II 

Calendar No. 302 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1611 

[Report No. 114–168] 

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

2017, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 18, 2015 

Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. NELSON, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. SULLIVAN, and Mr. WICKER) introduced the following bill; which was read 

twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015 

Reported by Mr. THUNE, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 

years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015’’. 

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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; 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. Professional development. 

Sec. 204. Senior enlisted member continuation boards. 

Sec. 205. Coast Guard member pay. 

Sec. 206. Recall. 

Sec. 207. Exchange of medical goods and services. 

Sec. 208. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 

Sec. 209. Coast Guard communities. 

Sec. 210. Major acquisition programs. 

Sec. 211. Major acquisitions assessment. 

Sec. 212. Polar Icebreakers. 

Sec. 213. Participation of the Coast Guard Academy in Federal, State, or other 

educational research grants. 

Sec. 214. Venue. 

Sec. 215. National Coast Guard Museum. 

Sec. 216. Investigations. 

Sec. 217. Technical and clerical amendments to title 14, United States Code. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Whistleblower protections. 

Sec. 302. Maritime drug law enforcement. 

Sec. 303. Carriage of liquid dangerous cargo. 

Sec. 304. Maritime transportation of hazardous material. 

Sec. 305. Recreational vessel operator education. 

Sec. 306. Nondisclosure of certain information. 

Sec. 307. Higher volume port area regulatory definition change. 

Sec. 308. Recognition of port security assessments conducted by other entities. 

Sec. 309. Model years for recreational vessels. 

Sec. 310. Recreational vessel engine weights. 

Sec. 311. Vessel replacement. 

Sec. 312. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification. 

Sec. 313. Title 46, United States Code, technical corrections. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Duties of the chairman. 

TITLE V—SPORTFISH RESTORATION AND RECREATIONAL 

BOATING SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION 

Sec. 501. Short title. 

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Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 503. Division of annual appropriations. 

Sec. 504. Extension of exception to limitation on transfers to fund. 

Sec. 505. Recreational boating safety allocations. 

Sec. 506. Recreational boating safety. 

Sec. 507. National Boating Safety Advisory Council. 

Sec. 508. Plan evaluation. 

Sec. 509. Report to Congress. 

TITLE VI—CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY 

Subtitle A—Conveyance of Coast Guard Property in Point Spencer, Alaska 

Sec. 601. Findings. 

Sec. 602. Definitions. 

Sec. 603. Authority to convey land in Point Spencer. 

Sec. 604. Port Coordination Advisory Council for Point Spencer. 

Sec. 605. Waiver. 

Subtitle B—Other Conveyance of Coast Guard Property 

Sec. 611. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station, California. 

Sec. 612. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska. 

TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 701. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research. 

Sec. 702. Accident and incident notification. 

Sec. 703. Technical corrections relating to bridges. 

Sec. 704. International port and facility inspection coordination. 

Sec. 705. Reports. 

Sec. 706. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes. 

Sec. 707. Coastwise endorsement. 

Sec. 708. International Ice Patrol. 

1 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

2 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 

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

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND 

6 REPORTS TO CONGRESS 

‘‘Chap. Sec. 

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

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

7 ‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 

‘‘Sec. 

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‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 

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

1 ‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 

2 ‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each 

3 of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of 

4 the Coast Guard as follows: 

5 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

6 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for— 

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

8 and 

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

10 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova11 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

12 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

13 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

14 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment— 

15 ‘‘(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

16 and 

17 ‘‘(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

18 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in19 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

20 personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv21 ices— 

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

23 and 

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

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1 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res2 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

3 19 of this title— 

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

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

6 ‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

7 for research, development, test, and evaluation of 

8 technologies, materials, and human factors directly 

9 related to improving the performance of the Coast 

10 Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 

11 aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ12 mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 

13 ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 

14 readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, 

15 and operation of facilities and equipment— 

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

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

18 ‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and 

19 training 

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

21 authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty per22 sonnel of 43,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

23 ‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 

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1 dent loads for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as fol2 lows: 

3 ‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 

4 student years. 

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

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

7 civilian institutions, 350 student years. 

8 ‘‘(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student 

9 years. 

10 ‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS 

‘‘Sec.’’. 

11 (b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF

12 APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States 

13 Code, is amended— 

14 (1) by redesignating such section as section 

15 2701; 

16 (2) by transferring such section to appear be17 fore section 2702 of such title (as added by sub18 section (a) of this section); and 

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

20 inserting the following: 

21 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

22 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for. 

23 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova24 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

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1 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

2 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

3 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 

4 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in5 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

6 personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv7 ices. 

8 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res9 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

10 19 of this title. 

11 ‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and eval12 uation of technologies, materials, and human factors 

13 directly related to improving the performance of the 

14 Coast Guard. 

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

16 navigable waters of the United States constituting 

17 obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 

18 administrative costs associated with the Alteration of 

19 Bridges Program.’’. 

20 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERSONNEL END

21 STRENGTHS.—Section 661 of title 14, United States 

22 Code, is amended— 

23 (1) by redesignating such section as section 

24 2703; and 

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1 (2) by transferring such section to appear be2 fore section 2704 of such title (as added by sub3 section (a) of this section). 

4 (d) REPORTS.— 

5 (1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD

6 AUTHORIZATION REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 

7 14, United States Code, is amended— 

8 (A) by redesignating such section as sec9 tion 2901; 

10 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

11 as the first section in chapter 29 of such title 

12 (as added by subsection (a) of this section); and 

13 (C) in subsection (b)— 

14 (i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘de15 scribed in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘de16 scribed in section 2703’’; and 

17 (ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘de18 scribed in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘de19 scribed in section 2701’’. 

20 (2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 

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

22 (A) by redesignating such section as sec23 tion 2902; and 

24 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

25 after section 2901 of such title (as so redesigmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 nated and transferred by paragraph (1) of this 

2 subsection). 

3 (3) MAJOR ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of 

4 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

5 (A) by redesignating such section as sec6 tion 2903; 

7 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

8 after section 2902 of such title (as so redesig9 nated and transferred by paragraph (2) of this 

10 subsection); and 

11 (C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this 

12 subchapter’’. 

13 (e) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant 

14 of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 

15 Homeland Security of the House of Representatives— 

16 (1) each plan required under section 2904 of 

17 title 14, United States Code, as added by subsection 

18 (a) of this section; 

19 (2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of 

20 title 14, United States Code, as added by section 

21 206 of this Act; 

22 (3) each plan required under section 2902 of 

23 title 14, United States Code, as redesignated by sub24 section (d) of this section; and 

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1 (4) each mission need statement required under 

2 section 569 of title 14, United States Code. 

3 SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

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

5 14, United States Code, is amended by adding after the 

6 item relating to part II the following: 

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

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

8 chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

9 by striking the item relating to section 569a. 

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

11 chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

12 by striking the items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, 

13 and 663. 

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

15 chapter 27 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 

16 section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting— 

17 (1) before the item relating to section 2702 the 

18 following: 

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

19 and 

20 (2) before the item relating to section 2704 the 

21 following: 

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

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

2 chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 

3 section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by adding after 

4 ‘‘Sec.’’ the following: 

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

‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 

‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 

5 (f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of 

6 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 

8 569a(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 

9 (2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 

10 663(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 

11 2902(a)(1)’’. 

12 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

13 SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 

15 States Code, is amended— 

16 (1) in section 41, by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ and 

17 inserting ‘‘admirals;’’; 

18 (2) in section 47, by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ in 

19 the fourth sentence and inserting ‘‘admiral’’; and 

20 (3) in section 51— 

21 (A) in subsection (a), by striking inserting 

22 ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’; 

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1 (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘admi2 ral or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’ both places it ap3 pears; and 

4 (C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘admiral 

5 or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’. 

6 (b) TREATMENT OF INCUMBENT; TRANSITION.— 

7 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the officer 

8 who, on the date of the enactment of this Act, is serving 

9 as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard— 

10 (1) shall continue to serve as Vice Com11 mandant; 

12 (2) shall have the grade of admiral with pay 

13 and allowances of that grade; and 

14 (3) shall not be required to be reappointed by 

15 reason of the enactment of this Act. 

16 SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS. 

17 Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amend18 ed— 

19 (1) in subsection (a)— 

20 (A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert21 ing the following new paragraph (1): 

22 ‘‘(1) The President may— 

23 ‘‘(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no 

24 more than 5 positions of importance and responsi25 bility that shall be held by officers who, while so 

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

2 the pay and allowances of that grade, and shall per3 form such duties as the Commandant may prescribe 

4 (and if the President designates 5 such positions, 1 

5 position shall be the Chief of Staff of the Coast 

6 Guard); and 

7 ‘‘(B) designate within the Executive branch, 

8 other than within the Coast Guard, positions of im9 portance and responsibility that shall be held by offi10 cers who, while so serving, shall have the grade of 

11 vice admiral, with the pay and allowances of that 

12 grade.’’; and 

13 (B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking 

14 ‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under 

15 paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 

16 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

17 (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

18 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

19 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 

20 subparagraph (D); and 

21 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 

22 the following: 

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

24 awaiting orders after being relieved from the posi25 tion, beginning on the day the officer is relieved 

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1 from the position, but not for more than 60 days; 

2 and’’. 

3 SEC. 203. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 

4 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con5 gress that toxic leadership can have an adverse effect on 

6 subordinates and the service, and result in degraded mis7 sion performance and the Coast Guard should develop 

8 policies consistent with those of the Department of De9 fense to prevent, identify, and correct toxic leadership. 

10 (b) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, 

12 United States Code, is amended by adding after sec13 tion 428 the following: 

14 ‘‘§ 429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel 

15 ‘‘(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PER16 SONNEL.— 

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

18 one year after the date of the enactment of the 

19 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Com20 mandant of the Coast Guard shall develop and im21 plement a plan to conduct every two years a 

22 multirater assessment for each of the following: 

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

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

25 Staff of the Coast Guard. 

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1 ‘‘(C) Each officer of the Coast Guard nom2 inated for promotion to the grade of captain. 

3 ‘‘(2) POST-ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS.—Following 

4 an assessment of an individual pursuant to para5 graph (1), the individual shall be provided appro6 priate post-assessment counseling and leadership 

7 coaching. 

8 ‘‘(b) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.—Not 

9 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

10 the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Com11 mandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

12 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com13 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

14 of Representatives a report on the feasibility of including 

15 a multirater assessment as part of the personnel develop16 ment programs of the Coast Guard. The report shall in17 clude the following: 

18 ‘‘(1) An assessment of the feasibility of— 

19 ‘‘(A) all officers (other than officers cov20 ered by subsection (a)) completing a multirater 

21 assessment; 

22 ‘‘(B) all members (other than officers cov23 ered by subsection (a)) in command positions 

24 completing a multirater assessment; 

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1 ‘‘(C) all enlisted members in a supervisory 

2 position completing a multirater assessment; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(D) members completing periodic 

5 multirater assessments. 

6 ‘‘(2) Such recommendations as the Com7 mandant considers appropriate for the implementa8 tion or expansion of a multirater assessment in the 

9 personnel development programs of the Coast 

10 Guard. 

11 ‘‘(3) An overview of each of the current leader12 ship development courses of the Coast Guard, an as13 sessment of the feasibility of the expansion of any 

14 such course, and a description of the resources, if 

15 any, required to expand such courses. 

16 ‘‘(4) An assessment on the state of leadership 

17 training in the Coast Guard, and recommendations 

18 on the implementation of a policy to combat toxic 

19 leadership including— 

20 ‘‘(A) a description of methods that will be 

21 used by the Coast Guard to identify, monitor, 

22 and counsel individuals who may be identified 

23 as toxic leaders; 

24 ‘‘(B) the implementation of toxic leader25 ship recognition training (in self and others); 

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1 ‘‘(C) the establishment of procedures for 

2 the administrative separation of toxic leaders; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(D) a description of the resources needed 

5 to implement this section. 

6 ‘‘(c) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT DEFINED.—In this 

7 section, the term ‘multirater assessment’ means a review 

8 that seeks opinion from members senior to the reviewee 

9 and the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.’’. 

10 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec11 tions at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is 

12 amended by inserting after the item related to sec13 tion 428 the following new item: 

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

14 (c) TRAINING COURSE ON WORKINGS OF CON15 GRESS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 

17 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

18 following new section: 

19 ‘‘§ 60. Training course on workings of Congress 

20 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

21 the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza22 tion Act of 2015, the Commandant, in consultation with 

23 the civilian and permanent commissioned teaching staff of 

24 the Department of Humanities at the Coast Guard Acad25 emy and such other individuals and organizations as the 

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1 Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop an an2 nual training course for all Coast Guard flag officers 

3 newly appointed or assigned to billets in the National Cap4 ital Region and all Coast Guard senior executive service 

5 personnel employed in the National Capital Region to edu6 cate them on the workings of Congress. 

7 ‘‘(b) COURSE SUBJECT MATTER.—The training 

8 course required by this section shall cover a variety of sub9 jects related to Congress and the Federal legislative proc10 ess, including— 

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

12 the committee systems of the House of Representa13 tives and the Senate, including the functions and re14 sponsibilities of the Committee on Transportation 

15 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

16 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

17 Transportation of the Senate; 

18 ‘‘(2) the documents used by Congress, including 

19 bills, resolutions, committee reports, and conference 

20 reports, and the purposes they serve; 

21 ‘‘(3) the legislative processes of the House of 

22 Representatives and the Senate, including similar23 ities and differences between the two processes; 

24 ‘‘(4) the roles of Members of Congress and con25 gressional staff in the legislative process; 

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1 ‘‘(5) the congressional budget process; 

2 ‘‘(6) the congressional authorization-appropria3 tion process; 

4 ‘‘(7) the Senate advice and consent process for 

5 presidential nominees; 

6 ‘‘(8) the Senate advice and consent process for 

7 treaty ratification; 

8 ‘‘(9) the concept and underlying purposes of 

9 congressional oversight; and 

10 ‘‘(10) best practices that promote effective and 

11 successful interactions with Congress. 

12 ‘‘(c) LECTURERS AND PANELISTS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) OUTSIDE EXPERTS.—The Commandant 

14 shall ensure that not less than 60 percent of the lec15 turers, panelists, and other individuals providing 

16 education and instruction as part of the training 

17 course required by this section are experts on Con18 gress and the Federal legislative process who are not 

19 employed by the executive branch of the Federal 

20 Government, such as the Congressional Research 

21 Service. 

22 ‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PRO BONO SERV23 ICES.—In satisfying the requirement under para24 graph (1), the Commandant shall seek, and is au25 thorized to accept, educational and instructional 

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1 services of lecturers, panelists, and other individuals 

2 and organizations provided to the Coast Guard on a 

3 pro bono basis. 

4 ‘‘(d) COMPLETION OF REQUIRED TRAINING.— 

5 ‘‘(1) CURRENT FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOY6 EES.—A Coast Guard flag officer appointed or as7 signed to a billet in the National Capital Region on 

8 the date of the enactment of this section, and a 

9 Coast Guard senior executive service employee em10 ployed in the National Capital Region on the date of 

11 the enactment of this section, shall complete a train12 ing course that meets the requirements of this sec13 tion within 60 days of the date on which the Com14 mandant completes the development of the training 

15 course. 

16 ‘‘(2) NEW FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.— 

17 A Coast Guard flag officer who is newly appointed 

18 or assigned to a billet in the National Capital Re19 gion, and a Coast Guard senior executive service em20 ployee who is newly employed in the National Cap21 ital Region, shall complete a training course that 

22 meets the requirements of this section not later than 

23 60 days after reporting for duty.’’. 

24 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec25 tions at the beginning of chapter 4 of such title is 

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1 amended by adding at the end the following new 

2 item: 

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

3 SEC. 204. SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBER CONTINUATION 

4 BOARDS. 

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

6 States Code, is amended— 

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

8 subsection (j); 

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

10 (b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

11 (1) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of 

12 such section is amended to read as follows: 

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

14 retired pay’’. 

15 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec16 tions at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is 

17 amended by striking the item relating to section 357 

18 and inserting the following new item: 

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

19 SEC. 205. COAST GUARD MEMBER PAY. 

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

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

22 the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Com23 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 

24 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

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1 House of Representatives a report on alternative methods 

2 for notifying members of the Coast Guard of their monthly 

3 earnings. The report shall include— 

4 (1) an assessment of the feasibility of providing 

5 members a monthly notification of their earnings, 

6 categorized by pay and allowance type; and 

7 (2) a description and assessment of mechanisms 

8 that may be used to provide members with notifica9 tion of their earnings, categorized by pay and allow10 ance type. 

11 (b) ANNUAL AUDIT OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF

12 MEMBERS UNDERGOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STA13 TION.— 

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

15 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

16 end the following new section: 

17 ‘‘§ 519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of mem18 bers undergoing permanent change of 

19 station 

20 ‘‘The Commandant shall conduct each calendar year 

21 an audit of member pay and allowances for the members 

22 who transferred to new units during such calendar year. 

23 The audit for a calendar year shall be completed by the 

24 end of the calendar year.’’. 

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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec2 tions at the beginning of chapter 13 of such title is 

3 amended adding at the end the following new item: 

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

change of station.’’. 

4 SEC. 206. RECALL. 

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

6 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 421 the 

7 following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 421. Involuntary recall to active duty 

9 ‘‘The Commandant may recall a retired member of 

10 the Coast Guard who is subject to section 802 of title 10 

11 and order that member to active duty, without the mem12 ber’s consent, for the purpose of any of the following: 

13 ‘‘(1) A preliminary hearing under section 832 

14 of title 10. 

15 ‘‘(2) Trial by court-martial under chapter 47 of 

16 title 10. 

17 ‘‘(3) Nonjudicial punishment under section 815 

18 of title 10.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

20 at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended 

21 by inserting after the item relating to section 421 the fol22 lowing new item: 

‘‘421a. Involuntary recall to active duty.’’. 

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1 SEC. 207. EXCHANGE OF MEDICAL GOODS AND SERVICES. 

2 Notwithstanding section 1085 of title 10, United 

3 States Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, 

4 in lieu of reimbursement, transfer, from amounts appro5 priated for the operating expenses of the Coast Guard, an 

6 amount, determined by the Department of Defense Board 

7 of Actuaries established pursuant to section 183 of title 

8 10 United States Code, that represents the value of care 

9 that the Department of Defense or a military department, 

10 during the fiscal year in which funds are made available, 

11 provides to a member or former member of the Coast 

12 Guard (or a dependent of such member or former mem13 ber). 

14 SEC. 208. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 

15 (a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO REMIT INDEBT16 EDNESS.—Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is 

17 amended to read as follows: 

18 ‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 

19 ‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any 

20 part of a person’s indebtedness to the United States or 

21 any instrumentality of the United States if— 

22 ‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the 

23 person served on active duty as a member of the 

24 Coast Guard; and 

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

2 cancelling the indebtedness is in the best interest of 

3 the United States.’’. 

4 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

5 at the beginning of chapter 14 of such title is amended 

6 by striking the item relating to section 461 and inserting 

7 the following new item: 

‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 

8 SEC. 209. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 

9 Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

10 of 1998 (14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended by striking ‘‘90 

11 days’’ in the second sentence and inserting ‘‘30 days’’. 

12 SEC. 210. MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAMS. 

13 Section 569a of title 14, United States Code, is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub16 section (f); and 

17 (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol18 lowing new subsection (e): 

19 ‘‘(e) QUARTERLY REPORTS ON RISKS OF PRO20 GRAMS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days 

22 after the end of each fiscal year quarter, the Com23 mandant shall submit to the committees of Congress 

24 specified in subsection (a) a report setting forth a 

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1 current assessment of the risks associated with all 

2 current major acquisition programs. 

3 ‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under this sub4 section shall set forth, for each current major acqui5 sition program, the following: 

6 ‘‘(A) The top five current risks to such 

7 program. 

8 ‘‘(B) Any failure of such program to dem9 onstrate a key performance parameter or 

10 threshold during operational test and evaluation 

11 conducted during the fiscal year quarter pre12 ceding such report. 

13 ‘‘(C) Whether there has been any decision 

14 during such fiscal year quarter to order full 

15 rate production before all key performance pa16 rameters or thresholds are met. 

17 ‘‘(D) Whether there has been any breach 

18 of major acquisition program cost (as defined 

19 by the Major Systems Acquisition Manual) dur20 ing such fiscal year quarter. 

21 ‘‘(E) Whether there has been any breach 

22 of major acquisition program schedule (as so 

23 defined) during such fiscal year quarter.’’. 

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1 SEC. 211. MAJOR ACQUISITIONS ASSESSMENT. 

2 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

4 shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

5 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

6 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep7 resentatives a report that assesses the effect of any new 

8 major acquisition on the stated Program of Record and 

9 the Capital Investment Plan of the Coast Guard. The re10 port shall include life-cycle funding requirements, an as11 sessment of impact on delivery dates of current acquisi12 tions projects and programs, an assessment of impact on 

13 planned construction or improvement projects, and rec14 ommendations on funding levels necessary to simulta15 neously support any proposed and current acquisitions 

16 projects and programs. 

17 SEC. 212. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 

18 (a) CLASSIFICATION OF POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—Sec19 tion 573(c) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting ‘‘or Polar 

21 Icebreaker’’ after ‘‘National Security Cutter’’; and 

22 (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or Polar 

23 Icebreaker’’ after ‘‘National Security Cutter’’. 

24 (b) INCREMENTAL FUNDING AUTHORITY FOR POLAR

25 CLASS ICEBREAKERS.—In fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal 

26 year thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard is 

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1 granted the authority to enter into a contract or contracts 

2 for the acquisition of Polar Icebreakers and associated 

3 equipment using incremental funding. 

4 (c) ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESS5 MENT AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION DECISION.—Sec6 tion 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 

7 Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol10 lows: 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 

12 the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza13 tion Act of 2015, the Secretary of the department in which 

14 the Coast Guard is operating shall— 

15 ‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment 

16 with respect to the Polar Sea; 

17 ‘‘(2) make a determination whether it is cost ef18 fective to reactivate the Polar Sea when compared 

19 with other options to provide icebreaking services as 

20 part of a strategy to maintain polar icebreaking 

21 services; and 

22 ‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transpor23 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent24 ative and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

25 Transportation of the Senate— 

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1 ‘‘(A) the assessment required under para2 graph (1); and 

3 ‘‘(B) written notification of the determina4 tion required under paragraph (2).’’; 

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

6 inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 

7 (3) by striking subsection (c); 

8 (4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 

9 as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 

10 (5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para11 graph (4) of this section)— 

12 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

13 (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 

14 ‘‘based on the analysis required’’; and 

15 (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 

16 ‘‘analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘written notifica17 tion’’; 

18 (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

19 follows: 

20 ‘‘(2) DECOMMISSIONING.—If the Secretary 

21 makes a determination under subsection (a) that it 

22 is not cost effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, 

23 then, not later than 180 days after written notifica24 tion of that determination is submitted under that 

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1 subsection, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

2 may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; and 

3 (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 

4 follows: 

5 ‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If the 

6 Secretary does not make a determination under sub7 section (a) regarding whether it is cost effective to 

8 reactivate the Polar Sea, then the Commandant of 

9 the Coast Guard may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; 

10 (6) in subsection (d)(1) (as redesignated by 

11 paragraph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘written notification’’; and 

13 (7) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para14 graph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘in subsection 

15 (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (c)’’. 

16 SEC. 213. PARTICIPATION OF THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY 

17 IN FEDERAL, STATE, OR OTHER EDU18 CATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS. 

19 Section 196 of title 14, United States Code, is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 

22 ‘‘Notwithstanding’’; and 

23 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

24 ‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.— 

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1 ‘‘(1) CONTRACT OR COOPERATIVE AGREE2 MENT.—Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31 and 

3 chapter 137 of title 10, the Commandant may enter 

4 into a contract or cooperative agreement with a non5 profit organization, described under section 

6 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 

7 exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that 

8 Code, that the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Asso9 ciation may establish for the purpose of supporting 

10 academic research and applying for and admin11 istering Federal, State, or other educational research 

12 grants on behalf of the Coast Guard Academy. Not13 withstanding any other provision of law or policy to 

14 the contrary, the Commandant may enter such con15 tract or cooperative agreement on a sole source 

16 basis. 

17 ‘‘(2) LEASE OR LICENSE.—The Commandant 

18 may enter into a lease or license with a nonprofit or19 ganization, described under section 501(c)(3) of the 

20 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 

21 taxation under section 501(a) of that Code, that the 

22 Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association may es23 tablish for the purpose of supporting academic re24 search and applying for and administering Federal, 

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1 State, or other educational research grants on behalf 

2 of the Coast Guard Academy. 

3 ‘‘(c) USE OF COAST GUARD PERSONAL PROPERTY.— 

4 The Commandant may allow a nonprofit organization, de5 scribed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 

6 Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 

7 501(a) of that Code, that the Coast Guard Academy 

8 Alumni Association may establish to use, at no cost, per9 sonal property of the Coast Guard to assist the non-profit 

10 organization in supporting academic research and apply11 ing for and administering Federal, State, or other edu12 cational research grants on behalf of the Coast Guard 

13 Academy. 

14 ‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF SUPPORT.— 

15 ‘‘(1) SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM A 501(c)(3) NON16 PROFIT ORGANIZATION.—Notwithstanding section 

17 93 of this title, the Commandant may accept funds, 

18 supplies, and services from a nonprofit organization, 

19 described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 

20 Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 

21 under section 501(a) of that Code, that the Coast 

22 Guard Academy Alumni Association may establish 

23 for the support of academic research and applying 

24 for and administering Federal, State, or other edu25 cational research grants on behalf of the Coast 

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1 Guard Academy. For purposes of this subsection, 

2 employees or personnel of such nonprofit organiza3 tion shall not be employees of the United States. 

4 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant shall en5 sure that contributions under this subsection do not 

6 reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Coast 

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

8 armed forces to carry out any responsibility or duty 

9 in a fair and objective manner, or compromise the 

10 integrity or appearance of integrity of any program 

11 of the Coast Guard, or any individual involved in 

12 such a program. 

13 ‘‘(e) RETENTION AND USE OF FUNDS.—Funds re14 ceived under this section may be retained for use in sup15 port of academic research and applying for and admin16 istering Federal, State, or other educational research 

17 grants on behalf of the Coast Guard Academy and shall 

18 remain available until expended. 

19 ‘‘(f) CONDITIONS.—The authority provided in this 

20 section with respect to a nonprofit organization, described 

21 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

22 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of 

23 that Code, that the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Asso24 ciation may establish is valid only so long as such non25 profit organization continues to— 

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1 ‘‘(1) qualify as a nonprofit organization, de2 scribed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Rev3 enue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 

4 section 501(a) of that Code, and operates in accord5 ance with this section, the laws of the State of Con6 necticut, and the constitution and bylaws of the non7 profit organization; and 

8 ‘‘(2) operate exclusively to support academic re9 search and applying for and administering Federal, 

10 State, or other educational research grants on behalf 

11 of the Coast Guard Academy.’’. 

12 SEC. 214. VENUE. 

13 Section 311(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

14 Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(d)) 

15 is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 

16 ‘‘In the case of Hawaii or any possession of the United 

17 States in the Pacific Ocean, the appropriate court is the 

18 United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, 

19 except that in the case of Guam and Wake Island, the 

20 appropriate court is the United States District Court for 

21 the District of Guam, and in the case of the Northern 

22 Mariana Islands, the appropriate court is the United 

23 States District Court for the District of the Northern 

24 Mariana Islands.’’. 

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1 SEC. 215. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 

2 Section 98 of title 14, United States Code, is amend3 ed— 

4 (1) by striking subsection (b); and 

5 (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 

6 subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 

7 SEC. 216. INVESTIGATIONS. 

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

9 States Code, as amended by section 203(b), is further 

10 amended by adding after section 429 the following: 

11 ‘‘§ 430. Investigations of Flag Officers and Senior Ex12 ecutive Service 

13 ‘‘The Commandant shall consult with the Inspector 

14 General of the Department of Defense anytime a report 

15 of allegations of misconduct are made against senior offi16 cials. Investigations into allegations of senior official mis17 conduct shall be consistent with Department of Defense 

18 policies.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

20 at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title, as amended 

21 by section 203(b), is further amended by inserting after 

22 the item related to section 429 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 430. Investigations of Flag Officers and Senior Executive Service.’’. 

23 SEC. 217. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS TO 

24 TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE. 

25 Title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

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1 (1) in the table of chapters at the beginning of 

2 part I, by striking ‘‘Coast Guard’’ in the item re3 lating to chapter 19; 

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

5 and inserting ‘‘section’’; 

6 (3) in section 47, by striking the section head7 ing and inserting the following new section heading: 

8 ‘‘§ 47. Vice Commandant; appointment’’; 

9 (4) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

10 chapter 9, by striking ‘‘Safety’’ in the item relating 

11 to section 199 and inserting ‘‘safety’’; 

12 (5) in section 427(b)(2), by striking ‘‘this chap13 ter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 

14 (6) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

15 chapter 15, by striking ‘‘Sec.’’ that follows the head16 ing for subchapter II; 

17 (7) in section 581(5)(B), by striking 

18 ‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 

19 (8) in section 637(c)(3), by inserting ‘‘it is’’ be20 fore ‘‘any’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph 

21 (A); 

22 (9) in section 641(d)(3), by striking ‘‘Guard, 

23 installation’’ and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 

24 (10) in section 691(c)(3), by striking ‘‘state’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘State’’; 

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1 (11) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

2 chapter 21— 

3 (A) by striking ‘‘reserve’’ in the item relat4 ing to section 709 and inserting ‘‘Reserve’’; and 

5 (B) by striking ‘‘from active’’ in the item 

6 relating to section 740 and inserting ‘‘from an 

7 active’’; 

8 (12) in section 742(c), by striking ‘‘subsection 

9 (a)and’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (a) and’’; 

10 (13) in section 821(b)(1), by striking ‘‘26’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘171’’; and 

12 (14) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘26’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘171’’. 

14 TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 

15 NAVIGATION 

16 SEC. 301. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS. 

17 Subparagraph (A) of section 2114(a)(1) of title 46, 

18 United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

19 ‘‘(A) the seaman in good faith has reported or 

20 is about to report to the Coast Guard, another ap21 propriate Federal department or agency, the vessel 

22 owner, the vessel operator, or the seaman’s employer 

23 that the seaman believes that a violation of a mari24 time safety or maritime environmental protection 

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1 law or regulation prescribed under that law or regu2 lation has occurred;’’. 

3 SEC. 302. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 705 of title 46, United 

5 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol6 lowing: 

7 ‘‘§ 70509. Destruction of evidence during maritime 

8 counter-drug operations 

9 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whoever, while on board a vessel 

10 used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, an of11 fense under section 70503 of this title, knowingly or inten12 tionally destroys (including jettisoning any item or scut13 tling, burning, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or attempts 

14 or conspires to destroy, property that is subject to for15 feiture under section 511(a) of the Comprehensive Drug 

16 Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 

17 881(a)) shall be fined in accordance with section 3571 of 

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

19 ‘‘(b) PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION.—Prac20 tices commonly recognized as smuggling tactics may pro21 vide prima facie evidence of intent to use a vessel to com22 mit, or to facilitate the commission of, an offense under 

23 section 70503 of this title, even in the absence of con24 trolled substances aboard the vessel. The following indicia, 

25 among others, may be considered, in the totality of the 

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1 circumstances, to be prima facie evidence that a vessel is 

2 intended to be used to commit, or to facilitate the commis3 sion of, such an offense: 

4 ‘‘(1) The construction or adaptation of the ves5 sel in a manner that facilitates smuggling, includ6 ing— 

7 ‘‘(A) the configuration of the vessel to ride 

8 low in the water or present a low hull profile to 

9 avoid being detected visually or by radar; 

10 ‘‘(B) the presence of any compartment or 

11 equipment that is built or fitted out for smug12 gling, not including items such as a safe or 

13 lock-box reasonably used for the storage of per14 sonal valuables; 

15 ‘‘(C) the presence of an auxiliary tank not 

16 installed in accordance with applicable law or 

17 installed in such a manner as to enhance the 

18 vessel’s smuggling capability; 

19 ‘‘(D) the presence of engines that are ex20 cessively overpowered in relation to the design 

21 and size of the vessel; 

22 ‘‘(E) the presence of materials used to re23 duce or alter the heat or radar signature of the 

24 vessel and avoid detection; 

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1 ‘‘(F) the presence of a camouflaging paint 

2 scheme, or of materials used to camouflage the 

3 vessel, to avoid detection; or 

4 ‘‘(G) the display of false vessel registration 

5 numbers, false indicia of vessel nationality, false 

6 vessel name, or false vessel homeport. 

7 ‘‘(2) The presence or absence of equipment, 

8 personnel, or cargo inconsistent with the type or de9 clared purpose of the vessel. 

10 ‘‘(3) The presence of excessive fuel, lube oil, 

11 food, water, or spare parts, inconsistent with legiti12 mate vessel operation, inconsistent with the con13 struction or equipment of the vessel, or inconsistent 

14 with the character of the vessel’s stated purpose. 

15 ‘‘(4) The operation of the vessel without lights 

16 during times lights are required to be displayed 

17 under applicable law or regulation and in a manner 

18 of navigation consistent with smuggling tactics used 

19 to avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. 

20 ‘‘(5) The failure of the vessel to stop or respond 

21 or heave to when hailed by government authority, es22 pecially where the vessel conducts evasive maneu23 vering when hailed. 

24 ‘‘(6) The declaration to government authority of 

25 false information about the vessel, crew, or voyage 

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1 or the failure to identify the vessel by name or coun2 try of registration when requested to do so by gov3 ernment authority. 

4 ‘‘(7) The presence of controlled substance res5 idue on the vessel, on an item aboard the vessel, or 

6 on an individual aboard the vessel, of a quantity or 

7 other nature that reasonably indicates manufac8 turing or distribution activity. 

9 ‘‘(8) The use of petroleum products or other 

10 substances on the vessel to foil the detection of con11 trolled substance residue. 

12 ‘‘(9) The presence of a controlled substance in 

13 the water in the vicinity of the vessel, where given 

14 the currents, weather conditions, and course and 

15 speed of the vessel, the quantity or other nature is 

16 such that it reasonably indicates that the controlled 

17 substance was transported in the subject vessel. 

18 ‘‘(c) EXTENSION BEYOND TERRITORIAL JURISDIC19 TION.—Subsection (a) applies even though the act is com20 mitted outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United 

21 States. 

22 ‘‘§ 70510. Maritime bulk cash smuggling 

23 ‘‘(a) CRIMINAL OFFENSE.—Whoever, while aboard a 

24 vessel used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, 

25 an offense under section 70503 of this title, or whoever, 

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1 while aboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling, knowingly 

2 conceals, attempts to conceal, or conspires to conceal more 

3 than $100,000 in currency or other monetary instruments 

4 on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, ar5 ticle of luggage, merchandise, or other container, or com6 partment of or aboard such vessel shall be fined in accord7 ance with section 3571 of title 18, imprisoned not more 

8 than 15 years, or both. 

9 ‘‘(b) PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION.—Prac10 tices commonly recognized as smuggling tactics may pro11 vide prima facie evidence of intent to use a vessel to com12 mit, or to facilitate the commission of, an offense under 

13 section 70503 of this title or prima facie evidence of a 

14 vessel outfitted for smuggling, even in the absence of con15 trolled substances aboard the vessel. The following indicia, 

16 among others, may be considered, in the totality of the 

17 circumstances, to be prima facie evidence that a vessel is 

18 intended to be used to commit, or to facilitate the commis19 sion of, such an offense or is outfitted for smuggling: 

20 ‘‘(1) The construction or adaptation of the ves21 sel in a manner that facilitates smuggling, includ22 ing— 

23 ‘‘(A) the configuration of the vessel to ride 

24 low in the water or present a low hull profile to 

25 avoid being detected visually or by radar; 

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1 ‘‘(B) the presence of any compartment or 

2 equipment that is built or fitted out for smug3 gling, not including items such as a safe or 

4 lock-box reasonably used for the storage of per5 sonal valuables; 

6 ‘‘(C) the presence of an auxiliary tank not 

7 installed in accordance with applicable law or 

8 installed in such a manner as to enhance the 

9 vessel’s smuggling capability; 

10 ‘‘(D) the presence of engines that are ex11 cessively overpowered in relation to the design 

12 and size of the vessel; 

13 ‘‘(E) the presence of materials used to re14 duce or alter the heat or radar signature of the 

15 vessel and avoid detection; 

16 ‘‘(F) the presence of a camouflaging paint 

17 scheme, or of materials used to camouflage the 

18 vessel, to avoid detection; or 

19 ‘‘(G) the display of false vessel registration 

20 numbers, false indicia of vessel nationality, false 

21 vessel name, or false vessel homeport. 

22 ‘‘(2) The presence or absence of equipment, 

23 personnel, or cargo inconsistent with the type or de24 clared purpose of the vessel. 

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1 ‘‘(3) The presence of excessive fuel, lube oil, 

2 food, water, or spare parts, inconsistent with legiti3 mate vessel operation, inconsistent with the con4 struction or equipment of the vessel, or inconsistent 

5 with the character of the vessel’s stated purpose. 

6 ‘‘(4) The operation of the vessel without lights 

7 during times lights are required to be displayed 

8 under applicable law or regulation and in a manner 

9 of navigation consistent with smuggling tactics used 

10 to avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. 

11 ‘‘(5) The failure of the vessel to stop or respond 

12 or heave to when hailed by government authority, es13 pecially where the vessel conducts evasive maneu14 vering when hailed. 

15 ‘‘(6) The declaration to government authority of 

16 false information about the vessel, crew, or voyage 

17 or the failure to identify the vessel by name or coun18 try of registration when requested to do so by gov19 ernment authority. 

20 ‘‘(c) FORFEITURE.— 

21 ‘‘(1) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.—The court in im22 posing sentence for any violation of subsection (a), 

23 or any attempt or conspiracy to commit such viola24 tion, shall order the defendant to forfeit all property, 

25 real or personal, involved in the offence and any 

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1 property traceable thereto. Forfeitures under this 

2 paragraph shall be governed by the procedures es3 tablished in section 413 of the Controlled Sub4 stances Act (21 U.S.C. 853). 

5 ‘‘(2) CIVIL FORFEITURE.—Any property, real 

6 or personal, involved in a violation of subsection (a), 

7 or the attempt or a conspiracy to commit such viola8 tion, and any property, real or personal, traceable to 

9 such violation or conspiracy, may be seized and for10 feited to the United States. Forfeitures under this 

11 paragraph shall be governed by the procedures gov12 erning civil forfeitures in money laundering cases 

13 pursuant to section 981(a)(1)(A) of title 18, United 

14 States Code. 

15 ‘‘(d) EXTENSION BEYOND TERRITORIAL JURISDIC16 TION.—Subsection (a) applies even though the act is com17 mitted outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United 

18 States.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap20 ter 705 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

21 adding at the end the following: 

‘‘70509. Destruction of evidence during maritime counter-drug operations. 

‘‘70510. Maritime bulk cash smuggling.’’. 

22 SEC. 303. CARRIAGE OF LIQUID DANGEROUS CARGO. 

23 Section 3702(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 

24 amended to read as follows: 

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1 ‘‘(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this 

2 chapter does not apply to a fishing or fish tender vessel 

3 of not more than 500 gross tons as measured under sec4 tion 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured 

5 under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Sec6 retary under section 14104 of this title when engaged only 

7 in the fishing industry. 

8 ‘‘(2) A vessel described in paragraph (1) is subject 

9 to regulation by the Secretary under this chapter if the 

10 vessel is carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes 

11 in bulk.’’. 

12 SEC. 304. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MA13 TERIAL. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 49, United 

15 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol16 lowing: 

17 ‘‘§ 5129. Maritime transportation of hazardous mate18 rial 

19 ‘‘For the purposes of enforcing this chapter, the Sec20 retary and the Secretary of the department in which the 

21 Coast Guard is operating shall establish policies and prac22 tices to ensure that the authorities set forth in this chapter 

23 are enforced in the same manner and to the same extent, 

24 and the civil and criminal penalties are assessed or rec25 ommended in the same manner and to the same extent.’’. 

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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

2 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 

3 new item: 

‘‘5129. Maritime Transportation of Hazardous Material.’’. 

4 SEC. 305. RECREATIONAL VESSEL OPERATOR EDUCATION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 131 of title 46, United 

6 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol7 lowing: 

8 ‘‘§ 13111. Recreational vessel operator education 

9 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP MODEL CUR10 RICULUM.—The Secretary may develop and propose a 

11 model for a national recreational vessel training cur12 riculum and education standards for operators of rec13 reational vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of 

14 any kind. 

15 ‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the model cur16 riculum developed under subsection (a) is to promote uni17 formity of boating safety awareness and education and im18 prove reciprocity of recreational vessel operator certifi19 cates and licenses among the States.’’. 

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

21 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 

22 new item: 

‘‘13111. Recreational vessel operator education.’’. 

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1 SEC. 306. NONDISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. 

2 (a) INAPPLICABILITY OF DISCLOSURE REQUIRE3 MENT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The requirement to make in5 formation available under section 552 of title 5, 

6 United States Code, shall not apply to— 

7 (A) a question from any examination for a 

8 merchant seamen license, certificate, or docu9 ment that the Secretary of the department in 

10 which the Coast Guard is operating is author11 ized to issue pursuant to title 46, United States 

12 Code; 

13 (B) the answer to such question, including 

14 any correct or incorrect answer that may be 

15 presented with such question; and 

16 (C) any quality or characteristic of such 

17 question, including— 

18 (i) the manner in which such question 

19 has been, is, or may be selected for an ex20 amination; 

21 (ii) the frequency of such selection; 

22 and 

23 (iii) the frequency that an examinee 

24 correctly or incorrectly answered such 

25 question. 

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1 (2) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—This section 

2 constitutes a specific exemption within the meaning 

3 of section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code. 

4 (b) AUTHORITY TO RELEASE CERTAIN EXAM QUES5 TIONS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of 

6 the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is 

7 authorized, for the purpose of exam preparation by the 

8 general public, to release an exam question and answer 

9 that the Secretary has retired, is not presently on or part 

10 of an exam, or that the Secretary determines is appro11 priate for release. 

12 (c) EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT SEAMAN LI13 CENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND DOCUMENTS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 71 of title 46, 

15 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

16 end the following: 

17 ‘‘§ 7116. Examinations for merchant seaman licenses, 

18 certificates, and documents 

19 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT FOR SAMPLE EXAMS.—The Sec20 retary shall develop a sample merchant mariner exam and 

21 outline of merchant mariner exam topics on an annual 

22 basis. 

23 ‘‘(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each sample exam and 

24 outline of topics developed under subsection (a) shall be 

25 readily available to the public.’’. 

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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

2 such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 

3 following new item: 

‘‘7116. Examinations for merchant seaman licenses, certificates, and documents.’’. 

4 (d) DISCLOSURE TO CONGRESS.—Nothing in this 

5 section may be construed to authorize the withholding of 

6 information from an appropriate inspector general or the 

7 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

8 the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and In9 frastructure of the House of Representatives. 

10 SEC. 307. HIGHER VOLUME PORT AREA REGULATORY DEFI11 NITION CHANGE. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 710 of 

13 the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 

14 111–281; 124 Stat. 2986) is amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘(a) HIGHER VOLUME PORTS.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

17 provision of law, the requirements of subparts D, F, 

18 and G of part 155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regu19 lations, that apply to the higher volume port area for 

20 the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Port Angeles, Wash21 ington (including any water area within 50 nautical 

22 miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound, shall 

23 be deemed to apply, in the same manner, and to the 

24 same extent, to the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Cape 

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1 Flattery, Washington (including any water area 

2 within 50 nautical miles seaward), to and including 

3 Puget Sound. 

4 ‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 

5 take effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast 

6 Guard Authorization Act of 2015.’’. 

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of 

8 such section is amended by striking ‘‘the modification of 

9 the higher volume port area definition required by sub10 section (a).’’ and inserting ‘‘higher volume port require11 ments made applicable under subsection (a).’’. 

12 SEC. 308. RECOGNITION OF PORT SECURITY ASSESSMENTS 

13 CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES. 

14 Section 70108 of title 46, United States Code, is 

15 amended by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(f) RECOGNITION OF ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY

17 OTHER ENTITIES.— 

18 ‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF AS19 SESSMENTS.—For the purposes of this section and 

20 section 70109, the Secretary may treat an assess21 ment that a foreign government (including, for the 

22 purposes of this subsection, an entity of or operating 

23 under the auspices of the European Union) or inter24 national organization has conducted as an assess25 ment that the Secretary has conducted for the purmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 poses of subsection (a), provided that the Secretary 

2 certifies that the foreign government or international 

3 organization has— 

4 ‘‘(A) conducted the assessment in accord5 ance with subsection (b); and 

6 ‘‘(B) provided the Secretary with sufficient 

7 information pertaining to its assessment (in8 cluding, but not limited to, information on the 

9 outcome of the assessment). 

10 ‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN

11 AGREEMENT.—For the purposes of this section and 

12 section 70109, the Secretary, in consultation with 

13 the Secretary of State, may enter into an agreement 

14 with a foreign government (including, for the pur15 poses of this subsection, an entity of or operating 

16 under the auspices of the European Union) or inter17 national organization, under which parties to the 

18 agreement— 

19 ‘‘(A) conduct an assessment, required 

20 under subsection (a); 

21 ‘‘(B) share information pertaining to such 

22 assessment (including, but not limited to, infor23 mation on the outcome of the assessment); or 

24 ‘‘(C) both. 

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1 ‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this subsection 

2 shall be construed to— 

3 ‘‘(A) require the Secretary to recognize an 

4 assessment that a foreign government or an 

5 international organization has conducted; or 

6 ‘‘(B) limit the discretion or ability of the 

7 Secretary to conduct an assessment under this 

8 section.’’. 

9 SEC. 309. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 

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

11 States Code is amended by adding at the end the fol12 lowing: 

13 ‘‘(e)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this sec14 tion the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational 

15 vessels and associated equipment, such model year shall, 

16 except as provided in paragraph (2)— 

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

18 31 of the following year; and 

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

20 ‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manu21 facturer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may 

22 alter a model year for a model of recreational vessel of 

23 the manufacturer and associated equipment, by no more 

24 than 6 months from the model year described in para25 graph (1).’’. 

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1 (b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub2 section shall only apply with respect to recreational vessels 

3 and associated equipment constructed or manufactured, 

4 respectively, on or after June 1, 2015. 

5 (c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 

7 department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 

8 publish guidance to implement subsection (e)(2) of section 

9 4302 of title 46, United States Code, as added by sub10 section (a). 

11 SEC. 310. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 

12 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact13 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 

14 the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations 

15 amending table 4 to subpart H of part 183 of title 33, 

16 Code of Federal Regulations (related to Weights (Pounds) 

17 of Outboard Motor and Related Equipment for Various 

18 Boat Horsepower Ratings) as appropriate to reflect 

19 ‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and Related Equipment 

20 Weights’’ published by the American Boat and Yacht 

21 Council, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this 

22 Act. 

23 SEC. 311. VESSEL REPLACEMENT. 

24 (a) LOANS AND GUARANTEES.—Chapter 537 of title 

25 46, United States Code, is amended— 

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1 (1) in section 53701— 

2 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) 

3 through (14) as paragraphs (9) through (15), 

4 respectively; and 

5 (B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 

6 following: 

7 ‘‘(8) HISTORICAL USES.—The term ‘historical 

8 uses’ includes— 

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

10 replacing equipment on a fishing vessel, without 

11 materially increasing harvesting capacity; 

12 ‘‘(B) purchasing a used fishing vessel; 

13 ‘‘(C) purchasing, constructing, expanding, 

14 or reconditioning a fishery facility; 

15 ‘‘(D) refinancing existing debt; 

16 ‘‘(E) reducing fishing capacity; and 

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

18 including upgrades in technology, gear, or 

19 equipment, that improve— 

20 ‘‘(i) collection and reporting of fish21 ery-dependent data; 

22 ‘‘(ii) bycatch reduction or avoidance; 

23 ‘‘(iii) gear selectivity; 

24 ‘‘(iv) adverse impacts caused by fish25 ing gear; or 

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1 ‘‘(v) safety.’’; and 

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

3 the following: 

4 ‘‘(3) MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS AVAILABLE FOR

5 HISTORIC USES.—Of the direct loan obligations 

6 issued by the Secretary under this chapter, the Sec7 retary shall make a minimum of $59,000,000 avail8 able each fiscal year for historic uses. 

9 ‘‘(4) USE OF OBLIGATIONS IN LIMITED ACCESS

10 FISHERIES.—In addition to the other eligible pur11 poses and uses of direct loan obligations provided for 

12 in this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to issue 

13 direct loan obligations for the purpose of— 

14 ‘‘(A) financing the construction or recon15 struction of a fishing vessel in a fishery man16 aged under a limited access system; or 

17 ‘‘(B) financing the purchase of harvesting 

18 rights in a fishery that is federally managed 

19 under a limited access system.’’. 

20 (b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION TO CERTAIN FISH21 ING VESSELS OF PROHIBITION UNDER VESSEL CON22 STRUCTION PROGRAM.—Section 302(b)(2) of the Fish23 eries Financing Act (title III of Public Law 104–297; 46 

24 U.S.C. 53706 note) is amended— 

25 (1) in the second sentence— 

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

2 in’’; and 

3 (B) by inserting before the period the fol4 lowing: ‘‘, in fisheries that are under the juris5 diction of the North Pacific Fishery Manage6 ment Council and managed under a fishery 

7 management plan issued under the Magnuson8 Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 

9 Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific 

10 whiting fishery that is under the jurisdiction of 

11 the Pacific Fishery Management Council and 

12 managed under a fishery management plan 

13 issued under that Act’’; and 

14 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘Any fishing vessel operated in fisheries under 

16 the jurisdiction of the North Pacific Fishery Man17 agement Council and managed under a fishery man18 agement plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens 

19 Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 

20 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific whiting fish21 ery under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery 

22 Management Council and managed under a fishery 

23 management plan issued under that Act, and that is 

24 replaced by a vessel that is constructed or rebuilt 

25 with a loan or loan guarantee provided by the Fedmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 eral Government may not be used to harvest fish in 

2 any fishery under the jurisdiction of any Regional 

3 Fishery Management Council, other than a fishery 

4 under the jurisdiction of the North Pacific Fishery 

5 Management Council or the Pacific Fishery Manage6 ment Council.’’. 

7 SEC. 312. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL CER8 TIFICATION. 

9 Section 4503(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) by designating the existing matter as para12 graph (1); and 

13 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(2) This section does not apply to a fishing or fish 

15 tender vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title applies, 

16 if— 

17 ‘‘(A) the vessel is at least 50 feet overall in 

18 length, and not more than 190 feet overall in length; 

19 ‘‘(B) the vessel is built after January 1, 2016; 

20 ‘‘(C) the vessel is designed by a registered pro21 fessional engineer, and the design incorporates 

22 standards equivalent to those prescribed by a classi23 fication society designated under section 3316 of 

24 this title or another qualified organization approved 

25 by the Secretary; 

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1 ‘‘(D) construction of such vessel is overseen and 

2 certified as being in accordance with its design by a 

3 marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the 

4 Secretary; and 

5 ‘‘(E) the vessel— 

6 ‘‘(i) completes a stability test performed by 

7 a qualified individual; 

8 ‘‘(ii) has written stability and loading in9 structions from a qualified individual that are 

10 provided to the owner or operator; and 

11 ‘‘(iii) has an assigned loading mark. 

12 ‘‘(3) The person who owns a vessel meeting the re13 quirements of paragraph (2) shall— 

14 ‘‘(A) not modify or substantially change such 

15 vessel unless such modification or change is reviewed 

16 and approved by a registered professional engineer 

17 prior to beginning any modification or change; 

18 ‘‘(B) complete a condition survey at least bien19 nially to the satisfaction of a marine surveyor of an 

20 organization accepted by the Secretary; 

21 ‘‘(C) complete an out-of-water survey at least 

22 once every five years to the satisfaction of a certified 

23 marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the 

24 Secretary; 

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1 ‘‘(D) update the requirements specified in para2 graph (2)(E) once every five years or at the time of 

3 a modification or substantial change to such vessel; 

4 and 

5 ‘‘(E) for the life of the vessel, maintain records 

6 to demonstrate compliance with this subsection, and 

7 make such records readily available for inspection by 

8 an official authorized to enforce this chapter.’’. 

9 SEC. 313. TITLE 46, UNITED STATES CODE, TECHNICAL COR10 RECTIONS. 

11 Title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

12 (1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 

13 151).’’ and inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 

14 (2) in section 2118— 

15 (A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre16 ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 

17 inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 

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

19 and inserting ‘‘subtitle’’; 

20 (3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 

21 (A) by adding a period at the end of the 

22 item relating to section 3507; and 

23 (B) by adding a period at the end of the 

24 item relating to section 3508; 

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1 (4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

2 the end; 

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

4 (6) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking 

5 ‘‘Academy.’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; 

6 (7) in the analysis for chapter 701— 

7 (A) by adding a period at the end of the 

8 item relating to section 70107A; 

9 (B) in the item relating to section 70112, 

10 by striking ‘‘security advisory committee.’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘Security Advisory Committee.’’; and 

12 (C) in the item relating to section 70122, 

13 by striking ‘‘watch program.’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘Watch Program.’’; 

15 (8) in section 70105(c)— 

16 (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(xv)— 

17 (i) by striking ‘‘18, popularly’’ and in18 serting ‘‘18 (popularly’’; and 

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

20 ‘‘Act)’’; and 

21 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(D) 

22 paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘(D) of paragraph’’; 

23 (9) in section 70107— 

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1 (A) in paragraph (b)(2), by striking 

2 ‘‘5121(j)(8)),’’ and inserting ‘‘5196(j)(8)),’’; 

3 and 

4 (B) in paragraph (m)(3)(C)(iii), by strik5 ing ‘‘that is’’ and inserting ‘‘that the appli6 cant’’; 

7 (10) in section 70122, in the section header, by 

8 striking ‘‘watch program’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch 

9 Program’’; and 

10 (11) in the analysis for chapter 705, by adding 

11 a period at the end of the item relating to section 

12 70508. 

13 TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

14 COMMISSION 

15 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 46, United 

17 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘§ 308. Authorization of appropriations 

20 ‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fed21 eral Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal 

22 years 2016 and 2017 for the activities of the Commission 

23 authorized under this chapter and subtitle IV.’’. 

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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap2 ter 3 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by add3 ing at the end the following: 

‘‘308. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

4 SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 

5 Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, 

6 is amended— 

7 (1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘units, but only 

8 after consultation with the other Commissioners;’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘units (with such appointments sub10 ject to the approval of the Commission);’’; 

11 (2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

12 (3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the 

13 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

14 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(vi) prepare and submit to the Presi16 dent and Congress requests for appropria17 tions for the Commission (with such re18 quests subject to the approval of the Com19 mission).’’. 

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1 TITLE V—SPORTFISH RESTORA2 TION AND RECREATIONAL 

3 BOATING SAFETY REAUTHOR4 IZATION 

5 SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 

6 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Sport Fish Restora7 tion and Recreational Boating Safety Act’’. 

8 SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 Section 3 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restora10 tion Act (16 U.S.C. 777b) is amended by striking ‘‘57 per11 cent’’ and inserting ‘‘57.42 percent’’. 

12 SEC. 503. DIVISION OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson 

14 Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amend15 ed— 

16 (1) in subsection (a)— 

17 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

18 by striking ‘‘2014 and for the period beginning 

19 on October 1, 2014, and ending on May 31, 

20 2015,’’ and inserting ‘‘2023,’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘18.5 

22 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘18.54 percent’’; 

23 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘18.5 

24 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘18.04 percent’’; and 

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1 (D) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 

2 ‘‘Not more than 25 percent of such amount 

3 may be used for capital improvement and infra4 structure projects to support facilities that meet 

5 State requirements for minimizing the introduc6 tion of pollutants into the waterways.’’; 

7 (2) by amending the heading in subsection (b) 

8 to read as follows: ‘‘SET-ASIDES.—’’; 

9 (3) in subsection (b)(1)— 

10 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

11 ‘‘2014, and for the period beginning on October 

12 1, 2014, and ending on May 31, 2015,’’ and in13 serting ‘‘2023,’’; 

14 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

15 clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), and inserting the fol16 lowing: 

17 ‘‘(i) for each of the fiscal years 2016 

18 through 2023, 1.8468 percent of total an19 nual collections under this Act for such fis20 cal year; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) not withstanding clause (i), an 

22 amount that is less than or equal to 

23 $12,299,000.’’; and 

24 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

25 ‘‘(C) SET-ASIDE FOR BOATING SAFETY.— 

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1 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—From the annual 

2 appropriation made in accordance with sec3 tion 3, for each fiscal year through 2023, 

4 the Secretary shall transfer to the Sec5 retary of the department in which the 

6 Coast Guard is operating— 

7 ‘‘(I)(aa) 0.3435 percent of total 

8 annual collections under this Act to 

9 pay the costs of investigations, per10 sonnel, and activities related to ad11 ministering those programs under sec12 tion 4(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 777c(a)(2)); 

13 and 

14 ‘‘(bb) notwithstanding item (aa), 

15 an amount that is less than or equal 

16 to $2,300,000; and 

17 ‘‘(II) $1,500,000 shall be made 

18 available for the National Recreational 

19 Boating Survey, that shall be avail20 able until expended and may be 

21 awarded as a contract or grant by the 

22 Secretary. 

23 ‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—The amounts 

24 specified in clause (i) for a fiscal year may 

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1 nual appropriation distributed under sub2 section (a) of this section for the fiscal 

3 year.’’; 

4 (4) in subsection (b)(2)— 

5 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

6 ‘‘under paragraph (1) shall remain available for 

7 obligation for use under that paragraph’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(B) shall remain 

9 available for obligation for use under paragraph 

10 (1)(A)’’; and 

11 (B) in subparagraph (B)— 

12 (i) by striking ‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(B)’’; 

14 and 

15 (ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 

17 (5) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘57.42 percent’’; 

19 (6) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘So much of 

20 any sum not allocated’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as 

21 otherwise provided in this section, so much of any 

22 sum not allocated’’; and 

23 (7) in subsection (e)— 

24 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘those 

25 subsections’’ and inserting ‘‘those paragraphs’’; 

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1 (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

2 follows: 

3 ‘‘(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—For fiscal year 

4 2016, the Secretary of the Interior may use not 

5 more than $1,200,000 in accordance with paragraph 

6 (1). For each fiscal year thereafter, the maximum 

7 amount that the Secretary of the Interior may use 

8 in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be deter9 mined under paragraph (3).’’; and 

10 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(3) ANNUAL ADJUSTED MAXIMUM AMOUNT.— 

12 The maximum amount referred to in paragraph (2) 

13 for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter 

14 shall be the sum of— 

15 ‘‘(A) the available maximum amount for 

16 the preceding fiscal year; and 

17 ‘‘(B) the amount determined by multi18 plying— 

19 ‘‘(i) the available maximum amount 

20 for the preceding fiscal year; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) the change, relative to the pre22 ceding fiscal year, in the Consumer Price 

23 Index for All Urban Consumers published 

24 by the Department of Labor.’’. 

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1 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the 

2 Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 

3 777h) is amended— 

4 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 4(b)’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘section 4(b)(1)(B)’’; and 

6 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘section 

7 4(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 4(b)(1)(B)’’. 

8 SEC. 504. EXTENSION OF EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON 

9 TRANSFERS TO FUND. 

10 Section 9504(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

11 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘June 1, 2015,’’ and insert12 ing ‘‘October 1, 2023,’’. 

13 SEC. 505. RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY ALLOCATIONS. 

14 Section 13104 of title 46, United States Code, is 

15 amended by striking subsection (c). 

16 SEC. 506. RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY. 

17 Section 13107 of title 46, United States Code, is 

18 amended— 

19 (1) in subsection (a)— 

20 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1) Sub21 ject to paragraph (2) and subsection (c),’’ and 

22 inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (c),’’; and 

23 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

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1 (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 

2 all that follows through the end and inserting 

3 ‘‘title— 

4 ‘‘(A) including the funding of the National 

5 Boating Safety Advisory Council established 

6 under section 13110 of this title and the au7 thorized activities of the Council, including 

8 travel for the council; and 

9 ‘‘(B) of the funds referred to in paragraph 

10 (1), not less than $2,500,000 shall be available 

11 to the Secretary only to ensure compliance with 

12 chapter 43 of this title.’’. 

13 SEC. 507. NATIONAL BOATING SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

14 Section 13110(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 

15 amended by striking ‘‘2020’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 

16 SEC. 508. PLAN EVALUATION. 

17 Section 303(b)(7) of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, 

18 Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3952(b)(7)) is 

19 amended by inserting ‘‘and improvements made to the 

20 quality of fish and wildlife habitat conditions’’ after ‘‘en21 hancing coastal wetlands’’. 

22 SEC. 509. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

23 The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

24 Service shall annually evaluate and report on the adminis25 trative services of such Service for the trust fund to the 

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1 States and the sportfishing community, including the fol2 lowing categories of information: 

3 (1) The percent of grant actions completed 

4 within 45 days of receipt, average number of days 

5 to process new grants, and average number of days 

6 to process grant amendments. 

7 (2) Which wildlife and sport fish restoration 

8 policies are currently being updated, the start time 

9 for each update, and the anticipated completion 

10 time. 

11 (3) The number of Federal assistance work12 shops held with States and such Service in efforts to 

13 communicate fiscal policies and procedures with the 

14 State agencies. 

15 (4) The response time to States based on initial 

16 notification or assistance requests initiated by a 

17 State. 

18 (5) The number of States with unresolved rec19 onciliation of land records and number of corrective 

20 action plans with open actions. 

21 (6) The number of employees of such Service 

22 with grants management training and outstanding 

23 training requirements and the percent of State fish 

24 and wildlife staff to have received training from 

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1 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund Program 

2 of such Service. 

3 (7) The number of full-time equivalents contrib4 uting to grant processing and related grant manage5 ment in each region. 

6 (8) The number of in-field state project reviews 

7 and site visits by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Res8 toration Fund Program. 

9 (9) The number of audits per year originating 

10 from such Service and response time to related ac11 tions and correspondence. 

12 TITLE VI—CONVEYANCE OF 

13 COAST GUARD PROPERTY 

14 Subtitle A—Conveyance of Coast 

15 Guard Property in Point Spen16 cer, Alaska 

17 SEC. 601. FINDINGS. 

18 Congress finds as follows: 

19 (1) Major shipping traffic is increasing through 

20 the Bering Strait, the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and 

21 the Arctic Ocean and will continue to increase 

22 whether or not development of the outer Continental 

23 Shelf of the United States is undertaken in the fu24 ture and will increase further if such outer Conti25 nental Shelf development is undertaken. 

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1 (2) There is a compelling national, State, Alas2 ka Native, and private sector need for permanent in3 frastructure development and for a presence in the 

4 Arctic region of Alaska by appropriate agencies of 

5 the Federal Government, particularly in proximity to 

6 the Bering Strait, to support and facilitate search 

7 and rescue, shipping safety, economic development, 

8 oil spill prevention and response, protection of Alas9 ka Native archaeological and cultural resources, port 

10 of refuge, Arctic research, and maritime law enforce11 ment on the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the 

12 Arctic Ocean. 

13 (3) The United States owns a parcel of land, 

14 known as Point Spencer, located between the Bering 

15 Strait and Port Clarence and adjacent to some of 

16 the best potential deepwater port sites on the coast 

17 of Alaska in the Arctic. 

18 (4) Prudent and effective use of Point Spencer 

19 may be best achieved through marshaling the en20 ergy, resources, and leadership of the public and pri21 vate sectors. 

22 (5) It is in the national interest to develop in23 frastructure at Point Spencer that would aid the 

24 Coast Guard in performing its statutory duties and 

25 functions in the Arctic on a more permanent basis 

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1 and to allow for public and private sector develop2 ment of facilities and other infrastructure to support 

3 purposes that are of benefit to the United States. 

4 SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS. 

5 In this subtitle: 

6 (1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean7 ing given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Re8 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

9 (2) BSNC.—The term ‘‘BSNC’’ means the 

10 Bering Straits Native Corporation authorized under 

11 section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

12 Act (43 U.S.C. 1606). 

13 (3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 

14 Port Coordination Advisory Council established 

15 under section 604(a). 

16 (4) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the Port 

17 Management Coordination Plan developed under sec18 tion 604(c). 

19 (5) POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Point Spen20 cer’’ means the land known as ‘‘Point Spencer’’ lo21 cated between the Bering Strait and Port Clarence 

22 and withdrawn by Public Land Order 2650 (pub23 lished in the Federal Register on April 12, 1962), 

24 and located in Townships 2, 3, and 4 South, Range 

25 40 West, Kateel River Meridian, Alaska. 

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1 (6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise specifi2 cally provided, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec3 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

4 is operating. 

5 (7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

6 of Alaska. 

7 (8) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ means Tract 1, 

8 Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, as 

9 appropriate. 

10 (9) TRACTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6.—The terms 

11 ‘‘Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and 

12 Tract 6’’ each mean the land generally depicted as 

13 Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or 

14 Tract 6, respectively, and generally depicted as such 

15 Tract on the map entitled the ‘‘Point Spencer Land 

16 Retention and Conveyance Map’’, dated January 

17 2015, and on file with the Department of Homeland 

18 Security and the Department of the Interior. 

19 SEC. 603. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY LAND IN POINT SPEN20 CER. 

21 (a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 1, 3, AND 4.— 

22 The Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid 

23 existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 

24 States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of 

25 Tract 1, Tract 3, and Tract 4 in accordance with submstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 section (d) if the Secretary notifies the Secretary of the 

2 Interior that the Coast Guard no longer needs to retain 

3 jurisdiction over any portion of Tract 1, Tract 3, or Tract 

4 4 and the requirements of subsection (f) are met for each 

5 such Tract to be conveyed. 

6 (b) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 2 AND 5.—The 

7 Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid ex8 isting rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 

9 States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of 

10 Tract 2 and Tract 5 in accordance with subsection (d) 

11 if the requirements of subsection (f) are met for each such 

12 Tract to be conveyed. 

13 (c) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TRACT 6.—The Sec14 retary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid existing 

15 rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States 

16 in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 6 

17 in accordance with subsection (e) if the requirements of 

18 subsection (f) are met. 

19 (d) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 1, 2, 3, 

20 4, OR 5.— 

21 (1) DETERMINATION AND OFFER.— 

22 (A) TRACT 1, 3, OR 4.—If the Secretary 

23 makes the determination under subsection (a) 

24 and the requirements of subsection (f) are met 

25 for Tract 1, 3, or 4, or a portion of such Tract, 

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1 the Secretary of the Interior shall offer such 

2 Tract or portion of such Tract for conveyance 

3 to BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Set4 tlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

5 (B) TRACT 2 OR 5.—If the requirements of 

6 subsection (f) are met for Tract 2 or Tract 5, 

7 the Secretary of the Interior shall offer such 

8 Tract for conveyance to BSNC under the Alas9 ka Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

10 1601 et seq.). 

11 (2) OFFER TO BSNC.— 

12 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.—If BSNC 

13 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 

14 Tract under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 

15 Interior shall consider such Tract as within 

16 BSNC’s entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of 

17 the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 

18 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey such Tract 

19 to BSNC. 

20 (B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 

21 to accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract 

22 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Inte23 rior shall offer such Tract for conveyance to the 

24 State under the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly 

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1 known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 

2 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508). 

3 (3) OFFER TO STATE.— 

4 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 

5 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 

6 Tract under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of 

7 the Interior shall consider such Tract as within 

8 the State’s entitlement under the Act of July 7, 

9 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska State10 hood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public 

11 Law 85–508) and shall convey such Tract to 

12 the State. 

13 (B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de14 clines to accept an offer of conveyance of a 

15 Tract offered under paragraph (2)(B), such 

16 Tract shall be disposed of pursuant to applica17 ble public land laws. 

18 (e) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 6.— 

19 (1) OFFER.—If the requirements under sub20 section (f) are met for Tract 6, the Secretary of the 

21 Interior shall offer such Tract for conveyance to the 

22 State. 

23 (2) OFFER TO STATE.— 

24 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 

25 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of 

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1 Tract 6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of 

2 the Interior shall consider Tract 6 as within the 

3 State’s entitlement under the Act of July 7, 

4 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska State5 hood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public 

6 Law 85–508) and shall convey Tract 6 to the 

7 State. 

8 (B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de9 clines to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 

10 6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the In11 terior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to 

12 BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settle13 ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

14 (3) OFFER TO BSNC.— 

15 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.— 

16 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 

17 (ii), if BSNC chooses to accept an offer of 

18 conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph 

19 (2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior shall 

20 consider Tract 6 as within BSNC’s entitle21 ment under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska 

22 Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

23 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey Tract 6 to 

24 BSNC. 

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1 (ii) LEASE BY THE STATE.—The con2 veyance of Tract 6 to BSNC shall be sub3 ject to BSNC negotiating a lease of Tract 

4 6 to the State at no cost to the State, if 

5 the State requests such a lease. 

6 (B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 

7 to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 

8 under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of the 

9 Interior shall dispose of Tract 6 pursuant to 

10 the applicable public land laws. 

11 (f) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.— 

12 (1) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.— 

13 (A) TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, OR 6.— 

14 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

15 the Interior shall not convey Tract 1, 

16 Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or 

17 Tract 6 under this section until— 

18 (I) the Secretary certifies that 

19 the applicable requirements under sec20 tion 120(h) of the Comprehensive En21 vironmental Response, Compensation, 

22 and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 

23 9620(h)) and other applicable envi24 ronmental laws have been satisfied for 

25 land in such Tract; or 

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1 (II) the Board of Directors of 

2 BSNC adopts and submits to the Sec3 retary of the Interior a resolution 

4 stating that BSNC is willing to accept 

5 Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, 

6 Tract 5, or Tract 6, as appropriate, 

7 ‘‘as is’’ at the time of such convey8 ance, based on known contamination. 

9 (ii) AS IS.—In this subparagraph, the 

10 term ‘‘as is’’ means the physical condition 

11 of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, 

12 Tract 5, or Tract 6, as appropriate, at the 

13 time of the conveyance of such Tract, in14 cluding with respect to any known con15 tamination by hazardous materials or sub16 stances. 

17 (B) LAND TO BE CONVEYED TO THE

18 STATE OR BSNC.— 

19 (i) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.— 

20 To the extent cleanup and remediation of 

21 hazardous substances on land in a Tract to 

22 be conveyed to the State or to BSNC are 

23 required by existing law, all environmental 

24 compliance activities pursuant to section 

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1 mental Response, Compensation, and Li2 ability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)) 

3 and other applicable environmental laws 

4 shall be satisfied. 

5 (ii) MONITORING OF KNOWN CON6 TAMINATION.—Notwithstanding section 

7 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environ8 mental Response, Compensation, and Li9 ability Act of 1980 and other applicable 

10 environmental laws, any known contamina11 tion in a Tract to be conveyed that does 

12 not pose an immediate or long-term health 

13 or environmental risk may be routinely 

14 monitored and managed by the State or 

15 BSNC, as applicable, through institutional 

16 controls in accordance with the laws of the 

17 State. 

18 (iii) LATER FOUND CONTAMINA19 TION.—If preexisting contamination from 

20 hazardous materials and substances are 

21 found to be present in a Tract after the 

22 date the Tract is conveyed to the State or 

23 BSNC, responsibility for cleanup and re24 mediation of such contamination shall con25 tinue to be governed by section 120(h)(3) 

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1 of the Comprehensive Environmental Re2 sponse, Compensation, and Liability Act of 

3 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)), applicable 

4 provisions of chapter 19 of title 14, United 

5 States Code, and applicable laws of the 

6 State. 

7 (C) LAND TO BE RETAINED BY THE COAST

8 GUARD.—With respect to land in Tract 1, Tract 

9 3, or Tract 4 to be retained by the Coast 

10 Guard, nothing in this section may be construed 

11 to limit the obligation of the Coast Guard to 

12 comply with applicable environmental law, in13 cluding section 120(h) of the Comprehensive 

14 Environmental Response, Compensation, and 

15 Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

16 (2) AIRSTRIP USE.— 

17 (A) USE BY COAST GUARD.—All convey18 ances under this section shall be subject to— 

19 (i) an easement granting unlimited 

20 use of all existing and future landing pads, 

21 airstrips, runways, and taxiways that are 

22 located on such Tract conveyed, at no cost 

23 to the Coast Guard; and 

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1 (ii) the right to access such landing 

2 pads, airstrips, runways, and taxiways, at 

3 no cost to the Coast Guard. 

4 (B) USE BY STATE.— 

5 (i) IN GENERAL.—For any Tract con6 veyed to BSNC under this section, BSNC 

7 shall provide to the State, if requested and 

8 pursuant to negotiated terms with the 

9 State, for no compensation— 

10 (I) an easement over all existing 

11 and future airstrips, runways, and 

12 taxiways located on such Tract; and 

13 (II) a right of access to and from 

14 such airstrips, runways, and taxiways. 

15 (ii) RIGHT OF ACCESS.—If the State 

16 requests a right of access for a road from 

17 the airstrip to the southern tip of Point 

18 Spencer, the location of such right of ac19 cess shall be determined by the State, in 

20 consultation with the Secretary and 

21 BSNC, so that such access is compatible 

22 with other existing or planned infrastruc23 ture development at Point Spencer. 

24 (3) RELATIONSHIP TO PUBLIC LAND ORDER

25 2650.— 

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1 (A) TRACTS NOT CONVEYED.—Any Tract 

2 that is not conveyed under this section shall re3 main withdrawn pursuant to Public Land Order 

4 2650 (published in the Federal Register on 

5 April 12, 1962). 

6 (B) TRACTS CONVEYED.—For any Tract 

7 conveyed under this section, Public Land Order 

8 2650 shall automatically terminate upon 

9 issuance of a conveyance document for such 

10 Tract. 

11 (4) ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RE12 SOURCES.—Conveyance of any Tract under this sec13 tion shall not affect criminal jurisdiction and respon14 sibilities regarding the potential theft or vandalism 

15 of archeological or cultural resources located in or 

16 on such tracts. 

17 (5) PERSONAL PROPERTY.— 

18 (A) CASH SALES AUTHORIZED.—The Sec19 retary of Homeland Security is authorized to 

20 make cash sales of personal property that is lo21 cated on Tract 4 to BSNC or to the State. 

22 (B) VALUE.—The total value of the per23 sonal property referred to in subparagraph (A) 

24 shall be deemed to be $5,580,000. 

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1 (C) PROCEEDS.—Pursuant to section 559 

2 of the Department of Homeland Security Ap3 propriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–83; 

4 123 Stat. 2180), the proceeds from the sale of 

5 Coast Guard property referred to in subpara6 graph (A)— 

7 (i) shall be deposited as offsetting col8 lections into the Coast Guard Environ9 mental Compliance and Restoration Ac10 count; 

11 (ii) shall be available without further 

12 appropriation for environmental compli13 ance and restoration activities associated 

14 with any tract conveyed or to be conveyed 

15 under this Act; and 

16 (iii) shall remain available until ex17 pended. 

18 (D) UNEXPENDED BALANCES.—If unex19 pended balances remain in the Coast Guard 

20 Environmental Compliance and Restoration Ac21 count after the completion of the activities de22 scribed in subparagraph (C)(ii), such balances 

23 may be expended for any other environmental 

24 compliance and restoration activities of the 

25 Coast Guard. 

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1 (g) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

2 (1) PREPARATION OF MAPS AND LEGAL DE3 SCRIPTION.—As soon as practicable after the date of 

4 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Inte5 rior shall prepare maps and legal descriptions of 

6 Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and 

7 Tract 6. In doing so, the Secretary of the Interior 

8 may use metes and bounds legal descriptions based 

9 upon the official survey plats of Point Spencer ac10 cepted on December 6, 1978. 

11 (2) LEGAL EFFECT.—The maps and legal de12 scriptions shall have the same force and effect as if 

13 the maps and legal descriptions were included in this 

14 Act, except that the Secretary of the Interior may 

15 correct any clerical and typographical errors in the 

16 maps and legal descriptions. 

17 (3) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the maps and 

18 legal descriptions shall be available for public inspec19 tion in the appropriate offices of— 

20 (A) the Bureau of Land Management; and 

21 (B) the United States Coast Guard. 

22 (4) SURVEY.—Not later than 5 years after the 

23 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

24 the Interior shall survey Tracts conveyed and patent 

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1 the Tracts in accordance with the official plats of 

2 survey. 

3 (h) PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS.—No public access 

4 easements may be reserved to the United States under 

5 section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

6 (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)) with respect to the land conveyed 

7 under this Act. 

8 SEC. 604. PORT COORDINATION ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 

9 POINT SPENCER. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Port 

11 Coordination Advisory Council for the Port of Point Spen12 cer. 

13 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of a 

14 representative appointed by each of the following: 

15 (1) The State. 

16 (2) BSNC. 

17 (c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council are as fol18 lows: 

19 (1) To develop a Port Management Coordina20 tion Plan to help coordinate infrastructure develop21 ment and operations at the Port of Point Spencer, 

22 that includes plans for— 

23 (A) construction; 

24 (B) funding eligibility; 

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1 (C) land use planning and development; 

2 and 

3 (D) public interest use and access, emer4 gency preparedness, law enforcement, protection 

5 of Alaska Native archaeological and cultural re6 sources, and other matters that are necessary 

7 for public and private entities to function in 

8 proximity together in a remote location. 

9 (2) Update the Plan annually for the first 5 

10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and 

11 biennially thereafter. 

12 (3) Facilitate coordination among stakeholders 

13 at Point Spencer, including the Coast Guard, on the 

14 development and use of the land and coastline as 

15 such development relates to activities at the Port of 

16 Point Spencer. 

17 (4) Assess the need, benefits, efficacy, and de18 sirability of establishing in the future a port author19 ity at Point Spencer under State law and act upon 

20 that assessment, as appropriate, including taking 

21 steps for the potential formation of such a port au22 thority. 

23 (d) PLAN.—The Plan shall be developed and imple24 mented by the Council in such a manner so as to facilitate 

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1 tory missions, duties, and operations of the Coast Guard 

2 in the Arctic. 

3 (e) COSTS.—Operations and management costs for 

4 airstrips, runways, and taxiways at Point Spencer shall 

5 be determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan, as nego6 tiated by the Council. 

7 SEC. 605. WAIVER. 

8 Section 229 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 

9 Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

10 281; 128 Stat. 3040) shall not be construed to prohibit 

11 any transfer or conveyance of lands under to this Act or 

12 any actions that involve the dismantling or disposal of in13 frastructure that supported the former LORAN system 

14 that are associated with the transfer or conveyance of 

15 lands under this subtitle. 

16 Subtitle B—Other Conveyance of 

17 Coast Guard Property 

18 SEC. 611. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

19 POINT REYES STATION, CALIFORNIA. 

20 (a) CONVEYANCE.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the 

22 Coast Guard may convey to the County of Marin all 

23 right, title, and interest of the United States in and 

24 to the covered property— 

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1 (A) for fair market value, provided for in 

2 paragraph (2); 

3 (B) subject to the conditions required by 

4 this section; and 

5 (C) subject to any other term or condition 

6 that the Commandant considers appropriate to 

7 protect the interests of the United States. 

8 (2) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market 

9 value of the covered property shall be— 

10 (A) determined by a real estate appraiser, 

11 who has been selected by the County and is li12 censed to practice in California; and 

13 (B) approved by the Commandant, who 

14 shall base such approval on considerations of 

15 equity and fairness, including the use required 

16 under this section of the covered property. 

17 (3) PROCEEDS.—The Commandant shall de18 posit the proceeds from a conveyance under para19 graph (1) in the Coast Guard Housing Fund estab20 lished by section 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

21 (b) CONDITION OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition of 

22 any conveyance of covered property under this section, the 

23 Commandant shall require that all right, title, and interest 

24 in and to the covered property revert to the United States 

25 if the covered property or any part thereof ceases to be 

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1 used for affordable housing, as defined by the County and 

2 the Commandant at conveyance, or to provide a public 

3 benefit approved by the County. 

4 (c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec5 tion may be construed to affect or limit the application 

6 of or obligation to comply with any environmental law, in7 cluding section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environ8 mental Response, Compensation, and liability Act of 1980 

9 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

10 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) COMMANDANT.—The term ‘‘Commandant’’ 

12 means the Commandant of the Coast Guard. 

13 (2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means the 

14 County of Marin, California. 

15 (3) COVERED PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘covered 

16 property’’ means the 32 acres of Federal land (in17 cluding all buildings, structures, utilities, and mis18 cellaneous facilities on the land) that are located in 

19 Point Reyes Station in the County of Marin, Cali20 fornia, and that are under the administrative control 

21 of the Coast Guard and identified by the Coast 

22 Guard as ‘‘CAMSPAC Housing’’. 

23 (e) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the cov24 ered property under this section shall expire on the date 

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1 that is four years after the date of the enactment of this 

2 Act. 

3 SEC. 612. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

4 TOK, ALASKA. 

5 (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 

6 of the Coast Guard may convey all right, title, and interest 

7 of the United States in and to the covered property, upon 

8 payment to the United States of the fair market value of 

9 the covered property. 

10 (b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The Tanana Chiefs’ 

11 Conference shall have the right of first refusal with respect 

12 to purchase of the covered property under this section. 

13 (c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal descrip14 tion of the covered property shall be determined by a sur15 vey satisfactory to the Commandant. 

16 (d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value 

17 of the covered property shall be— 

18 (1) determined by appraisal; and 

19 (2) subject to the approval of the Commandant. 

20 (e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for 

21 all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate 

22 transaction and environmental documentation costs, asso23 ciated with a conveyance under this section shall be deter24 mined by the Commandant and the purchaser. 

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1 (f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The 

2 Commandant may require such additional terms and con3 ditions in connection with a conveyance under this section 

4 as the Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable 

5 to protect the interests of the United States. 

6 (g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received 

7 by the United States from a conveyance under this section 

8 shall be deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund es9 tablished under section 687 of title 14, United States 

10 Code. 

11 (h) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term 

13 ‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 3.25 

14 acres of real property (including all improvements 

15 located on the property) that are— 

16 (A) located in Tok, Alaska; 

17 (B) under the administrative control of the 

18 Coast Guard; and 

19 (C) described in paragraph (2). 

20 (2) DESCRIPTION.—The property described in 

21 this paragraph is the following: 

22 (A) Lots 11, 12, and 13, block ‘‘G’’, Sec23 ond Addition to Hartsell Subdivision, Section 

24 20, Township 18 North, Range 13 East, Cop25 per River Meridian, Alaska as appears by Plat 

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1 No. 72–39 filed in the Office of the Recorder 

2 for the Fairbanks Recording District of Alaska, 

3 bearing seal dated 25 September 1972, all con4 taining approximately 1.25 Acres and com5 monly known as 2-PLEX – Jackie Circle, Units 

6 A and B. 

7 (B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the SE 1⁄4 of the SE 1 8 ⁄4 Section 24, 

9 Township 18 North, Range 12 East, Copper 

10 River Meridian, Alaska; thence running westerly along the south line of said SE 1 11 ⁄4 of the 

NE 1 12 ⁄4 260 feet; thence northerly parallel to the 

east line of said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1 13 ⁄4 335 feet; 

14 thence easterly parallel to the south line 260 

15 feet; then south 335 feet along the east bound16 ary of Section 24 to the point of beginning; all 

17 containing approximately 2.0 acres and com18 monly known as 4-PLEX – West ‘‘C’’ and Wil19 low, Units A, B, C, and D. 

20 TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

21 SEC. 701. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 

22 OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(a) of the Oil Pollu24 tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761(a)) is amended— 

25 (1) in paragraph (3)— 

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1 (A) by striking ‘‘Minerals Management 

2 Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Bureau of Safety and 

3 Environmental Enforcement, the Bureau of 

4 Ocean Energy Management,’’; and 

5 (B) by inserting ‘‘the United States Arctic 

6 Research Commission,’’ after ‘‘National Aero7 nautics and Space Administration,’’; and 

8 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(5) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—A representative of 

10 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra11 tion, a representative of the Bureau of Safety and 

12 Environmental Enforcement, and a representative of 

13 the Environmental Protection Agency shall serve, on 

14 a rotating basis, as vice chairperson of the Com15 mittee.’’. 

16 (b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 7001 of the 

17 Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761) is amended— 

18 (1) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter pre19 ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Department 

20 of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘department in 

21 which the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

22 (2) in subsection (c)(8)(A), by striking 

23 ‘‘(1989)’’ and inserting ‘‘(2010)’’. 

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1 SEC. 702. ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT NOTIFICATION. 

2 Section 9 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Cer3 tainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (49 U.S.C. 60117 

4 note; Public Law 112–90) is amended by striking sub5 section (c), and that subsection shall be deemed not to 

6 have been enacted. 

7 SEC. 703. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO 

8 BRIDGES. 

9 (a) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 3, 

10 1899 (commonly known as the ‘‘Rivers and Harbors Ap11 propriation Act of 1899’’), is amended— 

12 (1) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by striking 

13 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

14 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

15 the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

16 (2) in section 12 (33 U.S.C. 406)— 

17 (A) by striking the section designation and 

18 all that follows through the first sentence and 

19 inserting the following: 

20 ‘‘SEC. 12. PENALTY FOR WRONGFUL CONSTRUCTION; RE21 MOVAL OF STRUCTURES. 

22 ‘‘(a) PENALTY FOR WRONGFUL CONSTRUCTION.— 

23 Each individual or entity that violates an applicable provi24 sion of section 9, 10, or 11, or any rule or regulation pro25 mulgated by the Secretary of the department in which the 

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1 Coast Guard is operating pursuant to section 9 or the Sec2 retary of the Army pursuant to section 11, shall be— 

3 ‘‘(1) guilty of a misdemeanor; and 

4 ‘‘(2) on conviction, punished by, at the discre5 tion of the applicable court— 

6 ‘‘(A) a fine of not less than $500 nor more 

7 than $2,500; 

8 ‘‘(B) imprisonment (in the case of an indi9 vidual) for not more than 1 year; or 

10 ‘‘(C) both the punishments described in 

11 subparagraphs (A) and (B).’’; and 

12 (B) in the second sentence— 

13 (i) by striking ‘‘And further, the re14 moval’’ and inserting the following: 

15 ‘‘(b) REMOVAL OF STRUCTURES.—The removal’’; 

16 and 

17 (ii) by striking ‘‘the provisions of’’ 

18 and all that follows through ‘‘exercising’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘a provision described in 

20 subsection (a) may be enforced by the in21 junction of any district court exercising’’; 

22 and 

23 (3) in subsections (a) and (c) of section 18 (33 

24 U.S.C. 502), by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor25 tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

2 is operating’’. 

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

4 23, 1906 (commonly known as the ‘‘Bridge Act of 1906’’), 

5 is amended— 

6 (1) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by 

7 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

9 Guard is operating’’; 

10 (2) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by striking 

11 ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each place it ap12 pears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in 

13 which the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

14 (3) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by striking 

15 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

16 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

17 the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

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

19 of August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499), is amended by strik20 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

21 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 

22 Coast Guard is operating’’. 

23 (d) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 21, 

24 1940 (commonly known as the ‘‘Truman-Hobbs Act’’), is 

25 amended— 

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

2 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec3 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

4 is operating’’; 

5 (2) in section 3 (33 U.S.C. 513)— 

6 (A) in the section heading, by striking 

7 ‘‘HEARING’’ and inserting ‘‘MEETING’’; 

8 (B) in the first sentence— 

9 (i) by striking ‘‘hearing’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘meeting’’; and 

11 (ii) by striking ‘‘evidence’’ and insert12 ing ‘‘supporting data’’; and 

13 (C) in the second sentence, by striking 

14 ‘‘hearing’’ and inserting ‘‘a meeting’’; 

15 (3) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by striking 

16 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec17 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

18 is operating’’; 

19 (4) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by striking 

20 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

21 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

22 the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

23 (5) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), in the pro24 viso, by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and 

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1 inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 

2 Coast Guard is operating’’. 

3 (e) ACT OF JULY 16, 1952.—Section 3 of the Act 

4 of July 16, 1952 (33 U.S.C. 524), is amended by striking 

5 ‘‘hearings’’ and inserting ‘‘meetings’’. 

6 (f) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The General 

7 Bridge Act 1946 is amended— 

8 (1) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by 

9 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

11 Guard is operating’’; and 

12 (2) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by striking 

13 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

14 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

15 the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

16 (g) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The 

17 International Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 

18 (1) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by striking 

19 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec20 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

21 is operating’’; 

22 (2) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e)— 

23 (A) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor24 tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 

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1 department in which the Coast Guard is oper2 ating’’; and 

3 (B) in subsection (b), in the second sen4 tence, by striking ‘‘, and the provisions of sec5 tion 6 of this Act shall not apply’’; and 

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

7 SEC. 704. INTERNATIONAL PORT AND FACILITY INSPEC8 TION COORDINATION. 

9 Section 825(a) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

10 of 2010 (6 U.S.C. 945 note; Public Law 111–281) is 

11 amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 

12 (1) by striking ‘‘the department in which the 

13 Coast Guard is operating’’ and inserting ‘‘Homeland 

14 Security’’; and 

15 (2) by striking ‘‘they are integrated and con16 ducted by the Coast Guard’’ and inserting ‘‘the as17 sessments are coordinated between the Coast Guard 

18 and Customs and Border Protection’’. 

19 SEC. 705. REPORTS. 

20 (a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421(d) 

21 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 

22 2006 (Public Law 109–241; 46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is 

23 amended by striking ‘‘On March 1, 2007, and annually 

24 thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than July 1 of each 

25 year,’’. 

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1 (b) ELIMINATION OF REPORTS.— 

2 (1) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABIL3 ITY.—Section 603(c)(3) of the Coast Guard and 

4 Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 

5 2704 note) is amended by striking ‘‘on an annual 

6 basis.’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than January 30 of 

7 the year following each year in which an oil dis8 charge from a vessel or nonvessel source that results 

9 or is likely to result in removal costs and damages 

10 (as those terms are defined in section 1001 of the 

11 Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that ex12 ceed liability limits established under section 1004 of 

13 the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704).’’. 

14 (2) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The 

15 International Bridge Act of 1972 is amended by 

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

17 SEC. 706. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

18 The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Trans19 portation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amend20 ed— 

21 (1) in section 610, by— 

22 (A) striking the section enumerator and 

23 heading and inserting the following: 

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1 ‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT 

2 LAKES.’’; 

3 (B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any 

4 future expanded boundaries of the Thunder 

5 Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Under6 water Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of 

7 any National Marine Sanctuary that preserves 

8 shipwrecks or maritime heritage in the Great 

9 Lakes’’; and 

10 (C) by inserting before the period at the 

11 end the following: ‘‘, unless the designation doc12 uments for such Sanctuary do not allow taking 

13 up or discharging ballast water in such Sanc14 tuary’’; and 

15 (2) in the table of contents in section 2, by 

16 striking the item relating to section 610 and insert17 ing the following: 

‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’. 

18 SEC. 707. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENT. 

19 Notwithstanding section 12132 of title 46, United 

20 States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the 

21 Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of docu22 mentation with a coastwise endorsement for the F/V 

23 RONDYS (O.N. 291085). 

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1 SEC. 708. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL. 

2 (a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 

3 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

4 Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Com5 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

6 Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra7 structure of the House of Representatives a report that 

8 describes the current operations to perform the Inter9 national Ice Patrol mission and on alternatives for car10 rying out that mission, including satellite surveillance 

11 technology. 

12 (b) ALTERNATIVES.—The report required by sub13 section (a) shall include whether an alternative— 

14 (1) provides timely data on ice conditions with 

15 the highest possible resolution and accuracy; 

16 (2) is able to operate in all weather conditions 

17 or any time of day; and 

18 (3) is more cost effective than the cost of cur19 rent operations. 

20 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

21 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

22 ‘‘Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015’’. 

23 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

24 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

Sec. 101. Authorizations. 

Sec. 102. Conforming amendments. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Vice Commandant. 

Sec. 202. Vice admirals. 

Sec. 203. Professional development. 

Sec. 204. Senior enlisted member continuation boards. 

Sec. 205. Coast Guard member pay. 

Sec. 206. Recall. 

Sec. 207. Exchange of medical goods and services. 

Sec. 208. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 

Sec. 209. Coast Guard communities. 

Sec. 210. Major acquisition programs. 

Sec. 211. Major acquisitions assessment. 

Sec. 212. Polar Icebreakers. 

Sec. 213. Participation of the Coast Guard Academy in Federal, State, or other 

educational research grants. 

Sec. 214. Venue. 

Sec. 215. National Coast Guard Museum. 

Sec. 216. Investigations. 

Sec. 217. Clarification of eligibility of members of the Coast Guard for combatrelated special compensation. 

Sec. 218. Maternity leave policies for the Coast Guard. 

Sec. 219. Technical and clerical amendments to title 14, United States Code. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Whistleblower protections. 

Sec. 302. Maritime drug law enforcement. 

Sec. 303. Carriage of liquid dangerous cargo. 

Sec. 304. Maritime transportation of hazardous material. 

Sec. 305. Recreational vessel operator education. 

Sec. 306. Nondisclosure of certain information. 

Sec. 307. Higher volume port area regulatory definition change. 

Sec. 308. Recognition of port security assessments conducted by other entities. 

Sec. 309. Model years for recreational vessels. 

Sec. 310. Recreational vessel engine weights. 

Sec. 311. Vessel replacement. 

Sec. 312. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification. 

Sec. 313. Title 46, United States Code, technical corrections. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Duties of the chairman. 

TITLE V—SPORTFISH RESTORATION AND RECREATIONAL BOATING 

SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION 

Sec. 501. Short title. 

Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 503. Division of annual appropriations. 

Sec. 504. Extension of exception to limitation on transfers to fund. 

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Sec. 505. Recreational boating safety allocations. 

Sec. 506. Recreational boating safety. 

Sec. 507. National Boating Safety Advisory Council. 

Sec. 508. Plan evaluation. 

Sec. 509. Report to Congress. 

TITLE VI—CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY 

Subtitle A—Conveyance of Coast Guard Property in Point Spencer, Alaska 

Sec. 601. Findings. 

Sec. 602. Definitions. 

Sec. 603. Authority to convey land in Point Spencer. 

Sec. 604. Port Coordination Advisory Council for Point Spencer. 

Sec. 605. Waiver. 

Subtitle B—Other Conveyance of Coast Guard Property 

Sec. 611. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station, California. 

Sec. 612. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska. 

TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 701. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research. 

Sec. 702. Accident and incident notification. 

Sec. 703. Technical corrections relating to bridges. 

Sec. 704. International port and facility inspection coordination. 

Sec. 705. Reports. 

Sec. 706. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes. 

Sec. 707. Coastwise endorsement. 

Sec. 708. International Ice Patrol. 

Sec. 709. Pribilof Islands. 

Sec. 710. No charge for parking facilities. 

Sec. 711. Assessment of oil spill response and cleanup activities in the Great 

Lakes. 

Sec. 712. Report on status of technology detecting passengers who have fallen 

overboard. 

TITLE VIII—VESSEL INCIDENTAL DISCHARGE ACT 

Sec. 801. Short title. 

Sec. 802. Findings; purpose. 

Sec. 803. Definitions. 

Sec. 804. Regulation and enforcement. 

Sec. 805. Uniform national standards and requirements for the regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. 

Sec. 806. Treatment technology certification. 

Sec. 807. Exemptions. 

Sec. 808. Alternative compliance program. 

Sec. 809. Judicial review. 

Sec. 810. Effect on State authority. 

Sec. 811. Application with other statutes. 

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1 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

2 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 

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

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND 

6 REPORTS TO CONGRESS 

‘‘Chap. Sec. 

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

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

7 ‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 

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

8 ‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 

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

10 fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of the 

11 Coast Guard as follows: 

12 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

13 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for— 

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

15 and 

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

17 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova18 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

19 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

20 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

21 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment— 

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1 ‘‘(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

4 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in5 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

6 personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv7 ices— 

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

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

10 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res11 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

12 19 of this title— 

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

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

15 ‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for 

16 research, development, test, and evaluation of tech17 nologies, materials, and human factors directly re18 lated to improving the performance of the Coast 

19 Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 

20 aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ21 mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 

22 ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 

23 readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, 

24 and operation of facilities and equipment— 

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

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

2 ‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and 

3 training 

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

5 authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel 

6 of 43,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

7 ‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 

8 Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu9 dent loads for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as follows: 

10 ‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 stu11 dent years. 

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

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

14 civilian institutions, 350 student years. 

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

16 ‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS 

‘‘Sec.’’. 

17 (b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF AP18 PROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States 

19 Code, is amended— 

20 (1) by redesignating such section as section 2701; 

21 (2) by transferring such section to appear before 

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

23 of this section); and 

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

2 inserting the following: 

3 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

4 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for. 

5 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova6 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

7 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

8 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

9 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 

10 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in11 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

12 personnel and training costs, equipment, and services. 

13 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res14 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

15 19 of this title. 

16 ‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and evalua17 tion of technologies, materials, and human factors di18 rectly related to improving the performance of the 

19 Coast Guard. 

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

21 navigable waters of the United States constituting ob22 structions to navigation, and for personnel and ad23 ministrative costs associated with the Alteration of 

24 Bridges Program.’’. 

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1 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERSONNEL END

2 STRENGTHS.—Section 661 of title 14, United States Code, 

3 is amended— 

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

5 and 

6 (2) by transferring such section to appear before 

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

8 of this section). 

9 (d) REPORTS.— 

10 (1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AU11 THORIZATION REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 14, 

12 United States Code, is amended— 

13 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

14 2901; 

15 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

16 as the first section in chapter 29 of such title (as 

17 added by subsection (a) of this section); and 

18 (C) in subsection (b)— 

19 (i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘de20 scribed in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘de21 scribed in section 2703’’; and 

22 (ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘de23 scribed in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘de24 scribed in section 2701’’. 

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1 (2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 of 

2 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

4 2902; and 

5 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

6 after section 2901 of such title (as so redesig7 nated and transferred by paragraph (1) of this 

8 subsection). 

9 (3) MAJOR ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of title 

10 14, United States Code, is amended— 

11 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

12 2903; 

13 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

14 after section 2902 of such title (as so redesig15 nated and transferred by paragraph (2) of this 

16 subsection); and 

17 (C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this 

18 subchapter’’. 

19 (e) ICEBREAKING ASSETS.— 

20 (1) FINDING.—Congress finds that icebreaking 

21 assets are critical to the United States Arctic and 

22 Antarctic capabilities and readiness, and the execu23 tion of national priorities, including national secu24 rity, shipping, maritime domain awareness, search 

25 and rescue, and environmental response. 

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1 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of 

2 the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant 

3 to section 2702(2) of title 14, United States Code, as 

4 added by subsection (a), there is authorized to be ap5 propriated to the Coast Guard $4,000,000 for fiscal 

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

7 preacquisition activities for a new polar icebreaker, 

8 including initial specification development and feasi9 bility studies. 

10 (f) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant of 

11 the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Home12 land Security of the House of Representatives— 

13 (1) each plan required under section 2904 of title 

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

15 this section; 

16 (2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of 

17 title 14, United States Code, as added by section 206 

18 of this Act; 

19 (3) each plan required under section 2902 of title 

20 14, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection 

21 (d) of this section; and 

22 (4) each mission need statement required under 

23 section 569 of title 14, United States Code. 

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1 SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

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

3 14, United States Code, is amended by adding after the 

4 item relating to part II the following: 

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

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

6 chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

7 striking the item relating to section 569a. 

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

9 chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

10 striking the items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, and 

11 663. 

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

13 chapter 27 of title 14, United States Code, as added by sec14 tion 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting— 

15 (1) before the item relating to section 2702 the 

16 following: 

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

17 and 

18 (2) before the item relating to section 2704 the 

19 following: 

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

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

21 chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, as added by sec22 tion 101(a) of this Act, is amended by adding after ‘‘Sec.’’ 

23 the following: 

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

‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 

‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 

1 (f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of 

2 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 

4 569a(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 

5 (2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 

6 663(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 2902(a)(1)’’. 

7 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

8 SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United States 

10 Code, is amended— 

11 (1) in section 41, by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘admirals;’’; 

13 (2) in section 47, by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ in 

14 the fourth sentence and inserting ‘‘admiral’’; and 

15 (3) in section 51— 

16 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘admiral 

17 or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’; 

18 (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘admiral 

19 or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’ each place it appears; 

20 and 

21 (C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘admiral 

22 or’’ before ‘‘vice admiral,’’. 

23 (b) TREATMENT OF INCUMBENT; TRANSITION.—Not24 withstanding any other provision of law, the officer who, 

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1 on the date of the enactment of this Act, is serving as Vice 

2 Commandant of the Coast Guard— 

3 (1) shall continue to serve as Vice Commandant; 

4 (2) shall have the grade of admiral with pay and 

5 allowances of that grade; and 

6 (3) shall not be required to be reappointed by 

7 reason of the enactment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS. 

9 Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amend10 ed— 

11 (1) in subsection (a)— 

12 (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 

13 the following new paragraph (1): 

14 ‘‘(1) The President may— 

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

16 than 5 positions of importance and responsibility 

17 that shall be held by officers who, while so serving, 

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

19 and allowances of that grade, and shall perform such 

20 duties as the Commandant may prescribe (and if the 

21 President designates 5 such positions, 1 position shall 

22 be the Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard); and 

23 ‘‘(B) designate within the Executive branch, 

24 other than within the Coast Guard, positions of im25 portance and responsibility that shall be held by offimstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 cers who, while so serving, shall have the grade of vice 

2 admiral, with the pay and allowances of that grade.’’; 

3 and 

4 (B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking 

5 ‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under 

6 paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 

7 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

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

9 at the end; 

10 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 

11 subparagraph (D); and 

12 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 

13 following: 

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

15 awaiting orders after being relieved from the position, 

16 beginning on the day the officer is relieved from the 

17 position, but not for more than 60 days; and’’. 

18 SEC. 203. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 

19 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

20 that toxic leadership can have an adverse effect on subordi21 nates and the service, and result in degraded mission per22 formance and the Coast Guard should develop policies con23 sistent with those of the Department of Defense to prevent, 

24 identify, and correct toxic leadership. 

25 (b) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.— 

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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 

2 States Code, is amended by adding after section 428 

3 the following: 

4 ‘‘§ 429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel 

5 ‘‘(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PER6 SONNEL.— 

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

8 one year after the date of the enactment of the Coast 

9 Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Commandant of 

10 the Coast Guard shall develop and implement a plan 

11 to conduct every two years a multirater assessment 

12 for each of the following: 

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

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

15 Staff of the Coast Guard. 

16 ‘‘(C) Each officer of the Coast Guard nomi17 nated for promotion to the grade of captain. 

18 ‘‘(2) POST-ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS.—Following 

19 an assessment of an individual pursuant to para20 graph (1), the individual shall be provided appro21 priate post-assessment counseling and leadership 

22 coaching. 

23 ‘‘(b) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.—Not 

24 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the 

25 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Commandant 

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1 shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

2 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Trans3 portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa4 tives a report on the feasibility of including a multirater 

5 assessment as part of the personnel development programs 

6 of the Coast Guard. The report shall include the following: 

7 ‘‘(1) An assessment of the feasibility of— 

8 ‘‘(A) all officers (other than officers covered 

9 by subsection (a)) completing a multirater as10 sessment; 

11 ‘‘(B) all members (other than officers cov12 ered by subsection (a)) in command positions 

13 completing a multirater assessment; 

14 ‘‘(C) all enlisted members in a supervisory 

15 position completing a multirater assessment; and 

16 ‘‘(D) members completing periodic 

17 multirater assessments. 

18 ‘‘(2) Such recommendations as the Commandant 

19 considers appropriate for the implementation or ex20 pansion of a multirater assessment in the personnel 

21 development programs of the Coast Guard. 

22 ‘‘(3) An overview of each of the current leader23 ship development courses of the Coast Guard, an as24 sessment of the feasibility of the expansion of any 

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1 such course, and a description of the resources, if any, 

2 required to expand such courses. 

3 ‘‘(4) An assessment on the state of leadership 

4 training in the Coast Guard, and recommendations 

5 on the implementation of a policy to combat toxic 

6 leadership including— 

7 ‘‘(A) a description of methods that will be 

8 used by the Coast Guard to identify, monitor, 

9 and counsel individuals who may be identified 

10 as toxic leaders; 

11 ‘‘(B) the implementation of toxic leadership 

12 recognition training (in self and others); 

13 ‘‘(C) the establishment of procedures for the 

14 administrative separation of toxic leaders; and 

15 ‘‘(D) a description of the resources needed to 

16 implement this section. 

17 ‘‘(c) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT DEFINED.—In this 

18 section, the term ‘multirater assessment’ means a review 

19 that seeks opinion from members senior to the reviewee and 

20 the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.’’. 

21 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec22 tions at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is 

23 amended by inserting after the item related to section 

24 428 the following new item: 

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

25 (c) TRAINING COURSE ON WORKINGS OF CONGRESS.— 

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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 

2 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol3 lowing new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 60. Training course on workings of Congress 

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

6 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

7 of 2015, the Commandant, in consultation with the civilian 

8 and permanent commissioned teaching staff of the Depart9 ment of Humanities at the Coast Guard Academy and such 

10 other individuals and organizations as the Commandant 

11 considers appropriate, shall develop an annual training 

12 course for all Coast Guard flag officers newly appointed or 

13 assigned to billets in the National Capital Region and all 

14 Coast Guard senior executive service personnel employed in 

15 the National Capital Region to educate them on the work16 ings of Congress. 

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

18 required by this section shall cover a variety of subjects re19 lated to Congress and the Federal legislative process, includ20 ing— 

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

22 the committee systems of the House of Representatives 

23 and the Senate, including the functions and respon24 sibilities of the Committee on Transportation and In25 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

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1 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor2 tation of the Senate; 

3 ‘‘(2) the documents used by Congress, including 

4 bills, resolutions, committee reports, and conference 

5 reports, and the purposes they serve; 

6 ‘‘(3) the legislative processes of the House of Rep7 resentatives and the Senate, including similarities 

8 and differences between the two processes; 

9 ‘‘(4) the roles of Members of Congress and con10 gressional staff in the legislative process; 

11 ‘‘(5) the congressional budget process; 

12 ‘‘(6) the congressional authorization-appropria13 tion process; 

14 ‘‘(7) the Senate advice and consent process for 

15 presidential nominees; 

16 ‘‘(8) the Senate advice and consent process for 

17 treaty ratification; 

18 ‘‘(9) the concept and underlying purposes of con19 gressional oversight; and 

20 ‘‘(10) best practices that promote effective and 

21 successful interactions with Congress. 

22 ‘‘(c) LECTURERS AND PANELISTS.— 

23 ‘‘(1) OUTSIDE EXPERTS.—The Commandant 

24 shall ensure that not less than 60 percent of the lec25 turers, panelists, and other individuals providing 

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1 education and instruction as part of the training 

2 course required by this section are experts on Congress 

3 and the Federal legislative process who are not em4 ployed by the executive branch of the Federal Govern5 ment, such as the Congressional Research Service. 

6 ‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PRO BONO SERV7 ICES.—In satisfying the requirement under para8 graph (1), the Commandant shall seek, and is author9 ized to accept, educational and instructional services 

10 of lecturers, panelists, and other individuals and or11 ganizations provided to the Coast Guard on a pro 

12 bono basis. 

13 ‘‘(d) COMPLETION OF REQUIRED TRAINING.— 

14 ‘‘(1) CURRENT FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOY15 EES.—A Coast Guard flag officer appointed or as16 signed to a billet in the National Capital Region on 

17 the date of the enactment of this section, and a Coast 

18 Guard senior executive service employee employed in 

19 the National Capital Region on the date of the enact20 ment of this section, shall complete a training course 

21 that meets the requirements of this section within 60 

22 days of the date on which the Commandant completes 

23 the development of the training course. 

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

25 Coast Guard flag officer who is newly appointed or 

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1 assigned to a billet in the National Capital Region, 

2 and a Coast Guard senior executive service employee 

3 who is newly employed in the National Capital Re4 gion, shall complete a training course that meets the 

5 requirements of this section not later than 60 days 

6 after reporting for duty.’’. 

7 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec8 tions at the beginning of chapter 4 of such title is 

9 amended by adding at the end the following new item: 

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

10 SEC. 204. SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBER CONTINUATION 

11 BOARDS. 

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

13 States Code, is amended— 

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

15 subsection (j); 

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

17 (b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

18 (1) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such 

19 section is amended to read as follows: 

20 ‘‘§ 357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in re21 tired pay’’. 

22 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec23 tions at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is 

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1 amended by striking the item relating to section 357 

2 and inserting the following new item: 

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

3 SEC. 205. COAST GUARD MEMBER PAY. 

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

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

6 Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

7 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com8 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

9 of Representatives a report on alternative methods for noti10 fying members of the Coast Guard of their monthly earn11 ings. The report shall include— 

12 (1) an assessment of the feasibility of providing 

13 members a monthly notification of their earnings, 

14 categorized by pay and allowance type; and 

15 (2) a description and assessment of mechanisms 

16 that may be used to provide members with notifica17 tion of their earnings, categorized by pay and allow18 ance type. 

19 (b) ANNUAL AUDIT OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF

20 MEMBERS UNDERGOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STA21 TION.— 

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

23 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol24 lowing new section: 

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1 ‘‘§ 519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of mem2 bers undergoing permanent change of sta3 tion 

4 ‘‘The Commandant shall conduct each calendar year 

5 an audit of member pay and allowances for the members 

6 who transferred to new units during such calendar year. 

7 The audit for a calendar year shall be completed by the 

8 end of the calendar year.’’. 

9 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec10 tions at the beginning of chapter 13 of such title is 

11 amended adding at the end the following new item: 

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

change of station.’’. 

12 SEC. 206. RECALL. 

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

14 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 421 the 

15 following new section: 

16 ‘‘§ 421a. Involuntary recall to active duty 

17 ‘‘The Commandant may recall a retired member of the 

18 Coast Guard who is subject to section 802 of title 10 and 

19 order that member to active duty, without the member’s 

20 consent, for the purpose of any of the following: 

21 ‘‘(1) A preliminary hearing under section 832 of 

22 title 10. 

23 ‘‘(2) Trial by court-martial under chapter 47 of 

24 title 10. 

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1 ‘‘(3) Nonjudicial punishment under section 815 

2 of title 10.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

4 the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended by in5 serting after the item relating to section 421 the following 

6 new item: 

‘‘421a. Involuntary recall to active duty.’’. 

7 SEC. 207. EXCHANGE OF MEDICAL GOODS AND SERVICES. 

8 Notwithstanding section 1085 of title 10, United States 

9 Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in lieu of 

10 reimbursement, transfer, from amounts appropriated for 

11 the operating expenses of the Coast Guard, an amount, de12 termined by the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries 

13 established pursuant to section 183 of title 10 United States 

14 Code, that represents the value of care that the Department 

15 of Defense or a military department, during the fiscal year 

16 in which funds are made available, provides to a member 

17 or former member of the Coast Guard (or a dependent of 

18 such member or former member). 

19 SEC. 208. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 

20 (a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO REMIT INDEBTED21 NESS.—Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is 

22 amended to read as follows: 

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1 ‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 

2 ‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any 

3 part of a person’s indebtedness to the United States or any 

4 instrumentality of the United States if— 

5 ‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the per6 son served on active duty as a member of the Coast 

7 Guard; and 

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

9 cancelling the indebtedness is in the best interest of 

10 the United States.’’. 

11 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

12 the beginning of chapter 14 of such title is amended by 

13 striking the item relating to section 461 and inserting the 

14 following new item: 

‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 

15 SEC. 209. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 

16 Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

17 1998 (14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended by striking ‘‘90 

18 days’’ in the second sentence and inserting ‘‘30 days’’. 

19 SEC. 210. MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAMS. 

20 Section 2903 of title 14, United States Code, as redes21 ignated by section 101 of this Act, is amended— 

22 (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 

23 (f); and 

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

25 new subsection (e): 

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1 ‘‘(e) QUARTERLY REPORTS ON RISKS OF PRO2 GRAMS.— 

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

4 the end of each fiscal year quarter, the Commandant 

5 shall submit to the committees of Congress specified in 

6 subsection (a) a report setting forth a current assess7 ment of the risks associated with all current major ac8 quisition programs. 

9 ‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under this sub10 section shall set forth, for each current major acquisi11 tion program, the following: 

12 ‘‘(A) The top five current risks to such pro13 gram. 

14 ‘‘(B) Any failure of such program to dem15 onstrate a key performance parameter or thresh16 old during operational test and evaluation con17 ducted during the fiscal year quarter preceding 

18 such report. 

19 ‘‘(C) Whether there has been any decision 

20 during such fiscal year quarter to order full rate 

21 production before all key performance param22 eters or thresholds are met. 

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

24 major acquisition program cost (as defined by 

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1 the Major Systems Acquisition Manual) during 

2 such fiscal year quarter. 

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

4 major acquisition program schedule (as so de5 fined) during such fiscal year quarter.’’. 

6 SEC. 211. MAJOR ACQUISITIONS ASSESSMENT. 

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

8 of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall sub9 mit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor10 tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 

11 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report 

12 that assesses the effect of any new major acquisition on the 

13 stated Program of Record and the Capital Investment Plan 

14 of the Coast Guard. The report shall include life-cycle fund15 ing requirements, an assessment of impact on delivery dates 

16 of current acquisitions projects and programs, an assess17 ment of impact on planned construction or improvement 

18 projects, and recommendations on funding levels necessary 

19 to simultaneously support any proposed and current acqui20 sitions projects and programs. 

21 SEC. 212. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 

22 (a) CLASSIFICATION OF POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—Sec23 tion 573(c) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

24 (1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting ‘‘or Polar 

25 Icebreaker’’ after ‘‘National Security Cutter’’; and 

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1 (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or Polar Ice2 breaker’’ after ‘‘National Security Cutter’’. 

3 (b) INCREMENTAL FUNDING AUTHORITY FOR POLAR

4 CLASS ICEBREAKERS.—In fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal 

5 year thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard is 

6 granted the authority to enter into a contract or contracts 

7 for the acquisition of Polar Icebreakers and associated 

8 equipment using incremental funding. 

9 (c) ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT

10 AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION DECISION.—Section 222 of 

11 the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 

12 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amended— 

13 (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol14 lows: 

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

16 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

17 of 2015, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

18 Guard is operating shall— 

19 ‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment 

20 with respect to the Polar Sea; 

21 ‘‘(2) make a determination whether it is cost ef22 fective to reactivate the Polar Sea when compared 

23 with other options to provide icebreaking services as 

24 part of a strategy to maintain polar icebreaking serv25 ices; and 

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1 ‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transportation 

2 and Infrastructure of the House of Representative and 

3 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor4 tation of the Senate— 

5 ‘‘(A) the assessment required under para6 graph (1); and 

7 ‘‘(B) written notification of the determina8 tion required under paragraph (2).’’; 

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

10 inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 

11 (3) by striking subsection (c); 

12 (4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 

13 as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 

14 (5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para15 graph (4) of this section)— 

16 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

17 (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 

18 ‘‘based on the analysis required’’; and 

19 (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 

20 ‘‘analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘written notifica21 tion’’; and 

22 (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

23 follows: 

24 ‘‘(2) DECOMMISSIONING.—If the Secretary makes 

25 a determination under subsection (a) that it is not 

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1 cost effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, then, not 

2 later than 180 days after written notification of that 

3 determination is submitted under that subsection, the 

4 Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission 

5 the Polar Sea.’’; and 

6 (6) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para7 graph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘in subsection 

8 (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (c)’’. 

9 SEC. 213. PARTICIPATION OF THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY 

10 IN FEDERAL, STATE, OR OTHER EDU11 CATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS. 

12 Section 196 of title 14, United States Code, is amend13 ed— 

14 (1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 

15 ‘‘Notwithstanding’’; and 

16 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.— 

18 ‘‘(1) CONTRACT OR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.— 

19 Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31 and chapter 

20 137 of title 10, the Commandant may enter into a 

21 contract or cooperative agreement with a nonprofit 

22 organization, described under section 501(c)(3) of the 

23 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax24 ation under section 501(a) of that Code, that the 

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1 tablish for the purpose of supporting academic re2 search and applying for and administering Federal, 

3 State, or other educational research grants on behalf 

4 of the Coast Guard Academy. Notwithstanding any 

5 other provision of law or policy to the contrary, the 

6 Commandant may enter such contract or cooperative 

7 agreement on a sole source basis. 

8 ‘‘(2) LEASE OR LICENSE.—The Commandant 

9 may enter into a lease or license with a nonprofit or10 ganization, described under section 501(c)(3) of the 

11 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax12 ation under section 501(a) of that Code, that the 

13 Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association may es14 tablish for the purpose of supporting academic re15 search and applying for and administering Federal, 

16 State, or other educational research grants on behalf 

17 of the Coast Guard Academy. 

18 ‘‘(c) USE OF COAST GUARD PERSONAL PROPERTY.— 

19 The Commandant may allow a nonprofit organization, de20 scribed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 

21 Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 

22 501(a) of that Code, that the Coast Guard Academy Alumni 

23 Association may establish to use, at no cost, personal prop24 erty of the Coast Guard to assist the non-profit organization 

25 in supporting academic research and applying for and admstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 ministering Federal, State, or other educational research 

2 grants on behalf of the Coast Guard Academy. 

3 ‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF SUPPORT.— 

4 ‘‘(1) SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM A 501(c)(3) NON5 PROFIT ORGANIZATION.—Notwithstanding section 93 

6 of this title, the Commandant may accept funds, sup7 plies, and services from a nonprofit organization, de8 scribed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Rev9 enue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 

10 section 501(a) of that Code, that the Coast Guard 

11 Academy Alumni Association may establish for the 

12 support of academic research and applying for and 

13 administering Federal, State, or other educational re14 search grants on behalf of the Coast Guard Academy. 

15 For purposes of this subsection, employees or per16 sonnel of such nonprofit organization shall not be em17 ployees of the United States. 

18 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant shall en19 sure that contributions under this subsection do not 

20 reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Coast Guard, 

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

22 forces to carry out any responsibility or duty in a 

23 fair and objective manner, or compromise the integ24 rity or appearance of integrity of any program of the 

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1 Coast Guard, or any individual involved in such a 

2 program. 

3 ‘‘(e) RETENTION AND USE OF FUNDS.—Funds received 

4 under this section may be retained for use in support of 

5 academic research and applying for and administering 

6 Federal, State, or other educational research grants on be7 half of the Coast Guard Academy and shall remain avail8 able until expended. 

9 ‘‘(f) CONDITIONS.—The authority provided in this sec10 tion with respect to a nonprofit organization, described 

11 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

12 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that 

13 Code, that the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association 

14 may establish is valid only so long as such nonprofit orga15 nization continues to— 

16 ‘‘(1) qualify as a nonprofit organization, de17 scribed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Rev18 enue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 

19 section 501(a) of that Code, and operates in accord20 ance with this section, the laws of the State of Con21 necticut, and the constitution and bylaws of the non22 profit organization; and 

23 ‘‘(2) operate exclusively to support academic re24 search and applying for and administering Federal, 

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1 State, or other educational research grants on behalf 

2 of the Coast Guard Academy.’’. 

3 SEC. 214. VENUE. 

4 Section 311(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con5 servation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(d)) is 

6 amended by striking the second sentence and inserting ‘‘In 

7 the case of Hawaii or any possession of the United States 

8 in the Pacific Ocean, the appropriate court is the United 

9 States District Court for the District of Hawaii, except that 

10 in the case of Guam and Wake Island, the appropriate court 

11 is the United States District Court for the District of Guam, 

12 and in the case of the Northern Mariana Islands, the appro13 priate court is the United States District Court for the Dis14 trict of the Northern Mariana Islands.’’. 

15 SEC. 215. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 

16 Section 98 of title 14, United States Code, is amend17 ed— 

18 (1) by striking subsection (b); and 

19 (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 

20 subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 

21 SEC. 216. INVESTIGATIONS. 

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

23 States Code, as amended by section 203(b), is further 

24 amended by adding after section 429 the following: 

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1 ‘‘§ 430. Investigations of Flag Officers and Senior Ex2 ecutive Service 

3 ‘‘An investigation into an allegation of misconduct by 

4 a senior official shall be conducted in a manner consistent 

5 with the policies of the Department of Defense for such an 

6 investigation. The Inspector General of the Department of 

7 Homeland Security shall consult with the Inspector General 

8 of the Department of Defense any time a report of an allega9 tion of misconduct is made against a senior official.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

11 the beginning of chapter 11 of such title, as amended by 

12 section 203(b), is further amended by inserting after the 

13 item related to section 429 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 430. Investigations of Flag Officers and Senior Executive Service.’’. 

14 SEC. 217. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF 

15 THE COAST GUARD FOR COMBAT-RELATED 

16 SPECIAL COMPENSATION. 

17 (a) GUIDANCE ON CONSIDERATION OF ELIGIBILITY.— 

18 Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 

19 this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue 

20 guidance and procedures for the boards and personnel of 

21 the Coast Guard necessary to ensure that, in determining 

22 whether the disability of a member of the Coast Guard is 

23 a combat-related disability for purposes of the eligibility of 

24 such member for combat-related special compensation under 

25 section 1413a of title 10, United States Code, such boards 

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1 and personnel shall consider the criteria prescribed by the 

2 Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (e)(2) of such 

3 section in the same manner as boards and personnel of the 

4 military departments consider such criteria in determining 

5 whether the disability of a member of the Armed Forces is 

6 a combat-related disability for purposes of the eligibility of 

7 such member for combat-related special compensation under 

8 such section, including a disability incurred— 

9 (1) in the performance of combat-related eligible 

10 duties (as described under criteria prescribed by the 

11 Secretary of Defense) while permanently or tempo12 rarily assigned to a combatant command or other 

13 unit of the Department of Defense or while executing 

14 a mission or training in support of the Department; 

15 or 

16 (2) in the case of a member of the Coast Guard 

17 when it was not operating as a service in the Navy— 

18 (A) during activities described in subsection 

19 (e) of such section (as described under criteria 

20 prescribed by the Secretary of Defense), except 

21 that hazardous service otherwise referred to in 

22 paragraph (2)(B) of that subsection shall include 

23 aviation duty, diving duty, rescue swimmer or 

24 similar duty, and hazardous service onboard a 

25 small vessel, such as duty as a surfman; 

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1 (B) in the performance of duties for which 

2 special or incentive pay was paid pursuant to 

3 section 301, 301a, 304, 307, 334, or 351 of title 

4 37, United States Code; 

5 (C) in the performance of a homeland secu6 rity mission (as that term is defined in section 

7 888(a)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

8 (6 U.S.C. 468(a)(2)); 

9 (D) in the performance of a search and res10 cue mission; or 

11 (E) while engaged in a training exercise for 

12 the performance of a mission or duty covered by 

13 this paragraph. 

14 (b) APPLICABILITY OF GUIDANCE.—The guidance 

15 issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply to disabilities 

16 described in that subsection that are incurred on or after 

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

18 Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

19 2003 (Public Law 107–314; 116 Stat. 2574; 10 U.S.C. 

20 1413a note). 

21 (c) REAPPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION.—Any mem22 ber of the Coast Guard who was denied combat-related spe23 cial compensation under section 1413a of title 10, United 

24 States Code, during the period beginning on the effective 

25 date specified in subsection (b) and ending on the date of 

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1 the issuance of the guidance required by subsection (a) may 

2 reapply for combat-related special compensation under such 

3 section on the basis of such guidance in accordance with 

4 such procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security 

5 shall specify. 

6 SEC. 218. MATERNITY LEAVE POLICIES FOR THE COAST 

7 GUARD. 

8 Not later than 1 year after the date the Secretary of 

9 Defense or the Secretary of the Navy promulgates a new 

10 rule, policy, or memorandum with respect to maternity 

11 leave pursuant to section 704 of title 10, United States 

12 Code, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 

13 Guard is operating shall promulgate a similar rule, policy, 

14 or memorandum, as appropriate, consistent with whichever 

15 maternity leave policy is greater in terms of both duration 

16 and compensation. 

17 SEC. 219. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS TO 

18 TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE. 

19 Title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

20 (1) in the table of chapters at the beginning of 

21 part I, by striking ‘‘Coast Guard’’ in the item re22 lating to chapter 19; 

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

24 and inserting ‘‘section’’; 

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1 (3) in section 47, by striking the section heading 

2 and inserting the following new section heading: 

3 ‘‘§ 47. Vice Commandant; appointment’’; 

4 (4) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

5 chapter 9, by striking ‘‘Safety’’ in the item relating 

6 to section 199 and inserting ‘‘safety’’; 

7 (5) in section 427(b)(2), by striking ‘‘this chap8 ter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 

9 (6) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

10 chapter 15, by striking ‘‘Sec.’’ that follows the head11 ing for subchapter II; 

12 (7) in section 581(5)(B), by striking 

13 ‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 

14 (8) in section 637(c)(3), by inserting ‘‘it is’’ be15 fore ‘‘any’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph (A); 

16 (9) in section 641(d)(3), by striking ‘‘Guard, in17 stallation’’ and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 

18 (10) in section 691(c)(3), by striking ‘‘state’’ and 

19 inserting ‘‘State’’; 

20 (11) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

21 chapter 21— 

22 (A) by striking ‘‘reserve’’ in the item relat23 ing to section 709 and inserting ‘‘Reserve’’; and 

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1 (B) by striking ‘‘from active’’ in the item 

2 relating to section 740 and inserting ‘‘from an 

3 active’’; 

4 (12) in section 742(c), by striking ‘‘subsection 

5 (a)and’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (a) and’’; 

6 (13) in section 821(b)(1), by striking ‘‘26’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘171’’; and 

8 (14) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘26’’ and 

9 inserting ‘‘171’’. 

10 TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 

11 NAVIGATION 

12 SEC. 301. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS. 

13 Subparagraph (A) of section 2114(a)(1) of title 46, 

14 United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘(A) the seaman in good faith has reported or is 

16 about to report to the Coast Guard, another appro17 priate Federal department or agency, the vessel 

18 owner, the vessel operator, or the seaman’s employer 

19 that the seaman believes that a violation of a mari20 time safety or maritime environmental protection law 

21 or regulation prescribed under that law or regulation 

22 has occurred;’’. 

23 SEC. 302. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 705 of title 46, United 

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

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1 ‘‘§ 70509. Destruction of evidence during maritime 

2 counter-drug operations 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whoever, while on board a vessel 

4 used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, an offense 

5 under section 70503 of this title, knowingly or intentionally 

6 destroys (including jettisoning any item or scuttling, burn7 ing, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or attempts or conspires 

8 to destroy, property that is subject to forfeiture under sec9 tion 511(a) of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention 

10 and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a)) shall be fined 

11 in accordance with section 3571 of title 18, imprisoned not 

12 more than 15 years, or both. 

13 ‘‘(b) PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION.—Prac14 tices commonly recognized as smuggling tactics may pro15 vide prima facie evidence of intent to use a vessel to commit, 

16 or to facilitate the commission of, an offense under section 

17 70503 of this title, even in the absence of controlled sub18 stances aboard the vessel. The following indicia, among oth19 ers, may be considered, in the totality of the circumstances, 

20 to be prima facie evidence that a vessel is intended to be 

21 used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, such an 

22 offense: 

23 ‘‘(1) The construction or adaptation of the vessel 

24 in a manner that facilitates smuggling, including— 

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1 ‘‘(A) the configuration of the vessel to ride 

2 low in the water or present a low hull profile to 

3 avoid being detected visually or by radar; 

4 ‘‘(B) the presence of any compartment or 

5 equipment that is built or fitted out for smug6 gling, not including items such as a safe or lock7 box reasonably used for the storage of personal 

8 valuables; 

9 ‘‘(C) the presence of an auxiliary tank not 

10 installed in accordance with applicable law or 

11 installed in such a manner as to enhance the ves12 sel’s smuggling capability; 

13 ‘‘(D) the presence of engines that are exces14 sively overpowered in relation to the design and 

15 size of the vessel; 

16 ‘‘(E) the presence of materials used to re17 duce or alter the heat or radar signature of the 

18 vessel and avoid detection; 

19 ‘‘(F) the presence of a camouflaging paint 

20 scheme, or of materials used to camouflage the 

21 vessel, to avoid detection; or 

22 ‘‘(G) the display of false vessel registration 

23 numbers, false indicia of vessel nationality, false 

24 vessel name, or false vessel homeport. 

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1 ‘‘(2) The presence or absence of equipment, per2 sonnel, or cargo inconsistent with the type or declared 

3 purpose of the vessel. 

4 ‘‘(3) The presence of excessive fuel, lube oil, food, 

5 water, or spare parts, inconsistent with legitimate 

6 vessel operation, inconsistent with the construction or 

7 equipment of the vessel, or inconsistent with the char8 acter of the vessel’s stated purpose. 

9 ‘‘(4) The operation of the vessel without lights 

10 during times lights are required to be displayed under 

11 applicable law or regulation and in a manner of 

12 navigation consistent with smuggling tactics used to 

13 avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. 

14 ‘‘(5) The failure of the vessel to stop or respond 

15 or heave to when hailed by government authority, es16 pecially where the vessel conducts evasive maneu17 vering when hailed. 

18 ‘‘(6) The declaration to government authority of 

19 false information about the vessel, crew, or voyage or 

20 the failure to identify the vessel by name or country 

21 of registration when requested to do so by government 

22 authority. 

23 ‘‘(7) The presence of controlled substance residue 

24 on the vessel, on an item aboard the vessel, or on an 

25 individual aboard the vessel, of a quantity or other 

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1 nature that reasonably indicates manufacturing or 

2 distribution activity. 

3 ‘‘(8) The use of petroleum products or other sub4 stances on the vessel to foil the detection of controlled 

5 substance residue. 

6 ‘‘(9) The presence of a controlled substance in the 

7 water in the vicinity of the vessel, where given the 

8 currents, weather conditions, and course and speed of 

9 the vessel, the quantity or other nature is such that 

10 it reasonably indicates that the controlled substance 

11 was transported in the subject vessel. 

12 ‘‘(c) EXTENSION BEYOND TERRITORIAL JURISDIC13 TION.—Subsection (a) applies even though the act is com14 mitted outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United 

15 States. 

16 ‘‘§ 70510. Maritime bulk cash smuggling 

17 ‘‘(a) CRIMINAL OFFENSE.—Whoever, while aboard a 

18 vessel used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, 

19 an offense under section 70503 of this title, or whoever, 

20 while aboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling, knowingly 

21 conceals, attempts to conceal, or conspires to conceal more 

22 than $100,000 in currency or other monetary instruments 

23 on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, arti24 cle of luggage, merchandise, or other container, or compart25 ment of or aboard such vessel shall be fined in accordance 

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1 with section 3571 of title 18, imprisoned not more than 15 

2 years, or both. 

3 ‘‘(b) PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION.—Prac4 tices commonly recognized as smuggling tactics may pro5 vide prima facie evidence of intent to use a vessel to commit, 

6 or to facilitate the commission of, an offense under section 

7 70503 of this title or prima facie evidence of a vessel out8 fitted for smuggling, even in the absence of controlled sub9 stances aboard the vessel. The following indicia, among oth10 ers, may be considered, in the totality of the circumstances, 

11 to be prima facie evidence that a vessel is intended to be 

12 used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, such an 

13 offense or is outfitted for smuggling: 

14 ‘‘(1) The construction or adaptation of the vessel 

15 in a manner that facilitates smuggling, including— 

16 ‘‘(A) the configuration of the vessel to ride 

17 low in the water or present a low hull profile to 

18 avoid being detected visually or by radar; 

19 ‘‘(B) the presence of any compartment or 

20 equipment that is built or fitted out for smug21 gling, not including items such as a safe or lock22 box reasonably used for the storage of personal 

23 valuables; 

24 ‘‘(C) the presence of an auxiliary tank not 

25 installed in accordance with applicable law or 

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1 installed in such a manner as to enhance the ves2 sel’s smuggling capability; 

3 ‘‘(D) the presence of engines that are exces4 sively overpowered in relation to the design and 

5 size of the vessel; 

6 ‘‘(E) the presence of materials used to re7 duce or alter the heat or radar signature of the 

8 vessel and avoid detection; 

9 ‘‘(F) the presence of a camouflaging paint 

10 scheme, or of materials used to camouflage the 

11 vessel, to avoid detection; or 

12 ‘‘(G) the display of false vessel registration 

13 numbers, false indicia of vessel nationality, false 

14 vessel name, or false vessel homeport. 

15 ‘‘(2) The presence or absence of equipment, per16 sonnel, or cargo inconsistent with the type or declared 

17 purpose of the vessel. 

18 ‘‘(3) The presence of excessive fuel, lube oil, food, 

19 water, or spare parts, inconsistent with legitimate 

20 vessel operation, inconsistent with the construction or 

21 equipment of the vessel, or inconsistent with the char22 acter of the vessel’s stated purpose. 

23 ‘‘(4) The operation of the vessel without lights 

24 during times lights are required to be displayed under 

25 applicable law or regulation and in a manner of 

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1 navigation consistent with smuggling tactics used to 

2 avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. 

3 ‘‘(5) The failure of the vessel to stop or respond 

4 or heave to when hailed by government authority, es5 pecially where the vessel conducts evasive maneu6 vering when hailed. 

7 ‘‘(6) The declaration to government authority of 

8 false information about the vessel, crew, or voyage or 

9 the failure to identify the vessel by name or country 

10 of registration when requested to do so by government 

11 authority. 

12 ‘‘(c) FORFEITURE.— 

13 ‘‘(1) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.—The court in im14 posing sentence for any violation of subsection (a), or 

15 any attempt or conspiracy to commit such violation, 

16 shall order the defendant to forfeit all property, real 

17 or personal, involved in the offence and any property 

18 traceable thereto. Forfeitures under this paragraph 

19 shall be governed by the procedures established in sec20 tion 413 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 

21 853). 

22 ‘‘(2) CIVIL FORFEITURE.—Any property, real or 

23 personal, involved in a violation of subsection (a), or 

24 the attempt or a conspiracy to commit such violation, 

25 and any property, real or personal, traceable to such 

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1 violation or conspiracy, may be seized and forfeited 

2 to the United States. Forfeitures under this para3 graph shall be governed by the procedures governing 

4 civil forfeitures in money laundering cases pursuant 

5 to section 981(a)(1)(A) of title 18, United States 

6 Code. 

7 ‘‘(d) EXTENSION BEYOND TERRITORIAL JURISDIC8 TION.—Subsection (a) applies even though the act is com9 mitted outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United 

10 States.’’. 

11 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

12 705 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 

13 at the end the following: 

‘‘70509. Destruction of evidence during maritime counter-drug operations. 

‘‘70510. Maritime bulk cash smuggling.’’. 

14 SEC. 303. CARRIAGE OF LIQUID DANGEROUS CARGO. 

15 Section 3702(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 

16 amended to read as follows: 

17 ‘‘(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this 

18 chapter does not apply to a fishing or fish tender vessel of 

19 not more than 500 gross tons as measured under section 

20 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under 

21 section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary 

22 under section 14104 of this title when engaged only in the 

23 fishing industry. 

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1 ‘‘(2) A vessel described in paragraph (1) is subject to 

2 regulation by the Secretary under this chapter if the vessel 

3 is carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes in 

4 bulk.’’. 

5 SEC. 304. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MA6 TERIAL. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 49, United 

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

9 ‘‘§ 5129. Maritime transportation of hazardous mate10 rial 

11 ‘‘For the purposes of enforcing this chapter, the Sec12 retary and the Secretary of the department in which the 

13 Coast Guard is operating shall establish policies and prac14 tices to ensure that the authorities set forth in this chapter 

15 are enforced in the same manner and to the same extent, 

16 and the civil and criminal penalties are assessed or rec17 ommended in the same manner and to the same extent.’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

19 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new 

20 item: 

‘‘5129. Maritime Transportation of Hazardous Material.’’. 

21 SEC. 305. RECREATIONAL VESSEL OPERATOR EDUCATION. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 131 of title 46, United 

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

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1 ‘‘§ 13111. Recreational vessel operator education 

2 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP MODEL CUR3 RICULUM.—The Secretary may develop and propose a 

4 model for a national recreational vessel training cur5 riculum and education standards for operators of rec6 reational vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of 

7 any kind. 

8 ‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the model curriculum 

9 developed under subsection (a) is to promote uniformity of 

10 boating safety awareness and education and improve reci11 procity of recreational vessel operator certificates and li12 censes among the States.’’. 

13 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

14 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new 

15 item: 

‘‘13111. Recreational vessel operator education.’’. 

16 SEC. 306. NONDISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. 

17 (a) INAPPLICABILITY OF DISCLOSURE REQUIRE18 MENT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The requirement to make in20 formation available under section 552 of title 5, 

21 United States Code, shall not apply to— 

22 (A) a question from any examination for a 

23 merchant seamen license, certificate, or document 

24 that the Secretary of the department in which 

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1 the Coast Guard is operating is authorized to 

2 issue pursuant to title 46, United States Code; 

3 (B) the answer to such question, including 

4 any correct or incorrect answer that may be pre5 sented with such question; and 

6 (C) any quality or characteristic of such 

7 question, including— 

8 (i) the manner in which such question 

9 has been, is, or may be selected for an exam10 ination; 

11 (ii) the frequency of such selection; and 

12 (iii) the frequency that an examinee 

13 correctly or incorrectly answered such ques14 tion. 

15 (2) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—This section 

16 constitutes a specific exemption within the meaning 

17 of section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code. 

18 (b) AUTHORITY TO RELEASE CERTAIN EXAM QUES19 TIONS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of 

20 the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is 

21 authorized, for the purpose of exam preparation by the gen22 eral public, to release an exam question and answer that 

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

24 exam, or that the Secretary determines is appropriate for 

25 release. 

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1 (c) EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT SEAMAN LI2 CENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND DOCUMENTS.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 71 of title 46, United 

4 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘§ 7116. Examinations for merchant seaman licenses, 

7 certificates, and documents 

8 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT FOR SAMPLE EXAMS.—The Sec9 retary shall develop a sample merchant mariner exam and 

10 outline of merchant mariner exam topics on an annual 

11 basis. 

12 ‘‘(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each sample exam and 

13 outline of topics developed under subsection (a) shall be 

14 readily available to the public.’’. 

15 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

16 such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol17 lowing new item: 

‘‘7116. Examinations for merchant seaman licenses, certificates, and documents.’’. 

18 (d) DISCLOSURE TO CONGRESS.—Nothing in this sec19 tion may be construed to authorize the withholding of infor20 mation from an appropriate inspector general or the Com21 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

22 Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra23 structure of the House of Representatives. 

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1 SEC. 307. HIGHER VOLUME PORT AREA REGULATORY DEFI2 NITION CHANGE. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 710 of the 

4 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 

5 281; 124 Stat. 2986) is amended to read as follows: 

6 ‘‘(a) HIGHER VOLUME PORTS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

8 provision of law, the requirements of subparts D, F, 

9 and G of part 155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regula10 tions, that apply to the higher volume port area for 

11 the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Port Angeles, Wash12 ington (including any water area within 50 nautical 

13 miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound, shall 

14 be deemed to apply, in the same manner, and to the 

15 same extent, to the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Cape 

16 Flattery, Washington (including any water area 

17 within 50 nautical miles seaward), to and including 

18 Puget Sound. 

19 ‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 

20 take effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast 

21 Guard Authorization Act of 2015.’’. 

22 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of such 

23 section is amended by striking ‘‘the modification of the 

24 higher volume port area definition required by subsection 

25 (a).’’ and inserting ‘‘higher volume port requirements made 

26 applicable under subsection (a).’’. 

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1 SEC. 308. RECOGNITION OF PORT SECURITY ASSESSMENTS 

2 CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES. 

3 Section 70108 of title 46, United States Code, is 

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(f) RECOGNITION OF ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY

6 OTHER ENTITIES.— 

7 ‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF AS8 SESSMENTS.—For the purposes of this section and 

9 section 70109, the Secretary may treat an assessment 

10 that a foreign government (including, for the purposes 

11 of this subsection, an entity of or operating under the 

12 auspices of the European Union) or international or13 ganization has conducted as an assessment that the 

14 Secretary has conducted for the purposes of subsection 

15 (a), provided that the Secretary certifies that the for16 eign government or international organization has— 

17 ‘‘(A) conducted the assessment in accord18 ance with subsection (b); and 

19 ‘‘(B) provided the Secretary with sufficient 

20 information pertaining to its assessment (includ21 ing, but not limited to, information on the out22 come of the assessment). 

23 ‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREE24 MENT.—For the purposes of this section and section 

25 70109, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec26 retary of State, may enter into an agreement with a 

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1 foreign government (including, for the purposes of this 

2 subsection, an entity of or operating under the aus3 pices of the European Union) or international orga4 nization, under which parties to the agreement— 

5 ‘‘(A) conduct an assessment, required under 

6 subsection (a); 

7 ‘‘(B) share information pertaining to such 

8 assessment (including, but not limited to, infor9 mation on the outcome of the assessment); or 

10 ‘‘(C) both. 

11 ‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this subsection 

12 shall be construed to— 

13 ‘‘(A) require the Secretary to recognize an 

14 assessment that a foreign government or an 

15 international organization has conducted; or 

16 ‘‘(B) limit the discretion or ability of the 

17 Secretary to conduct an assessment under this 

18 section.’’. 

19 SEC. 309. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 

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

21 States Code is amended by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘(e)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this section 

23 the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational ves24 sels and associated equipment, such model year shall, except 

25 as provided in paragraph (2)— 

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

2 31 of the following year; and 

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

4 ‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manufac5 turer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may alter 

6 a model year for a model of recreational vessel of the manu7 facturer and associated equipment, by no more than 6 

8 months from the model year described in paragraph (1).’’. 

9 (b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub10 section (a) shall only apply with respect to recreational ves11 sels and associated equipment constructed or manufactured, 

12 respectively, on or after June 1, 2015. 

13 (c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

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

15 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall publish guid16 ance to implement subsection (e)(2) of section 4302 of title 

17 46, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 

18 SEC. 310. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 

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

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

21 Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations amending 

22 table 4 to subpart H of part 183 of title 33, Code of Federal 

23 Regulations (related to Weights (Pounds) of Outboard 

24 Motor and Related Equipment for Various Boat Horse25 power Ratings) as appropriate to reflect ‘‘Standard 30– 

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1 Outboard Engine and Related Equipment Weights’’ pub2 lished by the American Boat and Yacht Council, as in effect 

3 on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 311. VESSEL REPLACEMENT. 

5 (a) LOANS AND GUARANTEES.—Chapter 537 of title 

6 46, United States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) in section 53701— 

8 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) 

9 through (14) as paragraphs (9) through (15), re10 spectively; and 

11 (B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol12 lowing: 

13 ‘‘(8) HISTORICAL USES.—The term ‘historical 

14 uses’ includes— 

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

16 replacing equipment on a fishing vessel, without 

17 materially increasing harvesting capacity; 

18 ‘‘(B) purchasing a used fishing vessel; 

19 ‘‘(C) purchasing, constructing, expanding, 

20 or reconditioning a fishery facility; 

21 ‘‘(D) refinancing existing debt; 

22 ‘‘(E) reducing fishing capacity; and 

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

24 including upgrades in technology, gear, or equip25 ment, that improve— 

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1 ‘‘(i) collection and reporting of fishery2 dependent data; 

3 ‘‘(ii) bycatch reduction or avoidance; 

4 ‘‘(iii) gear selectivity; 

5 ‘‘(iv) adverse impacts caused by fishing 

6 gear; or 

7 ‘‘(v) safety.’’; and 

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

9 following: 

10 ‘‘(3) MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS AVAILABLE FOR

11 HISTORICAL USES.—Of the direct loan obligations 

12 issued by the Secretary under this chapter, the Sec13 retary shall make a minimum of $59,000,000 avail14 able each fiscal year for historical uses. 

15 ‘‘(4) USE OF OBLIGATIONS IN LIMITED ACCESS

16 FISHERIES.—In addition to the other eligible pur17 poses and uses of direct loan obligations provided for 

18 in this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to issue 

19 direct loan obligations for the purpose of— 

20 ‘‘(A) financing the construction or recon21 struction of a fishing vessel in a fishery managed 

22 under a limited access system; or 

23 ‘‘(B) financing the purchase of harvesting 

24 rights in a fishery that is federally managed 

25 under a limited access system.’’. 

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1 (b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION TO CERTAIN FISHING

2 VESSELS OF PROHIBITION UNDER VESSEL CONSTRUCTION

3 PROGRAM.—Section 302(b)(2) of the Fisheries Financing 

4 Act (title III of Public Law 104–297; 46 U.S.C. 53706 note) 

5 is amended— 

6 (1) in the second sentence— 

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

8 in’’; and 

9 (B) by inserting before the period the fol10 lowing: ‘‘, in fisheries that are under the juris11 diction of the North Pacific Fishery Management 

12 Council and managed under a fishery manage13 ment plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens 

14 Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 

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

16 fishery that is under the jurisdiction of the Pa17 cific Fishery Management Council and managed 

18 under a fishery management plan issued under 

19 that Act’’; and 

20 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

21 ‘‘Any fishing vessel operated in fisheries under 

22 the jurisdiction of the North Pacific Fishery Manage23 ment Council and managed under a fishery manage24 ment plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fish25 ery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 

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1 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific whiting fishery under 

2 the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery Management 

3 Council and managed under a fishery management 

4 plan issued under that Act, and that is replaced by 

5 a vessel that is constructed or rebuilt with a loan or 

6 loan guarantee provided by the Federal Government 

7 may not be used to harvest fish in any fishery under 

8 the jurisdiction of any Regional Fishery Management 

9 Council, other than a fishery under the jurisdiction of 

10 the North Pacific Fishery Management Council or the 

11 Pacific Fishery Management Council.’’. 

12 SEC. 312. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL CER13 TIFICATION. 

14 Section 4503(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) by designating the existing matter as para17 graph (1); and 

18 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘(2) This section does not apply to a fishing or fish 

20 tender vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title applies, 

21 if— 

22 ‘‘(A) the vessel is at least 50 feet overall in 

23 length, and not more than 190 feet overall in length; 

24 ‘‘(B) the vessel is built after January 1, 2016; 

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1 ‘‘(C) the vessel is designed by a registered profes2 sional engineer, and the design incorporates stand3 ards equivalent to those prescribed by a classification 

4 society designated under section 3316 of this title or 

5 another qualified organization approved by the Sec6 retary; 

7 ‘‘(D) construction of such vessel is overseen and 

8 certified as being in accordance with its design by a 

9 marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the 

10 Secretary; and 

11 ‘‘(E) the vessel— 

12 ‘‘(i) completes a stability test performed by 

13 a qualified individual; 

14 ‘‘(ii) has written stability and loading in15 structions from a qualified individual that are 

16 provided to the owner or operator; and 

17 ‘‘(iii) has an assigned loading mark. 

18 ‘‘(3) The person who owns a vessel meeting the require19 ments of paragraph (2) shall— 

20 ‘‘(A) not modify or substantially change such 

21 vessel unless such modification or change is reviewed 

22 and approved by a registered professional engineer 

23 prior to beginning any modification or change; 

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1 ‘‘(B) complete a condition survey at least bienni2 ally to the satisfaction of a marine surveyor of an or3 ganization accepted by the Secretary; 

4 ‘‘(C) complete an out-of-water survey at least 

5 once every five years to the satisfaction of a certified 

6 marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the 

7 Secretary; 

8 ‘‘(D) update the requirements specified in para9 graph (2)(E) once every five years or at the time of 

10 a modification or substantial change to such vessel; 

11 and 

12 ‘‘(E) for the life of the vessel, maintain records 

13 to demonstrate compliance with this subsection, and 

14 make such records readily available for inspection by 

15 an official authorized to enforce this chapter.’’. 

16 SEC. 313. TITLE 46, UNITED STATES CODE, TECHNICAL COR17 RECTIONS. 

18 Title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

19 (1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 

20 151).’’ and inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 

21 (2) in section 2118— 

22 (A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre23 ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 

24 inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 

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

2 and inserting ‘‘subtitle’’; 

3 (3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 

4 (A) by adding a period at the end of the 

5 item relating to section 3507; and 

6 (B) by adding a period at the end of the 

7 item relating to section 3508; 

8 (4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

9 the end; 

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

11 (6) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking 

12 ‘‘Academy.’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; 

13 (7) in the analysis for chapter 701— 

14 (A) by adding a period at the end of the 

15 item relating to section 70107A; 

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

17 striking ‘‘security advisory committee.’’ and in18 serting ‘‘Security Advisory Committee.’’; and 

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

20 striking ‘‘watch program.’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch 

21 Program.’’; 

22 (8) in section 70105(c)— 

23 (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(xv)— 

24 (i) by striking ‘‘18, popularly’’ and in25 serting ‘‘18 (popularly’’; and 

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

2 ‘‘Act)’’; and 

3 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(D) 

4 paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘(D) of paragraph’’; 

5 (9) in section 70107— 

6 (A) in paragraph (b)(2), by striking 

7 ‘‘5121(j)(8)),’’ and inserting ‘‘5196(j)(8)),’’; and 

8 (B) in paragraph (m)(3)(C)(iii), by strik9 ing ‘‘that is’’ and inserting ‘‘that the applicant’’; 

10 (10) in section 70122, in the section header, by 

11 striking ‘‘watch program’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch Pro12 gram’’; and 

13 (11) in the analysis for chapter 705, by adding 

14 a period at the end of the item relating to section 

15 70508. 

16 TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

17 COMMISSION 

18 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 46, United States 

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

21 ‘‘§ 308. Authorization of appropriations 

22 ‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

23 Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 

24 2016 and 2017 for the activities of the Commission author25 ized under this chapter and subtitle IV.’’. 

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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

2 3 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 

3 at the end the following: 

‘‘308. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

4 SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 

5 Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, 

6 is amended— 

7 (1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘units, but only 

8 after consultation with the other Commissioners;’’ and 

9 inserting ‘‘units (with such appointments subject to 

10 the approval of the Commission);’’; 

11 (2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

12 (3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the 

13 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

14 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(vi) prepare and submit to the Presi16 dent and Congress requests for appropria17 tions for the Commission (with such re18 quests subject to the approval of the Com19 mission).’’. 

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1 TITLE V—SPORTFISH RESTORA2 TION AND RECREATIONAL 

3 BOATING SAFETY REAUTHOR4 IZATION 

5 SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 

6 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Sport Fish Restoration 

7 and Recreational Boating Safety Act’’. 

8 SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 Section 3 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restora10 tion Act (16 U.S.C. 777b) is amended by striking ‘‘57 per11 cent’’ and inserting ‘‘57.42 percent’’. 

12 SEC. 503. DIVISION OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson 

14 Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amended— 

15 (1) in subsection (a)— 

16 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

17 by striking ‘‘2014 and for the period beginning 

18 on October 1, 2014, and ending on May 31, 

19 2015,’’ and inserting ‘‘2023,’’; 

20 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘18.5 

21 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘18.54 percent’’; 

22 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘18.5 per23 cent’’ and inserting ‘‘18.04 percent’’; and 

24 (D) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 

25 ‘‘Not more than 25 percent of such amount may 

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1 be used for capital improvement and infrastruc2 ture projects to support facilities that meet State 

3 requirements for minimizing the introduction of 

4 pollutants into the waterways.’’; 

5 (2) by amending the heading in subsection (b) to 

6 read as follows: ‘‘SET-ASIDES.—’’; 

7 (3) in subsection (b)(1)— 

8 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

9 ‘‘2014, and for the period beginning on October 

10 1, 2014, and ending on May 31, 2015,’’ and in11 serting ‘‘2023,’’; 

12 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

13 clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), and inserting the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘(i) for each of the fiscal years 2016 

16 through 2023, 1.8468 percent of total an17 nual collections under this Act for such fis18 cal year; and 

19 ‘‘(ii) not withstanding clause (i), an 

20 amount that is less than or equal to 

21 $12,299,000.’’; and 

22 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(C) SET-ASIDE FOR BOATING SAFETY.— 

24 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—From the annual 

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1 tion 3, for each fiscal year through 2023, 

2 the Secretary shall transfer to the Secretary 

3 of the department in which the Coast Guard 

4 is operating— 

5 ‘‘(I)(aa) 0.3435 percent of total 

6 annual collections under this Act to 

7 pay the costs of investigations, per8 sonnel, and activities related to admin9 istering those programs under section 

10 4(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 777c(a)(2)); and 

11 ‘‘(bb) notwithstanding item (aa), 

12 an amount that is less than or equal to 

13 $2,300,000; and 

14 ‘‘(II) $1,500,000 shall be made 

15 available for the National Recreational 

16 Boating Survey, that shall be available 

17 until expended and may be awarded as 

18 a contract or grant by the Secretary. 

19 ‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—The amounts speci20 fied in clause (i) for a fiscal year may not 

21 be included in the amount of the annual ap22 propriation distributed under subsection (a) 

23 of this section for the fiscal year.’’; 

24 (4) in subsection (b)(2)— 

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1 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

2 ‘‘under paragraph (1) shall remain available for 

3 obligation for use under that paragraph’’ and 

4 inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(B) shall remain 

5 available for obligation for use under paragraph 

6 (1)(A)’’; and 

7 (B) in subparagraph (B)— 

8 (i) by striking ‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(B)’’; 

10 and 

11 (ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 

13 (5) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘57.42 percent’’; 

15 (6) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘So much of 

16 any sum not allocated’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as oth17 erwise provided in this section, so much of any sum 

18 not allocated’’; and 

19 (7) in subsection (e)— 

20 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘those 

21 subsections’’ and inserting ‘‘those paragraphs’’; 

22 (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

23 follows: 

24 ‘‘(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—For fiscal year 2016, 

25 the Secretary of the Interior may use not more than 

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1 $1,200,000 in accordance with paragraph (1). For 

2 each fiscal year thereafter, the maximum amount that 

3 the Secretary of the Interior may use in accordance 

4 with paragraph (1) shall be determined under para5 graph (3).’’; and 

6 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(3) ANNUAL ADJUSTED MAXIMUM AMOUNT.— 

8 The maximum amount referred to in paragraph (2) 

9 for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter 

10 shall be the sum of— 

11 ‘‘(A) the available maximum amount for the 

12 preceding fiscal year; and 

13 ‘‘(B) the amount determined by multi14 plying— 

15 ‘‘(i) the available maximum amount 

16 for the preceding fiscal year; and 

17 ‘‘(ii) the change, relative to the pre18 ceding fiscal year, in the Consumer Price 

19 Index for All Urban Consumers published 

20 by the Department of Labor.’’. 

21 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the Din22 gell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777h) 

23 is amended— 

24 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 4(b)’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘section 4(b)(1)(B)’’; and 

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1 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘section 

2 4(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 4(b)(1)(B)’’. 

3 SEC. 504. EXTENSION OF EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON 

4 TRANSFERS TO FUND. 

5 Section 9504(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

6 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘August 1, 2015,’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘October 1, 2023,’’. 

8 SEC. 505. RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY ALLOCATIONS. 

9 Section 13104 of title 46, United States Code, is 

10 amended by striking subsection (c). 

11 SEC. 506. RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY. 

12 Section 13107 of title 46, United States Code, is 

13 amended— 

14 (1) in subsection (a)— 

15 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1) Sub16 ject to paragraph (2) and subsection (c),’’ and 

17 inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (c),’’; and 

18 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

19 (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 

20 all that follows through the end and inserting ‘‘title— 

21 ‘‘(A) including the funding of the National 

22 Boating Safety Advisory Council established 

23 under section 13110 of this title and the author24 ized activities of the Council, including travel for 

25 the council; and 

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1 ‘‘(B) of the funds referred to in paragraph 

2 (1), not less than $2,500,000 shall be available to 

3 the Secretary only to ensure compliance with 

4 chapter 43 of this title.’’. 

5 SEC. 507. NATIONAL BOATING SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

6 Section 13110(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘2020’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 

8 SEC. 508. PLAN EVALUATION. 

9 Section 303(b)(7) of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, 

10 Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3952(b)(7)) is 

11 amended by inserting ‘‘and improvements made to the qual12 ity of fish and wildlife habitat conditions’’ after ‘‘enhancing 

13 coastal wetlands’’. 

14 SEC. 509. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

15 The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

16 Service shall annually evaluate and report on the adminis17 trative services of such Service for the trust fund to the 

18 States and the sportfishing community, including the fol19 lowing categories of information: 

20 (1) The percent of grant actions completed with21 in 45 days of receipt, average number of days to proc22 ess new grants, and average number of days to proc23 ess grant amendments. 

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1 (2) Which wildlife and sport fish restoration 

2 policies are currently being updated, the start time 

3 for each update, and the anticipated completion time. 

4 (3) The number of Federal assistance workshops 

5 held with States and such Service in efforts to com6 municate fiscal policies and procedures with the State 

7 agencies. 

8 (4) The response time to States based on initial 

9 notification or assistance requests initiated by a 

10 State. 

11 (5) The number of States with unresolved rec12 onciliation of land records and number of corrective 

13 action plans with open actions. 

14 (6) The number of employees of such Service 

15 with grants management training and outstanding 

16 training requirements and the percent of State fish 

17 and wildlife staff to have received training from 

18 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund Program 

19 of such Service. 

20 (7) The number of full-time equivalents contrib21 uting to grant processing and related grant manage22 ment in each region. 

23 (8) The number of in-field state project reviews 

24 and site visits by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Res25 toration Fund Program. 

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1 (9) The number of audits per year originating 

2 from such Service and response time to related ac3 tions and correspondence. 

4 TITLE VI—CONVEYANCE OF 

5 COAST GUARD PROPERTY 

6 Subtitle A—Conveyance of Coast 

7 Guard Property in Point Spen8 cer, Alaska 

9 SEC. 601. FINDINGS. 

10 Congress finds as follows: 

11 (1) Major shipping traffic is increasing through 

12 the Bering Strait, the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and 

13 the Arctic Ocean and will continue to increase wheth14 er or not development of the outer Continental Shelf 

15 of the United States is undertaken in the future and 

16 will increase further if such outer Continental Shelf 

17 development is undertaken. 

18 (2) There is a compelling national, State, Alaska 

19 Native, and private sector need for permanent infra20 structure development and for a presence in the Arctic 

21 region of Alaska by appropriate agencies of the Fed22 eral Government, particularly in proximity to the 

23 Bering Strait, to support and facilitate search and 

24 rescue, shipping safety, economic development, oil 

25 spill prevention and response, protection of Alaska 

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1 Native archaeological and cultural resources, port of 

2 refuge, Arctic research, and maritime law enforcement 

3 on the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Arctic 

4 Ocean. 

5 (3) The United States owns a parcel of land, 

6 known as Point Spencer, located between the Bering 

7 Strait and Port Clarence and adjacent to some of the 

8 best potential deepwater port sites on the coast of 

9 Alaska in the Arctic. 

10 (4) Prudent and effective use of Point Spencer 

11 may be best achieved through marshaling the energy, 

12 resources, and leadership of the public and private 

13 sectors. 

14 (5) It is in the national interest to develop infra15 structure at Point Spencer that would aid the Coast 

16 Guard in performing its statutory duties and func17 tions in the Arctic on a more permanent basis and 

18 to allow for public and private sector development of 

19 facilities and other infrastructure to support purposes 

20 that are of benefit to the United States. 

21 SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this subtitle: 

23 (1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean24 ing given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Re25 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

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1 (2) BSNC.—The term ‘‘BSNC’’ means the Ber2 ing Straits Native Corporation authorized under sec3 tion 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 

4 U.S.C. 1606). 

5 (3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 

6 Port Coordination Advisory Council established under 

7 section 604(a). 

8 (4) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the Port 

9 Management Coordination Plan developed under sec10 tion 604(c). 

11 (5) POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Point Spencer’’ 

12 means the land known as ‘‘Point Spencer’’ located be13 tween the Bering Strait and Port Clarence and with14 drawn by Public Land Order 2650 (published in the 

15 Federal Register on April 12, 1962), and located in 

16 Townships 2, 3, and 4 South, Range 40 West, Kateel 

17 River Meridian, Alaska. 

18 (6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise specifi19 cally provided, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec20 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

21 is operating. 

22 (7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

23 of Alaska. 

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1 (8) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ means Tract 1, 

2 Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, as ap3 propriate. 

4 (9) TRACTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6.—The terms 

5 ‘‘Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and 

6 Tract 6’’ each mean the land generally depicted as 

7 Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 

8 6, respectively, and generally depicted as such Tract 

9 on the map entitled the ‘‘Point Spencer Land Reten10 tion and Conveyance Map’’, dated January 2015, and 

11 on file with the Department of Homeland Security 

12 and the Department of the Interior. 

13 SEC. 603. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY LAND IN POINT SPENCER. 

14 (a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 1, 3, AND 4.— 

15 The Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid 

16 existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 

17 States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 

18 1, Tract 3, and Tract 4 in accordance with subsection (d) 

19 if the Secretary notifies the Secretary of the Interior that 

20 the Coast Guard no longer needs to retain jurisdiction over 

21 any portion of Tract 1, Tract 3, or Tract 4 and the require22 ments of subsection (f) are met for each such Tract to be 

23 conveyed. 

24 (b) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 2 AND 5.—The 

25 Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid existmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 ing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States 

2 in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 2 and 

3 Tract 5 in accordance with subsection (d) if the require4 ments of subsection (f) are met for each such Tract to be 

5 conveyed. 

6 (c) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TRACT 6.—The Sec7 retary of the Interior shall convey, subject to valid existing 

8 rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in 

9 and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 6 in ac10 cordance with subsection (e) if the requirements of sub11 section (f) are met. 

12 (d) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, 

13 OR 5.— 

14 (1) DETERMINATION AND OFFER.— 

15 (A) TRACT 1, 3, OR 4.—If the Secretary 

16 makes the determination under subsection (a) 

17 and the requirements of subsection (f) are met for 

18 Tract 1, 3, or 4, or a portion of such Tract, the 

19 Secretary of the Interior shall offer such Tract or 

20 portion of such Tract for conveyance to BSNC 

21 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

22 (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

23 (B) TRACT 2 OR 5.—If the requirements of 

24 subsection (f) are met for Tract 2 or Tract 5, the 

25 Secretary of the Interior shall offer such Tract 

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1 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska Native 

2 Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

3 (2) OFFER TO BSNC.— 

4 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.—If BSNC 

5 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 

6 Tract under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 

7 Interior shall consider such Tract as within 

8 BSNC’s entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the 

9 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

10 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey such Tract to 

11 BSNC. 

12 (B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 

13 to accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract under 

14 paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall 

15 offer such Tract for conveyance to the State 

16 under the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly known 

17 as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note 

18 prec. 21; Public Law 85–508). 

19 (3) OFFER TO STATE.— 

20 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 

21 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 

22 Tract under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of 

23 the Interior shall consider such Tract as within 

24 the State’s entitlement under the Act of July 7, 

25 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statemstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 hood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 

2 85–508) and shall convey such Tract to the 

3 State. 

4 (B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de5 clines to accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract 

6 offered under paragraph (2)(B), such Tract shall 

7 be disposed of pursuant to applicable public land 

8 laws. 

9 (e) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 6.— 

10 (1) OFFER.—If the requirements under sub11 section (f) are met for Tract 6, the Secretary of the 

12 Interior shall offer such Tract for conveyance to the 

13 State. 

14 (2) OFFER TO STATE.— 

15 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 

16 chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 

17 6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Inte18 rior shall consider Tract 6 as within the State’s 

19 entitlement under the Act of July 7, 1958 (com20 monly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 

21 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508) and 

22 shall convey Tract 6 to the State. 

23 (B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de24 clines to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 

25 6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Intemstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 rior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to BSNC 

2 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

3 (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 

4 (3) OFFER TO BSNC.— 

5 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.— 

6 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 

7 (ii), if BSNC chooses to accept an offer of 

8 conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph 

9 (2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior shall 

10 consider Tract 6 as within BSNC’s entitle11 ment under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska 

12 Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 

13 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey Tract 6 to 

14 BSNC. 

15 (ii) LEASE BY THE STATE.—The con16 veyance of Tract 6 to BSNC shall be subject 

17 to BSNC negotiating a lease of Tract 6 to 

18 the State at no cost to the State, if the State 

19 requests such a lease. 

20 (B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 

21 to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under 

22 paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior 

23 shall dispose of Tract 6 pursuant to the applica24 ble public land laws. 

25 (f) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.— 

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1 (1) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.— 

2 (A) TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, OR 6.— 

3 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the 

4 Interior shall not convey Tract 1, Tract 2, 

5 Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 6 under 

6 this section until— 

7 (I) the Secretary certifies that the 

8 applicable requirements under section 

9 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environ10 mental Response, Compensation, and 

11 Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 

12 9620(h)) and other applicable environ13 mental laws have been satisfied for 

14 land in such Tract; or 

15 (II) the Board of Directors of 

16 BSNC adopts and submits to the Sec17 retary of the Interior a resolution stat18 ing that BSNC is willing to accept 

19 Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, 

20 Tract 5, or Tract 6, as appropriate, 

21 ‘‘as is’’ at the time of such conveyance, 

22 based on known contamination. 

23 (ii) AS IS.—In this subparagraph, the 

24 term ‘‘as is’’ means the physical condition 

25 of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 

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1 5, or Tract 6, as appropriate, at the time 

2 of the conveyance of such Tract, including 

3 with respect to any known contamination 

4 by hazardous materials or substances. 

5 (B) LAND TO BE CONVEYED TO THE STATE

6 OR BSNC.— 

7 (i) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.—To 

8 the extent cleanup and remediation of haz9 ardous substances on land in a Tract to be 

10 conveyed to the State or to BSNC are re11 quired by existing law, all environmental 

12 compliance activities pursuant to section 

13 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental 

14 Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

15 of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)) and other ap16 plicable environmental laws shall be satis17 fied. 

18 (ii) MONITORING OF KNOWN CONTAMI19 NATION.—Notwithstanding section 120(h) of 

20 the Comprehensive Environmental Re21 sponse, Compensation, and Liability Act of 

22 1980 and other applicable environmental 

23 laws, any known contamination in a Tract 

24 to be conveyed that does not pose an imme25 diate or long-term health or environmental 

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1 risk may be routinely monitored and man2 aged by the State or BSNC, as applicable, 

3 through institutional controls in accordance 

4 with the laws of the State. 

5 (iii) LATER FOUND CONTAMINATION.— 

6 If preexisting contamination from haz7 ardous materials and substances are found 

8 to be present in a Tract after the date the 

9 Tract is conveyed to the State or BSNC, re10 sponsibility for cleanup and remediation of 

11 such contamination shall continue to be 

12 governed by section 120(h)(3) of the Com13 prehensive Environmental Response, Com14 pensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 

15 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)), applicable provisions of 

16 chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, 

17 and applicable laws of the State. 

18 (C) LAND TO BE RETAINED BY THE COAST

19 GUARD.—With respect to land in Tract 1, Tract 

20 3, or Tract 4 to be retained by the Coast Guard, 

21 nothing in this section may be construed to limit 

22 the obligation of the Coast Guard to comply with 

23 applicable environmental law, including section 

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1 sponse, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 

2 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

3 (2) AIRSTRIP USE.— 

4 (A) USE BY COAST GUARD.—All convey5 ances under this section shall be subject to— 

6 (i) an easement granting unlimited use 

7 of all existing and future landing pads, air8 strips, runways, and taxiways that are lo9 cated on such Tract conveyed, at no cost to 

10 the Coast Guard; and 

11 (ii) the right to access such landing 

12 pads, airstrips, runways, and taxiways, at 

13 no cost to the Coast Guard. 

14 (B) USE BY STATE.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—For any Tract con16 veyed to BSNC under this section, BSNC 

17 shall provide to the State, if requested and 

18 pursuant to negotiated terms with the State, 

19 for no compensation— 

20 (I) an easement over all existing 

21 and future airstrips, runways, and 

22 taxiways located on such Tract; and 

23 (II) a right of access to and from 

24 such airstrips, runways, and taxiways. 

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1 (ii) RIGHT OF ACCESS.—If the State 

2 requests a right of access for a road from 

3 the airstrip to the southern tip of Point 

4 Spencer, the location of such right of access 

5 shall be determined by the State, in con6 sultation with the Secretary and BSNC, so 

7 that such access is compatible with other ex8 isting or planned infrastructure develop9 ment at Point Spencer. 

10 (3) RELATIONSHIP TO PUBLIC LAND ORDER

11 2650.— 

12 (A) TRACTS NOT CONVEYED.—Any Tract 

13 that is not conveyed under this section shall re14 main withdrawn pursuant to Public Land Order 

15 2650 (published in the Federal Register on April 

16 12, 1962). 

17 (B) TRACTS CONVEYED.—For any Tract 

18 conveyed under this section, Public Land Order 

19 2650 shall automatically terminate upon 

20 issuance of a conveyance document for such 

21 Tract. 

22 (4) ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RE23 SOURCES.—Conveyance of any Tract under this sec24 tion shall not affect criminal jurisdiction and respon25 sibilities regarding the potential theft or vandalism of 

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1 archeological or cultural resources located in or on 

2 such tracts. 

3 (5) PERSONAL PROPERTY.— 

4 (A) CASH SALES AUTHORIZED.—The Sec5 retary of Homeland Security is authorized to 

6 make cash sales of personal property that is lo7 cated on Tract 4 to BSNC or to the State. 

8 (B) VALUE.—The total value of the personal 

9 property referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 

10 deemed to be $5,580,000. 

11 (C) PROCEEDS.—Pursuant to section 559 of 

12 the Department of Homeland Security Appro13 priations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–83; 123 

14 Stat. 2180), the proceeds from the sale of Coast 

15 Guard property referred to in subparagraph 

16 (A)— 

17 (i) shall be deposited as offsetting col18 lections into the Coast Guard Environ19 mental Compliance and Restoration Ac20 count; 

21 (ii) shall be available without further 

22 appropriation for environmental compli23 ance and restoration activities associated 

24 with any tract conveyed or to be conveyed 

25 under this Act; and 

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1 (iii) shall remain available until ex2 pended. 

3 (D) UNEXPENDED BALANCES.—If unex4 pended balances remain in the Coast Guard En5 vironmental Compliance and Restoration Ac6 count after the completion of the activities de7 scribed in subparagraph (C)(ii), such balances 

8 may be expended for any other environmental 

9 compliance and restoration activities of the 

10 Coast Guard. 

11 (g) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

12 (1) PREPARATION OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIP13 TION.—As soon as practicable after the date of the en14 actment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 

15 prepare maps and legal descriptions of Tract 1, Tract 

16 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and Tract 6. In doing 

17 so, the Secretary of the Interior may use metes and 

18 bounds legal descriptions based upon the official sur19 vey plats of Point Spencer accepted on December 6, 

20 1978. 

21 (2) LEGAL EFFECT.—The maps and legal de22 scriptions shall have the same force and effect as if 

23 the maps and legal descriptions were included in this 

24 Act, except that the Secretary of the Interior may cormstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 rect any clerical and typographical errors in the 

2 maps and legal descriptions. 

3 (3) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the maps and legal 

4 descriptions shall be available for public inspection in 

5 the appropriate offices of— 

6 (A) the Bureau of Land Management; and 

7 (B) the United States Coast Guard. 

8 (4) SURVEY.—Not later than 5 years after the 

9 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 

10 Interior shall survey Tracts conveyed and patent the 

11 Tracts in accordance with the official plats of survey. 

12 (h) PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS.—No public access 

13 easements may be reserved to the United States under sec14 tion 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 

15 U.S.C. 1616(b)) with respect to the land conveyed under 

16 this Act. 

17 SEC. 604. PORT COORDINATION ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 

18 POINT SPENCER. 

19 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Port 

20 Coordination Advisory Council for the Port of Point Spen21 cer. 

22 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of a rep23 resentative appointed by each of the following: 

24 (1) The State. 

25 (2) BSNC. 

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1 (c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council are as follows: 

2 (1) To develop a Port Management Coordination 

3 Plan to help coordinate infrastructure development 

4 and operations at the Port of Point Spencer, that in5 cludes plans for— 

6 (A) construction; 

7 (B) funding eligibility; 

8 (C) land use planning and development; 

9 and 

10 (D) public interest use and access, emer11 gency preparedness, law enforcement, protection 

12 of Alaska Native archaeological and cultural re13 sources, and other matters that are necessary for 

14 public and private entities to function in prox15 imity together in a remote location. 

16 (2) Update the Plan annually for the first 5 

17 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and 

18 biennially thereafter. 

19 (3) Facilitate coordination among stakeholders 

20 at Point Spencer, including the Coast Guard, on the 

21 development and use of the land and coastline as such 

22 development relates to activities at the Port of Point 

23 Spencer. 

24 (4) Assess the need, benefits, efficacy, and desir25 ability of establishing in the future a port authority 

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1 at Point Spencer under State law and act upon that 

2 assessment, as appropriate, including taking steps for 

3 the potential formation of such a port authority. 

4 (d) PLAN.—The Plan shall be developed and imple5 mented by the Council in such a manner so as to facilitate 

6 and support, and not interfere with nor impede, the statu7 tory missions, duties, and operations of the Coast Guard 

8 in the Arctic. 

9 (e) COSTS.—Operations and management costs for 

10 airstrips, runways, and taxiways at Point Spencer shall 

11 be determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan, as nego12 tiated by the Council. 

13 SEC. 605. WAIVER. 

14 Section 229 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 

15 Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

16 281; 128 Stat. 3040) shall not be construed to prohibit any 

17 transfer or conveyance of lands under to this Act or any 

18 actions that involve the dismantling or disposal of infra19 structure that supported the former LORAN system that are 

20 associated with the transfer or conveyance of lands under 

21 this subtitle. 

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1 Subtitle B—Other Conveyance of 

2 Coast Guard Property 

3 SEC. 611. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

4 POINT REYES STATION, CALIFORNIA. 

5 (a) CONVEYANCE.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the 

7 Coast Guard may convey to the County of Marin all 

8 right, title, and interest of the United States in and 

9 to the covered property— 

10 (A) for fair market value, provided for in 

11 paragraph (2); 

12 (B) subject to the conditions required by 

13 this section; and 

14 (C) subject to any other term or condition 

15 that the Commandant considers appropriate to 

16 protect the interests of the United States. 

17 (2) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market 

18 value of the covered property shall be— 

19 (A) determined by a real estate appraiser, 

20 who has been selected by the County and is li21 censed to practice in California; and 

22 (B) approved by the Commandant, who 

23 shall base such approval on considerations of eq24 uity and fairness, including the use required 

25 under this section of the covered property. 

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1 (3) PROCEEDS.—The Commandant shall deposit 

2 the proceeds from a conveyance under paragraph (1) 

3 in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established by sec4 tion 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

5 (b) CONDITION OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition of 

6 any conveyance of covered property under this section, the 

7 Commandant shall require that all right, title, and interest 

8 in and to the covered property revert to the United States 

9 if the covered property or any part thereof ceases to be used 

10 for affordable housing, as defined by the County and the 

11 Commandant at conveyance, or to provide a public benefit 

12 approved by the County. 

13 (c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec14 tion may be construed to affect or limit the application of 

15 or obligation to comply with any environmental law, in16 cluding section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental 

17 Response, Compensation, and liability Act of 1980 (42 

18 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 

19 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

20 (1) COMMANDANT.—The term ‘‘Commandant’’ 

21 means the Commandant of the Coast Guard. 

22 (2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means the 

23 County of Marin, California. 

24 (3) COVERED PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘covered 

25 property’’ means the 32 acres of Federal land (includmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 ing all buildings, structures, utilities, and miscella2 neous facilities on the land) that are located in Point 

3 Reyes Station in the County of Marin, California, 

4 and that are under the administrative control of the 

5 Coast Guard and identified by the Coast Guard as 

6 ‘‘CAMSPAC Housing’’. 

7 (e) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the covered 

8 property under this section shall expire on the date that 

9 is four years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

10 SEC. 612. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

11 TOK, ALASKA. 

12 (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of 

13 the Coast Guard may convey all right, title, and interest 

14 of the United States in and to the covered property, upon 

15 payment to the United States of the fair market value of 

16 the covered property. 

17 (b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The Tanana Chiefs’ 

18 Conference shall have the right of first refusal with respect 

19 to purchase of the covered property under this section. 

20 (c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description 

21 of the covered property shall be determined by a survey sat22 isfactory to the Commandant. 

23 (d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of 

24 the covered property shall be— 

25 (1) determined by appraisal; and 

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1 (2) subject to the approval of the Commandant. 

2 (e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all 

3 reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate trans4 action and environmental documentation costs, associated 

5 with a conveyance under this section shall be determined 

6 by the Commandant and the purchaser. 

7 (f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Com8 mandant may require such additional terms and conditions 

9 in connection with a conveyance under this section as the 

10 Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to pro11 tect the interests of the United States. 

12 (g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received 

13 by the United States from a conveyance under this section 

14 shall be deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund estab15 lished under section 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

16 (h) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘‘cov18 ered property’’ means the approximately 3.25 acres of 

19 real property (including all improvements located on 

20 the property) that are— 

21 (A) located in Tok, Alaska; 

22 (B) under the administrative control of the 

23 Coast Guard; and 

24 (C) described in paragraph (2). 

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1 (2) DESCRIPTION.—The property described in 

2 this paragraph is the following: 

3 (A) Lots 11, 12, and 13, block ‘‘G’’, Second 

4 Addition to Hartsell Subdivision, Section 20, 

5 Township 18 North, Range 13 East, Copper 

6 River Meridian, Alaska as appears by Plat No. 

7 72–39 filed in the Office of the Recorder for the 

8 Fairbanks Recording District of Alaska, bearing 

9 seal dated 25 September 1972, all containing ap10 proximately 1.25 Acres and commonly known as 

11 2-PLEX – Jackie Circle, Units A and B. 

12 (B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the SE 1⁄4 of the SE 1 13 ⁄4 Section 24, Town14 ship 18 North, Range 12 East, Copper River Me15 ridian, Alaska; thence running westerly along 

the south line of said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1 16 ⁄4 260 

17 feet; thence northerly parallel to the east line of 

said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1 18 ⁄4 335 feet; thence easterly 

19 parallel to the south line 260 feet; then south 335 

20 feet along the east boundary of Section 24 to the 

21 point of beginning; all containing approximately 

22 2.0 acres and commonly known as 4-PLEX – 

23 West ‘‘C’’ and Willow, Units A, B, C, and D. 

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1 TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

2 SEC. 701. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 

3 OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(a) of the Oil Pollu5 tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761(a)) is amended— 

6 (1) in paragraph (3)— 

7 (A) by striking ‘‘Minerals Management 

8 Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Bureau of Safety and 

9 Environmental Enforcement, the Bureau of 

10 Ocean Energy Management,’’; and 

11 (B) by inserting ‘‘the United States Arctic 

12 Research Commission,’’ after ‘‘National Aero13 nautics and Space Administration,’’; and 

14 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(5) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—A representative of 

16 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra17 tion, a representative of the Bureau of Safety and 

18 Environmental Enforcement, and a representative of 

19 the Environmental Protection Agency shall serve, on 

20 a rotating basis, as vice chairperson of the Com21 mittee.’’. 

22 (b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 7001 of the 

23 Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761) is amended— 

24 (1) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter preceding 

25 subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Department of Transmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 portation’’ and inserting ‘‘department in which the 

2 Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

3 (2) in subsection (c)(8)(A), by striking ‘‘(1989)’’ 

4 and inserting ‘‘(2010)’’. 

5 SEC. 702. ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT NOTIFICATION. 

6 Section 9 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, 

7 and Job Creation Act of 2011 (49 U.S.C. 60117 note; Public 

8 Law 112–90) is amended by striking subsection (c), and 

9 that subsection shall be deemed not to have been enacted. 

10 SEC. 703. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO 

11 BRIDGES. 

12 (a) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 3, 

13 1899 (commonly known as the ‘‘Rivers and Harbors Appro14 priation Act of 1899’’), is amended— 

15 (1) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by striking 

16 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

17 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

18 the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

19 (2) in section 12 (33 U.S.C. 406)— 

20 (A) by striking the section designation and 

21 all that follows through the first sentence and in22 serting the following: 

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1 ‘‘SEC. 12. PENALTY FOR WRONGFUL CONSTRUCTION; RE2 MOVAL OF STRUCTURES. 

3 ‘‘(a) PENALTY FOR WRONGFUL CONSTRUCTION.—Each 

4 individual or entity that violates an applicable provision 

5 of section 9, 10, or 11, or any rule or regulation promul6 gated by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

7 Guard is operating pursuant to section 9 or the Secretary 

8 of the Army pursuant to section 11, shall be— 

9 ‘‘(1) guilty of a misdemeanor; and 

10 ‘‘(2) on conviction, punished by, at the discretion 

11 of the applicable court— 

12 ‘‘(A) a fine of not less than $500 nor more 

13 than $2,500; 

14 ‘‘(B) imprisonment (in the case of an indi15 vidual) for not more than 1 year; or 

16 ‘‘(C) both the punishments described in sub17 paragraphs (A) and (B).’’; and 

18 (B) in the second sentence— 

19 (i) by striking ‘‘And further, the re20 moval’’ and inserting the following: 

21 ‘‘(b) REMOVAL OF STRUCTURES.—The removal’’; and 

22 (ii) by striking ‘‘the provisions of’’ and 

23 all that follows through ‘‘exercising’’ and in24 serting ‘‘a provision described in subsection 

25 (a) may be enforced by the injunction of 

26 any district court exercising’’; and 

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1 (3) in subsections (a) and (c) of section 18 (33 

2 U.S.C. 502), by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor3 tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec4 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

5 is operating’’. 

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

7 1906 (commonly known as the ‘‘Bridge Act of 1906’’), is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by strik10 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

12 Guard is operating’’; 

13 (2) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by striking 

14 ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each place it ap15 pears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in 

16 which the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

17 (3) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by striking 

18 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

19 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

20 the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

21 (c) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the Act 

22 of August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499), is amended by striking 

23 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears and 

24 inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

25 Guard is operating’’. 

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1 (d) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 21, 1940 

2 (commonly known as the ‘‘Truman-Hobbs Act’’), is amend3 ed— 

4 (1) in section 1 (33 U.S.C. 511), by striking 

5 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec6 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

7 is operating’’; 

8 (2) in section 3 (33 U.S.C. 513)— 

9 (A) in the section heading, by striking 

10 ‘‘HEARINGS’’ and inserting ‘‘MEETINGS’’; 

11 (B) in the first sentence— 

12 (i) by striking ‘‘hearing’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘meeting’’; and 

14 (ii) by striking ‘‘evidence’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘supporting data’’; and 

16 (C) in the second sentence, by striking 

17 ‘‘hearing’’ and inserting ‘‘a meeting’’; 

18 (3) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by striking 

19 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec20 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

21 is operating’’; 

22 (4) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by striking 

23 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

24 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

25 the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

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1 (5) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), in the proviso, 

2 by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

4 Guard is operating’’. 

5 (e) ACT OF JULY 16, 1952.—Section 3 of the Act of 

6 July 16, 1952 (33 U.S.C. 524), is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘hearings’’ and inserting ‘‘meetings’’. 

8 (f) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The General 

9 Bridge Act 1946 is amended— 

10 (1) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by 

11 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

13 Guard is operating’’; and 

14 (2) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by striking 

15 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears 

16 and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

17 the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

18 (g) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The Inter19 national Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 

20 (1) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by striking 

21 ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec22 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

23 is operating’’; 

24 (2) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e)— 

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1 (A) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor2 tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 

3 department in which the Coast Guard is oper4 ating’’; 

5 (B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Sec6 retary of Transportation’s’’ in the heading; and 

7 (C) in subsection (b), in the second sentence, 

8 by striking ‘‘, and the provisions of section 6 of 

9 this Act shall not apply’’; and 

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

11 SEC. 704. INTERNATIONAL PORT AND FACILITY INSPEC12 TION COORDINATION. 

13 Section 825(a) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

14 of 2010 (6 U.S.C. 945 note; Public Law 111–281) is amend15 ed in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 

16 (1) by striking ‘‘the department in which the 

17 Coast Guard is operating’’ and inserting ‘‘Homeland 

18 Security’’; and 

19 (2) by striking ‘‘they are integrated and con20 ducted by the Coast Guard’’ and inserting ‘‘the assess21 ments are coordinated between the Coast Guard and 

22 Customs and Border Protection’’. 

23 SEC. 705. REPORTS. 

24 (a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421(d) of 

25 the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 

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1 (Public Law 109–241; 46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended by 

2 striking ‘‘On March 1, 2007, and annually thereafter’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘Not later than July 1 of each year,’’. 

4 (b) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABILITY.—Sec5 tion 603(c)(3) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor6 tation Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 2704 note) is amended by 

7 striking ‘‘on an annual basis.’’ and inserting ‘‘not later 

8 than January 30 of the year following each year in which 

9 an oil discharge from a vessel or nonvessel source that re10 sults or is likely to result in removal costs and damages 

11 (as those terms are defined in section 1001 of the Oil Pollu12 tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that exceed liability lim13 its established under section 1004 of the Oil Pollution Act 

14 of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704).’’. 

15 SEC. 706. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

16 The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Trans17 portation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amended— 

18 (1) in section 610, by— 

19 (A) striking the section enumerator and 

20 heading and inserting the following: 

21 ‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT 

22 LAKES.’’; 

23 (B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any 

24 future expanded boundaries of the Thunder Bay 

25 National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater 

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1 Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of any Na2 tional Marine Sanctuary that preserves ship3 wrecks or maritime heritage in the Great Lakes’’; 

4 and 

5 (C) by inserting before the period at the end 

6 the following: ‘‘, unless the designation docu7 ments for such Sanctuary do not allow taking up 

8 or discharging ballast water in such Sanctuary’’; 

9 and 

10 (2) in the table of contents in section 2, by strik11 ing the item relating to section 610 and inserting the 

12 following: 

‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’. 

13 SEC. 707. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENT. 

14 Notwithstanding section 12132 of title 46, United 

15 States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the 

16 Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of docu17 mentation with a coastwise endorsement for the F/V 

18 RONDYS (O.N. 291085). 

19 SEC. 708. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL. 

20 (a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 180 

21 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com22 mandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee 

23 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

24 and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

25 of the House of Representatives a report that describes the 

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1 current operations to perform the International Ice Patrol 

2 mission and on alternatives for carrying out that mission, 

3 including satellite surveillance technology. 

4 (b) ALTERNATIVES.—The report required by subsection 

5 (a) shall include whether an alternative— 

6 (1) provides timely data on ice conditions with 

7 the highest possible resolution and accuracy; 

8 (2) is able to operate in all weather conditions 

9 or any time of day; and 

10 (3) is more cost effective than the cost of current 

11 operations. 

12 SEC. 709. PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 

13 (a) TRANSFER AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.— 

14 (1) TRANSFER.—To further accomplish the set15 tlement of land claims under the Alaska Native 

16 Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602 et seq.), the 

17 Secretary of Commerce shall, subject to paragraph 

18 (2), and notwithstanding section 105(a) of the 

19 Pribilof Islands Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; 

20 Public Law 106–562), convey all right, title, and in21 terest in the following property to the native village 

22 corporation for St. Paul Island: 

23 (A) Lots 4, 5, and 6A, Block 18, Tract A, 

24 U.S. Survey 4943, noted on Bureau of Land 

25 Management supplemental master title plat for 

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1 sec. 25, T. 35 S., R. 132 W., Seward Meridian, 

2 and on Sheet 3 of 3, of U. S. Survey 4943, files 

3 on January 20, 2004. 

4 (B) On the termination of the license de5 scribed in paragraph (2)(C), tract 43, located in 

6 sec. 18, T. 35 S., R. 131 W., Seward Meridian 

7 and shown on township survey filed, May 14, 

8 1986. 

9 (2) FEDERAL USE.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the de11 partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 

12 may operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, re13 pair, and replace any Federal aid to navigation 

14 located on the property described in paragraph 

15 (1) as long as the aid is needed for navigational 

16 purposes. 

17 (B) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out 

18 paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter the 

19 property, at any time for as long as the aid is 

20 needed for navigational purposes, without notice 

21 to the extent that it is not practicable to provide 

22 advance notice. 

23 (C) LICENSE.—The Secretary of the Depart24 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating 

25 may maintain a license in effect on the date of 

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1 enactment of this Act with respect to the real 

2 property and improvements under paragraph (1) 

3 until the termination of the license. 

4 (D) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after 

5 the date of enactment of this Act and not less 

6 than once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary 

7 of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

8 operating shall submit to the Committee on Nat9 ural Resources of the House of Representatives 

10 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

11 Transportation of the Senate a report on— 

12 (i) efforts taken to remediate contami13 nated soils on tract 43 described in para14 graph (1)(B); 

15 (ii) a schedule for the completion of 

16 contaminated soil remediation on tract 43; 

17 and 

18 (iii) any use of tract 43 to carry out 

19 Coast Guard navigation activities. 

20 (3) AGREEMENT ON TRANSFER OF OTHER PROP21 ERTY ON ST. PAUL ISLAND.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the prop23 erty transferred under paragraph (1), not later 

24 than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 

25 Act, the Secretary of Commerce and the premstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 siding officer of the Alaska Native Village Cor2 poration for St. Paul Island shall enter into an 

3 agreement to exchange of property on Tracts 50 

4 and 38 on St. Paul Island and to finalize the re5 cording of deeds, to reflect the boundaries and 

6 ownership of Tracts 50 and 38 as depicted on a 

7 survey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

8 Administration, to be filed with the office of the 

9 recorder for the Department of Natural Resources 

10 for the State of Alaska. 

11 (B) EASEMENTS.—The survey described in 

12 subparagraph (A) shall include respective ease13 ments granted to the Secretary and the Village 

14 Corporation for the purpose of utilities, drain15 age, road access, and salt lagoon conservation. 

16 (b) TRANSFER OF PROPERTY NOT OTHERWISE SPECI17 FIED FOR TRANSFER.—Section 105 of the Pribilof Islands 

18 Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562) 

19 is amended— 

20 (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 

21 (g); and 

22 (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol23 lowing: 

24 ‘‘(e) NOTIFICATIONS.— 

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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 

2 the Secretary of Commerce makes a determination 

3 under subsection (f) that land on St. Paul Island, 

4 Alaska, not specified for transfer in the document en5 titled ‘Transfer of Property on the Pribilof Islands: 

6 Descriptions, Terms and Conditions’ or section 709(a) 

7 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, are in 

8 excess of the needs of the Secretary and the Federal 

9 Government, the Secretary shall notify the Alaska Na10 tive Village Corporation for St. Paul Island of the de11 termination. 

12 ‘‘(2) ELECTION TO RECEIVE.—Not later than 60 

13 days after the date receipt of the notification of the 

14 Secretary under paragraph (1), the Village Corpora15 tion for St. Paul Island shall notify the Secretary in 

16 writing whether the Village Corporation elects to re17 ceive all right, title and interest in the land or a por18 tion of the land. 

19 ‘‘(3) TRANSFER.—If the Village Corporation pro20 vides notice under paragraph (2) that the Village Cor21 poration elects to receive all right, title and interest 

22 in the land or a portion of the land, the Secretary 

23 shall transfer all right, title, and interest in the land 

24 or portion to the Village Corporation at no cost. 

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1 ‘‘(4) OTHER DISPOSITION.—If the Village Cor2 poration does not provide notice under paragraph (2) 

3 that the Village Corporation elects to receive all right, 

4 title and interest in the land or a portion of the land, 

5 the Secretary may dispose of the land in accordance 

6 with other applicable law. 

7 ‘‘(f) DETERMINATION.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

9 the date of enactment of this subsection and not less 

10 than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary of 

11 Commerce shall determine whether property located 

12 on St. Paul Island and not transferred to the Natives 

13 of the Pribilof Islands is in excess of the smallest 

14 practicable tract enclosing land— 

15 ‘‘(A) needed by the Secretary for the pur16 poses of carrying out the Fur Seal Act of 1966 

17 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.); 

18 ‘‘(B) in the case of land withdrawn by the 

19 Secretary on behalf of other Federal agencies, 

20 needed for carrying out the missions of those 

21 agencies for which land was withdrawn; or 

22 ‘‘(C) actually used by the Federal Govern23 ment in connection with the administration of 

24 any Federal installation on St. Paul Island. 

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1 ‘‘(2) REPORT OF DETERMINATION.—When a de2 termination is made under paragraph (1), the Sec3 retary shall report the determination to— 

4 ‘‘(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of 

5 the House of Representatives; 

6 ‘‘(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science 

7 and Transportation of the Senate; and 

8 ‘‘(C) the Alaska Native Village Corporation 

9 for St. Paul Island.’’. 

10 (c) NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION.—Section 105 of the 

11 Pribilof Islands Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Pub12 lic Law 106–562) is amended— 

13 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘The Sec14 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding paragraph 

15 (2) and effective beginning on the date the Secretary 

16 publishes the notice of certification required by sub17 section (b)(5), the Secretary’’; 

18 (2) in subsection (b)— 

19 (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘sec20 tion 205 of the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 

21 1165)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 205(a) of the Fur 

22 Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1165(a))’’; and 

23 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

24 ‘‘(5) NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary 

25 shall promptly publish and submit to the Committee 

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1 on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 

2 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans3 portation of the Senate notice that the certification 

4 described in paragraph (2) has been made.’’; and 

5 (3) in subsection (c)— 

6 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

7 by striking ‘‘makes the certification described in 

8 subsection (b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘publishes the 

9 notice of certification required by subsection 

10 (b)(5)’’; and 

11 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Section 

12 205’’ and inserting ‘‘Subsections (a), (b), (c), 

13 and (d) of section 205’’. 

14 SEC. 710. NO CHARGE FOR PARKING FACILITIES. 

15 Section 611(a)(1) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 

16 and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 

17 113–281; 128 Stat. 3064) is amended by striking the period 

18 at the end and inserting ‘‘at no cost to the Coast Guard, 

19 its members, or employees.’’. 

20 SEC. 711. ASSESSMENT OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND 

21 CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

22 (a) ASSESSMENT.—The Commandant of the Coast 

23 Guard, in consultation with the Administrator of the Na24 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 

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1 propriate, shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness 

2 of oil spill response activities specific to the Great Lakes. 

3 Such assessment shall include— 

4 (1) an evaluation of new research into oil spill 

5 impacts in fresh water under a wide range of condi6 tions; and 

7 (2) an evaluation of oil spill prevention and 

8 clean up contingency plans, in order to improve un9 derstanding of oil spill impacts in the Great Lakes 

10 and foster innovative improvements to safety tech11 nologies and environmental protection systems. 

12 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 

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

14 of the Coast Guard shall submit to Congress a report on 

15 the results of the assessment required by subsection (a). 

16 SEC. 712. REPORT ON STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY DETECTING 

17 PASSENGERS WHO HAVE FALLEN OVER18 BOARD. 

19 Not later than 18 months after the date of the enact20 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

21 submit a report to Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

22 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Trans23 portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa24 tives that— 

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1 (1) describes the status of technology for imme2 diately detecting passengers who have fallen over3 board; 

4 (2) includes a recommendation to cruise lines on 

5 the feasibility of implementing technology that imme6 diately detects passengers who have fallen overboard, 

7 factoring in cost and the risk of false positives; 

8 (3) includes data collected from cruise lines on 

9 the status of the integration of the technology de10 scribed in paragraph (2) on cruise ships, including— 

11 (A) the number of cruise ships that have the 

12 technology to capture images of passengers who 

13 have fallen overboard; 

14 (B) the number of cruise lines that have 

15 tested technology that can detect passengers who 

16 have fallen overboard; and 

17 (C) the number of cruise ships that have in18 tegrated technology that can detect passengers 

19 who have fallen overboard; and 

20 (4) includes information on any other available 

21 technologies that cruise ships could integrate to assist 

22 in facilitating the search and rescue of a passenger 

23 who has fallen overboard. 

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1 TITLE VIII—VESSEL INCIDENTAL 

2 DISCHARGE ACT 

3 SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Vessel Incidental Dis5 charge Act’’. 

6 SEC. 802. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

8 (1) Beginning with enactment of the Act to Pre9 vent Pollution from Ships in 1980 (22 U.S.C. 1901 

10 et seq.), the United States Coast Guard has been the 

11 principal Federal authority charged with admin12 istering, enforcing, and prescribing regulations relat13 ing to the discharge of pollutants from vessels engaged 

14 in maritime commerce and transportation. 

15 (2) The Coast Guard estimates there are ap16 proximately 21,560,000 State-registered recreational 

17 vessels, 75,000 commercial fishing vessels, and 33,000 

18 freight and tank barges operating in United States 

19 waters. 

20 (3) From 1973 to 2005, certain discharges inci21 dental to the normal operation of a vessel were ex22 empted by regulation from otherwise applicable per23 mitting requirements. 

24 (4) Over the 32 years during which this regu25 latory exemption was in effect, Congress enacted statmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 utes on a number of occasions dealing with the regu2 lation of discharges incidental to the normal oper3 ation of a vessel, including— 

4 (A) the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships 

5 (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) in 1980; 

6 (B) the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 

7 Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 

8 4701 et seq.); 

9 (C) the National Invasive Species Act of 

10 1996 (110 Stat. 4073); 

11 (D) section 415 of the Coast Guard Author12 ization Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 3434) and section 

13 623 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor14 tation Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 1901 note), which 

15 established interim and permanent requirements, 

16 respectively, for the regulation of vessel dis17 charges of certain bulk cargo residue; 

18 (E) title XIV of division B of Appendix D 

19 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 

20 (114 Stat. 2763), which prohibited or limited 

21 certain vessel discharges in certain areas of Alas22 ka; 

23 (F) section 204 of the Maritime Transpor24 tation Security Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 1902a), 

25 which established requirements for the regulation 

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1 of vessel discharges of agricultural cargo residue 

2 material in the form of hold washings; and 

3 (G) title X of the Coast Guard Authoriza4 tion Act of 2010 (33 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), which 

5 provided for the implementation of the Inter6 national Convention on the Control of Harmful 

7 Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001. 

8 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 

9 for the establishment of nationally uniform and environ10 mentally sound standards and requirements for the man11 agement of discharges incidental to the normal operation 

12 of a vessel. 

13 SEC. 803. DEFINITIONS. 

14 In this title: 

15 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis16 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ17 mental Protection Agency. 

18 (2) AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES.—The term 

19 ‘‘aquatic nuisance species’’ means a nonindigenous 

20 species (including a pathogen) that threatens the di21 versity or abundance of native species or the ecologi22 cal stability of navigable waters or commercial, agri23 cultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities de24 pendent on such waters. 

25 (3) BALLAST WATER.— 

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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘ballast 

2 water’’ means any water, including any sedi3 ment suspended in such water, taken aboard a 

4 vessel— 

5 (i) to control trim, list, draught, sta6 bility, or stresses of the vessel; or 

7 (ii) during the cleaning, maintenance, 

8 or other operation of a ballast water treat9 ment technology of the vessel. 

10 (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘ballast 

11 water’’ does not include any pollutant that is 

12 added to water described in subparagraph (A) 

13 that is not directly related to the operation of a 

14 properly functioning ballast water treatment 

15 technology under this title. 

16 (4) BALLAST WATER PERFORMANCE STAND17 ARD.—The term ‘‘ballast water performance stand18 ard’’ means the numerical ballast water discharge 

19 standard set forth in section 151.2030 of title 33, 

20 Code of Federal Regulations or section 151.1511 of 

21 title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable, 

22 or a revised numerical ballast water performance 

23 standard established under subsection (a)(1)(B), (b), 

24 or (c) of section 805 of this title. 

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1 (5) BALLAST WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

2 OR TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘ballast 

3 water treatment technology’’ or ‘‘treatment tech4 nology’’ means any mechanical, physical, chemical, or 

5 biological process used, alone or in combination, to 

6 remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or dis7 charge of aquatic nuisance species within ballast 

8 water. 

9 (6) BIOCIDE.—The term ‘‘biocide’’ means a sub10 stance or organism, including a virus or fungus, that 

11 is introduced into or produced by a ballast water 

12 treatment technology to reduce or eliminate aquatic 

13 nuisance species as part of the process used to comply 

14 with a ballast water performance standard under this 

15 title. 

16 (7) DISCHARGE INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL

17 OPERATION OF A VESSEL.— 

18 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘discharge in19 cidental to the normal operation of a vessel’’ 

20 means— 

21 (i) a discharge into navigable waters 

22 from a vessel of— 

23 (I)(aa) ballast water, graywater, 

24 bilge water, cooling water, oil water 

25 separator effluent, anti-fouling hull 

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1 coating leachate, boiler or economizer 

2 blowdown, byproducts from cathodic 

3 protection, controllable pitch propeller 

4 and thruster hydraulic fluid, distilla5 tion and reverse osmosis brine, elevator 

6 pit effluent, firemain system effluent, 

7 freshwater layup effluent, gas turbine 

8 wash water, motor gasoline and com9 pensating effluent, refrigeration and 

10 air condensate effluent, seawater 

11 pumping biofouling prevention sub12 stances, boat engine wet exhaust, sonar 

13 dome effluent, exhaust gas scrubber 

14 washwater, or stern tube packing gland 

15 effluent; or 

16 (bb) any other pollutant associ17 ated with the operation of a marine 

18 propulsion system, shipboard maneu19 vering system, habitability system, or 

20 installed major equipment, or from a 

21 protective, preservative, or absorptive 

22 application to the hull of a vessel; 

23 (II) weather deck runoff, deck 

24 wash, aqueous film forming foam efflu25 ent, chain locker effluent, non-oily mamstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 chinery wastewater, underwater ship 

2 husbandry effluent, welldeck effluent, or 

3 fish hold and fish hold cleaning efflu4 ent; or 

5 (III) any effluent from a properly 

6 functioning marine engine; or 

7 (ii) a discharge of a pollutant into 

8 navigable waters in connection with the 

9 testing, maintenance, or repair of a system, 

10 equipment, or engine described in subclause 

11 (I)(bb) or (III) of clause (i) whenever the 

12 vessel is waterborne. 

13 (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘discharge in14 cidental to the normal operation of a vessel’’ does 

15 not include— 

16 (i) a discharge into navigable waters 

17 from a vessel of— 

18 (I) rubbish, trash, garbage, incin19 erator ash, or other such material dis20 charged overboard; 

21 (II) oil or a hazardous substance 

22 as those terms are defined in section 

23 311 of the Federal Water Pollution 

24 Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321); 

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1 (III) sewage as defined in section 

2 312(a)(6) of the Federal Water Pollu3 tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 

4 1322(a)(6)); or 

5 (IV) graywater referred to in sec6 tion 312(a)(6) of the Federal Water 

7 Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 

8 1322(a)(6)); 

9 (ii) an emission of an air pollutant re10 sulting from the operation onboard a vessel 

11 of a vessel propulsion system, motor driven 

12 equipment, or incinerator; or 

13 (iii) a discharge into navigable waters 

14 from a vessel when the vessel is operating in 

15 a capacity other than as a means of trans16 portation on water. 

17 (8) GEOGRAPHICALLY LIMITED AREA.—The term 

18 ‘‘geographically limited area’’ means an area— 

19 (A) with a physical limitation, including 

20 limitation by physical size and limitation by 

21 authorized route such as the Great Lakes and St. 

22 Lawrence River, that prevents a vessel from op23 erating outside the area, as determined by the 

24 Secretary; or 

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1 (B) that is ecologically homogeneous, as de2 termined by the Secretary, in consultation with 

3 the heads of other Federal departments or agen4 cies as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

5 (9) MANUFACTURER.—The term ‘‘manufacturer’’ 

6 means a person engaged in the manufacture, assem7 blage, or importation of ballast water treatment tech8 nology. 

9 (10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

11 Guard is operating. 

12 (11) VESSEL.—The term ‘‘vessel’’ means every 

13 description of watercraft or other artificial contriv14 ance used, or practically or otherwise capable of being 

15 used, as a means of transportation on water. 

16 SEC. 804. REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with 

18 the Administrator, shall establish and implement enforce19 able uniform national standards and requirements for the 

20 regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation 

21 of a vessel. The standards and requirements shall— 

22 (1) be based upon the best available technology 

23 economically achievable; and 

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1 (2) supersede any permitting requirement or 

2 prohibition on discharges incidental to the normal op3 eration of a vessel under any other provision of law. 

4 (b) ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.—The Sec5 retary shall administer and enforce the uniform national 

6 standards and requirements under this title. Each State 

7 may enforce the uniform national standards and require8 ments under this title. 

9 SEC. 805. UNIFORM NATIONAL STANDARDS AND REQUIRE10 MENTS FOR THE REGULATION OF DIS11 CHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OP12 ERATION OF A VESSEL. 

13 (a) REQUIREMENTS.— 

14 (1) BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT REQUIRE15 MENTS.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 

17 other provision of law, the requirements set forth 

18 in the final rule, Standards for Living Orga19 nisms in Ships’ Ballast Water Discharged in 

20 U.S. Waters (77 Fed. Reg. 17254 (March 23, 

21 2012), as corrected at 77 Fed. Reg. 33969 (June 

22 8, 2012)), shall be the management requirements 

23 for a ballast water discharge incidental to the 

24 normal operation of a vessel until the Secretary 

25 revises the ballast water performance standard 

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1 under subsection (b) or adopts a more stringent 

2 State standard under subparagraph (B) of this 

3 paragraph. 

4 (B) ADOPTION OF MORE STRINGENT STATE

5 STANDARD.—If the Secretary makes a deter6 mination in favor of a State petition under sec7 tion 810, the Secretary shall adopt the more 

8 stringent ballast water performance standard 

9 specified in the statute or regulation that is the 

10 subject of that State petition in lieu of the bal11 last water performance standard in the final rule 

12 described under subparagraph (A). 

13 (2) INITIAL MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR

14 DISCHARGES OTHER THAN BALLAST WATER.—Not 

15 later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 

16 Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Adminis17 trator, shall issue a final rule establishing best man18 agement practices for discharges incidental to the nor19 mal operation of a vessel other than ballast water. 

20 (b) REVISED BALLAST WATER PERFORMANCE STAND21 ARD; 8-YEAR REVIEW.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the feasibility re23 view under paragraph (2), not later than January 1, 

24 2022, the Secretary, in consultation with the Admin25 istrator, shall issue a final rule revising the ballast 

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1 water performance standard under subsection (a)(1) 

2 so that a ballast water discharge incidental to the 

3 normal operation of a vessel will contain— 

4 (A) less than 1 organism that is living or 

5 has not been rendered harmless per 10 cubic me6 ters that is 50 or more micrometers in minimum 

7 dimension; 

8 (B) less than 1 organism that is living or 

9 has not been rendered harmless per 10 milliliters 

10 that is less than 50 micrometers in minimum di11 mension and more than 10 micrometers in min12 imum dimension; 

13 (C) concentrations of indicator microbes 

14 that are less than— 

15 (i) 1 colony-forming unit of toxicogenic 

16 Vibrio cholera (serotypes O1 and O139) per 

17 100 milliliters or less than 1 colony-forming 

18 unit of that microbe per gram of wet weight 

19 of zoological samples; 

20 (ii) 126 colony-forming units of Esch21 erichia coli per 100 milliliters; and 

22 (iii) 33 colony-forming units of intes23 tinal enterococci per 100 milliliters; and 

24 (D) concentrations of such additional indi25 cator microbes and of viruses as may be specified 

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1 in regulations issued by the Secretary in con2 sultation with the Administrator and such other 

3 Federal agencies as the Secretary and the Ad4 ministrator consider appropriate. 

5 (2) FEASIBILITY REVIEW.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 2 years be7 fore January 1, 2022, the Secretary, in consulta8 tion with the Administrator, shall complete a re9 view to determine the feasibility of achieving the 

10 revised ballast water performance standard 

11 under paragraph (1). 

12 (B) CRITERIA FOR REVIEW OF BALLAST

13 WATER PERFORMANCE STANDARD.—In con14 ducting a review under subparagraph (A), the 

15 Secretary shall consider whether revising the bal16 last water performance standard will result in a 

17 scientifically demonstrable and substantial re18 duction in the risk of introduction or establish19 ment of aquatic nuisance species, taking into ac20 count— 

21 (i) improvements in the scientific un22 derstanding of biological and ecological 

23 processes that lead to the introduction or es24 tablishment of aquatic nuisance species; 

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1 (ii) improvements in ballast water 

2 treatment technology, including— 

3 (I) the capability of such treat4 ment technology to achieve a revised 

5 ballast water performance standard; 

6 (II) the effectiveness and reli7 ability of such treatment technology in 

8 the shipboard environment; 

9 (III) the compatibility of such 

10 treatment technology with the design 

11 and operation of a vessel by class, type, 

12 and size; 

13 (IV) the commercial availability 

14 of such treatment technology; and 

15 (V) the safety of such treatment 

16 technology; 

17 (iii) improvements in the capabilities 

18 to detect, quantify, and assess the viability 

19 of aquatic nuisance species at the concentra20 tions under consideration; 

21 (iv) the impact of ballast water treat22 ment technology on water quality; and 

23 (v) the costs, cost-effectiveness, and im24 pacts of— 

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1 (I) a revised ballast water per2 formance standard, including the po3 tential impacts on shipping, trade, and 

4 other uses of the aquatic environment; 

5 and 

6 (II) maintaining the existing bal7 last water performance standard, in8 cluding the potential impacts on 

9 water-related infrastructure, recre10 ation, propagation of native fish, shell11 fish, and wildlife, and other uses of 

12 navigable waters. 

13 (C) LOWER REVISED PERFORMANCE STAND14 ARD.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary, in 

16 consultation with the Administrator, deter17 mines on the basis of the feasibility review 

18 and after an opportunity for a public hear19 ing that no ballast water treatment tech20 nology can be certified under section 806 to 

21 comply with the revised ballast water per22 formance standard under paragraph (1), 

23 the Secretary shall require the use of the 

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1 formance levels of the best treatment tech2 nology available. 

3 (ii) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE.—If 

4 the Secretary, in consultation with the Ad5 ministrator, determines that the treatment 

6 technology under clause (i) cannot be imple7 mented before the implementation deadline 

8 under paragraph (3) with respect to a class 

9 of vessels, the Secretary shall extend the im10 plementation deadline for that class of ves11 sels for not more than 36 months. 

12 (iii) COMPLIANCE.—If the implementa13 tion deadline under paragraph (3) is ex14 tended, the Secretary shall recommend ac15 tion to ensure compliance with the extended 

16 implementation deadline under clause (ii). 

17 (D) HIGHER REVISED PERFORMANCE

18 STANDARD.— 

19 (i) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary, in 

20 consultation with the Administrator, deter21 mines that ballast water treatment tech22 nology exists that exceeds the revised ballast 

23 water performance standard under para24 graph (1) with respect to a class of vessels, 

25 the Secretary shall revise the ballast water 

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1 performance standard for that class of ves2 sels to incorporate the higher performance 

3 standard. 

4 (ii) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE.—If 

5 the Secretary, in consultation with the Ad6 ministrator, determines that the treatment 

7 technology under clause (i) can be imple8 mented before the implementation deadline 

9 under paragraph (3) with respect to a class 

10 of vessels, the Secretary shall accelerate the 

11 implementation deadline for that class of 

12 vessels. If the implementation deadline 

13 under paragraph (3) is accelerated, the Sec14 retary shall provide not less than 24 months 

15 notice before the accelerated deadline takes 

16 effect. 

17 (3) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE.—The revised 

18 ballast water performance standard under paragraph 

19 (1) shall apply to a vessel beginning on the date of 

20 the first drydocking of the vessel on or after January 

21 1, 2022, but not later than December 31, 2024. 

22 (4) REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARD COMPLI23 ANCE DEADLINES.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may es25 tablish a compliance deadline for compliance by 

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1 a vessel (or a class, type, or size of vessel) with 

2 a revised ballast water performance standard 

3 under this subsection. 

4 (B) PROCESS FOR GRANTING EXTEN5 SIONS.—In issuing regulations under this sub6 section, the Secretary shall establish a process for 

7 an owner or operator to submit a petition to the 

8 Secretary for an extension of a compliance dead9 line with respect to the vessel of the owner or op10 erator. 

11 (C) PERIOD OF EXTENSIONS.—An extension 

12 issued under subparagraph (B) may— 

13 (i) apply for a period of not to exceed 

14 18 months from the date of the applicable 

15 deadline under subparagraph (A); and 

16 (ii) be renewable for an additional pe17 riod of not to exceed 18 months. 

18 (D) FACTORS.—In issuing a compliance 

19 deadline or reviewing a petition under this 

20 paragraph, the Secretary shall consider, with re21 spect to the ability of an owner or operator to 

22 meet a compliance deadline, the following fac23 tors: 

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1 (i) Whether the treatment technology to 

2 be installed is available in sufficient quan3 tities to meet the compliance deadline. 

4 (ii) Whether there is sufficient ship5 yard or other installation facility capacity. 

6 (iii) Whether there is sufficient avail7 ability of engineering and design resources. 

8 (iv) Vessel characteristics, such as en9 gine room size, layout, or a lack of installed 

10 piping. 

11 (v) Electric power generating capacity 

12 aboard the vessel. 

13 (vi) Safety of the vessel and crew. 

14 (E) CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS.— 

15 (i) DETERMINATIONS.—The Secretary 

16 shall approve or deny a petition for an ex17 tension of a compliance deadline submitted 

18 by an owner or operator under this para19 graph. 

20 (ii) DEADLINE.—If the Secretary does 

21 not approve or deny a petition referred to 

22 in clause (i) on or before the last day of the 

23 90-day period beginning on the date of sub24 mission of the petition, the petition shall be 

25 deemed approved. 

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1 (c) FUTURE REVISIONS OF VESSEL INCIDENTAL DIS2 CHARGE STANDARDS; DECENNIAL REVIEWS.— 

3 (1) REVISED BALLAST WATER PERFORMANCE

4 STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 

5 Administrator, shall complete a review, 10 years after 

6 the issuance of a final rule under subsection (b) and 

7 every 10 years thereafter, to determine whether fur8 ther revision of the ballast water performance stand9 ard would result in a scientifically demonstrable and 

10 substantial reduction in the risk of the introduction 

11 or establishment of aquatic nuisance species. 

12 (2) REVISED STANDARDS FOR DISCHARGES

13 OTHER THAN BALLAST WATER.—The Secretary, in 

14 consultation with the Administrator, may include in 

15 a decennial review under this subsection best manage16 ment practices for discharges covered by subsection 

17 (a)(2). The Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to 

18 revise 1 or more best management practices for such 

19 discharges after a decennial review if the Secretary, 

20 in consultation with the Administrator, determines 

21 that revising 1 or more of such practices would sub22 stantially reduce the impacts on navigable waters of 

23 discharges incidental to the normal operation of a 

24 vessel other than ballast water. 

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1 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting a review 

2 under paragraph (1), the Secretary, the Adminis3 trator, and the heads of other appropriate Federal 

4 agencies as determined by the Secretary, shall con5 sider the criteria under section 805(b)(2)(B). 

6 (4) REVISION AFTER DECENNIAL REVIEW.—The 

7 Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to revise the 

8 current ballast water performance standard after a 

9 decennial review if the Secretary, in consultation 

10 with the Administrator, determines that revising the 

11 current ballast water performance standard would re12 sult in a scientifically demonstrable and substantial 

13 reduction in the risk of the introduction or establish14 ment of aquatic nuisance species. 

15 (d) GREAT LAKES REQUIREMENTS.—In addition to 

16 the other standards and requirements imposed by this sec17 tion, in the case of a vessel that enters the Great Lakes 

18 through the St. Lawrence River after operating outside the 

19 exclusive economic zone of the United States the Secretary, 

20 in consultation with the Administrator, shall establish a re21 quirement that the vessel conduct saltwater flushing of all 

22 ballast water tanks onboard prior to entry. 

23 SEC. 806. TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION. 

24 (a) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Beginning 1 year 

25 after the date that the requirements for testing protocols are 

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1 issued under subsection (i), no manufacturer of a ballast 

2 water treatment technology shall sell, offer for sale, or intro3 duce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce, 

4 or import into the United States for sale or resale, a ballast 

5 water treatment technology for a vessel unless the treatment 

6 technology has been certified under this section. 

7 (b) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.— 

8 (1) EVALUATION.—Upon application of a manu9 facturer, the Secretary shall evaluate a ballast water 

10 treatment technology with respect to— 

11 (A) the effectiveness of the treatment tech12 nology in achieving the current ballast water 

13 performance standard when installed on a vessel 

14 (or a class, type, or size of vessel); 

15 (B) the compatibility with vessel design and 

16 operations; 

17 (C) the effect of the treatment technology on 

18 vessel safety; 

19 (D) the impact on the environment; 

20 (E) the cost effectiveness; and 

21 (F) any other criteria the Secretary con22 siders appropriate. 

23 (2) APPROVAL.—If after an evaluation under 

24 paragraph (1) the Secretary determines that the treat25 ment technology meets the criteria, the Secretary may 

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1 certify the treatment technology for use on a vessel (or 

2 a class, type, or size of vessel). 

3 (3) SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION.—The Sec4 retary shall establish, by regulation, a process to sus5 pend or revoke a certification issued under this sec6 tion. 

7 (c) CERTIFICATION CONDITIONS.— 

8 (1) IMPOSITION OF CONDITIONS.—In certifying a 

9 ballast water treatment technology under this section, 

10 the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, 

11 may impose any condition on the subsequent installa12 tion, use, or maintenance of the treatment technology 

13 onboard a vessel as is necessary for— 

14 (A) the safety of the vessel, the crew of the 

15 vessel, and any passengers aboard the vessel; 

16 (B) the protection of the environment; or 

17 (C) the effective operation of the treatment 

18 technology. 

19 (2) FAILURE TO COMPLY.—The failure of an 

20 owner or operator to comply with a condition im21 posed under paragraph (1) shall be considered a vio22 lation of this section. 

23 (d) PERIOD FOR USE OF INSTALLED TREATMENT

24 EQUIPMENT.—Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in 

25 this title or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall 

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1 allow a vessel on which a system is installed and operated 

2 to meet a ballast water performance standard under this 

3 title to continue to use that system, notwithstanding any 

4 revision of a ballast water performance standard occurring 

5 after the system is ordered or installed until the expiration 

6 of the service life of the system, as determined by the Sec7 retary, so long as the system— 

8 (1) is maintained in proper working condition; 

9 and 

10 (2) is maintained and used in accordance with 

11 the manufacturer’s specifications and any treatment 

12 technology certification conditions imposed by the 

13 Secretary under this section. 

14 (e) CERTIFICATES OF TYPE APPROVAL FOR THE

15 TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY.— 

16 (1) ISSUANCE.—If the Secretary approves a bal17 last water treatment technology for certification under 

18 subsection (b), the Secretary shall issue a certificate 

19 of type approval for the treatment technology to the 

20 manufacturer in such form and manner as the Sec21 retary determines appropriate. 

22 (2) CERTIFICATION CONDITIONS.—A certificate 

23 of type approval issued under paragraph (1) shall 

24 specify each condition imposed by the Secretary 

25 under subsection (c). 

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1 (3) OWNERS AND OPERATORS.—A manufacturer 

2 that receives a certificate of type approval for the 

3 treatment technology under this subsection shall pro4 vide a copy of the certificate to each owner and oper5 ator of a vessel on which the treatment technology is 

6 installed. 

7 (f) INSPECTIONS.—An owner or operator who receives 

8 a copy of a certificate under subsection (e)(3) shall retain 

9 a copy of the certificate onboard the vessel and make the 

10 copy of the certificate available for inspection at all times 

11 while the owner or operator is utilizing the treatment tech12 nology. 

13 (g) BIOCIDES.—The Secretary may not approve a bal14 last water treatment technology under subsection (b) if— 

15 (1) it uses a biocide or generates a biocide that 

16 is a pesticide, as defined in section 2 of the Federal 

17 Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 

18 136), unless the biocide is registered under that Act 

19 or the Secretary, in consultation with Administrator, 

20 has approved the use of the biocide in such treatment 

21 technology; or 

22 (2) it uses or generates a biocide the discharge of 

23 which causes or contributes to a violation of a water 

24 quality standard under section 303 of the Federal 

25 Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313). 

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1 (h) PROHIBITION.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para3 graph (2), the use of a ballast water treatment tech4 nology by an owner or operator of a vessel shall not 

5 satisfy the requirements of this title unless it has been 

6 approved by the Secretary under subsection (b). 

7 (2) EXCEPTIONS.— 

8 (A) COAST GUARD SHIPBOARD TECHNOLOGY

9 EVALUATION PROGRAM.—An owner or operator 

10 may use a ballast water treatment technology 

11 that has not been certified by the Secretary to 

12 comply with the requirements of this section if 

13 the technology is being evaluated under the Coast 

14 Guard Shipboard Technology Evaluation Pro15 gram. 

16 (B) BALLAST WATER TREATMENT TECH17 NOLOGIES CERTIFIED BY FOREIGN ENTITIES.— 

18 An owner or operator may use a ballast water 

19 treatment technology that has not been certified 

20 by the Secretary to comply with the requirements 

21 of this section if the technology has been certified 

22 by a foreign entity and the certification dem23 onstrates performance and safety of the treat24 ment technology equivalent to the requirements of 

25 this section, as determined by the Secretary. 

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1 (i) TESTING PROTOCOLS.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, 

3 in consultation with the Secretary, shall issue requirements 

4 for land-based and shipboard testing protocols or criteria 

5 for— 

6 (1) certifying the performance of each ballast 

7 water treatment technology under this section; and 

8 (2) certifying laboratories to evaluate such treat9 ment technologies. 

10 SEC. 807. EXEMPTIONS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—No permit shall be required or pro12 hibition enforced under any other provision of law for, nor 

13 shall any standards regarding a discharge incidental to the 

14 normal operation of a vessel under this title apply to— 

15 (1) a discharge incidental to the normal oper16 ation of a vessel if the vessel is less than 79 feet in 

17 length and engaged in commercial service (as defined 

18 in section 2101(5) of title 46, United States Code); 

19 (2) a discharge incidental to the normal oper20 ation of a vessel if the vessel is a fishing vessel, in21 cluding a fish processing vessel and a fish tender ves22 sel, (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United 

23 States Code); 

24 (3) a discharge incidental to the normal oper25 ation of a vessel if the vessel is a recreational vessel 

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1 (as defined in section 2101(25) of title 46, United 

2 States Code); 

3 (4) the placement, release, or discharge of equip4 ment, devices, or other material from a vessel for the 

5 sole purpose of conducting research on the aquatic en6 vironment or its natural resources in accordance with 

7 generally recognized scientific methods, principles, or 

8 techniques; 

9 (5) any discharge into navigable waters from a 

10 vessel authorized by an on-scene coordinator in ac11 cordance with part 300 of title 40, Code of Federal 

12 Regulations, or part 153 of title 33, Code of Federal 

13 Regulations; 

14 (6) any discharge into navigable waters from a 

15 vessel that is necessary to secure the safety of the ves16 sel or human life, or to suppress a fire onboard the 

17 vessel or at a shoreside facility; or 

18 (7) a vessel of the armed forces of a foreign na19 tion when engaged in noncommercial service. 

20 (b) BALLAST WATER DISCHARGES.—No permit shall 

21 be required or prohibition enforced under any other provi22 sion of law for, nor shall any ballast water performance 

23 standards under this title apply to— 

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1 (1) a ballast water discharge incidental to the 

2 normal operation of a vessel determined by the Sec3 retary to— 

4 (A) operate exclusively within a geographi5 cally limited area; 

6 (B) take up and discharge ballast water ex7 clusively within 1 Captain of the Port Zone es8 tablished by the Coast Guard unless the Sec9 retary determines such discharge poses a sub10 stantial risk of introduction or establishment of 

11 an aquatic nuisance species; 

12 (C) operate pursuant to a geographic re13 striction issued as a condition under section 

14 3309 of title 46, United States Code, or an 

15 equivalent restriction issued by the country of 

16 registration of the vessel; or 

17 (D) continuously take on and discharge bal18 last water in a flow-through system that does not 

19 introduce aquatic nuisance species into navi20 gable waters; 

21 (2) a ballast water discharge incidental to the 

22 normal operation of a vessel consisting entirely of 

23 water suitable for human consumption; or 

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1 (3) a ballast water discharge incidental to the 

2 normal operation of a vessel in an alternative compli3 ance program established pursuant to section 808. 

4 (c) VESSELS WITH PERMANENT BALLAST WATER.— 

5 No permit shall be required or prohibition enforced under 

6 any other provision of law for, nor shall any ballast water 

7 performance standard under this title apply to, a vessel that 

8 carries all of its permanent ballast water in sealed tanks 

9 that are not subject to discharge. 

10 (d) VESSELS OF THE ARMED FORCES.—Nothing in 

11 this title shall be construed to apply to a vessel as follows: 

12 (1) A vessel owned or operated by the Depart13 ment of Defense (other than a time-chartered or voy14 age-chartered vessel). 

15 (2) A vessel of the Coast Guard, as designated by 

16 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

17 Guard is operating. 

18 SEC. 808. ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with 

20 the Administrator, may promulgate regulations estab21 lishing 1 or more compliance programs as an alternative 

22 to ballast water management regulations issued under sec23 tion 805 for a vessel that— 

24 (1) has a maximum ballast water capacity of 

25 less than 8 cubic meters; 

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1 (2) is less than 3 years from the end of the useful 

2 life of the vessel, as determined by the Secretary; or 

3 (3) discharges ballast water into a facility for 

4 the reception of ballast water that meets standards 

5 promulgated by the Administrator, in consultation 

6 with the Secretary. 

7 (b) PROMULGATION OF FACILITY STANDARDS.—Not 

8 later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 

9 the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, shall 

10 promulgate standards for— 

11 (1) the reception of ballast water from a vessel 

12 into a reception facility; and 

13 (2) the disposal or treatment of the ballast water 

14 under paragraph (1). 

15 SEC. 809. JUDICIAL REVIEW. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—An interested person may file a pe17 tition for review of a final regulation promulgated under 

18 this title in the United States Court of Appeals for the Dis19 trict of Columbia Circuit. 

20 (b) DEADLINE.—A petition shall be filed not later than 

21 120 days after the date that notice of the promulgation ap22 pears in the Federal Register. 

23 (c) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding subsection (b), a 

24 petition that is based solely on grounds that arise after the 

25 deadline to file a petition under subsection (b) has passed 

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1 may be filed not later than 120 days after the date that 

2 the grounds first arise. 

3 SEC. 810. EFFECT ON STATE AUTHORITY. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—No State or political subdivision 

5 thereof may adopt or enforce any statute or regulation of 

6 the State or political subdivision with respect to a discharge 

7 incidental to the normal operation of a vessel after the date 

8 of enactment of this Act. 

9 (b) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Notwithstanding subsection 

10 (a), a State or political subdivision thereof may adopt or 

11 enforce a statute or regulation of the State or political sub12 division with respect to ballast water discharges incidental 

13 to the normal operation of a vessel that specifies a ballast 

14 water performance standard that is more stringent than the 

15 ballast water performance standard under section 

16 805(a)(1)(A) if the Secretary, after consultation with the 

17 Administrator and any other Federal department or agency 

18 the Secretary considers appropriate, makes a determination 

19 that— 

20 (1) compliance with any performance standard 

21 specified in the statute or regulation can in fact be 

22 achieved and detected; 

23 (2) the technology and systems necessary to com24 ply with the statute or regulation are commercially 

25 available; and 

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1 (3) the statute or regulation is consistent with 

2 obligations under relevant international treaties or 

3 agreements to which the United States is a party. 

4 (c) PETITION PROCESS.— 

5 (1) SUBMISSION.—The Governor of a State seek6 ing to adopt or enforce a statute or regulation under 

7 subsection (b) shall submit a petition to the Secretary 

8 requesting the Secretary to review the statute or regu9 lation. 

10 (2) CONTENTS; TIMING.—A petition shall be ac11 companied by the scientific and technical information 

12 on which the petition is based, and may be submitted 

13 within 1 year of the date of enactment of this Act and 

14 every 10 years thereafter. 

15 (3) DETERMINATIONS.—The Secretary shall 

16 make a determination on a petition under this sub17 section not later than 90 days after the date that the 

18 petition is received. 

19 SEC. 811. APPLICATION WITH OTHER STATUTES. 

20 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this title 

21 shall be the exclusive statutory authority for regulation by 

22 the Federal Government of discharges incidental to the nor23 mal operation of a vessel to which this title applies. Except 

24 as provided under section 805(a)(1)(A), any regulation in 

25 effect on the date immediately preceding the effective date 

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1 of this Act relating to any permitting requirement for or 

2 prohibition on discharges incidental to the normal oper3 ation of a vessel to which this title applies shall be deemed 

4 to be a regulation issued pursuant to the authority of this 

5 title and shall remain in full force and effect unless or until 

6 superseded by new regulations issued hereunder. 

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Calendar No. 302 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1611 

[Report No. 114–168] 

A BILL 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard 

purposes. for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for other 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015 

Reported with an amendment 

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