120 
(5) POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Point Spen-
cer’’ means the land known as ‘‘Point Spencer’’ lo-
cated in Townships 2, 3, and 4 South, Range 40 
West, Kateel River Meridian, Alaska, between the 
Bering Strait and Port Clarence and withdrawn by 
Public Land Order 2650 (published in the Federal 
Register on April 12, 1962). 
(6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise specifi-
cally provided, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating. 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Alaska. 
(8) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ or ‘‘Tracts’’ 
means any of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, 
Tract 5, or Tract 6, as appropriate, or any portion 
of such Tract or Tracts. 
(9) TRACTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6.—The terms 
‘‘Tract 1’’, ‘‘Tract 2’’, ‘‘Tract 3’’, ‘‘Tract 4’’, ‘‘Tract 
5’’, and ‘‘Tract 6’’ each mean the land generally de-
picted as Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 
5, or Tract 6, respectively, on the map entitled the 
‘‘Point Spencer Land Retention and Conveyance 
Map’’, dated January 2015, and on file with the De-
121 
partment of Homeland Security and the Department 
of the Interior. 
SEC. 533. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY LAND IN POINT SPEN-
CER. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 1, 3, AND 4.— 
Within 1 year after the Secretary notifies the Secretary 
of the Interior that the Coast Guard no longer needs to 
retain jurisdiction of Tract 1, Tract 3, or Tract 4 and 
subject to section 534, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
convey to BSNC or the State, subject to valid existing 
rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to the surface and subsurface estates of that Tract 
in accordance with subsection (d). 
(b) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 2 AND 5.— 
Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion and subject to section 534, the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall convey, subject to valid existing rights, all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to the sur-
face and subsurface estates of Tract 2 and Tract 5 in ac-
cordance with subsection (d). 
(c) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TRACT 6.—Within 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act and sub-
ject to sections 534 and 535, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall convey, subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, 
and interest of the United States in and to the surface
122 
and subsurface estates of Tract 6 in accordance with sub-
section (e). 
(d) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 1, 2, 3, 
4, OR 5.— 
(1) DETERMINATION AND OFFER.— 
(A) TRACT 1, 3, OR 4.—If the Secretary 
makes the determination under subsection (a) 
and subject to section 534, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall offer Tract 1, Tract 3, or Tract 
4 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 
et seq.). 
(B) TRACT 2 AND 5.—Subject to section 
534, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer 
Tract 2 and Tract 5 to BSNC under the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 
et seq.). 
(2) OFFER TO BSNC.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE
BY
BSNC.—If BSNC 
chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 
Tract under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 
Interior shall consider Tract 6 as within 
BSNC’s entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43
123 
U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey such Tract 
to BSNC. 
(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 
to accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall offer such Tract for conveyance to the 
State under the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 
U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508). 
(3) OFFER TO STATE.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 
chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of a 
Tract under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of 
the Interior shall consider such Tract as within 
the State’s entitlement under the Act of July 7, 
1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska State-
hood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public 
Law 85–508) and shall convey such Tract to 
the State. 
(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de-
clines to accept an offer of conveyance of a 
Tract offered under paragraph (2)(B), such 
Tract shall be disposed of pursuant to applica-
ble public land laws. 
(e) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 6.—
124 
(1) OFFER.—Subject to section 534, the Sec-
retary of the Interior shall offer Tract 6 for convey-
ance to the State. 
(2) OFFER TO STATE.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State 
chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of 
Tract 6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
the Interior shall consider Tract 6 as within the 
State’s entitlement under the Act of July 7, 
1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska State-
hood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public 
Law 85–508) and shall convey Tract 6 to the 
State. 
(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State de-
clines to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 
6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the In-
terior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to 
BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). 
(3) OFFER TO BSNC.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), if BSNC chooses to accept an offer of 
conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph 
(2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior shall
125 
consider Tract 6 as within BSNC’s entitle-
ment under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
1613(h)(8)) and shall convey Tract 6 to 
BSNC. 
(ii) LEASE BY THE STATE.—The con-
veyance of Tract 6 to BSNC shall be sub-
ject to BSNC negotiating a lease of Tract 
6 to the State at no cost to the State, if 
the State requests such a lease. 
(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines 
to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 
under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of the 
Interior shall dispose of Tract 6 pursuant to 
the applicable public land laws. 
SEC. 534. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, LIABILITY, AND 
MONITORING. 
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.—Nothing in this 
Act or any amendment made by this Act may be construed 
to affect or limit the application of or obligation to comply 
with any applicable environmental law, including section 
120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
9620(h)).
126 
(b) LIABILITY.—A person to which a conveyance is 
made under this subtitle shall hold the United States 
harmless from any liability with respect to activities car-
ried out on or after the date of the conveyance of the real 
property conveyed. The United States shall remain re-
sponsible for any liability with respect to activities carried 
out before such date on the real property conveyed. 
(c) MONITORING OF KNOWN CONTAMINATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the extent practicable 
and subject to paragraph (2), any contamination in 
a Tract to be conveyed to the State or BSNC under 
this subtitle that— 
(A) is identified in writing prior to the con-
veyance; and 
(B) does not pose an immediate or long- 
term risk to human health or the environment, 
may be routinely monitored and managed by the 
State or BSNC, as applicable, through institutional 
controls. 
(2) INSTITUTIONAL
CONTROLS.—Institutional 
controls may be used if— 
(A) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency and the Governor of 
the State concur that such controls are protec-
tive of human health and the environment; and
127 
(B) such controls are carried out in ac-
cordance with Federal and State law. 
SEC. 535. EASEMENTS AND ACCESS. 
(a) USE BY COAST GUARD.—The Secretary of the In-
terior shall make each conveyance of any relevant Tract 
under this subtitle subject to an easement granting the 
Coast Guard, at no cost to the Coast Guard— 
(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, 
airstrips, runways, and taxiways that are located on 
such Tract; and 
(2) the right to access such landing pads, air-
strips, runways, and taxiways. 
(b) USE BY STATE.—For any Tract conveyed to 
BSNC under this subtitle, BSNC shall provide to the 
State, if requested and pursuant to negotiated terms with 
the State, an easement granting to the State, at no cost 
to the State— 
(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, 
airstrips, runways, and taxiways located on such 
Tract; and 
(2) a right to access such landing pads, air-
strips, runways, and taxiways. 
(c) RIGHT OF ACCESS OR RIGHT OF WAY.—If the 
State requests a right of access or right of way for a road 
from the airstrip to the southern tip of Point Spencer,
128 
the location of such right of access or right of way shall 
be determined by the State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary and BSNC, so that such right of access or right 
of way is compatible with other existing or planned infra-
structure development at Point Spencer. 
(d) ACCESS EASEMENT ACROSS TRACTS 2, 5, AND 
6.—In conveyance documents to the State and BSNC 
under this subtitle, the Coast Guard shall retain an access 
easement across Tracts 2, 5, and 6 reasonably necessary 
to afford the Coast Guard with access to Tracts 1, 3, and 
4 for its operations. 
(e) ACCESS.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Coast Guard shall pro-
vide to the State and BSNC, access to Tracts for plan-
ning, design, and engineering related to remediation and 
use of and construction on those Tracts. 
(f) PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS.—No public access 
easements may be reserved to the United States under 
section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1616(b)) with respect to the land conveyed 
under this subtitle. 
SEC. 536. RELATIONSHIP TO PUBLIC LAND ORDER 2650. 
(a) TRACTS NOT CONVEYED.—Any Tract that is not 
conveyed under this subtitle shall remain withdrawn pur-
129 
suant to Public Land Order 2650 (published in the Fed-
eral Register on April 12, 1962). 
(b) TRACTS CONVEYED.—For any Tract conveyed 
under this subtitle, Public Land Order 2650 shall auto-
matically terminate upon issuance of a conveyance docu-
ment issued pursuant to this subtitle for such Tract. 
SEC. 537. ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. 
Conveyance of any Tract under this subtitle shall not 
affect investigations, criminal jurisdiction, and responsibil-
ities regarding theft or vandalism of archeological or cul-
tural resources located in or on such Tract that took place 
prior to conveyance under this subtitle. 
SEC. 538. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS. 
(a) PREPARATION OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIP-
TIONS.—As soon as practicable after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior in consulta-
tion with the Secretary shall prepare maps and legal de-
scriptions of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 
5, and Tract 6. In doing so, the Secretary of the Interior 
may use metes and bounds legal descriptions based upon 
the official survey plats of Point Spencer accepted by the 
Bureau of Land Management on December 6, 1978, and 
on information provided by the Secretary. 
(b) SURVEY.—Not later than 5 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
130 
shall survey Tracts conveyed under this subtitle and pat-
ent the Tracts in accordance with the official plats of sur-
vey. 
(c) LEGAL EFFECT.—The maps and legal descrip-
tions prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys pre-
pared under subsection (b) shall have the same force and 
effect as if the maps and legal descriptions were included 
in this Act. 
(d) CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior 
may correct any clerical and typographical errors in the 
maps and legal descriptions prepared under subsection (a) 
and the surveys prepared under subsection (b). 
(e) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the maps and legal de-
scriptions prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys 
prepared under subsection (b) shall be available for public 
inspection in the appropriate offices of— 
(1) the Bureau of Land Management; and 
(2) the Coast Guard. 
SEC. 539. CHARGEABILITY FOR LAND CONVEYED. 
(a) CONVEYANCES TO ALASKA.—The Secretary of 
the Interior shall charge any conveyance of land conveyed 
to the State of Alaska pursuant to this subtitle against 
the State’s remaining entitlement under section 6(b) of 
the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska 
Statehood Act’’; Public Law 85–508; 72 Stat. 339).
131 
(b) CONVEYANCES TO BSNC.—The Secretary of the 
Interior shall charge any conveyance of land conveyed to 
BSNC pursuant to this subtitle, against BSNC’s remain-
ing entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Na-
tive Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)). 
SEC. 540. REDUNDANT CAPABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), section 681 of title 14, United States Code, as amend-
ed by this Act, shall not be construed to prohibit any 
transfer or conveyance of lands under this subtitle or any 
actions that involve the dismantling or disposal of infra-
structure that supported the former LORAN system that 
are associated with the transfer or conveyance of lands 
under this subtitle. 
(b) CONTINUED ACCESS TO AND USE OF FACILI-
TIES.—If the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating determines, within the 5-year 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
that a facility on any of Tract 1, Tract 3, or Tract 4 that 
is transferred under this subtitle is subsequently required 
to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system to 
provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are 
disrupted, the Secretary may, for as long as such facility 
is needed to provide redundant capability—
132 
(1) operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, re-
pair, and replace such facility; and 
(2) in carrying out the activities described in 
paragraph (1), enter, at any time, the facility with-
out notice to the extent that it is not possible to pro-
vide advance notice. 
SEC. 541. PORT COORDINATION COUNCIL FOR POINT SPEN-
CER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Port 
Coordination Council for the Port of Point Spencer. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of a 
representative appointed by each of the following: 
(1) The State. 
(2) BSNC. 
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council are as fol-
lows: 
(1) To develop a Port Management Coordina-
tion Plan to help coordinate infrastructure develop-
ment and operations at the Port of Point Spencer, 
that includes plans for— 
(A) construction; 
(B) funding eligibility; 
(C) land use planning and development; 
and
133 
(D) public interest use and access, emer-
gency preparedness, law enforcement, protection 
of Alaska Native archaeological and cultural re-
sources, and other matters that are necessary 
for public and private entities to function in 
proximity together in a remote location. 
(2) Update the Plan annually for the first 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
biennially thereafter. 
(3) Facilitate coordination among BSNC, the 
State, and the Coast Guard, on the development and 
use of the land and coastline as such development 
relates to activities at the Port of Point Spencer. 
(4) Assess the need, benefits, efficacy, and de-
sirability of establishing in the future a port author-
ity at Point Spencer under State law and act upon 
that assessment, as appropriate, including taking 
steps for the potential formation of such a port au-
thority. 
(d) PLAN.—In addition to the requirements under 
subsection (c)(1) to the greatest extent practicable, the 
Plan developed by the Council shall facilitate and support 
the statutory missions and duties of the Coast Guard and 
operations of the Coast Guard in the Arctic.
134 
(e) COSTS.—Operations and management costs for 
airstrips, runways, and taxiways at Point Spencer shall 
be determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan, as nego-
tiated by the Council. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. MODIFICATION OF REPORTS. 
(a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421(d) 
of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 
2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended by striking ‘‘On 
March 1, 2007, and annually thereafter’’ and inserting 
‘‘Not later than July 1 of each year’’. 
(b) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABILITY.— 
Section 603(c)(3) of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 2704 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘on an annual basis.’’ and inserting 
‘‘not later than January 30 of the year following each year 
in which occurs an oil discharge from a vessel or nonvessel 
source that results or is likely to result in removal costs 
and damages (as those terms are defined in section 1001 
of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that 
exceed liability limits established under section 1004 of the 
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704).’’. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall submit to the Secretary of the depart-
135 
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating a report de-
tailing the specifications and capabilities for interoperable 
communications the Commandant determines are nec-
essary to allow the Coast Guard to successfully carry out 
its missions that require communications with other Fed-
eral agencies, State and local governments, and non-
governmental entities. 
SEC. 602. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 
The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 610, by— 
(A) striking the section enumerator and 
heading and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT 
LAKES.’’; 
(B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any 
future expanded boundaries of the Thunder 
Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Under-
water Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of 
any national marine sanctuary that preserves 
shipwrecks or maritime heritage in the Great 
Lakes’’; and 
(C) inserting before the period at the end 
the following: ‘‘, unless the designation docu-
136 
ments for such sanctuary do not allow taking 
up or discharging ballast water in such sanc-
tuary’’; and 
(2) in the table of contents in section 2, by 
striking the item relating to such section and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’. 
SEC. 603. USE OF VESSEL SALE PROCEEDS. 
(a) AUDIT.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct an audit of funds credited in each 
fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 to the Vessel Operations 
Revolving Fund that are attributable to the sale of obso-
lete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet that 
were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, and 
57104 of title 46, United States Code, including— 
(1) a complete accounting of all vessel sale pro-
ceeds attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in 
the National Defense Reserve Fleet that were 
scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, and 
57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each fiscal 
year after fiscal year 2004; 
(2) the annual apportionment of proceeds ac-
counted for under paragraph (1) among the uses au-
thorized under section 308704 of title 54, United 
States Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal year 
2004, including—
137 
(A) 
for 
National 
Maritime 
Heritage 
Grants, including a list of all annual National 
Maritime Heritage Grant grant and subgrant 
awards that identifies the respective grant and 
subgrant recipients and grant and subgrant 
amounts; 
(B) for the preservation and presentation 
to the public of maritime heritage property of 
the Maritime Administration; 
(C) to the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy and State maritime academies, includ-
ing a list of annual awards; and 
(D) for the acquisition, repair, recondi-
tioning, or improvement of vessels in the Na-
tional Defense Reserve Fleet; and 
(3) an accounting of proceeds, if any, attrib-
utable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National 
Defense Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold 
under sections 57102, 57103, and 57104 of title 46, 
United States Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal 
year 2004, that were expended for uses not author-
ized under section 308704 of title 54, United States 
Code. 
(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment this Act, the Comp-
138 
troller General shall submit the audit conducted in sub-
section (a) to the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 604. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES COST ASSESS-
MENT. 
(a) COST ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek 
to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy 
of Sciences under which the Academy, by no later than 
365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate an assessment of the costs incurred by the Federal 
Government to carry out polar icebreaking missions. The 
assessment shall— 
(1) describe current and emerging requirements 
for the Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking capabilities, 
taking into account the rapidly changing ice cover in 
the Arctic environment, national security consider-
ations, and expanding commercial activities in the
139 
Arctic and Antarctic, including marine transpor-
tation, energy development, fishing, and tourism; 
(2) identify potential design, procurement, leas-
ing, service contracts, crewing, and technology op-
tions that could minimize life-cycle costs and opti-
mize efficiency and reliability of Coast Guard polar 
icebreaker operations in the Arctic and Antarctic; 
and 
(3) examine— 
(A) Coast Guard estimates of the procure-
ment and operating costs of a Polar icebreaker 
capable of carrying out Coast Guard maritime 
safety, national security, and stewardship re-
sponsibilities including— 
(i) economies of scale that might be 
achieved for construction of multiple ves-
sels; and 
(ii) costs of renovating existing polar 
class icebreakers to operate for a period of 
no less than 10 years. 
(B) the incremental cost to augment the 
design of such an icebreaker for multiuse capa-
bilities for scientific missions;
140 
(C) the potential to offset such incremental 
cost through cost-sharing agreements with 
other Federal departments and agencies; and 
(D) United States polar icebreaking capa-
bility in comparison with that of other Arctic 
nations, and with nations that conduct research 
in the Arctic. 
(b) INCLUDED COSTS.—For purposes of subsection 
(a), the assessment shall include costs incurred by the 
Federal Government for— 
(1) the lease or operation and maintenance of 
the vessel or vessels concerned; 
(2) disposal of such vessels at the end of the 
useful life of the vessels; 
(3) retirement and other benefits for Federal 
employees who operate such vessels; and 
(4) interest payments assumed to be incurred 
for Federal capital expenditures. 
(c) ASSUMPTIONS.—For purposes of comparing the 
costs of such alternatives, the Academy shall assume 
that— 
(1) each vessel under consideration is— 
(A) capable of breaking out McMurdo Sta-
tion and conducting Coast Guard missions in 
the Antarctic, and in the United States terri-
141 
tory in the Arctic (as that term is defined in 
section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy 
Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111)); and 
(B) operated for a period of 30 years; 
(2) the acquisition of services and the operation 
of each vessel begins on the same date; and 
(3) the periods for conducting Coast Guard 
missions in the Arctic are of equal lengths. 
(d) USE OF INFORMATION.—In formulating cost pur-
suant to subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences 
may utilize information from other Coast Guard reports, 
assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast Guard 
Polar class icebreakers or for the acquisition of a polar 
icebreaker for the Federal Government. 
SEC. 605. PENALTY WAGES. 
(a) FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES.—Sec-
tion 10313(g) of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘all claims in a class action 
suit by seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘each claim by 
a seaman’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the seamen’’ and inserting 
‘‘the seaman’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)—
142 
(A) by striking ‘‘class action’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘, by 
a seaman who is a claimant in the suit,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘by the seaman’’. 
(b) COASTWISE VOYAGES.—Section 10504(c) of such 
title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘all claims in a class action 
suit by seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘each claim by 
a seaman’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the seamen’’ and inserting 
‘‘the seaman’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘class action’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘, by 
a seaman who is a claimant in the suit,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘by the seaman’’. 
SEC. 606. RECOURSE FOR NONCITIZENS. 
Section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
the first sentence; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) RESTRICTION
ON
RECOVERY
FOR
NON-
RESIDENT ALIENS EMPLOYED ON FOREIGN PASSENGER
143 
VESSELS.—A claim for damages or expenses relating to 
personal injury, illness, or death of a seaman who is a 
citizen of a foreign nation, arising during or from the en-
gagement of the seaman by or for a passenger vessel duly 
registered under the laws of a foreign nation, may not be 
brought under the laws of the United States if— 
‘‘(1) such seaman was not a permanent resident 
alien of the United States at the time the claim 
arose; 
‘‘(2) the injury, illness, or death arose outside 
the territorial waters of the United States; and 
‘‘(3) the seaman or the seaman’s personal rep-
resentative has or had a right to seek compensation 
for the injury, illness, or death in, or under the laws 
of— 
‘‘(A) the nation in which the vessel was 
registered at the time the claim arose; or 
‘‘(B) the nation in which the seaman main-
tained citizenship or residency at the time the 
claim arose. 
‘‘(c) COMPENSATION DEFINED.—As used in sub-
section (b), the term ‘compensation’ means— 
‘‘(1) a statutory workers’ compensation remedy 
that complies with Standard A4.2 of Regulation 4.2 
of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; or
144 
‘‘(2) in the absence of the remedy described in 
paragraph (1), a legal remedy that complies with 
Standard A4.2 of Regulation 4.2 of the Maritime 
Labour Convention, 2006, that permits recovery for 
lost wages, pain and suffering, and future medical 
expenses.’’. 
SEC. 607. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENTS. 
(a) ‘‘ELETTRA III’’.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 
12112 and 12132, of title 46, United States Code, 
and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating may issue a certificate of documentation with 
a coastwise endorsement for the vessel M/V Elettra 
III (United States official number 694607). 
(2) LIMITATION
ON
OPERATION.—Coastwise 
trade authorized under a certificate of documenta-
tion issued under paragraph (1) shall be limited to 
the carriage of passengers and equipment in associa-
tion with the operation of the vessel in the Puget 
Sound region to support marine and maritime 
science education. 
(3) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CER-
TIFICATE.—A certificate of documentation issued 
under paragraph (1) shall expire on the earlier of—
145 
(A) the date of the sale of the vessel or the 
entity that owns the vessel; 
(B) the date any repairs or alterations are 
made to the vessel outside of the United States; 
or 
(C) the date the vessel is no longer oper-
ated as a vessel in the Puget Sound region to 
support the marine and maritime science edu-
cation. 
(b) ‘‘F/V RONDYS’’.—Notwithstanding section 12132 
of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue 
a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorse-
ment for the F/V Rondys (O.N. 291085) 
SEC. 608. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report that 
describes the current operations to perform the Inter-
national Ice Patrol mission and on alternatives for car-
rying out that mission, including satellite surveillance 
technology.
146 
(b) ALTERNATIVES.—The report required by sub-
section (a) shall include whether an alternative— 
(1) provides timely data on ice conditions with 
the highest possible resolution and accuracy; 
(2) is able to operate in all weather conditions 
or any time of day; and 
(3) is more cost effective than the cost of cur-
rent operations. 
SEC. 609. ASSESSMENT OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND 
CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, in consultation with the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
head of any other agency the Commandant determines ap-
propriate, shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness 
of oil spill response activities specific to the Great Lakes. 
Such assessment shall include— 
(1) an evaluation of new research into oil spill 
impacts in fresh water under a wide range of condi-
tions; and 
(2) an evaluation of oil spill prevention and 
clean up contingency plans, in order to improve un-
derstanding of oil spill impacts in the Great Lakes 
and foster innovative improvements to safety tech-
nologies and environmental protection systems.
147 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Congress 
a report on the results of the assessment required by sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 610. REPORT ON STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY DETECT-
ING PASSENGERS WHO HAVE FALLEN OVER-
BOARD. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives that— 
(1) describes the status of technology for imme-
diately detecting passengers who have fallen over-
board; 
(2) includes a recommendation to cruise lines 
on the feasibility of implementing technology that 
immediately detects passengers who have fallen over-
board, factoring in cost and the risk of false 
positives; 
(3) includes data collected from cruise lines on 
the status of the integration of the technology de-
scribed in paragraph (2) on cruise ships, including—
148 
(A) the number of cruise ships that have 
the technology to capture images of passengers 
who have fallen overboard; and 
(B) the number of cruise lines that have 
tested technology that can detect passengers 
who have fallen overboard; and 
(4) includes information on any other available 
technologies that cruise ships could integrate to as-
sist in facilitating the search and rescue of a pas-
senger who has fallen overboard. 
SEC. 611. VENUE. 
Section 311(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(d)) 
is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 
‘‘In the case of Hawaii or any possession of the United 
States in the Pacific Ocean, the appropriate court is the 
United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, 
except that in the case of Guam and Wake Island, the 
appropriate court is the United States District Court for 
the District of Guam, and in the case of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the appropriate court is the United 
States District Court for the District of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.’’.
149 
SEC. 612. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO 
E–LORAN. 
(a) DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 681. Disposition of infrastructure related to E– 
LORAN 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not carry out 
activities related to the dismantling or disposal of infra-
structure comprising the LORAN–C system until the date 
on which the Secretary provides to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate notice 
of a determination by the Secretary that such infrastruc-
ture is not required to provide a positioning, navigation, 
and timing system to provide redundant capability in the 
event the Global Positioning System signals are disrupted. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to 
activities necessary for the safety of human life. 
‘‘(c) DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On any date after the noti-
fication is made under subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator of General Services, acting on behalf of the
150 
Secretary, may, notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, sell any real and personal property under the 
administrative control of the Coast Guard and used 
for the LORAN–C system, subject to such terms 
and conditions that the Secretary believes to be nec-
essary to protect government interests and program 
requirements of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.— 
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY
OF
PROCEEDS.—The 
proceeds of such sales, less the costs of sale in-
curred by the General Services Administration, 
shall be deposited as offsetting collections into 
the Coast Guard ‘Environmental Compliance 
and Restoration’ account and, without further 
appropriation, shall be available until expended 
for— 
‘‘(i) environmental compliance and 
restoration purposes associated with the 
LORAN–C system; 
‘‘(ii) the costs of securing and main-
taining equipment that may be used as a 
backup to the Global Positioning System 
or to meet any other Federal navigation 
requirement;
151 
‘‘(iii) the demolition of improvements 
on such real property; and 
‘‘(iv) the costs associated with the sale 
of such real and personal property, includ-
ing due diligence requirements, necessary 
environmental remediation, and reimburse-
ment of expenses incurred by the General 
Services Administration. 
‘‘(B) OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLI-
ANCE
AND
RESTORATION
ACTIVITIES.—After 
the completion of activities described in sub-
paragraph (A), the unexpended balances of 
such proceeds shall be available for any other 
environmental compliance and restoration ac-
tivities of the Coast Guard.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘681. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING REPEALS.— 
(A) Section 229 of the Howard Coble 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2014 (Public Law 113–281; 128 Stat. 
3040), and the item relating to that section in 
section 2 of such Act, are repealed.
152 
(B) Subsection 559(e) of the Department 
of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 
(Public Law 111–83; 123 Stat. 2180) is re-
pealed. 
(b) AGREEMENTS
TO
DEVELOP
BACKUP
POSI-
TIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING SYSTEM.—Section 
93(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end of paragraph 
(23), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (24) 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding at the end the fol-
lowing the following: 
‘‘(25) enter into cooperative agreements, con-
tracts, and other agreements with Federal entities 
and other public or private entities, including aca-
demic entities, to develop a positioning, navigation, 
and timing system to provide redundant capability in 
the event Global Positioning System signals are dis-
rupted, which may consist of an enhanced LORAN 
system.’’. 
SEC. 613. PARKING. 
Section 611(a) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 
281; 128 Stat. 3064) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
153 
‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—Through September 30, 
2017, additional parking made available under paragraph 
(2) shall be made available at no cost to the Coast Guard 
or members and employees of the Coast Guard.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 
2015. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 4188 
AN ACT 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard 
for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for other 
purposes.