535h). 

SEC. 307. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MARINE CASUALTY REPORTING. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall notify the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate of the actions the Commandant will 

take to implement recommendations on improvements to the Coast 

Guard’s marine casualty reporting requirements and procedures 

included in— 

(1) the Department of Homeland Security Office of 

Inspector General report entitled ‘‘Marine Accident Reporting, 

Investigations, and Enforcement in the United States Coast 

Guard’’, released on May 23, 2013; and 

(2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee report entitled 

‘‘Recommendations for Improvement of Marine Casualty 

Reporting’’, released on March 26, 2015. 

SEC. 308. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall issue regulations amending table 4 to subpart 

H of part 183 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (relating 

to Weights (Pounds) of Outboard Motor and Related Equipment 

for Various Boat Horsepower Ratings) as appropriate to reflect 

‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and Related Equipment Weights’’ 

published by the American Boat and Yacht Council, as in effect 

on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 309. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION REFORM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law 

and pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a trusted 

agent may issue a medical certificate to an individual who— 

‘‘(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a license, 

certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document, or 

endorsement thereto under this part; and 

46 USC 7509. 

Deadline. 

Regulations. 

Notification. 


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‘‘(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and physical condition 

to perform the duties of such license, certificate, document, 

or endorsement, as determined by the trusted agent. 

‘‘(b) PROCESS FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES BY SECRETARY.— A final rule implementing this section shall include a process for— 

‘‘(1) the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

Guard is operating to issue medical certificates to mariners 

who submit applications for such certificates to the Secretary; 

and 

‘‘(2) a trusted agent to defer to the Secretary the issuance 

of a medical certificate. 

‘‘(c) TRUSTED AGENT DEFINED.—In this section the term ‘trusted 

agent’ means a medical practitioner certified by the Secretary to 

perform physical examinations of an individual for purposes of 

a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document 

under this part.’’. 

(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule implementing 

section 7509 of title 46, United States Code, as added by this 

section. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.’’. 

SEC. 310. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY. 

(a) ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY.—Not later 

than April 1, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

conclude the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study and submit 

the results of such study to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

(b) NANTUCKET SOUND.—Not later than December 1, 2016, 

the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall complete and submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a port access route study of Nantucket 

Sound using the standards and methodology of the Atlantic Coast 

Port Access Route Study, to determine whether the Coast Guard 

should revise existing regulations to improve navigation safety in 

Nantucket Sound due to factors such as increased vessel traffic, 

changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational 

difficulty in the vicinity. 

SEC. 311. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR RECREATIONAL 

VESSELS. 

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall issue regulations that— 

(1) make certificates of documentation for recreational vessels effective for 5 years; and 

(2) require the owner of such a vessel— 

(A) to notify the Coast Guard of each change in the 

information on which the issuance of the certificate of 

documentation is based, that occurs before the expiration 

of the certificate; and 

Notification. 

Deadlines. 

Regulations. 

46 USC 12105 

note. 

Deadlines. 

46 USC 

7501 prec. 

Regulations. 

46 USC 7509 

note. 

Regulations. 


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(B) apply for a new certificate of documentation for 

such a vessel if there is any such change. 

SEC. 312. PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment this 

Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 

(1) develop guidelines to implement the program authorized 

under section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and Maritime 

Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241), including 

specific actions to ensure the future availability of able and 

credentialed United States licensed and unlicensed seafarers 

including— 

(A) incentives to encourage partnership agreements 

with operators of foreign-flag vessels that carry liquified 

natural gas, that provide no less than one training billet 

per vessel for United States merchant mariners in order 

to meet minimum mandatory sea service requirements; 

(B) development of appropriate training curricula for 

use by public and private maritime training institutions 

to meet all United States merchant mariner license, certification, and document laws and requirements under the 

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and 

(C) steps to promote greater outreach and awareness 

of additional job opportunities for sea service veterans of 

the United States Armed Forces; and 

(2) submit such guidelines to the Committee Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate. 

SEC. 313. REPEALS. 

(a) REPEALS, MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.—Sections 601 

through 606, 608 through 611, 613 through 616, 802, and 809 

of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) are 

repealed. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 575 of title 46, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(1) in section 57501, by striking ‘‘titles V and VI’’ and 

inserting ‘‘title V’’; and 

(2) in section 57531(a), by striking ‘‘titles V and VI’’ and 

inserting ‘‘title V’’. 

(c) TRANSFER FROM MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 801 of the Merchant Marine Act, 

1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) is— 

(A) redesignated as section 57522 of title 46, United 

States Code, and transferred to appear after section 57521 

of such title; and 

(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is amended— 

(i) by striking so much as precedes the first sentence and inserting the following: 

‘‘§ 57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection 

and auditing’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘the provision of title VI or VII 

of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this chapter’’; and 

(iii) by striking ‘‘: Provided, That’’ and all that 

follows through ‘‘Commission’’. 

Deadline. 

33 USC 1503 

note. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 59 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 575, 

of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

the item relating to section 57521 the following: 

‘‘57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection and auditing.’’. 

(d) REPEALS, TITLE 46, U.S.C.—Section 8103 of title 46, United 

States Code, is amended in subsections (c) and (d) by striking 

‘‘or operating’’ each place it appears. 

SEC. 314. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT. 

(a) PROHIBITIONS.—Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) PROHIBITIONS.—While on board a covered vessel, an individual may not knowingly or intentionally— 

‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, or possess with intent to 

manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance; 

‘‘(2) destroy (including jettisoning any item or scuttling, 

burning, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or attempt or conspire 

to destroy, property that is subject to forfeiture under section 

511(a) of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a)); or 

‘‘(3) conceal, or attempt or conspire to conceal, more than $100,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the 

person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, or compartment of or 

aboard the covered vessel if that vessel is outfitted for smuggling.’’. 

(b) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—Section 70503 of title 46, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—In this section the term ‘covered vessel’ means— 

‘‘(1) a vessel of the United States or a vessel subject to 

the jurisdiction of the United States; or 

‘‘(2) any other vessel if the individual is a citizen of the 

United States or a resident alien of the United States.’’. 

(c) PENALTIES.—Section 70506 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘A person violating section 

70503’’ and inserting ‘‘A person violating paragraph (1) of section 70503(a)’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(d) PENALTY.—A person violating paragraph (2) or (3) of section 

70503(a) shall be fined in accordance with section 3571 of title 

18, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.’’. 

(d) SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE.—Section 70507(a) of title 46, 

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 70503’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 70503 or 70508’’. 

(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) The heading of section 70503 of title 46, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 70503. Prohibited acts’’ 

(2) The analysis for chapter 705 of title 46, United States 

Code, is further amended by striking the item relating to section 

70503 and inserting the following: 

‘‘70503. Prohibited acts.’’. 

46 USC 

70501 prec. 

46 USC 

57501 prec. 


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130 STAT. 60 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

SEC. 315. EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS. 

(a) DISCLOSURE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States 

Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials 

‘‘(a) DISCLOSURE NOT REQUIRED.—Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, the Secretary is not required to disclose to the 

public— 

‘‘(1) a question from any examination for a merchant mariner credential; 

‘‘(2) the answer to such a question, including any correct 

or incorrect answer that may be presented with such question; 

and 

‘‘(3) any quality or characteristic of such a question, 

including— 

‘‘(A) the manner in which such question has been, 

is, or may be selected for an examination; 

‘‘(B) the frequency of such selection; and 

‘‘(C) the frequency that an examinee correctly or incorrectly answered such question. 

‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN QUESTIONS.—Notwithstanding 

subsection (a), the Secretary may, for the purpose of preparation 

by the general public for examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, release an examination question and answer that 

the Secretary has retired or is not presently on or part of an 

examination, or that the Secretary determines is appropriate for 

release. 

‘‘(c) EXAM REVIEW.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

2015, and once every two years thereafter, the Commandant 

of the Coast Guard shall commission a working group to review 

new questions for inclusion in examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, composed of— 

‘‘(A) 1 subject matter expert from the Coast Guard; 

‘‘(B) representatives from training facilities and the 

maritime industry, of whom— 

‘‘(i) one-half shall be representatives from approved 

training facilities; and 

‘‘(ii) one-half shall be representatives from the 

appropriate maritime industry; 

‘‘(C) at least 1 representative from the Merchant 

Marine Personnel Advisory Committee; 

‘‘(D) at least 2 representatives from the State maritime 

academies, of whom one shall be a representative from 

the deck training track and one shall be a representative 

of the engine license track; 

‘‘(E) representatives from other Coast Guard Federal 

advisory committees, as appropriate, for the industry segment associated with the subject examinations; 

‘‘(F) at least 1 subject matter expert from the Maritime 

Administration; and 

‘‘(G) at least 1 human performance technology representative. 

Deadlines. 

Establishment. 

46 USC 7510. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 61 

‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF PERSONS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT EXAMINATION TYPE.—The working group shall include representatives knowledgeable about the examination type under review. 

‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The requirement to convene a working 

group under paragraph (1) does not apply unless there are 

new examination questions to review. 

‘‘(4) BASELINE REVIEW.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

2015, the Secretary shall convene the working group to 

complete a baseline review of the Coast Guard’s Merchant 

Mariner Credentialing Examination, including review of— 

‘‘(i) the accuracy of examination questions; 

‘‘(ii) the accuracy and availability of examination 

references; 

‘‘(iii) the length of merchant mariner examinations; 

and 

‘‘(iv) the use of standard technologies in administering, scoring, and analyzing the examinations. 

‘‘(B) PROGRESS REPORT.—The Coast Guard shall provide a progress report to the appropriate congressional 

committees on the review under this paragraph. 

‘‘(5) FULL MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED.—The Coast Guard 

may convene the working group without all members present 

if any non-Coast-Guard representative is present. 

‘‘(6) NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall 

require all members of the working group to sign a nondisclosure agreement with the Secretary. 

‘‘(7) TREATMENT OF MEMBERS AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 

A member of the working group who is not a Federal Government employee shall not be considered a Federal employee 

in the service or the employment of the Federal Government, 

except that such a member shall be considered a special government employee, as defined in section 202(a) of title 18 for 

purposes of sections 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of such title 

and shall be subject to any administrative standards of conduct 

applicable to an employee of the department in which the 

Coast Guard is operating. 

‘‘(8) FORMAL EXAM REVIEW.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the Coast Guard Performance Technology Center— 

‘‘(A) prioritizes the review of examinations required 

for merchant mariner credentials; and 

‘‘(B) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 

of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, completes 

a formal review, including an appropriate analysis, of the 

topics and testing methodology employed by the National 

Maritime Center for merchant seamen licensing. 

‘‘(9) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

App) shall not apply to any working group created under this 

section to review the Coast Guard’s merchant mariner 

credentialing examinations. 

‘‘(d) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner credential’ means a merchant 

seaman license, certificate, or document that the Secretary is 

authorized to issue pursuant to this title.’’. 

Deadlines. 

Deadline. 


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130 STAT. 62 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter 

is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.’’. 

(b) EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 71 of title 46, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 7116. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT FOR SAMPLE EXAMS.—The Secretary shall 

develop a sample merchant mariner credential examination and 

outline of merchant mariner examination topics on an annual basis. 

‘‘(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each sample examination and outline of topics developed under subsection (a) shall be readily available to the public. 

‘‘(c) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner credential’ has the meaning that 

term has in section 7510.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘7116. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.’’. 

(c) DISCLOSURE TO CONGRESS.—Nothing in this section may 

be construed to authorize the withholding of information from an 

appropriate inspector general, the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, or the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

SEC. 316. HIGHER VOLUME PORT AREA REGULATORY DEFINITION 

CHANGE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 710 of the Coast 

Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 

2986) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) HIGHER VOLUME PORTS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements of subparts D, F, and G of part 

155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, that apply to the 

higher volume port area for the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Port 

Angeles, Washington (including any water area within 50 nautical 

miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound, shall apply, in the 

same manner, and to the same extent, to the Strait of Juan de 

Fuca at Cape Flattery, Washington (including any water area within 

50 nautical miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of such section 

is amended by striking ‘‘the modification of the higher volume 

port area definition required by subsection (a).’’ and inserting 

‘‘higher volume port requirements made applicable under subsection 

(a).’’. 

SEC. 317. RECOGNITION OF PORT SECURITY ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES. 

Section 70108 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(f) RECOGNITION OF ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES.— 

‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF ASSESSMENTS.—For 

the purposes of this section and section 70109, the Secretary 

may treat an assessment that a foreign government (including, 

for the purposes of this subsection, an entity of or operating 

Applicability. 

Washington. 

46 USC 

7510 note. 

46 USC 

7101 prec. 

46 USC 7116. 

46 USC 

7501 prec. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 63 

under the auspices of the European Union) or international 

organization has conducted as an assessment that the Secretary 

has conducted for the purposes of subsection (a), provided that 

the Secretary certifies that the foreign government or international organization has— 

‘‘(A) conducted the assessment in accordance with subsection (b); and 

‘‘(B) provided the Secretary with sufficient information 

pertaining to its assessment (including, but not limited 

to, information on the outcome of the assessment). 

‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.—For 

the purposes of this section and section 70109, the Secretary, 

in consultation with the Secretary of State, may enter into 

an agreement with a foreign government (including, for the 

purposes of this subsection, an entity of or operating under 

the auspices of the European Union) or international organization, under which parties to the agreement— 

‘‘(A) conduct an assessment, required under subsection 

(a); 

‘‘(B) share information pertaining to such assessment 

(including, but not limited to, information on the outcome 

of the assessment); or 

‘‘(C) both. 

‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to— 

‘‘(A) require the Secretary to recognize an assessment 

that a foreign government or an international organization 

has conducted; or 

‘‘(B) limit the discretion or ability of the Secretary 

to conduct an assessment under this section. 

‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days 

before entering into an agreement or arrangement with a foreign government under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify 

the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the proposed terms of such agreement 

or arrangement.’’. 

SEC. 318. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL CERTIFICATION. 

(a) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS.—Section 

4503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting 

‘‘this subsection’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘This section’’ and inserting 

‘‘Except as provided in subsection (d), subsection (a)’’; 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘This section’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except 

as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (a)’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) Subsection (a) does not apply to a fishing vessel or fish 

tender vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title applies, if the 

vessel— 

‘‘(A) is at least 50 feet overall in length, and not more 

than 79 feet overall in length as listed on the vessel’s certificate 

of documentation or certificate of number; and 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 


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130 STAT. 64 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘(B)(i) is built after the date of the enactment of the Coast 

Guard Authorization Act of 2015; and 

‘‘(ii) complies with— 

‘‘(I) the requirements described in subsection (e); or 

‘‘(II) the alternative requirements established by the 

Secretary under subsection (f).’’; and 

(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g), and 

inserting after subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(e) The requirements referred to in subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii)(I) 

are the following: 

‘‘(1) The vessel is designed by an individual licensed by 

a State as a naval architect or marine engineer, and the design 

incorporates standards equivalent to those prescribed by a 

classification society to which the Secretary has delegated 

authority under section 3316 or another qualified organization 

approved by the Secretary for purposes of this paragraph. 

‘‘(2) Construction of the vessel is overseen and certified 

as being in accordance with its design by a marine surveyor 

of an organization accepted by the Secretary. 

‘‘(3) The vessel— 

‘‘(A) completes a stability test performed by a qualified 

individual; 

‘‘(B) has written stability and loading instructions from 

a qualified individual that are provided to the owner or 

operator; and 

‘‘(C) has an assigned loading mark. 

‘‘(4) The vessel is not substantially altered without the 

review and approval of an individual licensed by a State as 

a naval architect or marine engineer before the beginning of 

such substantial alteration. 

‘‘(5) The vessel undergoes a condition survey at least twice 

in 5 years, not to exceed 3 years between surveys, to the 

satisfaction of a marine surveyor of an organization accepted 

by the Secretary. 

‘‘(6) The vessel undergoes an out-of-water survey at least 

once every 5 years to the satisfaction of a certified marine 

surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary. 

‘‘(7) Once every 5 years and at the time of a substantial 

alteration to such vessel, compliance of the vessel with the 

requirements of paragraph (3) is reviewed and updated as 

necessary. 

‘‘(8) For the life of the vessel, the owner of the vessel 

maintains records to demonstrate compliance with this subsection and makes such records readily available for inspection 

by an official authorized to enforce this chapter. 

‘‘(f)(1) Not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment 

of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall 

submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that provides 

an analysis of the adequacy of the requirements under subsection 

(e) in maintaining the safety of the fishing vessels and fish tender 

vessels which are described in subsection (c)(2) and which comply 

with the requirements of subsection (e). 

‘‘(2) If the report required under this subsection includes a 

determination that the safety requirements under subsection (e) 

are not adequate or that additional safety measures are necessary, 

Determination. 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Analysis. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 65 

that the Secretary may establish an alternative safety compliance 

program for fishing vessels or fish tender vessels (or both) which 

are described in subsection (c)(2) and which comply with the requirements of subsection (e). 

‘‘(3) The alternative safety compliance program established 

under this subsection shall include requirements for— 

‘‘(A) vessel construction; 

‘‘(B) a vessel stability test; 

‘‘(C) vessel stability and loading instructions; 

‘‘(D) an assigned vessel loading mark; 

‘‘(E) a vessel condition survey at least twice in 5 years, 

not to exceed 3 years between surveys; 

‘‘(F) an out-of-water vessel survey at least once every 5 

years; 

‘‘(G) maintenance of records to demonstrate compliance 

with the program, and the availability of such records for 

inspection; and 

‘‘(H) such other aspects of vessel safety as the Secretary 

considers appropriate.’’. 

(b) GAO REPORT ON COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 

United States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate a report on commercial fishing vessel safety. The report 

shall include— 

(A) national and regional trends that can be identified 

with respect to rates of marine casualties, human injuries, 

and deaths aboard or involving fishing vessels greater than 

79 feet in length that operate beyond the 3-nautical-mile 

demarcation line; 

(B) a comparison of United States regulations for classification of fishing vessels to those established by other 

countries, including the vessel length at which such regulations apply; 

(C) the additional costs imposed on vessel owners as 

a result of the requirement in section 4503(a) of title 46, 

United States Code, and how the those costs vary in relation to vessel size and from region to region; 

(D) savings that result from the application of the 

requirement in section 4503(a) of title 46, United States 

Code, including reductions in insurance rates or reduction 

in the number of fishing vessels or fish tender vessels 

lost to major safety casualties, nationally and regionally; 

(E) a national and regional comparison of the additional costs and safety benefits associated with fishing vessels or fish tender vessels that are built and maintained 

to class through a classification society to the additional 

costs and safety benefits associated with fishing vessels 

or fish tender vessels that are built to standards equivalent 

to classification society construction standards and maintained to standards equivalent to classification society 

standards with verification by independent surveyors; and 

(F) the impact on the cost of production and availability 

of qualified shipyards, nationally and regionally, resulting 


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130 STAT. 66 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

from the application of the requirement in section 4503(a) 

of title 46, United States Code. 

(2) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In preparing the report 

under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— 

(A) consult with owners and operators of fishing vessels 

or fish tender vessels, classification societies, shipyards, 

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 

the National Transportation Safety Board, the Coast 

Guard, academics, naval architects, and marine safety nongovernmental organizations; and 

(B) obtain relevant data from the Coast Guard 

including data collected from enforcement actions, 

boardings, investigations of marine casualties, and serious 

marine incidents. 

(3) TREATMENT OF DATA.—In preparing the report under 

paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— 

(A) disaggregate data regionally for each of the regions 

managed by the regional fishery management councils 

established under section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 

1852), the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 

the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the 

Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; and 

(B) include qualitative data on the types of fishing 

vessels or fish tender vessels included in the report. 

SEC. 319. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(a)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act 

of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761(a)(3)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘Minerals Management Service’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 

the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,’’; and 

(2) by inserting ‘‘the United States Arctic Research 

Commission,’’ after ‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration,’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 7001 of the Oil Pollution 

Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Department of Transportation’’ and 

inserting ‘‘department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

and 

(2) in subsection (c)(8)(A), by striking ‘‘(1989)’’ and inserting 

‘‘(2010)’’. 

SEC. 320. INTERNATIONAL PORT AND FACILITY INSPECTION 

COORDINATION. 

Section 825(a) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 

(6 U.S.C. 945 note; Public Law 111–281) is amended in the matter 

preceding paragraph (1)— 

(1) by striking ‘‘the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating’’ and inserting ‘‘Homeland Security’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘they are integrated and conducted by the 

Coast Guard’’ and inserting ‘‘the assessments are coordinated 

between the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection’’. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 67 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

COMMISSION 

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 308. Authorization of appropriations 

‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Maritime 

Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 

for the activities of the Commission authorized under this chapter 

and subtitle IV.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 3 of title 

46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

following: 

‘‘308. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 

Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, is 

amended— 

(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘units, but only after consultation with the other Commissioners;’’ and inserting ‘‘units (with 

such appointments subject to the approval of the Commission);’’; 

(2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(vi) prepare and submit to the President and the 

Congress requests for appropriations for the Commission (with such requests subject to the approval of 

the Commission).’’. 

SEC. 403. PROHIBITION ON AWARDS. 

Section 307 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘The Federal Maritime Commission’’ and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Maritime Commission’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Federal 

Maritime Commission may not expend any funds appropriated or 

otherwise made available to it to a non-Federal entity to issue 

an award, prize, commendation, or other honor that is not related 

to the purposes set forth in section 40101.’’. 

TITLE V—CONVEYANCES 

Subtitle A—Miscellaneous Conveyances 

SEC. 501. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN POINT REYES 

STATION, CALIFORNIA. 

(a) CONVEYANCE.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard 

shall convey to the County of Marin, California all right, title, 

46 USC 

301 prec. 

46 USC 308. 


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and interest of the United States in and to the covered property— 

(A) for fair market value, as provided in paragraph 

(2); 

(B) subject to the conditions required by this section; 

and 

(C) subject to any other term or condition that the 

Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests of the United States. 

(2) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of the 

covered property shall be— 

(A) determined by a real estate appraiser who has 

been selected by the County and is licensed to practice 

in California; and 

(B) approved by the Commandant. 

(3) PROCEEDS.—The Commandant shall deposit the proceeds from a conveyance under paragraph (1) in the Coast 

Guard Housing Fund established by section 687 of title 14, 

United States Code. 

(b) CONDITION OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition of any conveyance of the covered property under this section, the Commandant 

shall require that all right, title, and interest in and to the covered 

property shall revert to the United States if the covered property 

or any part thereof ceases to be used for affordable housing, as 

defined by the County and the Commandant at the time of conveyance, or to provide a public benefit approved by the County. 

(c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description of the 

covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to 

the Commandant. 

(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may 

be construed to affect or limit the application of or obligation 

to comply with any environmental law, including section 120(h) 

of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 

Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

(e) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 32 acres of real property (including all improvements located on the property) that are— 

(1) located in Point Reyes Station in the County of Marin, 

California; 

(2) under the administrative control of the Coast Guard; 

and 

(3) described as ‘‘Parcel A, Tract 1’’, ‘‘Parcel B, Tract 2’’, 

‘‘Parcel C’’, and ‘‘Parcel D’’ in the Declaration of Taking (Civil 

No. C 71–1245 SC) filed June 28, 1971, in the United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California. 

(f) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the covered property 

under this section shall expire on the date that is four years 

after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 502. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN TOK, ALASKA. 

(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of the Coast 

Guard may convey to the Tanana Chiefs’ Conference all right, 

title, and interest of the United States in and to the covered 

property, upon payment to the United States of the fair market 

value of the covered property. 


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(b) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description of the 

covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to 

the Commandant. 

(c) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of the covered 

property shall be— 

(1) determined by appraisal; and 

(2) subject to the approval of the Commandant. 

(d) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate transaction and 

environmental documentation costs, associated with a conveyance 

under this section shall be determined by the Commandant and 

the purchaser. 

(e) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Commandant 

may require such additional terms and conditions in connection 

with a conveyance under this section as the Commandant considers 

appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests of the United 

States. 

(f) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received by the United 

States from a conveyance under this section shall be deposited 

in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established under section 687 

of title 14, United States Code. 

(g) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 3.25 acres of real property 

(including all improvements located on the property) that are— 

(A) located in Tok, Alaska; 

(B) under the administrative control of the Coast 

Guard; and 

(C) described in paragraph (2). 

(2) DESCRIPTION.—The property described in this paragraph is the following: 

(A) Lots 11, 12 and 13, block ‘‘G’’, Second Addition 

to Hartsell Subdivision, Section 20, Township 18 North, 

Range 13 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska as appears 

by Plat No. 72–39 filed in the Office of the Recorder for 

the Fairbanks Recording District of Alaska, bearing seal 

dated 25 September 1972, all containing approximately 

1.25 acres and commonly known as 2–PLEX – Jackie Circle, 

Units A and B. 

(B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the 

SE 1⁄4 of the SE 1⁄4 Section 24, Township 18 North, Range 

12 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska; thence running 

westerly along the south line of said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1⁄4 260 feet; thence northerly parallel to the east line of 

said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1⁄4 335 feet; thence easterly parallel 

to the south line 260 feet; then south 335 feet along the 

east boundary of Section 24 to the point of beginning; 

all containing approximately 2.0 acres and commonly 

known as 4–PLEX – West ‘‘C’’ and Willow, Units A, B, 

C and D. 

(h) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the covered property 

under this section shall expire on the date that is 4 years after 

the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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Subtitle B—Pribilof Islands 

SEC. 521. SHORT TITLE. 

This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Pribilof Island Transition 

Completion Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 522. TRANSFER AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY. 

(a) TRANSFER.—To further accomplish the settlement of land 

claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

1601 et seq.), the Secretary of Commerce shall, subject to paragraph 

(2), and notwithstanding section 105(a) of the Pribilof Islands 

Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562), convey 

all right, title, and interest in the following property to the Alaska 

native village corporation for St. Paul Island: 

(1) Lots 4, 5, and 6A, Block 18, Tract A, U.S. Survey 

4943, Alaska, the plat of which was Officially Filed on January 

20, 2004, aggregating 13,006 square feet (0.30 acres). 

(2) On the termination of the license described in subsection 

(b)(3), T. 35 S., R. 131 W., Seward Meridian, Alaska, Tract 

43, the plat of which was Officially Filed on May 14, 1986, 

containing 84.88 acres. 

(b) FEDERAL USE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may operate, maintain, keep, 

locate, inspect, repair, and replace any Federal aid to navigation 

located on the property described in subsection (a) as long 

as the aid is needed for navigational purposes. 

(2) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 

Secretary may enter the property, at any time for as long 

as the aid is needed for navigational purposes, without notice 

to the extent that it is not practicable to provide advance 

notice. 

(3) LICENSE.—The Secretary of the Department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may maintain a license in effect 

on the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to the 

real property and improvements under subsection (a) until 

the termination of the license. 

(4) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 

the enactment of this Act and not less than once every 2 

years thereafter, the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee 

on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate a report on— 

(A) efforts taken to remediate contaminated soils on 

tract 43 described in subsection (a)(2); 

(B) a schedule for the completion of contaminated soil 

remediation on tract 43; and 

(C) any use of tract 43 to carry out Coast Guard 

navigation activities. 

(c) AGREEMENT ON TRANSFER OF OTHER PROPERTY ON ST. PAUL

ISLAND.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the property transferred 

under subsection (a), not later than 60 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and 

the presiding officer of the Alaska native village corporation 

Deadline. 

16 USC 1151 

note. 

Pribilof Island 

Transition 

Completion Act 

of 2015. 


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for St. Paul Island shall enter into an agreement to exchange 

of property on Tracts 50 and 38 on St. Paul Island and to 

finalize the recording of deeds, to reflect the boundaries and 

ownership of Tracts 50 and 38 as depicted on a survey of 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be 

filed with the Office of the Recorder for the Department of 

Natural Resources for the State of Alaska. 

(2) EASEMENTS.—The survey described in subsection (a) 

shall include respective easements granted to the Secretary 

and the Alaska native village corporation for the purpose of 

utilities, drainage, road access, and salt lagoon conservation. 

SEC. 523. NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION. 

Section 105 of the Pribilof Islands Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 

1161 note; Public Law 106–562) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding paragraph (2) and effective beginning on the date the Secretary publishes the notice of certification required by subsection (b)(5), the Secretary’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘section 205 of 

the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1165)’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 205(a) of the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 

1165(a))’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(5) NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall 

promptly publish and submit to the Committee on Natural 

Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate notice 

that the certification described in paragraph (2) has been 

made.’’; and 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 

‘‘makes the certification described in subsection (b)(2)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘publishes the notice of certification required by 

subsection (b)(5)’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Section 205’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of section 205’’; 

(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and 

(5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(e) NOTIFICATIONS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (f) that land 

on St. Paul Island, Alaska, not specified for transfer in the 

document entitled ‘Transfer of Property on the Pribilof Islands: 

Descriptions, Terms and Conditions’ or section 522 of the 

Pribilof Island Transition Completion Act of 2015 is in excess 

of the needs of the Secretary and the Federal Government, 

the Secretary shall notify the Alaska native village corporation 

for St. Paul Island of the determination. 

‘‘(2) ELECTION TO RECEIVE.—Not later than 60 days after 

the date receipt of the notification of the Secretary under subsection (a), the Alaska native village corporation for St. Paul 

Island shall notify the Secretary in writing whether the Alaska 

native village corporation elects to receive all right, title, and 

interest in the land or a portion of the land. 

Deadlines. 

Publication. 

Effective date. 


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‘‘(3) TRANSFER.—If the Alaska native village corporation 

provides notice under paragraph (2) that the Alaska native 

village corporation elects to receive all right, title and interest 

in the land or a portion of the land, the Secretary shall transfer 

all right, title, and interest in the land or portion to the Alaska 

native village corporation at no cost. 

‘‘(4) OTHER DISPOSITION.—If the Alaska native village corporation does not provide notice under paragraph (2) that the 

Alaska native village corporation elects to receive all right, 

title, and interest in the land or a portion of the land, the 

Secretary may dispose of the land in accordance with other 

applicable law. 

‘‘(f) DETERMINATION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this subsection and not less than once 

every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall determine whether 

property located on St. Paul Island and not transferred to 

the Natives of the Pribilof Islands is in excess of the smallest 

practicable tract enclosing land— 

‘‘(A) needed by the Secretary for the purposes of carrying out the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et 

seq.); 

‘‘(B) in the case of land withdrawn by the Secretary 

on behalf of other Federal agencies, needed for carrying 

out the missions of those agencies for which land was 

withdrawn; or 

‘‘(C) actually used by the Federal Government in 

connection with the administration of any Federal installation on St. Paul Island. 

‘‘(2) REPORT OF DETERMINATION.—When a determination 

is made under subsection (a), the Secretary shall report the 

determination to— 

‘‘(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

of Representatives; 

‘‘(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate; and 

‘‘(C) the Alaska native village corporation for St. Paul 

Island.’’. 

SEC. 524. REDUNDANT CAPABILITY. 

(a) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Except as provided in subsection 

(b), section 681 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 

this Act, shall not be construed to prohibit any transfer or conveyance of lands under this subtitle or any actions that involve the 

dismantling or disposal of infrastructure that supported the former 

LORAN system that are associated with the transfer or conveyance 

of lands under section 522. 

(b) REDUNDANT CAPABILITY.—If, within the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines 

that a facility on Tract 43, if transferred under this subtitle, is 

subsequently required to provide a positioning, navigation, and 

timing system to provide redundant capability in the event GPS 

signals are disrupted, the Secretary may— 

(1) operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, repair, and 

replace such facility; and 

Deadline. 

Time period. 

Effective date. 

Determination. 

Deadlines. 


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(2) in carrying out the activities described in paragraph 

(1), enter, at any time, the facility without notice to the extent 

that it is not possible to provide advance notice, for as long 

as such facility is needed to provide such capability. 

Subtitle C—Conveyance of Coast Guard 

Property at Point Spencer, Alaska 

SEC. 531. FINDINGS. 

The Congress finds as follows: 

(1) Major shipping traffic is increasing through the Bering 

Strait, the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and the Arctic Ocean, 

and will continue to increase whether or not development of 

the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States is undertaken 

in the future, and will increase further if such Outer Continental Shelf development is undertaken. 

(2) There is a compelling national, State, Alaska Native, 

and private sector need for permanent infrastructure development and for a presence in the Arctic region of Alaska by 

appropriate agencies of the Federal Government, particularly 

in proximity to the Bering Strait, to support and facilitate 

search and rescue, shipping safety, economic development, oil 

spill prevention and response, protection of Alaska Native 

archaeological and cultural resources, port of refuge, arctic 

research, and maritime law enforcement on the Bering Sea, 

the Chukchi Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. 

(3) The United States owns a parcel of land, known as 

Point Spencer, located between the Bering Strait and Port 

Clarence and adjacent to some of the best potential deepwater 

port sites on the coast of Alaska in the Arctic. 

(4) Prudent and effective use of Point Spencer may be 

best achieved through marshaling the energy, resources, and 

leadership of the public and private sectors. 

(5) It is in the national interest to develop infrastructure 

at Point Spencer that would aid the Coast Guard in performing 

its statutory duties and functions in the Arctic on a more 

permanent basis and to allow for public and private sector 

development of facilities and other infrastructure to support 

purposes that are of benefit to the United States. 

SEC. 532. DEFINITIONS. 

In this subtitle: 

(1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the meaning given that 

term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act 

of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

(2) BSNC.—The term ‘‘BSNC’’ means the Bering Straits 

Native Corporation authorized under section 7 of the Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606). 

(3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the Port 

Coordination Council established under section 541. 

(4) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the Port Management 

Coordination Plan developed under section 541. 

(5) POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Point Spencer’’ means the 

land known as ‘‘Point Spencer’’ located in Townships 2, 3, 

and 4 South, Range 40 West, Kateel River Meridian, Alaska, 

between the Bering Strait and Port Clarence and withdrawn 


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130 STAT. 74 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

by Public Land Order 2650 (published in the Federal Register 

on April 12, 1962). 

(6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise specifically provided, 

the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the department 

in which the Coast Guard is operating. 

(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Alaska. 

(8) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ or ‘‘Tracts’’ means any of 

Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, as 

appropriate, or any portion of such Tract or Tracts. 

(9) TRACTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6.—The terms ‘‘Tract 1’’, ‘‘Tract 

2’’, ‘‘Tract 3’’, ‘‘Tract 4’’, ‘‘Tract 5’’, and ‘‘Tract 6’’ each mean 

the land generally depicted as Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 

4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, respectively, on the map entitled the 

‘‘Point Spencer Land Retention and Conveyance Map’’, dated 

January 2015, and on file with the Department of Homeland 

Security and the Department of the Interior. 

SEC. 533. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY LAND IN POINT SPENCER. 

(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 1, 3, AND 4.—Within 1 

year after the Secretary notifies the Secretary of the Interior that 

the Coast Guard no longer needs to retain jurisdiction of Tract 

1, Tract 3, or Tract 4 and subject to section 534, the Secretary 

of the Interior shall convey to BSNC or the State, subject to valid 

existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States 

in and to the surface and subsurface estates of that Tract in 

accordance with subsection (d). 

(b) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 2 AND 5.—Within 1 year 

after the date of the enactment of this section and subject to 

section 534, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject 

to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 

States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 2 

and Tract 5 in accordance with subsection (d). 

(c) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TRACT 6.—Within one year after 

the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to sections 534 

and 535, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to 

valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 

States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 6 

in accordance with subsection (e). 

(d) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, OR 5.— 

(1) DETERMINATION AND OFFER.— 

(A) TRACT 1, 3, OR 4.—If the Secretary makes the 

determination under subsection (a) and subject to section 

534, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 1, Tract 

3, or Tract 4 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

(B) TRACT 2 AND 5.—Subject to section 534, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 2 and Tract 5 to 

BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

(43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

(2) OFFER TO BSNC.— 

(A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.—If BSNC chooses to accept 

an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary of the Interior shall consider Tract 6 as 

within BSNC’s entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)) 

and shall convey such Tract to BSNC. 

Notification. 

Deadlines. 


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(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines to accept 

an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary of the Interior shall offer such Tract for 

conveyance to the State under the Act of July 7, 1958 

(commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 

U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508). 

(3) OFFER TO STATE.— (A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State chooses to 

accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph 

(2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider such 

Tract as within the State’s entitlement under the Act of 

July 7, 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood 

Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508) and 

shall convey such Tract to the State. 

(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State declines to accept 

an offer of conveyance of a Tract offered under paragraph 

(2)(B), such Tract shall be disposed of pursuant to 

applicable public land laws. 

(e) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 6.— 

(1) OFFER.—Subject to section 534, the Secretary of the 

Interior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to the State. 

(2) OFFER TO STATE.— 

(A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State chooses to 

accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider Tract 6 

as within the State’s entitlement under the Act of July 

7, 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) 

(48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508) and shall 

convey Tract 6 to the State. 

(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State declines to accept 

an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

(3) OFFER TO BSNC.— (A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), if BSNC 

chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 

under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior 

shall consider Tract 6 as within BSNC’s entitlement 

under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Native Claims 

Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey 

Tract 6 to BSNC. 

(ii) LEASE BY THE STATE.—The conveyance of Tract 

6 to BSNC shall be subject to BSNC negotiating a 

lease of Tract 6 to the State at no cost to the State, 

if the State requests such a lease. 

(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines to accept 

an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph (2)(B), 

the Secretary of the Interior shall dispose of Tract 6 pursuant to the applicable public land laws. 

SEC. 534. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, LIABILITY, AND MONITORING. 

(a) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.—Nothing in this Act or any 

amendment made by this Act may be construed to affect or limit 

the application of or obligation to comply with any applicable 

42 USC 9620 

note. 


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environmental law, including section 120(h) of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 

(42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

(b) LIABILITY.—A person to which a conveyance is made under 

this subtitle shall hold the United States harmless from any liability 

with respect to activities carried out on or after the date of the 

conveyance of the real property conveyed. The United States shall 

remain responsible for any liability with respect to activities carried 

out before such date on the real property conveyed. 

(c) MONITORING OF KNOWN CONTAMINATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent practicable and subject 

to paragraph (2), any contamination in a Tract to be conveyed 

to the State or BSNC under this subtitle that— 

(A) is identified in writing prior to the conveyance; 

and 

(B) does not pose an immediate or long-term risk to 

human health or the environment; 

may be routinely monitored and managed by the State or 

BSNC, as applicable, through institutional controls. 

(2) INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS.—Institutional controls may 

be used if— 

(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

Agency and the Governor of the State concur that such 

controls are protective of human health and the environment; and 

(B) such controls are carried out in accordance with 

Federal and State law. 

SEC. 535. EASEMENTS AND ACCESS. 

(a) USE BY COAST GUARD.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 

make each conveyance of any relevant Tract under this subtitle 

subject to an easement granting the Coast Guard, at no cost to 

the Coast Guard— 

(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, airstrips, 

runways, and taxiways that are located on such Tract; and 

(2) the right to access such landing pads, airstrips, runways, and taxiways. 

(b) USE BY STATE.—For any Tract conveyed to BSNC under 

this subtitle, BSNC shall provide to the State, if requested and 

pursuant to negotiated terms with the State, an easement granting 

to the State, at no cost to the State— 

(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, airstrips, 

runways, and taxiways located on such Tract; and 

(2) a right to access such landing pads, airstrips, runways, 

and taxiways. 

(c) RIGHT OF ACCESS OR RIGHT OF WAY.—If the State requests 

a right of access or right of way for a road from the airstrip 

to the southern tip of Point Spencer, the location of such right 

of access or right of way shall be determined by the State, in 

consultation with the Secretary and BSNC, so that such right 

of access or right of way is compatible with other existing or 

planned infrastructure development at Point Spencer. 

(d) ACCESS EASEMENT ACROSS TRACTS 2, 5, AND 6.—In conveyance documents to the State and BSNC under this subtitle, the 

Coast Guard shall retain an access easement across Tracts 2, 5, 

and 6 reasonably necessary to afford the Coast Guard with access 

to Tracts 1, 3, and 4 for its operations. 


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(e) ACCESS.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Coast Guard shall provide to the State 

and BSNC, access to Tracts for planning, design, and engineering 

related to remediation and use of and construction on those Tracts. 

(f) PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS.—No public access easements 

may be reserved to the United States under section 17(b) of the 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)) with 

respect to the land conveyed under this subtitle. 

SEC. 536. RELATIONSHIP TO PUBLIC LAND ORDER 2650. 

(a) TRACTS NOT CONVEYED.—Any Tract that is not conveyed 

under this subtitle shall remain withdrawn pursuant to Public 

Land Order 2650 (published in the Federal Register on April 12, 

1962). 

(b) TRACTS CONVEYED.—For any Tract conveyed under this 

subtitle, Public Land Order 2650 shall automatically terminate 

upon issuance of a conveyance document issued pursuant to this 

subtitle for such Tract. 

SEC. 537. ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. 

Conveyance of any Tract under this subtitle shall not affect 

investigations, criminal jurisdiction, and responsibilities regarding 

theft or vandalism of archeological or cultural resources located 

in or on such Tract that took place prior to conveyance under 

this subtitle. 

SEC. 538. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS. 

(a) PREPARATION OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon 

as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Secretary shall 

prepare maps and legal descriptions of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 

3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and Tract 6. In doing so, the Secretary of 

the Interior may use metes and bounds legal descriptions based 

upon the official survey plats of Point Spencer accepted by the 

Bureau of Land Management on December 6, 1978, and on information provided by the Secretary. 

(b) SURVEY.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall survey 

Tracts conveyed under this subtitle and patent the Tracts in accordance with the official plats of survey. 

(c) LEGAL EFFECT.—The maps and legal descriptions prepared 

under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under subsection 

(b) shall have the same force and effect as if the maps and legal 

descriptions were included in this Act. 

(d) CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior may correct 

any clerical and typographical errors in the maps and legal descriptions prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under 

subsection (b). 

(e) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the maps and legal descriptions 

prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under 

subsection (b) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of— 

(1) the Bureau of Land Management; and 

(2) the Coast Guard. 

SEC. 539. CHARGEABILITY FOR LAND CONVEYED. 

(a) CONVEYANCES TO ALASKA.—The Secretary of the Interior 

shall charge any conveyance of land conveyed to the State of Alaska 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

Termination. 

Deadline. 


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130 STAT. 78 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

pursuant to this subtitle against the State’s remaining entitlement 

under section 6(b) of the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly known 

as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’; Public Law 85–508: 72 Stat. 339). 

(b) CONVEYANCES TO BSNC.—The Secretary of the Interior 

shall charge any conveyance of land conveyed to BSNC pursuant 

to this subtitle, against BSNC’s remaining entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

1613(h)(8)). 

SEC. 540. REDUNDANT CAPABILITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), section 

681 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall 

not be construed to prohibit any transfer or conveyance of lands 

under this subtitle or any actions that involve the dismantling 

or disposal of infrastructure that supported the former LORAN 

system that are associated with the transfer or conveyance of lands 

under this subtitle. 

(b) CONTINUED ACCESS TO AND USE OF FACILITIES.—If the 

Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

determines, within the 5-year period beginning on the date of 

the enactment of this Act, that a facility on any of Tract 1, Tract 

3, or Tract 4 that is transferred under this subtitle is subsequently 

required to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system 

to provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are disrupted, the Secretary may, for as long as such facility is needed 

to provide redundant capability— 

(1) operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, repair, and 

replace such facility; and 

(2) in carrying out the activities described in paragraph 

(1), enter, at any time, the facility without notice to the extent 

that it is not possible to provide advance notice. 

SEC. 541. PORT COORDINATION COUNCIL FOR POINT SPENCER. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Port Coordination 

Council for the Port of Point Spencer. 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of a representative 

appointed by each of the following: 

(1) The State. 

(2) BSNC. 

(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council are as follows: 

(1) To develop a Port Management Coordination Plan to 

help coordinate infrastructure development and operations at 

the Port of Point Spencer, that includes plans for— 

(A) construction; 

(B) funding eligibility; 

(C) land use planning and development; and 

(D) public interest use and access, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, protection of Alaska Native archaeological and cultural resources, and other matters that 

are necessary for public and private entities to function 

in proximity together in a remote location. 

(2) Update the Plan annually for the first 5 years after 

the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter. 

(3) Facilitate coordination among BSNC, the State, and 

the Coast Guard, on the development and use of the land 

and coastline as such development relates to activities at the 

Port of Point Spencer. 

Deadlines. 

Determination. 

Deadline. 

Time period. 

Effective date. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 79 

(4) Assess the need, benefits, efficacy, and desirability of 

establishing in the future a port authority at Point Spencer 

under State law and act upon that assessment, as appropriate, 

including taking steps for the potential formation of such a 

port authority. 

(d) PLAN.—In addition to the requirements under subsection 

(c)(1) to the greatest extent practicable, the Plan developed by 

the Council shall facilitate and support the statutory missions and 

duties of the Coast Guard and operations of the Coast Guard 

in the Arctic. 

(e) COSTS.—Operations and management costs for airstrips, 

runways, and taxiways at Point Spencer shall be determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan, as negotiated by the Council. 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

SEC. 601. MODIFICATION OF REPORTS. 

(a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421(d) of the Coast 

Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103 

note) is amended by striking ‘‘On March 1, 2007, and annually 

thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than July 1 of each year’’. 

(b) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABILITY.—Section 603(c)(3) 

of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (33 

U.S.C. 2704 note) is amended by striking ‘‘on an annual basis.’’ 

and inserting ‘‘not later than January 30 of the year following 

each year in which occurs an oil discharge from a vessel or nonvessel 

source that results or is likely to result in removal costs and 

damages (as those terms are defined in section 1001 of the Oil 

Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that exceed liability limits 

established under section 1004 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

(33 U.S.C. 2704).’’. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

submit to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

Guard is operating a report detailing the specifications and capabilities for interoperable communications the Commandant determines 

are necessary to allow the Coast Guard to successfully carry out 

its missions that require communications with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental entities. 

SEC. 602. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 

Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amended— 

(1) in section 610, by— 

(A) striking the section enumerator and heading and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES.’’; 

(B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any future 

expanded boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine 

Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of any national marine sanctuary that preserves shipwrecks or maritime heritage in the Great Lakes’’; and 

(C) inserting before the period at the end the following: 

‘‘, unless the designation documents for such sanctuary 

do not allow taking up or discharging ballast water in 

such sanctuary’’; and 

16 USC 1431 

note. 


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130 STAT. 80 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(2) in the table of contents in section 2, by striking the 

item relating to such section and inserting the following: 

‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’. 

SEC. 603. USE OF VESSEL SALE PROCEEDS. 

(a) AUDIT.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall 

conduct an audit of funds credited in each fiscal year after fiscal 

year 2004 to the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund that are attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve 

Fleet that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, 

and 57104 of title 46, United States Code, including— 

(1) a complete accounting of all vessel sale proceeds attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense 

Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 

57103, and 57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each 

fiscal year after fiscal year 2004; 

(2) the annual apportionment of proceeds accounted for 

under paragraph (1) among the uses authorized under section 

308704 of title 54, United States Code, in each fiscal year 

after fiscal year 2004, including— 

(A) for National Maritime Heritage Grants, including 

a list of all annual National Maritime Heritage Grant 

grant and subgrant awards that identifies the respective 

grant and subgrant recipients and grant and subgrant 

amounts; 

(B) for the preservation and presentation to the public 

of maritime heritage property of the Maritime Administration; 

(C) to the United States Merchant Marine Academy 

and State maritime academies, including a list of annual 

awards; and 

(D) for the acquisition, repair, reconditioning, or 

improvement of vessels in the National Defense Reserve 

Fleet; and 

(3) an accounting of proceeds, if any, attributable to the 

sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet 

that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, and 

57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each fiscal year after 

fiscal year 2004, that were expended for uses not authorized 

under section 308704 of title 54, United States Code. 

(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date of the enactment this Act, the Comptroller General shall 

submit the audit conducted in subsection (a) to the Committee 

on Armed Services, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate. 

SEC. 604. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES COST ASSESSMENT. 

(a) COST ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of the department in 

which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter into an 

arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which 

the Academy, by no later than 365 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, 

and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

Contracts. 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 81 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the costs incurred by the Federal Government to carry 

out polar icebreaking missions. The assessment shall— 

(1) describe current and emerging requirements for the 

Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking capabilities, taking into 

account the rapidly changing ice cover in the Arctic environment, national security considerations, and expanding commercial activities in the Arctic and Antarctic, including marine 

transportation, energy development, fishing, and tourism; 

(2) identify potential design, procurement, leasing, service 

contracts, crewing, and technology options that could minimize 

life-cycle costs and optimize efficiency and reliability of Coast 

Guard polar icebreaker operations in the Arctic and Antarctic; 

and 

(3) examine— 

(A) Coast Guard estimates of the procurement and 

operating costs of a Polar icebreaker capable of carrying 

out Coast Guard maritime safety, national security, and 

stewardship responsibilities including— 

(i) economies of scale that might be achieved for 

construction of multiple vessels; and 

(ii) costs of renovating existing polar class icebreakers to operate for a period of no less than 10 

years. 

(B) the incremental cost to augment the design of 

such an icebreaker for multiuse capabilities for scientific 

missions; 

(C) the potential to offset such incremental cost 

through cost-sharing agreements with other Federal 

departments and agencies; and 

(D) United States polar icebreaking capability in 

comparison with that of other Arctic nations, and with 

nations that conduct research in the Arctic. 

(b) INCLUDED COSTS.—For purposes of subsection (a), the 

assessment shall include costs incurred by the Federal Government 

for— 

(1) the lease or operation and maintenance of the vessel 

or vessels concerned; 

(2) disposal of such vessels at the end of the useful life 

of the vessels; 

(3) retirement and other benefits for Federal employees 

who operate such vessels; and 

(4) interest payments assumed to be incurred for Federal 

capital expenditures. 

(c) ASSUMPTIONS.—For purposes of comparing the costs of such 

alternatives, the Academy shall assume that— 

(1) each vessel under consideration is— 

(A) capable of breaking out McMurdo Station and conducting Coast Guard missions in the Antarctic, and in 

the United States territory in the Arctic (as that term 

is defined in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy 

Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111)); and 

(B) operated for a period of 30 years; 

(2) the acquisition of services and the operation of each 

vessel begins on the same date; and 

(3) the periods for conducting Coast Guard missions in 

the Arctic are of equal lengths. 

Examination. 


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130 STAT. 82 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

(d) USE OF INFORMATION.—In formulating cost pursuant to 

subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences may utilize 

information from other Coast Guard reports, assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast Guard Polar class icebreakers or 

for the acquisition of a polar icebreaker for the Federal Government. 

SEC. 605. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENTS. 

(a) ‘‘ELETTRA III’’.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 12112 and 

12132, of title 46, United States Code, and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel M/ 

V Elettra III (United States official number 694607). 

(2) LIMITATION ON OPERATION.—Coastwise trade authorized 

under a certificate of documentation issued under paragraph 

(1) shall be limited to the carriage of passengers and equipment 

in association with the operation of the vessel in the Puget 

Sound region to support marine and maritime science education. 

(3) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTIFICATE.—A 

certificate of documentation issued under paragraph (1) shall 

expire on the earlier of— 

(A) the date of the sale of the vessel or the entity 

that owns the vessel; 

(B) the date any repairs or alterations are made to 

the vessel outside of the United States; or 

(C) the date the vessel is no longer operated as a 

vessel in the Puget Sound region to support the marine 

and maritime science education. 

(b) ‘‘F/V RONDYS’’.—Notwithstanding section 12132 of title 46, 

United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the F/V Rondys (O.N. 291085) 

SEC. 606. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL. 

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 

Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, 

and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that 

describes the current operations to perform the International Ice 

Patrol mission and on alternatives for carrying out that mission, 

including satellite surveillance technology. 

(b) ALTERNATIVES.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 

include whether an alternative— 

(1) provides timely data on ice conditions with the highest 

possible resolution and accuracy; 

(2) is able to operate in all weather conditions or any 

time of day; and 

(3) is more cost effective than the cost of current operations. 

SEC. 607. ASSESSMENT OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in 

consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration and the head of any other agency 

Consultation. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 83 

the Commandant determines appropriate, shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of oil spill response activities specific 

to the Great Lakes. Such assessment shall include— 

(1) an evaluation of new research into oil spill impacts 

in fresh water under a wide range of conditions; and 

(2) an evaluation of oil spill prevention and clean up contingency plans, in order to improve understanding of oil spill 

impacts in the Great Lakes and foster innovative improvements 

to safety technologies and environmental protection systems. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard shall submit to the Congress a report on the results of 

the assessment required by subsection (a). 

SEC. 608. REPORT ON STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY DETECTING PASSENGERS WHO HAVE FALLEN OVERBOARD. 

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 

a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that— 

(1) describes the status of technology for immediately 

detecting passengers who have fallen overboard; 

(2) includes a recommendation to cruise lines on the feasibility of implementing technology that immediately detects passengers who have fallen overboard, factoring in cost and the 

risk of false positives; 

(3) includes data collected from cruise lines on the status 

of the integration of the technology described in paragraph 

(2) on cruise ships, including— 

(A) the number of cruise ships that have the technology 

to capture images of passengers who have fallen overboard; 

and 

(B) the number of cruise lines that have tested technology that can detect passengers who have fallen overboard; and 

(4) includes information on any other available technologies 

that cruise ships could integrate to assist in facilitating the 

search and rescue of a passenger who has fallen overboard. 

SEC. 609. VENUE. 

Section 311(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 

and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(d)) is amended by striking 

the second sentence and inserting ‘‘In the case of Hawaii or any 

possession of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, the appropriate 

court is the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, 

except that in the case of Guam and Wake Island, the appropriate 

court is the United States District Court for the District of Guam, 

and in the case of the Northern Mariana Islands, the appropriate 

court is the United States District Court for the District of the 

Northern Mariana Islands.’’. 

SEC. 610. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO E-LORAN. 

(a) DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

Recommendation. 

Evaluation. 


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130 STAT. 84 PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 

‘‘§ 681. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not carry out activities 

related to the dismantling or disposal of infrastructure comprising 

the LORAN–C system until the date on which the Secretary provides to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 

the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate notice of a determination by the Secretary that such infrastructure is not required 

to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide 

redundant capability in the event the Global Positioning System 

signals are disrupted. 

‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to activities 

necessary for the safety of human life. 

‘‘(c) DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On any date after the notification is 

made under subsection (a), the Administrator of General Services, acting on behalf of the Secretary, may, notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, sell any real and personal property 

under the administrative control of the Coast Guard and used 

for the LORAN–C system, subject to such terms and conditions 

that the Secretary believes to be necessary to protect government interests and program requirements of the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.— 

‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.—The proceeds of such 

sales, less the costs of sale incurred by the General Services 

Administration, shall be deposited as offsetting collections 

into the Coast Guard ‘Environmental Compliance and Restoration’ account and, without further appropriation, shall 

be available until expended for— 

‘‘(i) environmental compliance and restoration purposes associated with the LORAN–C system; 

‘‘(ii) the costs of securing and maintaining equipment that may be used as a backup to the Global 

Positioning System or to meet any other Federal 

navigation requirement; 

‘‘(iii) the demolition of improvements on such real 

property; and 

‘‘(iv) the costs associated with the sale of such 

real and personal property, including due diligence 

requirements, necessary environmental remediation, 

and reimbursement of expenses incurred by the General Services Administration. 

‘‘(B) OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.—After the completion of activities 

described in subparagraph (A), the unexpended balances 

of such proceeds shall be available for any other environmental compliance and restoration activities of the Coast 

Guard.’’ 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning 

of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘681. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN.’’. 

(3) CONFORMING REPEALS.— 

(A) Section 229 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 

and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

14 USC 

631 prec. 

Notification. 

Determination. 

14 USC 681. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016 130 STAT. 85 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4188 (S. 1611): 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–168 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) accompanying S. 1611. 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 161 (2015): Dec. 10, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Vol. 162 (2016): Feb. 1, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

281; 128 Stat. 3040), and the item relating to that section 

in section 2 of such Act, are repealed. 

(B) Subsection 559(e) of the Department of Homeland 

Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–83; 123 

Stat. 2180) is repealed. 

(b) AGREEMENTS TO DEVELOP BACKUP POSITIONING, NAVIGA- TION, AND TIMING SYSTEM.—Section 93(a) of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 

end of paragraph (23), by striking the period at the end of paragraph 

(24) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding at the end the following 

the following: 

‘‘(25) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and 

other agreements with Federal entities and other public or 

private entities, including academic entities, to develop a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide redundant 

capability in the event Global Positioning System signals are 

disrupted, which may consist of an enhanced LORAN system.’’. 

SEC. 611. PARKING. 

Section 611(a) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 

Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281; 128 Stat. 3064) 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—Through September 30, 2017, additional 

parking made available under paragraph (2) shall be made available 

at no cost to the Coast Guard or members and employees of the 

Coast Guard.’’. 

SEC. 612. INAPPLICABILITY OF LOAD LINE REQUIREMENTS TO CERTAIN UNITED STATES VESSELS TRAVELING IN THE GULF 

OF MEXICO. 

Section 5102(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(13) a vessel of the United States on a domestic voyage 

that is within the Gulf of Mexico and operating not more 

than 15 nautical miles seaward of the base line from which 

the territorial sea of the United States is measured between 

Crystal Bay, Florida and Hudson Creek, Florida.’’. 

Approved February 8, 2016. 


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