H. R. 2838—31 
‘‘§ 50307. Maritime environmental and technical assistance 
program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation may engage 
in the environmental study, research, development, assessment, 
and deployment of emerging marine technologies and practices 
related to the marine transportation system through the use of 
public vessels under the control of the Maritime Administration 
or private vessels under United States registry, and through part-
nerships and cooperative efforts with academic, public, private, 
and nongovernmental entities and facilities. 
‘‘(b) COMPONENTS.—Under this section, the Secretary of 
Transportation may— 
‘‘(1) identify, study, evaluate, test, demonstrate, or improve 
emerging marine technologies and practices that are likely 
to achieve environmental improvements by— 
‘‘(A) reducing air emissions, water emissions, or other 
ship discharges; 
‘‘(B) increasing fuel economy or the use of alternative 
fuels and alternative energy (including the use of shore 
power); or 
‘‘(C) controlling aquatic invasive species; and 
‘‘(2) coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the Coast Guard, and other Federal, State, local, or tribal 
agencies, as appropriate. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—Coordination under subsection (b)(2) may 
include— 
‘‘(1) activities that are associated with the development 
or approval of validation and testing regimes; and 
‘‘(2) certification or validation of emerging technologies or 
practices that demonstrate significant environmental benefits. 
‘‘(d) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Transportation may accept 
gifts, or enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agree-
ments with academic, public, private, and nongovernmental entities 
and facilities to carry out the activities authorized under subsection 
(a).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 503 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 50306 the following: 
‘‘50307. Maritime environmental and technical assistance program.’’. 
SEC. 404. PROPERTY FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES. 
Section 51103(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘SURPLUS’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may cooperate with and 
assist the institutions named in paragraph (2) by making ves-
sels, fuel, shipboard equipment, and other marine equipment, 
owned by the United States Government and determined by 
the entity having custody and control of such property to be 
excess or surplus, available to those institutions for instruc-
tional purposes, by gift, loan, sale, lease, or charter on terms 
and conditions the Secretary considers appropriate. The consent 
of the Secretary of the Navy shall be obtained with respect 
to any property from National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels, 
if such vessels are either Ready Reserve Force vessels or other 
National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels determined to be of
H. R. 2838—32 
sufficient value to the Navy to warrant their further preserva-
tion and retention.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ‘‘or a training institu-
tion that is an instrumentality of a State, the District of 
Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or 
a unit of local government thereof’’ after ‘‘a nonprofit training 
institution’’. 
SEC. 405. SHORT SEA TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 55601 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘landside congestion.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘landside congestion or to promote short sea transpor-
tation.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘coastal corridors’’ and 
inserting ‘‘coastal corridors or to promote short sea transpor-
tation’’; 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘that the project may’’ 
and all that follows through the end of the subsection and 
inserting ‘‘that the project uses documented vessels and— 
‘‘(1) mitigates landside congestion; or 
‘‘(2) promotes short sea transportation.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘shall’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘may’’. 
(b) DOCUMENTATION.—Section 55605 is amended in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘by vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘by 
a documented vessel’’. 
SEC. 406. LIMITATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET VES-
SELS TO THOSE OVER 1,500 GROSS TONS. 
Section 57101(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘of 1,500 gross tons or more or such other vessels 
as the Secretary of Transportation determines are appropriate’’ 
after ‘‘Administration’’. 
SEC. 407. TRANSFER OF VESSELS TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE 
RESERVE FLEET. 
Section 57101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF FEDERAL ENTITIES TO TRANSFER VESSELS.— 
All Federal entities are authorized to transfer vessels to the 
National Defense Reserve Fleet without reimbursement subject to 
the approval of the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary 
of the Navy with respect to Ready Reserve Force vessels and the 
Secretary of Transportation with respect to all other vessels.’’. 
SEC. 408. CLARIFICATION OF HEADING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The section designation and heading for sec-
tion 57103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘§ 57103. Donation of nonretention vessels in the National 
Defense Reserve Fleet’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 571 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 57103 and inserting the following: 
‘‘57103. Donation of nonretention vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet.’’.
H. R. 2838—33 
SEC. 409. MISSION OF THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 109(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading by striking ‘‘ORGANIZATION’’ 
and inserting ‘‘ORGANIZATION AND MISSION’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The mission of 
the Maritime Administration is to foster, promote, and develop 
the merchant maritime industry of the United States.’’. 
SEC. 410. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE 
RESERVE FLEET. 
Subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of section 11(c)(1) of the Mer-
chant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (50 U.S.C. App. 1744(c)(1)) are 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) activate and conduct sea trials on each vessel 
at a frequency that is considered by the Secretary to be 
necessary; 
‘‘(C) maintain and adequately crew, as necessary, in 
an enhanced readiness status those vessels that are sched-
uled to be activated in 5 or less days; 
‘‘(D) locate those vessels that are scheduled to be acti-
vated near embarkation ports specified for those vessels; 
and’’. 
SEC. 411. REQUIREMENT FOR BARGE DESIGN. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall com-
plete the design for a containerized, articulated barge, as identified 
in the dual-use vessel study carried out by the Administrator and 
the Secretary of Defense, that is able to utilize roll-on/roll-off or 
load-on/load-off technology in marine highway maritime commerce. 
SEC. 412. CONTAINER-ON-BARGE TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator of the Maritime Adminis-
tration shall assess the potential for using container-on-barge 
transportation in short sea transportation (as such term is defined 
in section 55605 of title 46, United States Code). 
(b) FACTORS.—In conducting the assessment under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) the environmental benefits of increasing container-on- 
barge movements in short sea transportation; 
(2) the regional differences in the use of short sea transpor-
tation; 
(3) the existing programs established at coastal and Great 
Lakes ports for establishing awareness of deep sea shipping 
operations; 
(4) the mechanisms necessary to ensure that implementa-
tion of a plan under subsection (c) will not be inconsistent 
with antitrust laws; and 
(5) the potential frequency of container-on-barge service 
at short sea transportation ports. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The assessment under subsection (a) 
may include recommendations for a plan to increase awareness 
of the potential for use of container-on-barge transportation. 
(d) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit the assessment 
required under this section to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
H. R. 2838—34 
SEC. 413. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PORTS 
STUDY 
AND 
COMPTROLLER 
GENERAL 
STUDIES 
AND 
REPORTS ON STRATEGIC PORTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON COMPLETION OF DOD REPORT.— 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should 
expedite completion of the study of strategic ports in the United 
States called for in the conference report to accompany the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Conference Report 
112–329) so that it can be submitted to Congress before July 1, 
2013. 
(b) SUBMISSION
OF REPORT
TO COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—In 
addition to submitting the report referred to in subsection (a) to 
Congress, the Secretary of Defense shall submit the report to the 
Comptroller General of the United States for consideration under 
subsection (c). 
(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDIES AND REPORTS ON STRA-
TEGIC PORTS.— 
(1) COMPTROLLER
GENERAL
REVIEW.—Not later than 90 
days after receipt of the report referred to in subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General shall conduct an assessment of the 
report and submit to the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate a report of such assessment. 
(2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later 
than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the Department 
of Defense’s programs and efforts related to the state of stra-
tegic ports with respect to the Department’s operational and 
readiness requirements, and report to the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the Senate on the findings of such study. 
The report may include an assessment of— 
(A) the extent to which the facilities at strategic ports 
meet the Department of Defense’s requirements; 
(B) the extent to which the Department has identified 
gaps in the ability of existing strategic ports to meet its 
needs and identified and undertaken efforts to address 
any gaps; and 
(C) the Department’s ability to oversee, coordinate, 
and provide security for military deployments through stra-
tegic ports. 
(d) STRATEGIC PORT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘stra-
tegic port’’ means a United States port designated by the Secretary 
of Defense as a significant transportation hub important to the 
readiness and cargo throughput capacity of the Department of 
Defense. 
SEC. 414. MARITIME WORKFORCE STUDY. 
(a) TRAINING STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on the training needs of the maritime 
workforce. 
(b) STUDY COMPONENTS.—The study shall— 
(1) analyze the impact of maritime training requirements 
imposed by domestic and international regulations and conven-
tions, companies, and government agencies that charter or 
operate vessels;
H. R. 2838—35 
(2) evaluate the ability of the United States maritime 
training infrastructure to meet the needs of the maritime 
industry; 
(3) identify trends in maritime training; 
(4) compare the training needs of United States mariners 
with the vocational training and educational assistance pro-
grams available from Federal agencies to evaluate the ability 
of Federal programs to meet the training needs of United 
States mariners; 
(5) include recommendations to enhance the capabilities 
of the United States maritime training infrastructure; and 
(6) include recommendations to assist United States mari-
ners and those entering the maritime profession to achieve 
the required training. 
(c) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a 
report on the results of the study to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 415. MARITIME ADMINISTRATION VESSEL RECYCLING CONTRACT 
AWARD PRACTICES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct an assessment of the source selection procedures 
and practices used to award the Maritime Administration’s National 
Defense Reserve Fleet vessel recycling contracts. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall 
include a review of— 
(1) whether the Maritime Administration’s contract source 
selection procedures and practices are consistent with law, 
including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Federal best 
practices associated with making source selection decisions; 
(2) the process, procedures, and practices used for the Mari-
time Administration’s qualification of vessel recycling facilities; 
and 
(3) any other aspect of the Maritime Administration’s vessel 
recycling process that the Comptroller General deems appro-
priate to review. 
(c) FINDINGS.—Not later than one year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report the findings 
of the assessment under subsection (a) to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives. 
TITLE V—PIRACY 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Piracy Suppression Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 502. TRAINING FOR USE OF FORCE AGAINST PIRACY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 517 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2838—36 
‘‘§ 51705. Training for use of force against piracy 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Defense and the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating, shall certify a training curriculum 
for United States mariners on the use of force against pirates. 
The curriculum shall include— 
‘‘(1) information on waters designated as high-risk waters 
by the Commandant of the Coast Guard; 
‘‘(2) information on current threats and patterns of attack 
by pirates; 
‘‘(3) tactics for defense of a vessel, including instruction 
on the types, use, and limitations of security equipment; 
‘‘(4) standard rules for the use of force for self-defense 
as developed by the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating under section 912(c) of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 46 
U.S.C. 8107 note), including instruction on firearm safety for 
crewmembers of vessels carrying cargo under section 55305 
of this title; and 
‘‘(5) procedures to follow to improve crewmember surviv-
ability if captured and taken hostage by pirates.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Transportation shall certify 
the curriculum required under the amendment made by subsection 
(a) not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 517 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘51705. Training program for use of force against piracy.’’. 
SEC. 503. SECURITY OF GOVERNMENT-IMPELLED CARGO. 
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) SECURITY OF GOVERNMENT-IMPELLED CARGO.— 
‘‘(1) In order to ensure the safety of vessels and crew-
members transporting equipment, materials, or commodities 
under this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall direct 
each department or agency (except the Department of Defense), 
when responsible for the carriage of such equipment, materials, 
or commodities, to provide armed personnel aboard vessels 
of the United States carrying such equipment, materials, or 
commodities if the vessels are transiting high-risk waters. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Transportation shall direct each 
department or agency responsible to provide armed personnel 
under paragraph (1) to reimburse, subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the owners or operators of applicable vessels 
for the cost of providing armed personnel. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk waters’ means 
waters so designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
in the Port Security Advisory in effect on the date on which 
an applicable voyage begins.’’. 
SEC. 504. ACTIONS TAKEN TO PROTECT FOREIGN-FLAGGED VESSELS 
FROM PIRACY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall
H. R. 2838—37 
provide to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on actions taken by the Secretary of Defense to protect foreign- 
flagged vessels from acts of piracy on the high seas. The report 
shall include— 
(1) the total number of incidents for each of the fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012 in which a member of the armed 
services or an asset under the control of the Secretary of 
Defense was used to interdict or defend against an act of 
piracy directed against any vessel not documented under the 
laws of the United States; and 
(2) the estimated cost for each of the fiscal years 2009 
through 2012 for such incidents. 
TITLE VI—MARINE DEBRIS 
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Marine Debris Act Amendments 
of 2012’’. 
SEC. 602. SHORT TITLE AMENDMENT; REFERENCES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE AMENDMENT.—Section 1 of the Marine Debris 
Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 1951 note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Research, Prevention, and Reduction’’. 
(b) REFERENCES.—Except as otherwise expressly provided, 
whenever in this title an amendment is expressed as an amendment 
to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
to be made to a section or other provision of the Marine Debris 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.), as so retitled by subsection (a) of 
this section. 
SEC. 603. PURPOSE. 
Section 2 (33 U.S.C. 1951) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
‘‘The purpose of this Act is to address the adverse impacts 
of marine debris on the United States economy, the marine environ-
ment, and navigation safety through the identification, determina-
tion of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal 
of marine debris.’’. 
SEC. 604. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. 
(a) NAME
OF
PROGRAM.—Section 3 (33 U.S.C. 1952) is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘PREVENTION AND 
REMOVAL’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Prevention and Removal Program to 
reduce and prevent the occurrence and’’ and inserting ‘‘Pro-
gram to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, 
reduce, and remove marine debris and address the’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘the economy of the United States,’’ 
after ‘‘marine debris on’’; and 
(C) by inserting a comma after ‘‘environment’’.
H. R. 2838—38 
(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—Section 3(b) (33 U.S.C. 1952(b)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) 
PROGRAM
COMPONENTS.—The 
Administrator, 
acting 
through the Program and subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, shall— 
‘‘(1) identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, 
and remove marine debris, with a focus on marine debris posing 
a threat to living marine resources and navigation safety; 
‘‘(2) provide national and regional coordination to assist 
States, Indian tribes, and regional organizations in the identi-
fication, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, 
reduction, and removal of marine debris; 
‘‘(3) undertake efforts to reduce the adverse impacts of 
lost and discarded fishing gear on living marine resources and 
navigation safety, including— 
‘‘(A) research and development of alternatives to gear 
posing threats to the marine environment and methods 
for marking gear used in certain fisheries to enhance the 
tracking, recovery, and identification of lost and discarded 
gear; and 
‘‘(B) the development of effective nonregulatory meas-
ures and incentives to cooperatively reduce the volume 
of lost and discarded fishing gear and to aid in gear 
recovery; 
‘‘(4) undertake outreach and education activities for the 
public and other stakeholders on sources of marine debris, 
threats associated with marine debris, and approaches to identi-
fying, determining sources of, assessing, preventing, reducing, 
and removing marine debris and its adverse impacts on the 
United States economy, the marine environment, and naviga-
tion safety, including outreach and education activities through 
public-private initiatives; and 
‘‘(5) develop, in consultation with the Interagency Com-
mittee, interagency plans for the timely response to events 
determined by the Administrator to be severe marine debris 
events, including plans to— 
‘‘(A) coordinate across agencies and with relevant State, 
tribal, and local governments to ensure adequate, timely, 
and efficient response; 
‘‘(B) assess the composition, volume, and trajectory 
of marine debris associated with a severe marine debris 
event; and 
‘‘(C) estimate the potential impacts of a severe marine 
debris event, including economic impacts on human health, 
navigation safety, natural resources, tourism, and livestock, 
including aquaculture.’’. 
(c) GRANT CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES.—Section 3(c) (33 U.S.C. 
1952(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘section 2(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 2’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (5); and 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs 
(5) and (6), respectively. 
(d) REPEAL.—Section 2204 of the Marine Plastic Pollution 
Research and Control Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1915), and the item 
relating to that section in the table of contents contained in section
H. R. 2838—39 
2 of the United States-Japan Fishery Agreement Approval Act 
of 1987, are repealed. 
SEC. 605. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS. 
Section 4 (33 U.S.C. 1953) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) STRATEGY.—’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (b) and (c). 
SEC. 606. COORDINATION. 
(a) INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2203 of the Marine Plastic Pollu-
tion Research and Control Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1914) is 
redesignated and moved to replace and appear as section 5 
of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954), as so retitled by 
section 602(a) of this title. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 5 of the Marine 
Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954), as amended by paragraph (1) 
of this subsection, is further amended in subsection (d)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘the Marine 
Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘of the Marine Plastic Pollution 
Research and Control Act of 1987’’ after ‘‘section 2201’’. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The item relating to section 
2203 in the table of contents contained in section 2 of the 
United States-Japan Fishery Agreement Approval Act of 1987 
is repealed. 
(b) BIENNIAL PROGRESS REPORTS.—Section 5(c)(2) of the Marine 
Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 
1954(c)(2)), as in effect immediately before the enactment of this 
Act— 
(1) is redesignated and moved to appear as subsection 
(e) at the end of section 5 of the Marine Debris Act, as amended 
by subsection (a) of this section; and 
(2) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS.—’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘thereafter’’ and inserting 
‘‘BIENNIAL PROGRESS REPORTS.—Biennially’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Interagency’’ each place it appears; 
(C) by striking ‘‘chairperson’’ and inserting ‘‘Chair-
person’’; 
(D) by inserting ‘‘Natural’’ before ‘‘Resources’’; 
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) 
as paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively; and 
(F) by moving all text 2 ems to the left. 
SEC. 607. CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUBMITTED INFORMATION. 
Section 6(2) (33 U.S.C. 1955(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘by 
the fishing industry’’. 
SEC. 608. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 7 (33 U.S.C. 1956) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2203 of the Marine Plastic 
Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1914)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘5 of this Act’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) MARINE DEBRIS.—The term ‘marine debris’ means any 
persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed
H. R. 2838—40 
and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, dis-
posed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the 
Great Lakes.’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (5); 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (5); 
(5) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph (4) 
of this section, by striking ‘‘Prevention and Removal’’; 
(6) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(6) SEVERE
MARINE
DEBRIS
EVENT.—The term ‘severe 
marine debris event’ means atypically large amounts of marine 
debris caused by a natural disaster, including a tsunami, flood, 
landslide, or hurricane, or other source.’’; and 
(7) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (7). 
SEC. 609. SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENT DETERMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration shall determine whether the 
March 2011, Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami and the 
October 2012, hurricane Sandy each caused a severe marine debris 
event (as that term is defined in section 7(6) of the Marine Debris 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1956(6)), as amended by this Act). 
(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide the determination 
required under subsection (a) to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives. 
TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 701. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 
Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 
Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 547) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) LICENSING RESTRICTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) only applies to a foreign 
citizen who holds a credential that is equivalent to the creden-
tial issued by the Coast Guard to a United States citizen 
for the position, with respect to requirements for experience, 
training, and other qualifications. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF CREDENTIAL.—An equivalent credential 
under paragraph (1) shall be considered as meeting the require-
ments of section 8304 of title 46, United States Code, but 
only while a person holding the credential is in the service 
of the vessel to which this section applies.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘or Guam’’ before the 
period at the end; and 
(3) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘on December 31, 2012’’ 
and inserting ‘‘on the date the Treaty on Fisheries Between 
the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the 
Government of the United States of America ceases to have 
effect for any party under Article 12.6 or 12.7 of such treaty, 
as in effect on the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012’’.
H. R. 2838—41 
SEC. 702. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) STUDY
OF BRIDGES.—Section 905 of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 33 U.S.C. 494a) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 905. STUDY OF BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS. 
‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a comprehensive study on the construction 
or alteration of any bridge, drawbridge, or causeway over the navi-
gable waters of the United States with a channel depth of 25 
feet or greater that may impede or obstruct future navigation 
to or from port facilities and for which a permit under the Act 
of March 23, 1906 (33 U.S.C. 491 et seq.), popularly known as 
the Bridge Act of 1906, was requested during the period beginning 
on January 1, 2006, and ending on August 3, 2011.’’. 
(b) WAIVER.—Section 7(c) of the America’s Cup Act of 2011 
(125 Stat. 755) is amended by inserting ‘‘located in Ketchikan, 
Alaska’’ after ‘‘moorage’’. 
SEC. 703. EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM. 
Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2013’’ and inserting ‘‘2014’’. 
SEC. 704. NOTICE OF ARRIVAL. 
The regulations required under section 109(a) of the Security 
and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 1223 
note) dealing with notice of arrival requirements for foreign vessels 
on the Outer Continental Shelf shall not apply to a vessel docu-
mented under section 12105 of title 46, United States Code, unless 
the vessel arrives from a foreign port or place. 
SEC. 705. WAIVERS. 
(a) TEXAS STAR CASINO.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 12113(a)(4) of 
title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate 
of documentation with a fishery endorsement for the Texas 
Star Casino (IMO number 7722047). 
(2) RESTRICTION.—Notwithstanding section 12113(b)(1) of 
title 46, United States Code, a fishery endorsement issued 
under paragraph (1) is not valid for any fishery for which 
a fishery management plan has been approved by the Secretary 
of Commerce pursuant to section 304 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1854) 
before the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) RANGER III.—Section 3703a of title 46, United States Code, 
does not apply to the passenger vessel Ranger III (United States 
official number 277361), during any period that the vessel is owned 
and operated by the National Park Service. 
SEC. 706. NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER NOTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, estab-
lished pursuant to the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact 
consented to and approved by Congress in the Act of July 11, 
1940 (54 Stat. 752), is deemed a Government agency for purposes
H. R. 2838—42 
of the notification requirements of section 103 of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
(42 U.S.C. 9603). The National Response Center shall convey 
notification, including complete and unredacted incident reports, 
expeditiously to the Commission regarding each release in or 
affecting the Ohio River Basin for which notification to all appro-
priate Government agencies is required. 
SEC. 707. VESSEL DETERMINATIONS. 
The vessel with United States official number 981472 and 
the vessel with United States official number 988333 shall each 
be deemed to be a new vessel effective on the date of delivery 
after January 1, 2008, from a privately owned United States ship-
yard if no encumbrances are on record with the Coast Guard at 
the time of the issuance of the new vessel certificate of documenta-
tion for each vessel. 
SEC. 708. MILLE LACS LAKE, MINNESOTA. 
The waters of Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, are not waters 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States for the purposes 
of section 2 of title 14, United States Code. 
SEC. 709. TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL 
PROCESS REFORM. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall reform the process 
for Transportation Worker Identification Credential enrollment, 
activation, issuance, and renewal to require, in total, not more 
than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center except 
in cases in which there are extenuating circumstances, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, requiring more than one such in-person 
visit. 
SEC. 710. INVESTMENT AMOUNT. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall increase the $22,500,000 
invested in income-producing securities for purposes of section 
5006(b) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2736(b)) by 
$12,851,340. 
SEC. 711. INTEGRATED CROSS-BORDER MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT 
OPERATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, 
acting through the Commandant of the Coast Guard, may establish 
an Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations 
Program to coordinate the maritime security operations of the 
United States and Canada (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Secretary, acting through the Commandant, 
shall administer the Program in a manner that results in a coopera-
tive approach between the United States and Canada to strengthen 
border security and detect, prevent, suppress, investigate, and 
respond to terrorism and violations of law related to border security. 
(c) TRAINING.—The Secretary, acting through the Commandant 
and in consultation with the Secretary of State, may— 
(1) establish, as an element of the Program, a training 
program for individuals who will serve as maritime law enforce-
ment officers; and
H. R. 2838—43 
(2) conduct training jointly with Canada to enhance border 
security, including training— 
(A) on the detection and apprehension of suspected 
terrorists and individuals attempting to unlawfully cross 
or unlawfully use the international maritime border 
between the United States and Canada; 
(B) on the integration, analysis, and dissemination of 
port security information by and between the United States 
and Canada; 
(C) on policy, regulatory, and legal considerations 
related to the Program; 
(D) on the use of force in maritime security; 
(E) on operational procedures and protection of sen-
sitive information; and 
(F) on preparedness and response to maritime terrorist 
incidents. 
(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary, acting through the Com-
mandant, shall coordinate the Program with other similar border 
security and antiterrorism programs within the Department of 
Homeland Security. 
(e) MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT.—The Secretary may enter into 
any memorandum of agreement necessary to carry out the Program. 
SEC. 712. BRIDGE PERMITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of reviewing a permit 
application pursuant to section 9 of the Act of March 3, 1899, 
popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act 
of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401), the Act of March 23, 1906, popularly 
known as the Bridge Act of 1906 (33 U.S.C. 491 et seq.), the 
Act of June 21, 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act 
(33 U.S.C. 511 et seq.), or the General Bridge Act of 1946 (33 
U.S.C. 525 et seq.), the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating may— 
(1) accept voluntary services from one or more owners 
of a bridge; and 
(2) accept and credit to Coast Guard operating expenses 
any amounts received from one or more owners of a bridge. 
(b) EXPEDITED PROCESS.—The Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall complete, on an expedi-
tious basis and using the shortest existing applicable process, deter-
minations on any required approval for issuance of any permits 
under the jurisdiction of such department related to the construction 
or alteration of a bridge over the Kill Van Kull consistent with 
Executive Order No. 13604 (March 22, 2012) and the Administra-
tion’s objectives for the project. 
SEC. 713. TONNAGE OF AQUEOS ACADIAN. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may consider the tonnage measurements for the vessel 
Aqueos Acadian (United States official number 553645) recorded 
on the certificate of inspection for the vessel issued on September 
8, 2011, to be valid until May 2, 2014, if the vessel and the 
use of its space is not changed after November 16, 2012, in a 
way that substantially affects the tonnage of the vessel. 
SEC. 714. NAVIGABILITY DETERMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
H. R. 2838—44 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the 
impact of additional regulatory requirements imposed on passenger 
vessels operating on the Ringo Cocke Canal in Louisiana as a 
result of the covered navigability determination. 
(b) RESTRICTION.—Before the date that is 180 days after the 
date on which the assessment required under subsection (a) is 
submitted, the Commandant may not enforce any regulatory 
requirements imposed on passenger vessels operating on the Ringo 
Cocke Canal in Louisiana that are a result of the covered naviga-
bility determination. 
(c) COVERED NAVIGABILITY DETERMINATION DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered navigability determination’’ means the 
Coast Guard’s Navigability Determination for Ringo Cocke Canal, 
Louisiana, dated March 25, 2010. 
SEC. 715. COAST GUARD HOUSING. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives the Coast Guard’s National Housing 
Assessment and any analysis conducted by the Coast Guard of 
such assessment. 
SEC. 716. ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL COAST GUARD 
PRESENCE IN HIGH-LATITUDE REGIONS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an assess-
ment of the need for additional Coast Guard prevention and 
response capability in the high-latitude regions. The assessment 
shall address needs for all Coast Guard mission areas, including 
search and rescue, marine pollution response and prevention, fish-
eries enforcement, and maritime commerce. The Secretary shall 
include in the assessment— 
(1) an analysis of the high-latitude operating capabilities 
of all current Coast Guard assets other than icebreakers, 
including assets acquired under the Deepwater program; 
(2) an analysis of projected needs for Coast Guard oper-
ations in the high-latitude regions; and 
(3) an analysis of shore infrastructure, personnel, logistics, 
communications, and resources requirements to support Coast 
Guard operations in the high-latitude regions, including for-
ward operating bases and existing infrastructure in the furthest 
north locations that are ice free, or nearly ice free, year round. 
SEC. 717. POTENTIAL PLACE OF REFUGE. 
(a) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
consult with appropriate Federal agencies and with State and local 
interests to determine what improvements, if any, are necessary 
to designate existing ice-free facilities or infrastructure in the Cen-
tral Bering Sea as a fully functional, year-round Potential Place 
of Refuge.