A bill to authorize appropriations for the United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 1979, and for other purposes.
PL 95-308 (H.R.11465), enacted 06/30/1978

92 STAT. 358 
PUBLIC LAW 95-308—JUNE 30, 1978 
Public Law 95-
95th Congress 
•308 
June 30, 1978 
[H.R. 11465] 
U.S. Coast 
Guard. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations for the United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 
1979, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representaiives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That funds are 
hereby authorized to be appropriated for necessary expenses of the 
United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 1979, as follows: 
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
including expenses related to the Capehart housing debt reduc-
tion: $969,906,000; 
(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improve-
ment of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, 
including equipment related thereto: $379,954,000 to remain 
available until expended; 
(3) For the alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 
waters of the United States, constituting obstructions to naviga-
tion : $34,603,000, to remain available until expended; and 
(4) For research, development, test, and evaluation: $25,000,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 2. For fiscal year 1979, the Coast Guard is authorized an end 
of year strength for active duty peisonnel of 39,331: Provided, That 
the ceiling shall not include members of the Ready Reserve called to 
active duty under the authority of section 764 of title 14, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 3. For fiscal year 1979, average military training students loads 
for the Coast Guard are authorized as follows: 
(1) recruit and special training: 3,962 students; 
(2) flight training: 95 students; 
(3) professional training in military and civilian institutions: 
436 students; and 
(4) officer acquisitions: 952 students. 
SEC. 4. Section 30 of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 
1479) is amended by striking out "and 1978," and inserting in lieu 
thereof ", 1978,1979, and 1980,". 
SEC. 5. The Coast Guard is authorized to enter into a long-term 
lease in excess of one fiscal year for the purpose of acquiring a site on 
the Quillayute Indian Reservation in the State of Washington so that 
the Quillayute River Coast Guard Station may be relocated: Provided, 
That any such agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be 
effective only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in 
advance in appropriation Acts. The Coast Guard is also authorized to 
expend, commencing with fiscal year 1979, appropriated funds for the 
construction of fixed facilities and improvements on such land leased 
from the Quillayute Indians. 
SEC. 6. Subsection (b) of the first section of the Act of August 27, 
1935 (relating to load lines for certain vessels) (46 U.S.C. 88(b)), 
is amended by (1) striking out "All" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"The requirernents of this Act shall not apply to (1) all"; (2) striking 
out "except those constructed after the effective date of this subsection 
or those converted to either of such services after 5 years from the 
effective date of this subsection and" and inserting in lieu thereof 
PUBLIC LAW 95-308—JUNE 30, 1978 
92 STAT. 359 
"which were construi'ted, or with respect to which construction was 
begun or contracted for, before January 1, 1980, or which were con-
verted to such use, or with respect to which conversion to such use 
was begun or contracted for, before January 1, 1980, so long as such 
conversion was completed before January 1, 1983 (in the case of con-
versions); or (2)"; and (3) striking out ", are exempt from the 
requirements of this Act''. 
SEC. 7. Section 10 of the Act of May 28, 1908 (relating to seagoing 
barges) (46 U.S.C. 395), is amended by (1) redesignating subsection 
(c) as subsection (d); and (2) inserting immediately after subsection 
(b) the following: 
"(c) During the period beginning January 1,1977, and ending Jan-
uary 1,1982, the provisions of subsection (b) shall not apply to vessels 
of not more than 5,000 gross tons used in the processing or assembling 
of fishery products in the fisheries of the States of Oregon, Washing-
ton, and Alaska.". 
SEC. 8. (a) The Congress finds and declares the following: 
(1) The transportation, production and handling of oil in, on, 
or near the navigable and ocean waters of the Columbia River 
Basin system creates substantial environmental risks, and may 
cause serious damage to the general health, welfare, and economy 
of this region. 
(2) The vitality of the Columbia River estuary and marine 
environment is crucial to the maintenance and enhancement of 
major fishery resources for the enjoyment and livelihood of pres-
ent and future generations. 
(3) The protection and betterment of this marine, estuarine 
and fresh water river system requires a thorough, detailed assess-
ment of the current plans and capabilities to best prevent, contain, 
clean-up and mitigate the damages resulting from possible oil 
spills and discharges in the system. 
(b) Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the appropriate 
Federal, State, and local agencies, shall conduct a systematic, detailed 
evaluation on the— 
(1) current procedures, safeguards, and capabilities to best 
prevent, contain, clean-up, and mitigate damages resulting from 
oil spills and discharges in, on, or near the navigable and ocean 
waters of the Columbia River Basin system; 
(2) available and required oceanographic meteorological, and 
other relevant data necessary to best provide for the management 
referred to in paragraph (1); 
(3) potential risk of existing and projected oil tanker traffic in, 
on, or near the navigable and ocean waters of the Columbia River 
Basin system causing harm to the environment of such system due 
to oil spills, fuel dumping, residual discharges, and other releases 
of crude oil or petroleum products; and 
(4) need for legislation or other strategies to insure protection 
of such system ana its environment, including the prompt devel-
opment of an orderly, step-by-step contingency plan to contain, 
cleanup, and mitigate the damages resulting from the conditions 
referred to in paragraph (3). 
n i e Commandant shall submit the results of such evaluation, immedi-
ately upon completion, including such recommendations as he deems 
Oil spills. 
Columbia River 
Basin system. 
33 u s e 1254 
note. 
Study. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
92 STAT. 360 
PUBLIC LAW 95-308—JUNE 30, 1978 
necessary, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transporta-
tion of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fish-
eries of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 9. Paragraph (1) of the first section of the Act of July 1,1977 
91 Stat. 259. 
(authorizing appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 1978) 
is amended by striking out "$887,521,000;" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"$892,900,000;". 
Approved June 30, 1978. 
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•,vi 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1030 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-817 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
, .,r.<i 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
. ;i^,r..j;, 
Apr. 17, considered and passed House. 
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^*y ^^' considered and passed Senate, amended. 
June 14i House concurred in Senate amendments.