1625-NEW Stat/Authority

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 27

Public Law 114–120
114th Congress
An Act
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017,
and for other purposes.

Feb. 8, 2016
[H.R. 4188]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

Coast Guard
Authorization
Act of 2015.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Authorization Act
of 2015’’.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS
Sec. 101. Authorizations.
Sec. 102. Conforming amendments.

Sec. 222.

TITLE II—COAST GUARD
Vice Commandant.
Vice admirals.
Coast Guard remission of indebtedness.
Acquisition reform.
Auxiliary jurisdiction.
Coast Guard communities.
Polar icebreakers.
Air facility closures.
Technical corrections to title 14, United States Code.
Discontinuance of an aid to navigation.
Mission performance measures.
Communications.
Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education.
Professional development.
Senior enlisted member continuation boards.
Coast Guard member pay.
Transfer of funds necessary to provide medical care.
Participation of the Coast Guard Academy in Federal, State, or other educational research grants.
National Coast Guard Museum.
Investigations.
Clarification of eligibility of members of the Coast Guard for combat-related special compensation.
Leave policies for the Coast Guard.

Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
Survival craft.
Vessel replacement.
Model years for recreational vessels.
Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization.
Safety zones for permitted marine events.
Technical corrections.

Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Sec. 219.
Sec. 220.
Sec. 221.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
306.

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00001

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6582

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 28

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

307.
308.
309.
310.
311.
312.
313.
314.
315.
316.
317.
318.
319.
320.

Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty reporting.
Recreational vessel engine weights.
Merchant mariner medical certification reform.
Atlantic Coast port access route study.
Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels.
Program guidelines.
Repeals.
Maritime drug law enforcement.
Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.
Higher volume port area regulatory definition change.
Recognition of port security assessments conducted by other entities.
Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification.
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research.
International port and facility inspection coordination.
TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman.
Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards.
TITLE V—CONVEYANCES
Subtitle A—Miscellaneous Conveyances
Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station, California.
Sec. 502. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska.
Subtitle B—Pribilof Islands
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

521.
522.
523.
524.

Short title.
Transfer and disposition of property.
Notice of certification.
Redundant capability.

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

531.
532.
533.
534.
535.
536.
537.
538.
539.
540.
541.

Findings.
Definitions.
Authority to convey land in Point Spencer.
Environmental compliance, liability, and monitoring.
Easements and access.
Relationship to Public Land Order 2650.
Archeological and cultural resources.
Maps and legal descriptions.
Chargeability for land conveyed.
Redundant capability.
Port Coordination Council for Point Spencer.

Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

601.
602.
603.
604.
605.
606.
607.
608.

Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

609.
610.
611.
612.

Modification of reports.
Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.
Use of vessel sale proceeds.
National Academy of Sciences cost assessment.
Coastwise endorsements.
International Ice Patrol.
Assessment of oil spill response and cleanup activities in the Great Lakes.
Report on status of technology detecting passengers who have fallen overboard.
Venue.
Disposition of infrastructure related to e-loran.
Parking.
Inapplicability of load line requirements to certain United States vessels
traveling in the Gulf of Mexico.

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS
ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00002

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 29

‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS
AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS

14 USC
2701 prec.

‘‘Chap.
Sec.
‘‘27. Authorizations ............................................................................................ 2701
‘‘29. Reports ......................................................................................................... 2901.

‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS

14 USC
2701 prec.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

‘‘Sec.
‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations.
‘‘2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal
years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard
as follows:
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard,
not otherwise provided for—
‘‘(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
‘‘(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017.
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and
improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels,
and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities
and equipment—
‘‘(A) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
‘‘(B) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and training
costs, equipment, and services—
‘‘(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
‘‘(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2017.
‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title—
‘‘(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
‘‘(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2017.
‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research,
development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials,
and human factors directly related to improving the performance of the Coast Guard’s mission with respect to search and
rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental
protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations,
oceanographic research, and defense readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities and
equipment—
‘‘(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
‘‘(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2017.

14 USC 2702.

‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training
‘‘(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is authorized
an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for
each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The Coast Guard
is authorized average military training student loads for each of
fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as follows:
‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student years.
‘‘(2) For flight training, 165 student years.

14 USC 2704.

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00003

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 30

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(3) For professional training in military and civilian
institutions, 350 student years.
‘‘(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years.
‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS

14 USC
2901 prec.

‘‘Sec.
‘‘2904. Manpower requirements plan.

14 USC 2904.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Assessment.

14 USC 2701.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

‘‘§ 2904. Manpower requirements plan
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the President submits
to the Congress a budget for fiscal year 2017 under section 1105
of title 31, on the date on which the President submits to the
Congress a budget for fiscal year 2019 under such section, and
every 4 years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a manpower requirements plan.
‘‘(b) SCOPE.—A manpower requirements plan submitted under
subsection (a) shall include for each mission of the Coast Guard—
‘‘(1) an assessment of all projected mission requirements
for the upcoming fiscal year and for each of the 3 fiscal years
thereafter;
‘‘(2) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel assigned or available to fulfill such mission requirements—
‘‘(A) currently; and
‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each
of the 3 fiscal years thereafter;
‘‘(3) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel required to fulfill such mission requirements—
‘‘(A) currently; and
‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each
of the 3 fiscal years thereafter;
‘‘(4) an identification of any capability gaps between mission
requirements and mission performance caused by deficiencies
in the numbers of personnel available—
‘‘(A) currently; and
‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each
of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; and
‘‘(5) an identification of the actions the Commandant will
take to address capability gaps identified under paragraph
(4).
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATION.—In composing a manpower requirements
plan for submission under subsection (a), the Commandant shall
consider—
‘‘(1) the marine safety strategy required under section 2116
of title 46;
‘‘(2) information on the adequacy of the acquisition
workforce included in the most recent report under section
2903 of this title; and
‘‘(3) any other Federal strategic planning effort the Commandant considers appropriate.’’.
(b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating such section as section 2701;

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00004

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 31

(2) by transferring such section to appear before section
2702 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this section);
and
(3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard,
not otherwise provided for.
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and
improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels,
and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities
and equipment.
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and training
costs, equipment, and services.
‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title.
‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, and human factors directly related to
improving the performance of the Coast Guard.
‘‘(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over navigable
waters of the United States constituting obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and administrative costs associated
with the Alteration of Bridges Program.’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERSONNEL END STRENGTHS.—Section
661 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating such section as section 2703; and
(2) by transferring such section to appear before section
2704 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this section).
(d) REPORTS.—
(1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION
REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 14, United States Code, is
amended—
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2901;
(B) by transferring such section to appear before section 2904 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this
section); and
(C) in subsection (b)—
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘described in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘described in section 2703’’;
and
(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘described in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘described in section 2701’’.
(2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended—
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2902; and
(B) by transferring such section to appear after section
2901 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by
paragraph (1) of this subsection).
(3) MAJOR ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of title 14, United
States Code, is amended—
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2903;
(B) by transferring such section to appear after section
2902 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by
paragraph (2) of this subsection); and
(C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this subchapter’’.
(e) ICEBREAKERS.—

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00005

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

14 USC 2703.

14 USC 2901.

14 USC 2902.

14 USC 2903.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 32

14 USC 569 note.

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(1) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For fiscal years
2016 and 2017, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may
use funds made available pursuant to section 2702(2) of title
14, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this
section) for the selection of a design for and the construction
of an icebreaker that is capable of buoy tending to enhance
icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes.
(2) POLAR ICEBREAKING.—Of the amounts authorized to
be appropriated under section 2702(2) of title 14, United States
Code, as amended by subsection (a), there is authorized to
be appropriated to the Coast Guard $4,000,000 for fiscal year
2016 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 for preacquisition
activities for a new polar icebreaker, including initial specification development and feasibility studies.
(f) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives—
(1) each plan required under section 2904 of title 14, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section;
(2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of title 14,
United States Code, as added by section 206 of this Act;
(3) each plan required under section 2902 of title 14, United
States Code, as redesignated by subsection (d) of this section;
and
(4) each mission need statement required under section
569 of title 14, United States Code.
SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

14 USC
1 prec.

(a) ANALYSIS FOR TITLE 14.—The analysis for title 14, United
States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to part
II the following:
‘‘III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Congress ................... 2701’’.

14 USC
561 prec.
14 USC
631 prec.

14 USC
2701 prec.

(b) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 15.—The analysis for chapter 15
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to section 569a.
(c) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chapter 17
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the items
relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, and 663.
(d) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 27.—The analysis for chapter 27
of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of
this Act, is amended by inserting—
(1) before the item relating to section 2702 the following:
‘‘2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.’’;

and
(2) before the item relating to section 2704 the following:
‘‘2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

14 USC
2901 prec.

(e) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 29.—The analysis for chapter 29
of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of
this Act, is amended by inserting before the item relating to section
2904 the following:
‘‘2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.
‘‘2902. Capital investment plan.
‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00006

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 33

(f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 569a(e)’’ and
inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 663(a)(1)’’
and inserting ‘‘under section 2902(a)(1)’’.

TITLE II—COAST GUARD
SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT.

(a) GRADES AND RATINGS.—Section 41 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ and inserting ‘‘admirals
(two);’’.
(b) VICE COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT.—Section 47 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ and
inserting ‘‘admiral’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of title 14, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice
admiral,’’;
(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice
admiral,’’ each place it appears; and
(3) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ before ‘‘vice
admiral,’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS.

Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
‘‘(1) The President may—
‘‘(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no more than five
positions of importance and responsibility that shall be held
by officers who, while so serving—
‘‘(i) shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the
pay and allowances of that grade; and
‘‘(ii) shall perform such duties as the Commandant
may prescribe, except that if the President designates five
such positions, one position shall be the Chief of Staff
of the Coast Guard; and
‘‘(B) designate, within the executive branch, other than
within the Coast Guard or the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, positions of importance and
responsibility that shall be held by officers who, while so
serving, shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the pay
and allowances of that grade.’’; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ‘‘under paragraph
(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1)(A)’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
‘‘(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while awaiting
orders after being relieved from the position, beginning on

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00007

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

President.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 34

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
the day the officer is relieved from the position, but not for
more than 60 days; and’’.
SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS.

(a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO REMIT INDEBTEDNESS.—Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness
‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any part of
a person’s indebtedness to the United States or any instrumentality
of the United States if—
‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the person served
on active duty as a member of the Coast Guard; and
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or cancelling
the indebtedness is in the best interest of the United States.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 13 of title
14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating
to section 461 and inserting the following:
‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’.
SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM.

Cost estimate.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Assessment.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Section 572(d)(3) of
title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as
subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph
(C);
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
‘‘(B) the performance data to be used to determine
whether the key performance parameters have been
resolved;’’; and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as redesignated
by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following:
‘‘(D) the results during test and evaluation that will
be required to demonstrate that a capability, asset, or
subsystem meets performance requirements;’’.
(b) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 2902 of title 14, United
States Code, as redesignated and otherwise amended by this Act,
is further amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘completion;’’ and
inserting ‘‘completion based on the proposed appropriations
included in the budget;’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘at the projected
funding levels;’’ and inserting ‘‘based on the proposed appropriations included in the budget;’’; and
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c), and
inserting after subsection (a) the following:
‘‘(b) NEW CAPITAL ASSETS.—In the fiscal year following each
fiscal year for which appropriations are enacted for a new capital
asset, the report submitted under subsection (a) shall include—
‘‘(1) an estimated life-cycle cost estimate for the new capital
asset;
‘‘(2) an assessment of the impact the new capital asset
will have on—
‘‘(A) delivery dates for each capital asset;

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00008

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 35

‘‘(B) estimated completion dates for each capital asset;
‘‘(C) the total estimated cost to complete each capital
asset; and
‘‘(D) other planned construction or improvement
projects; and
‘‘(3) recommended funding levels for each capital asset
necessary to meet the estimated completion dates and total
estimated costs included in the such asset’s approved acquisition program baseline.’’; and
(3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read
as follows:
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section—
‘‘(1) the term ‘unfunded priority’ means a program or mission requirement that—
‘‘(A) has not been selected for funding in the applicable
proposed budget;
‘‘(B) is necessary to fulfill a requirement associated
with an operational need; and
‘‘(C) the Commandant would have recommended for
inclusion in the applicable proposed budget had additional
resources been available or had the requirement emerged
before the budget was submitted; and
‘‘(2) the term ‘new capital asset’ means—
‘‘(A) an acquisition program that does not have an
approved acquisition program baseline; or
‘‘(B) the acquisition of a capital asset in excess of
the number included in the approved acquisition program
baseline.’’.
(c) DAYS AWAY FROM HOMEPORT.—Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the
Coast Guard shall—
(1) implement a standard for tracking operational days
at sea for Coast Guard cutters that does not include days
during which such cutters are undergoing maintenance or
repair; and
(2) notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the
standard implemented under paragraph (1).
(d) FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FLEET MIX ANALYSIS.—Not later
than September 30, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast Guard
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a revised fleet mix analysis of Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft.
(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Section 2903 of
title 14, United States Code, as redesignated and otherwise
amended by this Act, is further amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
‘‘(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Each report under
subsection (a) shall include a plan that describes for the upcoming
fiscal year, and for each of the 20 fiscal years thereafter—
‘‘(1) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be
decommissioned;
‘‘(2) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be
acquired to—

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00009

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

14 USC 93 note.

Deadline.

Notification.

Deadline.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 36

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(A) replace the cutters and aircraft identified under
paragraph (1); or
‘‘(B) address an identified capability gap; and
‘‘(3) the estimated level of funding in each fiscal year
required to—
‘‘(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft identified under
paragraph (2);
‘‘(B) acquire related command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; and
‘‘(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shoreside infrastructure.
‘‘(f) QUARTERLY UPDATES ON RISKS OF PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after the end
of each fiscal year quarter, the Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall submit to the committees of Congress specified
in subsection (a) an update setting forth a current assessment
of the risks associated with all current major acquisition programs.
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each update under this subsection shall
set forth, for each current major acquisition program, the following:
‘‘(A) The top five current risks to such program.
‘‘(B) Any failure of such program to demonstrate a
key performance parameter or threshold during operational
test and evaluation conducted during the fiscal year quarter
preceding such update.
‘‘(C) Whether there has been any decision during such
fiscal year quarter to order full-rate production before all
key performance parameters or thresholds are met.
‘‘(D) Whether there has been any breach of major
acquisition program cost (as defined by the Major Systems
Acquisition Manual) during such fiscal year quarter.
‘‘(E) Whether there has been any breach of major
acquisition program schedule (as so defined) during such
fiscal year quarter.’’.

Deadline.
Assessment.

SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Review.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 822 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The purpose’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Auxiliary may conduct a patrol of a
waterway, or a portion thereof, only if—
‘‘(1) the Commandant has determined such waterway, or
portion thereof, is navigable for purposes of the jurisdiction
of the Coast Guard; or
‘‘(2) a State or other proper authority has requested such
patrol pursuant to section 141 of this title or section 13109
of title 46.’’.
(b) NOTIFICATION.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard
shall—
(1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast Guard
Auxiliary in the most recently completed fiscal year to determine whether such waterways are eligible or ineligible for

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00010

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 37

patrol under section 822(b) of title 14, United States Code
(as added by subsection (a)); and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, provide to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
a written notification of—
(A) any waterways determined ineligible for patrol
under paragraph (1); and
(B) the actions taken by the Commandant to ensure
Auxiliary patrols do not occur on such waterways.

Deadline.

SEC. 206. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES.

Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998
(14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended in the second sentence by striking
‘‘90 days’’ and inserting ‘‘30 days’’.
SEC. 207. POLAR ICEBREAKERS.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(a) INCREMENTAL FUNDING AUTHORITY FOR POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—In fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter,
the Commandant of the Coast Guard may enter into a contract
or contracts for the acquisition of polar icebreakers and associated
equipment using incremental funding.
(b) ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND
SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION.—Section 222 of the Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126
Stat. 1560) is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall—
‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment with respect
to the Polar Sea;
‘‘(2) make a determination of whether it is cost effective
to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with other options to
provide icebreaking services as part of a strategy to maintain
polar icebreaking services; and
‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate—
‘‘(A) the assessment required under paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) written notification of the determination required
under paragraph (2).’’;
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and inserting
‘‘written notification’’;
(3) by striking subsection (c);
(4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as subsections (c) through (g), respectively;
(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)
of this section)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘based on the
analysis required’’; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and
inserting ‘‘written notification’’;
(B) in paragraph (2)—

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00011

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

14 USC 87 note.

Deadline.

Assessment.
Determination.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 38

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(i) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ each place it appears
and inserting ‘‘written notification’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)(B)’’;
(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ each place it
appears and inserting ‘‘that subsection’’; and
(iv) by striking ‘‘under subsection (a)(5)’’; and
(C) in paragraph (3)—
(i) by striking ‘‘in the analysis submitted under
this section’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘(a)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a)’’;
(iii) by striking ‘‘then’’ and all that follows through
‘‘(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘then’’;
(iv) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a period; and
(v) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(6) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)
of this subsection) by striking ‘‘in subsection (d)’’ and inserting
‘‘in subsection (c)’’.
SEC. 208. AIR FACILITY CLOSURES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after section 676 the following:
14 USC 676a.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Effective date.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

‘‘§ 676a. Air facility closures
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Coast Guard may not—
‘‘(A) close a Coast Guard air facility that was in operation on November 30, 2014; or
‘‘(B) retire, transfer, relocate, or deploy an aviation
asset from an air facility described in subparagraph (A)
for the purpose of closing such facility.
‘‘(2) SUNSET.—Paragraph (1) shall have no force or effect
beginning on the later of—
‘‘(A) January 1, 2018; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the Secretary submits to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, rotary
wing strategic plans prepared in accordance with section
208(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015.
‘‘(b) CLOSURES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on January 1, 2018, the Secretary may not close a Coast Guard air facility, except as
specified by this section.
‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS.—The Secretary may not propose
closing or terminating operations at a Coast Guard air facility
unless the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) remaining search and rescue capabilities maintain
the safety of the maritime public in the area of the air
facility;
‘‘(B) regional or local prevailing weather and marine
conditions, including water temperatures or unusual tide
and current conditions, do not require continued operation
of the air facility; and
‘‘(C) Coast Guard search and rescue standards related
to search and response times are met.

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00012

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 39

‘‘(3) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Prior to closing an
air facility, the Secretary shall provide opportunities for public
comment, including the convening of public meetings in communities in the area of responsibility of the air facility with regard
to the proposed closure or cessation of operations at the air
facility.
‘‘(4) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—Prior to closure, cessation of
operations, or any significant reduction in personnel and use
of a Coast Guard air facility that is in operation on or after
December 31, 2015, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(A) submit to the Congress a proposal for such closure,
cessation, or reduction in operations along with the budget
of the President submitted to Congress under section
1105(a) of title 31 for the fiscal year in which the action
will be carried out; and
‘‘(B) not later than 7 days after the date a proposal
for an air facility is submitted pursuant to subparagraph
(A), provide written notice of such proposal to each of
the following:
‘‘(i) Each member of the House of Representatives
who represents a district in which the air facility is
located.
‘‘(ii) Each member of the Senate who represents
a State in which the air facility is located.
‘‘(iii) Each member of the House of Representatives
who represents a district in which assets of the air
facility conduct search and rescue operations.
‘‘(iv) Each member of the Senate who represents
a State in which assets of the air facility conduct
search and rescue operations.
‘‘(v) The Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.
‘‘(vi) The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
‘‘(vii) The Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.
‘‘(viii) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
‘‘(c) OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary may implement
any reasonable management efficiencies within the air station and
air facility network, such as modifying the operational posture
of units or reallocating resources as necessary to ensure the safety
of the maritime public nationwide.’’.
(b) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating shall prepare the plans specified
in paragraph (2) to adequately address contingencies arising
from potential future aviation casualties or the planned or
unplanned retirement of rotary wing airframes to avoid to
the greatest extent practicable any substantial gap or diminishment in Coast Guard operational capabilities.
(2) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.—
(A) ROTARY WING CONTINGENCY PLAN.—Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall develop and submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00013

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Proposal.

Deadline.

Deadline.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 40

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a contingency plan—
(i) to address the planned or unplanned losses
of rotary wing airframes;
(ii) to reallocate resources as necessary to ensure
the safety of the maritime public nationwide; and
(iii) to ensure the operational posture of Coast
Guard units.
(B) ROTARY WING REPLACEMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENT
PLAN.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall develop and submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a capital investment
plan for the acquisition of new rotary wing airframes
to replace the Coast Guard’s legacy helicopters and
fulfil all existing mission requirements.
(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The plan developed under
this subparagraph shall provide—
(I) a total estimated cost for completion;
(II) a timetable for completion of the acquisition project and phased in transition to new airframes; and
(III) projected annual funding levels for each
fiscal year.
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chapter
17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 676 the following:

Deadline.

14 USC
631 prec.

‘‘676a. Air facility closures.’’.

(2) REPEAL OF PROHIBITION.—Section 225 of the Howard
Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014
(Public Law 113–281; 128 Stat. 3022) is amended—
(A) by striking subsection (b); and
(B) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’.
SEC. 209. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14, UNITED STATES
CODE.

14 USC
1 prec.

Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further
amended—
(1) in the analysis for part I, by striking the item relating
to chapter 19 and inserting the following:

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

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

(2) in section 46(a), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and inserting
‘‘section’’;
(3) in section 47, in the section heading by striking ‘‘commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘Commandant’’;
(4) in section 93(f), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may lease submerged
lands and tidelands under paragraph (1) only if—
‘‘(A) the lease is for cash exclusively;

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00014

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 41

‘‘(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair market
value of the use of the leased submerged lands or tidelands
for the period during which such lands are leased, as
determined by the Commandant;
‘‘(C) the lease does not provide authority to or commit
the Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to
such submerged lands and tidelands, or obtain goods and
services from the lessee; and
‘‘(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited in the Coast
Guard Housing Fund established under section 687.’’;
(5) in the analysis for chapter 9, by striking the item
relating to section 199 and inserting the following:

14 USC
181 prec.

‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’;

(6) in section 427(b)(2), by striking ‘‘this chapter’’ and
inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’;
(7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the item relating
to section 571, by striking the following:

14 USC
561 prec.

‘‘Sec.’’;

(8) in section 581(5)(B), by striking ‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and
inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’;
(9) in section 637(c)(3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘it is’’ before ‘‘any’’;
(10) in section 641(d)(3), by striking ‘‘Guard, installation’’
and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’;
(11) in section 691(c)(3), by striking ‘‘state’’ and inserting
‘‘State’’;
(12) in the analysis for chapter 21—
(A) by striking the item relating to section 709 and
inserting the following:

14 USC
701 prec.

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

and
(B) by striking the item relating to section 740 and
inserting the following:
‘‘740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.’’;

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(13) in section 742(c), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and inserting
‘‘subsections’’;
(14) in section 821(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 26’’ and
inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’; and
(15) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 26’’ and
inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

SEC. 210. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION.

14 USC 81 note.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process for
the discontinuance of an aid to navigation (other than a seasonal
or temporary aid) established, maintained, or operated by the Coast
Guard.
(b) REQUIREMENT.—The process established under subsection
(a) shall include procedures to notify the public of any discontinuance of an aid to navigation described in that subsection.

Deadline.

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00015

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Procedures.
Notification.
Public
information.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 42

(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a process under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall consult with and consider any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advisory Council.
(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after establishing
a process under subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate of the process established.

Deadline.

Deadline.
Assessment.

SEC. 211. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

6 USC 194 note.

SEC. 212. COMMUNICATIONS.

Determination.

(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that there are at least two communications systems described
under paragraph (1)(B) and certified under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish and carry out a pilot program across not
less than three components of the Department of Homeland Security
to assess the effectiveness of a communications system that—
(1) provides for—
(A) multiagency collaboration and interoperability; and
(B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation- and-acceptance-based multimedia communications;
(2) is certified by the Department of Defense Joint Interoperability Test Center; and
(3) is composed of commercially available, off-the-shelf technology.
(b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the date on
which the pilot program is completed, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
the Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate an assessment of the pilot program, including the
impacts of the program with respect to interagency and Coast
Guard response capabilities.
(c) STRATEGY.—The pilot program shall be consistent with the
strategy required by the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (Public Law 114–29).
(d) TIMING.—The pilot program shall commence within 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act or within 60 days
after the completion of the strategy required by the Department
of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (Public
Law 114–29), whichever is later.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate an assessment of the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s
Standard Operational Planning Process with respect to annual mission performance measures.

Deadline.

Deadline.
14 USC 470 note.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

SEC. 213. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPERATIONS EDUCATION.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall establish an education program, for members
and employees of the Coast Guard, that—

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00016

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 43

(1) offers a master’s degree in maritime operations;
(2) is relevant to the professional development of such
members and employees;
(3) provides resident and distant education options,
including the ability to utilize both options; and
(4) to the greatest extent practicable, is conducted using
existing academic programs at an accredited public academic
institution that—
(A) is located near a significant number of Coast Guard,
maritime, and other Department of Homeland Security
law enforcement personnel; and
(B) has an ability to simulate operations normally conducted at a command center.
SEC. 214. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 428 the following:
‘‘§ 429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel
‘‘(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONNEL.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
develop and implement a plan to conduct every two years
a multirater assessment for each of the following:
‘‘(A) Each flag officer of the Coast Guard.
‘‘(B) Each member of the Senior Executive Service of
the Coast Guard.
‘‘(C) Each officer of the Coast Guard nominated for
promotion to the grade of flag officer.
‘‘(2) POST-ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS.—Following an assessment of an individual pursuant to paragraph (1), the individual
shall be provided appropriate post-assessment counseling and
leadership coaching.
‘‘(b) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT DEFINED.—In this section, the
term ‘multirater assessment’ means a review that seeks opinion
from members senior to the reviewee and the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.’’.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning
of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related
to section 428 the following:

14 USC 429.
Effective date.
Deadlines.
Plan.

14 USC
211 prec.

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

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(b) TRAINING COURSE ON WORKINGS OF CONGRESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:

14 USC 60.
Deadline.
Consultation.

‘‘§ 60. Training course on workings of Congress
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the
Commandant, in consultation with the Superintendent of the Coast
Guard Academy and such other individuals and organizations as
the Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop a training
course on the workings of the Congress and offer that training
course at least once each year.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00017

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 44

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadlines.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(b) COURSE SUBJECT MATTER.—The training course required
by this section shall provide an overview and introduction to the
Congress and the Federal legislative process, including—
‘‘(1) the history and structure of the Congress and the
committee systems of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, including the functions and responsibilities of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
‘‘(2) the documents produced by the Congress, including
bills, resolutions, committee reports, and conference reports,
and the purposes and functions of those documents;
‘‘(3) the legislative processes and rules of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, including similarities and differences between the two processes and rules, including—
‘‘(A) the congressional budget process;
‘‘(B) the congressional authorization and appropriation
processes;
‘‘(C) the Senate advice and consent process for Presidential nominees;
‘‘(D) the Senate advice and consent process for treaty
ratification;
‘‘(4) the roles of Members of Congress and congressional
staff in the legislative process; and
‘‘(5) the concept and underlying purposes of congressional
oversight within our governance framework of separation of
powers.
‘‘(c) LECTURERS AND PANELISTS.—
‘‘(1) OUTSIDE EXPERTS.—The Commandant shall ensure
that not less than 60 percent of the lecturers, panelists, and
other individuals providing education and instruction as part
of the training course required by this section are experts
on the Congress and the Federal legislative process who are
not employed by the executive branch of the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PRO BONO SERVICES.—In satisfying the requirement under paragraph (1), the Commandant
shall seek, and may accept, educational and instructional services of lecturers, panelists, and other individuals and organizations provided to the Coast Guard on a pro bono basis.
‘‘(d) COMPLETION OF REQUIRED TRAINING.—
‘‘(1) CURRENT FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—A Coast
Guard flag officer appointed or assigned to a billet in the
National Capital Region on the date of the enactment of this
section, and a Coast Guard Senior Executive Service employee
employed in the National Capital Region on the date of the
enactment of this section, shall complete a training course
that meets the requirements of this section within 60 days
after the date on which the Commandant completes the development of the training course.
‘‘(2) NEW FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—A Coast Guard
flag officer who is newly appointed or assigned to a billet
in the National Capital Region, and a Coast Guard Senior
Executive Service employee who is newly employed in the
National Capital Region, shall complete a training course that
meets the requirements of this section not later than 60 days
after reporting for duty.’’.

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00018

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 45

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning
of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

14 USC
41 prec.

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

(c) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on Coast Guard leadership development.
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the feasibility of—
(i) all officers (other than officers covered by section
429(a) of title 14, United States Code, as amended
by this section) completing a multirater assessment;
(ii) all members (other than officers covered by
such section) in command positions completing a
multirater assessment;
(iii) all enlisted members in a supervisory position
completing a multirater assessment; and
(iv) members completing periodic multirater
assessments.
(B) Such recommendations as the Commandant considers appropriate for the implementation or expansion
of a multirater assessment in the personnel development
programs of the Coast Guard.
(C) An overview of each of the current leadership
development courses of the Coast Guard, an assessment
of the feasibility of the expansion of any such course, and
a description of the resources, if any, required to expand
such courses.
(D) An assessment on the state of leadership training
in the Coast Guard, and recommendations on the
implementation of a policy to prevent leadership that has
adverse effects on subordinates, the organization, or mission performance, including—
(i) a description of methods that will be used by
the Coast Guard to identify, monitor, and counsel
individuals whose leadership may have adverse effects
on subordinates, the organization, or mission performance;
(ii) the implementation of leadership recognition
training to recognize such leadership in one’s self and
others;
(iii) the establishment of procedures for the
administrative separation of leaders whose leadership
may have adverse effects on subordinates, the
organization, or mission performance; and
(iv) a description of the resources needed to implement this subsection.

Assessments.

Recommendations.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 215. SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBER CONTINUATION BOARDS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 357 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (h) and subsection
(j); and

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00019

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 46

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘(i)’’.
(b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
(1) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such section
is amended to read as follows:

14 USC
211 prec.

‘‘§ 357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in retired
pay’’
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning
of chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking the item
relating to such section and inserting the following:
‘‘357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in retired pay.’’.
SEC. 216. COAST GUARD MEMBER PAY.

(a) ANNUAL AUDIT OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF MEMBERS
UNDERGOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
14 USC 519.

14 USC
461 prec.

‘‘§ 519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of members
undergoing permanent change of station
‘‘The Commandant shall conduct each calendar year an audit
of member pay and allowances for the members who transferred
to new units during such calendar year. The audit for a calendar
year shall be completed by the end of the calendar year.’’.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning
of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

‘‘519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of members undergoing permanent
change of station.’’.
Assessments.

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on alternative methods
for notifying members of the Coast Guard of their monthly earnings.
The report shall include—
(1) an assessment of the feasibility of providing members
a monthly notification of their earnings, categorized by pay
and allowance type; and
(2) a description and assessment of mechanisms that may
be used to provide members with notification of their earnings,
categorized by pay and allowance type.

10 USC 1085
note.

SEC. 217. TRANSFER OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL
CARE.

(a) TRANSFER REQUIRED.—In lieu of the reimbursement
required under section 1085 of title 10, United States Code, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall transfer to the Secretary
of Defense an amount that represents the actuarial valuation of
treatment or care—
(1) that the Department of Defense shall provide to members of the Coast Guard, former members of the Coast Guard,
and dependents of such members and former members (other
than former members and dependents of former members who
are a Medicare-eligible beneficiary or for whom the payment
for treatment or care is made from the Medicare-Eligible

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00020

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 47

Retiree Health Care Fund) at facilities under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Defense or a military department; and
(2) for which a reimbursement would otherwise be made
under section 1085.
(b) AMOUNT.—The amount transferred under subsection (a)
shall be—
(1) in the case of treatment or care to be provided to
members of the Coast Guard and their dependents, derived
from amounts appropriated for the operating expenses of the
Coast Guard;
(2) in the case of treatment or care to be provided former
members of the Coast Guard and their dependents, derived
from amounts appropriated for retired pay;
(3) determined under procedures established by the Secretary of Defense;
(4) transferred during the fiscal year in which treatment
or care is provided; and
(5) subject to adjustment or reconciliation as the Secretaries
determine appropriate during or promptly after such fiscal
year in cases in which the amount transferred is determined
excessive or insufficient based on the services actually provided.
(c) NO TRANSFER WHEN SERVICE IN NAVY.—No transfer shall
be made under this section for any period during which the Coast
Guard operates as a service in the Navy.
(d) RELATIONSHIP TO TRICARE.—This section shall not be construed to require a payment for, or the transfer of an amount
that represents the value of, treatment or care provided under
any TRICARE program.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

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

Section 196 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before the first sentence; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard
may—
‘‘(A) enter into a contract, cooperative agreement, lease,
or licensing agreement with a qualified organization;
‘‘(B) allow a qualified organization to use, at no cost,
personal property of the Coast Guard; and
‘‘(C) notwithstanding section 93, accept funds, supplies,
and services from a qualified organization.
‘‘(2) SOLE-SOURCE BASIS.—Notwithstanding chapter 65 of
title 31 and chapter 137 of title 10, the Commandant may
enter into a contract or cooperative agreement under paragraph
(1)(A) on a sole-source basis.
‘‘(3) MAINTAINING FAIRNESS, OBJECTIVITY, AND INTEGRITY.—
The Commandant shall ensure that contributions under this
subsection do not—
‘‘(A) reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Coast
Guard, any of its employees, or any member of the armed
forces to carry out any responsibility or duty in a fair
and objective manner; or

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00021

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 48

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(B) compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the Coast Guard, or any individual
involved in such a program.
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—For purposes of this subsection,
employees or personnel of a qualified organization shall not
be employees of the United States.
‘‘(5) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In this subsection
the term ‘qualified organization’ means an organization—
‘‘(A) described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of that Code; and
‘‘(B) established by the Coast Guard Academy Alumni
Association solely for the purpose of supporting academic
research and applying for and administering Federal, State,
or other educational research grants on behalf of the Coast
Guard Academy.’’.
SEC. 219. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM.

Section 98(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘any appropriated Federal
funds for’’ and insert ‘‘any funds appropriated to the Coast
Guard on’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘artifacts.’’ and inserting
‘‘artifacts, including the design, fabrication, and installation
of exhibits or displays in which such artifacts are included.’’.
SEC. 220. INVESTIGATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code,
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘§ 430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Executive
Service employees
‘‘In conducting an investigation into an allegation of misconduct
by a flag officer or member of the Senior Executive Service serving
in the Coast Guard, the Inspector General of the Department of
Homeland Security shall—
‘‘(1) conduct the investigation in a manner consistent with
Department of Defense policies for such an investigation; and
‘‘(2) consult with the Inspector General of the Department
of Defense.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning of
such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item related
to section 429 the following:

14 USC 430.

Consultation.

14 USC
211 prec.

‘‘430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Executive Service employees.’’.
10 USC 1413a
note.

SEC. 221. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE COAST
GUARD FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadline.
Procedures.
Criteria.
Determination.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

(a) CONSIDERATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department
is which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue procedures
and criteria to use in determining whether the disability of
a member of the Coast Guard is a combat-related disability
for purposes of the eligibility of such member for combat-related
special compensation under section 1413a of title 10, United
States Code. Such procedures and criteria shall include the
procedures and criteria prescribed by the Secretary of Defense

PO 00120

Frm 00022

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 49

pursuant to subsection (e)(2) of such section. Such procedures
and criteria shall apply in determining whether the disability
of a member of the Coast Guard is a combat-related disability
for purposes of determining the eligibility of such member
for combat-related special compensation under such section.
(2) DISABILITY FOR WHICH A DETERMINATION IS MADE.—
For the purposes of this section, and in the case of a member
of the Coast Guard, a disability under section 1413a(e)(2)(B)
of title 10, United States Code, includes a disability incurred
during aviation duty, diving duty, rescue swimmer or similar
duty, and hazardous service duty onboard a small vessel (such
as duty as a surfman)—
(A) in the performance of duties for which special or
incentive pay was paid pursuant to section 301, 301a, 304,
307, 334, or 351 of title 37, United States Code;
(B) in the performance of duties related to a statutory
mission of the Coast Guard under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of section 888(a) of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468(a)), including—
(i) law enforcement, including drug or migrant
interdiction;
(ii) defense readiness; or
(iii) search and rescue; or
(C) while engaged in a training exercise for the
performance of a duty described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B).
(b) APPLICABILITY OF PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA.—The procedures and criteria issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply
to disabilities described in that subsection that are incurred on
or after the effective date provided in section 636(a)(2) of the Bob
Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003
(Public Law 107–314; 116 Stat. 2574; 10 U.S.C. 1413a note).
(c) REAPPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION.—Any member of the
Coast Guard who was denied combat-related special compensation
under section 1413a of title 10, United States Code, during the
period beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (b)
and ending on the date of the issuance of the procedures and
criteria required by subsection (a) may reapply for combat-related
special compensation under such section on the basis of such procedures and criteria in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall specify.

Applicability.

Effective date.

Time period.

SEC. 222. LEAVE POLICIES FOR THE COAST GUARD.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code,
is further amended by inserting after section 430 the following:
‘‘§ 431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard
‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary
of the Navy promulgates a new rule, policy, or memorandum pursuant to section 704 of title 10, United States Code, with respect
to leave associated with the birth or adoption of a child, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall promulgate a similar rule, policy, or memorandum that provides leave to officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard
that is equal in duration and compensation to that provided by
the Secretary of the Navy.’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00023

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

14 USC 431.
Deadline.
Regulations.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 50
14 USC
211 prec.

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning of
such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item related
to section 430 the following:
‘‘431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard.’’.

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
SEC. 301. SURVIVAL CRAFT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:

Deadline.

46 USC 3104
note.
Deadline.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Time period.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall require that
a passenger vessel be equipped with survival craft that ensures
that no part of an individual is immersed in water, if—
‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion
after January 1, 2016; and
‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD OF SAFETY.—The Secretary may revise
part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations,
as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such revision provides a
higher standard of safety than is provided by the regulations in
effect on or before the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2015.
‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Secretary may, in
lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 or part 180 of title
46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the
enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, allow
a passenger vessel to be equipped with a life-saving appliance
or arrangement of an innovative or novel design that—
‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is immersed in water;
and
‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of safety than
is provided by such requirements as in effect before such date
of the enactment.
‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘built’ has the
meaning that term has under section 4503(e).’’.
(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.—
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 2016, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
review of—
(A) the number of casualties for individuals with
disabilities, children, and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, reported to the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year period, by vessel type and area of operation;
(B) the risks to individuals with disabilities, children,
and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, by
passenger vessel type and area of operation;
(C) the effect that carriage of survival craft that ensure
that no part of an individual is immersed in water has
on—
(i) passenger vessel safety, including stability and
safe navigation;

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00024

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 51

(ii) improving the survivability of individuals,
including individuals with disabilities, children, and
the elderly; and
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost difference to
vessel operators, and the cost effectiveness of requiring
the carriage of such survival craft to address the risks
to individuals with disabilities, children, and the
elderly;
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices,
or measures in improving survivability of individuals with
disabilities, children, and the elderly; and
(E) the number of small businesses and nonprofit vessel
operators that would be affected by requiring the carriage
of such survival craft on passenger vessels to address the
risks to individuals with disabilities, children, and the
elderly.
(2) SCOPE.—In conducting the review under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall include an examination of passenger vessel
casualties that have occurred in the waters of other nations.
(3) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update the review
required under paragraph (1) every 5 years.
(4) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted under paragraph (1), including updates thereto, the Secretary shall revise
regulations concerning the carriage of survival craft under section 3104(c) of title 46, United States Code.
(c) GAO STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall complete and submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report to determine any adverse or
positive changes in public safety after the implementation of
the amendments and requirements under this section and section 3104 of title 46, United States Code.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In completing the report under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall examine—
(A) the number of casualties, by vessel type and area
of operation, as the result of immersion in water reported
to the Coast Guard for each of the 10 most recent fiscal
years for which such data are available;
(B) data for each fiscal year on—
(i) vessel safety, including stability and safe
navigation; and
(ii) survivability of individuals, including individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly;
(C) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices,
or measures; and
(D) any available data on the costs of the amendments
and requirements under this section and section 3104 of
title 46, United States Code.

Deadline.
Regulations.

Deadline.
Reports.

Examination.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 302. VESSEL REPLACEMENT.

(a) LOANS AND GUARANTEES.—Chapter 537 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) in section 53701—

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00025

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 52

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Definition.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (14) as
paragraphs (9) through (15), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
‘‘(8) HISTORICAL USES.—The term ‘historical uses’
includes—
‘‘(A) refurbishing, repairing, rebuilding, or replacing
equipment on a fishing vessel, without materially
increasing harvesting capacity;
‘‘(B) purchasing a used fishing vessel;
‘‘(C) purchasing, constructing, expanding, or reconditioning a fishery facility;
‘‘(D) refinancing existing debt;
‘‘(E) reducing fishing capacity; and
‘‘(F) making upgrades to a fishing vessel, including
upgrades in technology, gear, or equipment, that improve—
‘‘(i) collection and reporting of fishery-dependent
data;
‘‘(ii) bycatch reduction or avoidance;
‘‘(iii) gear selectivity;
‘‘(iv) adverse impacts caused by fishing gear; or
‘‘(v) safety.’’; and
(2) in section 53702(b), by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS AVAILABLE FOR HISTORIC
USES.—Of the direct loan obligations issued by the Secretary
under this chapter, the Secretary shall make a minimum of
$59,000,000 available each fiscal year for historic uses.
‘‘(4) USE OF OBLIGATIONS IN LIMITED ACCESS FISHERIES.—
In addition to the other eligible purposes and uses of direct
loan obligations provided for in this chapter, the Secretary
may issue direct loan obligations for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) financing the construction or reconstruction of a
fishing vessel in a fishery managed under a limited access
system; or
‘‘(B) financing the purchase of harvesting rights in
a fishery that is federally managed under a limited access
system.’’.
(b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION TO CERTAIN FISHING VESSELS
OF PROHIBITION UNDER VESSEL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.—Section
302(b)(2) of the Fisheries Financing Act (title III of Public Law
104–297; 46 U.S.C. 53706 note) is amended—
(1) in the second sentence—
(A) by striking ‘‘or in’’ and inserting ‘‘, in’’; and
(B) by inserting before the period the following: ‘‘,
in fisheries that are under the jurisdiction of the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council and managed under
a fishery management plan issued under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific whiting fishery that
is under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery Management
Council and managed under a fishery management plan
issued under that Act’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Any fishing vessel
operated in fisheries under the jurisdiction of the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council and managed under a fishery
management plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),
or in the Pacific whiting fishery under the jurisdiction of the

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00026

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 53

Pacific Fishery Management Council and managed under a
fishery management plan issued under that Act, and that is
replaced by a vessel that is constructed or rebuilt with a loan
or loan guarantee provided by the Federal Government may
not be used to harvest fish in any fishery under the jurisdiction
of any regional fishery management council, other than a
fishery under the jurisdiction of the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council or the Pacific Fishery Management
Council.’’.
SEC. 303. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4302 of title 46, United States Code
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e)(1) Under this section, a model year for recreational vessels
and associated equipment shall, except as provided in paragraph
(2)—
‘‘(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 31 of
the following year; and
‘‘(B) be designated by the year in which it ends.
‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manufacturer
to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may alter a model
year for a model of recreational vessel of the manufacturer and
associated equipment, by no more than 6 months from the model
year described in paragraph (1).’’.
(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall only apply with respect
to recreational vessels and associated equipment constructed or
manufactured, respectively, on or after the date of enactment of
this Act.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 304. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION HARMONIZATION.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c) and
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall establish a process to harmonize the expiration
dates of merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates,
and radar observer endorsements for individuals applying to the
Secretary for a new merchant mariner credential or for renewal
of an existing merchant mariner credential.
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the
process established under subsection (a)—
(1) does not require an individual to renew a merchant
mariner credential earlier than the date on which the individual’s current credential expires; and
(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates, and
radar observer endorsements for all individuals by not later
than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) EXCEPTION.—The process established under subsection (a)
does not apply to individuals—
(1) holding a merchant mariner credential with—
(A) an active Standards of Training, Certification, and
Watchkeeping endorsement; or
(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; or
(2) who have been issued a time-restricted medical certificate.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00027

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Effective date.
Termination
date.

46 USC 4302
note.

Deadlines.
46 USC 7302
note.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 54
Deadline.
33 USC 1231
note.

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
SEC. 305. SAFETY ZONES FOR PERMITTED MARINE EVENTS.

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall establish and implement a process to—
(1) account for the number of safety zones established
for permitted marine events;
(2) differentiate whether the event sponsor who requested
a permit for such an event is—
(A) an individual;
(B) an organization; or
(C) a government entity; and
(3) account for Coast Guard resources utilized to enforce
safety zones established for permitted marine events, including
for—
(A) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and
(B) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required.
SEC. 306. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

(a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151).’’ and
inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’;
(2) in section 2118—
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘title’’ and inserting
‘‘subtitle’’;
(3) in the analysis for chapter 35—
(A) by adding a period at the end of the item relating
to section 3507; and
(B) by adding a period at the end of the item relating
to section 3508;
(4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting
a semicolon;
(5) in section 4506, by striking ‘‘(a)’’;
(6) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking ‘‘Academy.’’ and
inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’;
(7) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking ‘‘under this Act’’;
(8) in the analysis for chapter 701—
(A) by adding a period at the end of the item relating
to section 70107A;
(B) in the item relating to section 70112, by striking
‘‘security advisory committees.’’ and inserting ‘‘Security
Advisory Committees.’’; and
(C) in the item relating to section 70122, by striking
‘‘watch program.’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch Program.’’;
(9) in section 70105(c)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(xv)—
(i) by striking ‘‘18, popularly’’ and inserting ‘‘18
(popularly’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘Act’’ and inserting ‘‘Act)’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(D) paragraph’’ and
inserting ‘‘(D) of paragraph’’;
(10) in section 70107—
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘5121(j)(8)),’’ and
inserting ‘‘5196(j)(8)),’’; and

46 USC
3501 prec.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

46 USC
70101 prec.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00028

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 55

(B) in subsection (m)(3)(C)(iii), by striking ‘‘that is’’
and inserting ‘‘that the applicant’’;
(11) in section 70122, in the section heading, by striking
‘‘watch program’’ and inserting ‘‘Watch Program’’; and
(12) in the analysis for chapter 705, by adding a period
at the end of the item relating to section 70508.
(b) GENERAL BRIDGE STATUTES.—
(1) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 3, 1899,
popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations
Act of 1899, is amended—
(A) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating’’; and
(B) in section 18 (33 U.S.C. 502), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating’’.
(2) ACT OF MARCH 23, 1906.—The Act of March 23, 1906,
popularly known as the Bridge Act of 1906, is amended—
(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by striking
‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Homeland Security’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating’’; and
(C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating’’.
(3) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the Act entitled
‘‘An Act making appropriations for the construction, repair,
and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors,
and for other purposes’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C.
499) is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department
in which the Coast Guard is operating’’.
(4) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 21, 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is amended—
(A) in section 1 (33 U.S.C. 511), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
(C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating’’; and
(D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’.
(5) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The General Bridge
Act of 1946 is amended—
(A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by striking
‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00029

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

46 USC
70501 prec.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 56

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
and
(B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it appears and
inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating’’.
(6) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The International
Bridge Act of 1972 is amended—
(A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
(B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Transportation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating’’; and
(C) by striking section 11 (33 U.S.C. 535h).
SEC. 307. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MARINE CASUALTY REPORTING.

Notification.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall notify the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate of the actions the Commandant will
take to implement recommendations on improvements to the Coast
Guard’s marine casualty reporting requirements and procedures
included in—
(1) the Department of Homeland Security Office of
Inspector General report entitled ‘‘Marine Accident Reporting,
Investigations, and Enforcement in the United States Coast
Guard’’, released on May 23, 2013; and
(2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee report entitled
‘‘Recommendations for Improvement of Marine Casualty
Reporting’’, released on March 26, 2015.
SEC. 308. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS.

Deadline.
Regulations.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall issue regulations amending table 4 to subpart
H of part 183 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (relating
to Weights (Pounds) of Outboard Motor and Related Equipment
for Various Boat Horsepower Ratings) as appropriate to reflect
‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and Related Equipment Weights’’
published by the American Boat and Yacht Council, as in effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 309. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION REFORM.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

46 USC 7509.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

‘‘§ 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law
and pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a trusted
agent may issue a medical certificate to an individual who—
‘‘(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a license,
certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document, or
endorsement thereto under this part; and

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00030

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 57

‘‘(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and physical condition
to perform the duties of such license, certificate, document,
or endorsement, as determined by the trusted agent.
‘‘(b) PROCESS FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES BY SECRETARY.—
A final rule implementing this section shall include a process for—
‘‘(1) the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating to issue medical certificates to mariners
who submit applications for such certificates to the Secretary;
and
‘‘(2) a trusted agent to defer to the Secretary the issuance
of a medical certificate.
‘‘(c) TRUSTED AGENT DEFINED.—In this section the term ‘trusted
agent’ means a medical practitioner certified by the Secretary to
perform physical examinations of an individual for purposes of
a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document
under this part.’’.
(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule implementing
section 7509 of title 46, United States Code, as added by this
section.
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following:

Regulations.

Regulations.
46 USC 7509
note.

46 USC
7501 prec.

‘‘7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.’’.
SEC. 310. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY.

Deadlines.

(a) ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY.—Not later
than April 1, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
conclude the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study and submit
the results of such study to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(b) NANTUCKET SOUND.—Not later than December 1, 2016,
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall complete and submit
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a port access route study of Nantucket
Sound using the standards and methodology of the Atlantic Coast
Port Access Route Study, to determine whether the Coast Guard
should revise existing regulations to improve navigation safety in
Nantucket Sound due to factors such as increased vessel traffic,
changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational
difficulty in the vicinity.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 311. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR RECREATIONAL
VESSELS.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall issue regulations that—
(1) make certificates of documentation for recreational vessels effective for 5 years; and
(2) require the owner of such a vessel—
(A) to notify the Coast Guard of each change in the
information on which the issuance of the certificate of
documentation is based, that occurs before the expiration
of the certificate; and

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00031

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Deadlines.
Regulations.
46 USC 12105
note.

Notification.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 58

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(B) apply for a new certificate of documentation for
such a vessel if there is any such change.

Deadline.
33 USC 1503
note.

SEC. 312. PROGRAM GUIDELINES.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment this
Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall—
(1) develop guidelines to implement the program authorized
under section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241), including
specific actions to ensure the future availability of able and
credentialed United States licensed and unlicensed seafarers
including—
(A) incentives to encourage partnership agreements
with operators of foreign-flag vessels that carry liquified
natural gas, that provide no less than one training billet
per vessel for United States merchant mariners in order
to meet minimum mandatory sea service requirements;
(B) development of appropriate training curricula for
use by public and private maritime training institutions
to meet all United States merchant mariner license, certification, and document laws and requirements under the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and
(C) steps to promote greater outreach and awareness
of additional job opportunities for sea service veterans of
the United States Armed Forces; and
(2) submit such guidelines to the Committee Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate.
SEC. 313. REPEALS.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(a) REPEALS, MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.—Sections 601
through 606, 608 through 611, 613 through 616, 802, and 809
of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) are
repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 575 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) in section 57501, by striking ‘‘titles V and VI’’ and
inserting ‘‘title V’’; and
(2) in section 57531(a), by striking ‘‘titles V and VI’’ and
inserting ‘‘title V’’.
(c) TRANSFER FROM MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 801 of the Merchant Marine Act,
1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) is—
(A) redesignated as section 57522 of title 46, United
States Code, and transferred to appear after section 57521
of such title; and
(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is amended—
(i) by striking so much as precedes the first sentence and inserting the following:
‘‘§ 57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection
and auditing’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘the provision of title VI or VII
of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this chapter’’; and
(iii) by striking ‘‘: Provided, That’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘Commission’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00032

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 59

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 575,
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 57521 the following:

46 USC
57501 prec.

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

(d) REPEALS, TITLE 46, U.S.C.—Section 8103 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended in subsections (c) and (d) by striking
‘‘or operating’’ each place it appears.
SEC. 314. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(a) PROHIBITIONS.—Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) PROHIBITIONS.—While on board a covered vessel, an individual may not knowingly or intentionally—
‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, or possess with intent to
manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance;
‘‘(2) destroy (including jettisoning any item or scuttling,
burning, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or attempt or conspire
to destroy, property that is subject to forfeiture under section
511(a) of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a)); or
‘‘(3) conceal, or attempt or conspire to conceal, more than
$100,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the
person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, or compartment of or
aboard the covered vessel if that vessel is outfitted for smuggling.’’.
(b) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—Section 70503 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—In this section the term ‘covered vessel’ means—
‘‘(1) a vessel of the United States or a vessel subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States; or
‘‘(2) any other vessel if the individual is a citizen of the
United States or a resident alien of the United States.’’.
(c) PENALTIES.—Section 70506 of title 46, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘A person violating section
70503’’ and inserting ‘‘A person violating paragraph (1) of section 70503(a)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) PENALTY.—A person violating paragraph (2) or (3) of section
70503(a) shall be fined in accordance with section 3571 of title
18, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.’’.
(d) SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE.—Section 70507(a) of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 70503’’ and
inserting ‘‘section 70503 or 70508’’.
(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
(1) The heading of section 70503 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 70503. Prohibited acts’’
(2) The analysis for chapter 705 of title 46, United States
Code, is further amended by striking the item relating to section
70503 and inserting the following:

46 USC
70501 prec.

‘‘70503. Prohibited acts.’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00033

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 60

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
SEC. 315. EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS.

(a) DISCLOSURE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States
Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
46 USC 7510.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadlines.
Establishment.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

‘‘§ 7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials
‘‘(a) DISCLOSURE NOT REQUIRED.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary is not required to disclose to the
public—
‘‘(1) a question from any examination for a merchant mariner credential;
‘‘(2) the answer to such a question, including any correct
or incorrect answer that may be presented with such question;
and
‘‘(3) any quality or characteristic of such a question,
including—
‘‘(A) the manner in which such question has been,
is, or may be selected for an examination;
‘‘(B) the frequency of such selection; and
‘‘(C) the frequency that an examinee correctly or incorrectly answered such question.
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN QUESTIONS.—Notwithstanding
subsection (a), the Secretary may, for the purpose of preparation
by the general public for examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, release an examination question and answer that
the Secretary has retired or is not presently on or part of an
examination, or that the Secretary determines is appropriate for
release.
‘‘(c) EXAM REVIEW.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of
2015, and once every two years thereafter, the Commandant
of the Coast Guard shall commission a working group to review
new questions for inclusion in examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, composed of—
‘‘(A) 1 subject matter expert from the Coast Guard;
‘‘(B) representatives from training facilities and the
maritime industry, of whom—
‘‘(i) one-half shall be representatives from approved
training facilities; and
‘‘(ii) one-half shall be representatives from the
appropriate maritime industry;
‘‘(C) at least 1 representative from the Merchant
Marine Personnel Advisory Committee;
‘‘(D) at least 2 representatives from the State maritime
academies, of whom one shall be a representative from
the deck training track and one shall be a representative
of the engine license track;
‘‘(E) representatives from other Coast Guard Federal
advisory committees, as appropriate, for the industry segment associated with the subject examinations;
‘‘(F) at least 1 subject matter expert from the Maritime
Administration; and
‘‘(G) at least 1 human performance technology representative.

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00034

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 61

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF PERSONS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT EXAMINATION TYPE.—The working group shall include representatives knowledgeable about the examination type under review.
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The requirement to convene a working
group under paragraph (1) does not apply unless there are
new examination questions to review.
‘‘(4) BASELINE REVIEW.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of
2015, the Secretary shall convene the working group to
complete a baseline review of the Coast Guard’s Merchant
Mariner Credentialing Examination, including review of—
‘‘(i) the accuracy of examination questions;
‘‘(ii) the accuracy and availability of examination
references;
‘‘(iii) the length of merchant mariner examinations;
and
‘‘(iv) the use of standard technologies in administering, scoring, and analyzing the examinations.
‘‘(B) PROGRESS REPORT.—The Coast Guard shall provide a progress report to the appropriate congressional
committees on the review under this paragraph.
‘‘(5) FULL MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED.—The Coast Guard
may convene the working group without all members present
if any non-Coast-Guard representative is present.
‘‘(6) NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall
require all members of the working group to sign a nondisclosure agreement with the Secretary.
‘‘(7) TREATMENT OF MEMBERS AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—
A member of the working group who is not a Federal Government employee shall not be considered a Federal employee
in the service or the employment of the Federal Government,
except that such a member shall be considered a special government employee, as defined in section 202(a) of title 18 for
purposes of sections 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of such title
and shall be subject to any administrative standards of conduct
applicable to an employee of the department in which the
Coast Guard is operating.
‘‘(8) FORMAL EXAM REVIEW.—The Secretary shall ensure
that the Coast Guard Performance Technology Center—
‘‘(A) prioritizes the review of examinations required
for merchant mariner credentials; and
‘‘(B) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, completes
a formal review, including an appropriate analysis, of the
topics and testing methodology employed by the National
Maritime Center for merchant seamen licensing.
‘‘(9) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App) shall not apply to any working group created under this
section to review the Coast Guard’s merchant mariner
credentialing examinations.
‘‘(d) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner credential’ means a merchant
seaman license, certificate, or document that the Secretary is
authorized to issue pursuant to this title.’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00035

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Deadline.

Deadlines.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 62

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter
is further amended by adding at the end the following:

46 USC
7501 prec.

‘‘7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.’’.

(b) EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 71 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
46 USC 7116.

46 USC
7101 prec.

‘‘§ 7116. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT FOR SAMPLE EXAMS.—The Secretary shall
develop a sample merchant mariner credential examination and
outline of merchant mariner examination topics on an annual basis.
‘‘(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each sample examination and outline of topics developed under subsection (a) shall be readily available to the public.
‘‘(c) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner credential’ has the meaning that
term has in section 7510.’’.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘7116. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.’’.

46 USC
7510 note.

(c) DISCLOSURE TO CONGRESS.—Nothing in this section may
be construed to authorize the withholding of information from an
appropriate inspector general, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, or the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 316. HIGHER VOLUME PORT AREA REGULATORY DEFINITION
CHANGE.

Applicability.
Washington.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 710 of the Coast
Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat.
2986) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) HIGHER VOLUME PORTS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements of subparts D, F, and G of part
155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, that apply to the
higher volume port area for the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Port
Angeles, Washington (including any water area within 50 nautical
miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound, shall apply, in the
same manner, and to the same extent, to the Strait of Juan de
Fuca at Cape Flattery, Washington (including any water area within
50 nautical miles seaward), to and including Puget Sound.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of such section
is amended by striking ‘‘the modification of the higher volume
port area definition required by subsection (a).’’ and inserting
‘‘higher volume port requirements made applicable under subsection
(a).’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 317. RECOGNITION OF PORT SECURITY ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES.

Section 70108 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(f) RECOGNITION OF ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY OTHER ENTITIES.—
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF ASSESSMENTS.—For
the purposes of this section and section 70109, the Secretary
may treat an assessment that a foreign government (including,
for the purposes of this subsection, an entity of or operating

VerDate Sep 11 2014

04:56 May 28, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00036

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 63

under the auspices of the European Union) or international
organization has conducted as an assessment that the Secretary
has conducted for the purposes of subsection (a), provided that
the Secretary certifies that the foreign government or international organization has—
‘‘(A) conducted the assessment in accordance with subsection (b); and
‘‘(B) provided the Secretary with sufficient information
pertaining to its assessment (including, but not limited
to, information on the outcome of the assessment).
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.—For
the purposes of this section and section 70109, the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of State, may enter into
an agreement with a foreign government (including, for the
purposes of this subsection, an entity of or operating under
the auspices of the European Union) or international organization, under which parties to the agreement—
‘‘(A) conduct an assessment, required under subsection
(a);
‘‘(B) share information pertaining to such assessment
(including, but not limited to, information on the outcome
of the assessment); or
‘‘(C) both.
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to—
‘‘(A) require the Secretary to recognize an assessment
that a foreign government or an international organization
has conducted; or
‘‘(B) limit the discretion or ability of the Secretary
to conduct an assessment under this section.
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days
before entering into an agreement or arrangement with a foreign government under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify
the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the proposed terms of such agreement
or arrangement.’’.

Consultation.

Deadline.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 318. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL CERTIFICATION.

(a) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS.—Section
4503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting
‘‘this subsection’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘This section’’ and inserting
‘‘Except as provided in subsection (d), subsection (a)’’;
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) by striking ‘‘This section’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except
as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (a)’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) Subsection (a) does not apply to a fishing vessel or fish
tender vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title applies, if the
vessel—
‘‘(A) is at least 50 feet overall in length, and not more
than 79 feet overall in length as listed on the vessel’s certificate
of documentation or certificate of number; and

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00037

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 64

Deadline.
Reports.
Analysis.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Determination.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(B)(i) is built after the date of the enactment of the Coast
Guard Authorization Act of 2015; and
‘‘(ii) complies with—
‘‘(I) the requirements described in subsection (e); or
‘‘(II) the alternative requirements established by the
Secretary under subsection (f).’’; and
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g), and
inserting after subsection (d) the following:
‘‘(e) The requirements referred to in subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii)(I)
are the following:
‘‘(1) The vessel is designed by an individual licensed by
a State as a naval architect or marine engineer, and the design
incorporates standards equivalent to those prescribed by a
classification society to which the Secretary has delegated
authority under section 3316 or another qualified organization
approved by the Secretary for purposes of this paragraph.
‘‘(2) Construction of the vessel is overseen and certified
as being in accordance with its design by a marine surveyor
of an organization accepted by the Secretary.
‘‘(3) The vessel—
‘‘(A) completes a stability test performed by a qualified
individual;
‘‘(B) has written stability and loading instructions from
a qualified individual that are provided to the owner or
operator; and
‘‘(C) has an assigned loading mark.
‘‘(4) The vessel is not substantially altered without the
review and approval of an individual licensed by a State as
a naval architect or marine engineer before the beginning of
such substantial alteration.
‘‘(5) The vessel undergoes a condition survey at least twice
in 5 years, not to exceed 3 years between surveys, to the
satisfaction of a marine surveyor of an organization accepted
by the Secretary.
‘‘(6) The vessel undergoes an out-of-water survey at least
once every 5 years to the satisfaction of a certified marine
surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary.
‘‘(7) Once every 5 years and at the time of a substantial
alteration to such vessel, compliance of the vessel with the
requirements of paragraph (3) is reviewed and updated as
necessary.
‘‘(8) For the life of the vessel, the owner of the vessel
maintains records to demonstrate compliance with this subsection and makes such records readily available for inspection
by an official authorized to enforce this chapter.
‘‘(f)(1) Not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that provides
an analysis of the adequacy of the requirements under subsection
(e) in maintaining the safety of the fishing vessels and fish tender
vessels which are described in subsection (c)(2) and which comply
with the requirements of subsection (e).
‘‘(2) If the report required under this subsection includes a
determination that the safety requirements under subsection (e)
are not adequate or that additional safety measures are necessary,

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00038

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 65

that the Secretary may establish an alternative safety compliance
program for fishing vessels or fish tender vessels (or both) which
are described in subsection (c)(2) and which comply with the requirements of subsection (e).
‘‘(3) The alternative safety compliance program established
under this subsection shall include requirements for—
‘‘(A) vessel construction;
‘‘(B) a vessel stability test;
‘‘(C) vessel stability and loading instructions;
‘‘(D) an assigned vessel loading mark;
‘‘(E) a vessel condition survey at least twice in 5 years,
not to exceed 3 years between surveys;
‘‘(F) an out-of-water vessel survey at least once every 5
years;
‘‘(G) maintenance of records to demonstrate compliance
with the program, and the availability of such records for
inspection; and
‘‘(H) such other aspects of vessel safety as the Secretary
considers appropriate.’’.
(b) GAO REPORT ON COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a report on commercial fishing vessel safety. The report
shall include—
(A) national and regional trends that can be identified
with respect to rates of marine casualties, human injuries,
and deaths aboard or involving fishing vessels greater than
79 feet in length that operate beyond the 3-nautical-mile
demarcation line;
(B) a comparison of United States regulations for classification of fishing vessels to those established by other
countries, including the vessel length at which such regulations apply;
(C) the additional costs imposed on vessel owners as
a result of the requirement in section 4503(a) of title 46,
United States Code, and how the those costs vary in relation to vessel size and from region to region;
(D) savings that result from the application of the
requirement in section 4503(a) of title 46, United States
Code, including reductions in insurance rates or reduction
in the number of fishing vessels or fish tender vessels
lost to major safety casualties, nationally and regionally;
(E) a national and regional comparison of the additional costs and safety benefits associated with fishing vessels or fish tender vessels that are built and maintained
to class through a classification society to the additional
costs and safety benefits associated with fishing vessels
or fish tender vessels that are built to standards equivalent
to classification society construction standards and maintained to standards equivalent to classification society
standards with verification by independent surveyors; and
(F) the impact on the cost of production and availability
of qualified shipyards, nationally and regionally, resulting

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00039

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 66

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
from the application of the requirement in section 4503(a)
of title 46, United States Code.
(2) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In preparing the report
under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall—
(A) consult with owners and operators of fishing vessels
or fish tender vessels, classification societies, shipyards,
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
the National Transportation Safety Board, the Coast
Guard, academics, naval architects, and marine safety nongovernmental organizations; and
(B) obtain relevant data from the Coast Guard
including data collected from enforcement actions,
boardings, investigations of marine casualties, and serious
marine incidents.
(3) TREATMENT OF DATA.—In preparing the report under
paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall—
(A) disaggregate data regionally for each of the regions
managed by the regional fishery management councils
established under section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1852), the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; and
(B) include qualitative data on the types of fishing
vessels or fish tender vessels included in the report.
SEC. 319. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(a)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761(a)(3)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Minerals Management Service’’ and
inserting ‘‘Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement,
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,’’; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘the United States Arctic Research
Commission,’’ after ‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration,’’.
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 7001 of the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Department of Transportation’’ and
inserting ‘‘department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’;
and
(2) in subsection (c)(8)(A), by striking ‘‘(1989)’’ and inserting
‘‘(2010)’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC.

320.

INTERNATIONAL
COORDINATION.

PORT

AND

FACILITY

INSPECTION

Section 825(a) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010
(6 U.S.C. 945 note; Public Law 111–281) is amended in the matter
preceding paragraph (1)—
(1) by striking ‘‘the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating’’ and inserting ‘‘Homeland Security’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘they are integrated and conducted by the
Coast Guard’’ and inserting ‘‘the assessments are coordinated
between the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00040

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 67

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME
COMMISSION
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 46, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘§ 308. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Maritime
Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017
for the activities of the Commission authorized under this chapter
and subtitle IV.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 3 of title
46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:

46 USC 308.

46 USC
301 prec.

‘‘308. Authorization of appropriations.’’.
SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN.

Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘units, but only after consultation with the other Commissioners;’’ and inserting ‘‘units (with
such appointments subject to the approval of the Commission);’’;
(2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(vi) prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress requests for appropriations for the Commission (with such requests subject to the approval of
the Commission).’’.
SEC. 403. PROHIBITION ON AWARDS.

Section 307 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘The Federal Maritime Commission’’ and
inserting the following:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Maritime Commission’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Federal
Maritime Commission may not expend any funds appropriated or
otherwise made available to it to a non-Federal entity to issue
an award, prize, commendation, or other honor that is not related
to the purposes set forth in section 40101.’’.

TITLE V—CONVEYANCES
Subtitle A—Miscellaneous Conveyances

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 501. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN POINT REYES
STATION, CALIFORNIA.

(a) CONVEYANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard
shall convey to the County of Marin, California all right, title,

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00041

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 68

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
and interest of the United States in and to the covered property—
(A) for fair market value, as provided in paragraph
(2);
(B) subject to the conditions required by this section;
and
(C) subject to any other term or condition that the
Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests of the United States.
(2) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of the
covered property shall be—
(A) determined by a real estate appraiser who has
been selected by the County and is licensed to practice
in California; and
(B) approved by the Commandant.
(3) PROCEEDS.—The Commandant shall deposit the proceeds from a conveyance under paragraph (1) in the Coast
Guard Housing Fund established by section 687 of title 14,
United States Code.
(b) CONDITION OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition of any conveyance of the covered property under this section, the Commandant
shall require that all right, title, and interest in and to the covered
property shall revert to the United States if the covered property
or any part thereof ceases to be used for affordable housing, as
defined by the County and the Commandant at the time of conveyance, or to provide a public benefit approved by the County.
(c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description of the
covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to
the Commandant.
(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may
be construed to affect or limit the application of or obligation
to comply with any environmental law, including section 120(h)
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
(e) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.—In this section, the term
‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 32 acres of real property (including all improvements located on the property) that are—
(1) located in Point Reyes Station in the County of Marin,
California;
(2) under the administrative control of the Coast Guard;
and
(3) described as ‘‘Parcel A, Tract 1’’, ‘‘Parcel B, Tract 2’’,
‘‘Parcel C’’, and ‘‘Parcel D’’ in the Declaration of Taking (Civil
No. C 71–1245 SC) filed June 28, 1971, in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California.
(f) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the covered property
under this section shall expire on the date that is four years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 502. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN TOK, ALASKA.

(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of the Coast
Guard may convey to the Tanana Chiefs’ Conference all right,
title, and interest of the United States in and to the covered
property, upon payment to the United States of the fair market
value of the covered property.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00042

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 69

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

(b) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description of the
covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to
the Commandant.
(c) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of the covered
property shall be—
(1) determined by appraisal; and
(2) subject to the approval of the Commandant.
(d) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate transaction and
environmental documentation costs, associated with a conveyance
under this section shall be determined by the Commandant and
the purchaser.
(e) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Commandant
may require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with a conveyance under this section as the Commandant considers
appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests of the United
States.
(f) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received by the United
States from a conveyance under this section shall be deposited
in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established under section 687
of title 14, United States Code.
(g) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 3.25 acres of real property
(including all improvements located on the property) that are—
(A) located in Tok, Alaska;
(B) under the administrative control of the Coast
Guard; and
(C) described in paragraph (2).
(2) DESCRIPTION.—The property described in this paragraph is the following:
(A) Lots 11, 12 and 13, block ‘‘G’’, Second Addition
to Hartsell Subdivision, Section 20, Township 18 North,
Range 13 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska as appears
by Plat No. 72–39 filed in the Office of the Recorder for
the Fairbanks Recording District of Alaska, bearing seal
dated 25 September 1972, all containing approximately
1.25 acres and commonly known as 2–PLEX – Jackie Circle,
Units A and B.
(B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the
SE 1⁄4 of the SE 1⁄4 Section 24, Township 18 North, Range
12 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska; thence running
westerly along the south line of said SE 1⁄4 of the NE
1⁄4 260 feet; thence northerly parallel to the east line of
said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1⁄4 335 feet; thence easterly parallel
to the south line 260 feet; then south 335 feet along the
east boundary of Section 24 to the point of beginning;
all containing approximately 2.0 acres and commonly
known as 4–PLEX – West ‘‘C’’ and Willow, Units A, B,
C and D.
(h) EXPIRATION.—The authority to convey the covered property
under this section shall expire on the date that is 4 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00043

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 70
Pribilof Island
Transition
Completion Act
of 2015.
16 USC 1151
note.

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

Subtitle B—Pribilof Islands
SEC. 521. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Pribilof Island Transition
Completion Act of 2015’’.
SEC. 522. TRANSFER AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadline.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) TRANSFER.—To further accomplish the settlement of land
claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.), the Secretary of Commerce shall, subject to paragraph
(2), and notwithstanding section 105(a) of the Pribilof Islands
Transition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562), convey
all right, title, and interest in the following property to the Alaska
native village corporation for St. Paul Island:
(1) Lots 4, 5, and 6A, Block 18, Tract A, U.S. Survey
4943, Alaska, the plat of which was Officially Filed on January
20, 2004, aggregating 13,006 square feet (0.30 acres).
(2) On the termination of the license described in subsection
(b)(3), T. 35 S., R. 131 W., Seward Meridian, Alaska, Tract
43, the plat of which was Officially Filed on May 14, 1986,
containing 84.88 acres.
(b) FEDERAL USE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may operate, maintain, keep,
locate, inspect, repair, and replace any Federal aid to navigation
located on the property described in subsection (a) as long
as the aid is needed for navigational purposes.
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary may enter the property, at any time for as long
as the aid is needed for navigational purposes, without notice
to the extent that it is not practicable to provide advance
notice.
(3) LICENSE.—The Secretary of the Department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may maintain a license in effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to the
real property and improvements under subsection (a) until
the termination of the license.
(4) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act and not less than once every 2
years thereafter, the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate a report on—
(A) efforts taken to remediate contaminated soils on
tract 43 described in subsection (a)(2);
(B) a schedule for the completion of contaminated soil
remediation on tract 43; and
(C) any use of tract 43 to carry out Coast Guard
navigation activities.
(c) AGREEMENT ON TRANSFER OF OTHER PROPERTY ON ST. PAUL
ISLAND.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the property transferred
under subsection (a), not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and
the presiding officer of the Alaska native village corporation

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00044

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 71

for St. Paul Island shall enter into an agreement to exchange
of property on Tracts 50 and 38 on St. Paul Island and to
finalize the recording of deeds, to reflect the boundaries and
ownership of Tracts 50 and 38 as depicted on a survey of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be
filed with the Office of the Recorder for the Department of
Natural Resources for the State of Alaska.
(2) EASEMENTS.—The survey described in subsection (a)
shall include respective easements granted to the Secretary
and the Alaska native village corporation for the purpose of
utilities, drainage, road access, and salt lagoon conservation.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 523. NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION.

Section 105 of the Pribilof Islands Transition Act (16 U.S.C.
1161 note; Public Law 106–562) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and
inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding paragraph (2) and effective beginning on the date the Secretary publishes the notice of certification required by subsection (b)(5), the Secretary’’;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘section 205 of
the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1165)’’ and inserting
‘‘section 205(a) of the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
1165(a))’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall
promptly publish and submit to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate notice
that the certification described in paragraph (2) has been
made.’’; and
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
‘‘makes the certification described in subsection (b)(2)’’ and
inserting ‘‘publishes the notice of certification required by
subsection (b)(5)’’; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Section 205’’ and
inserting ‘‘Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of section 205’’;
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
‘‘(e) NOTIFICATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (f) that land
on St. Paul Island, Alaska, not specified for transfer in the
document entitled ‘Transfer of Property on the Pribilof Islands:
Descriptions, Terms and Conditions’ or section 522 of the
Pribilof Island Transition Completion Act of 2015 is in excess
of the needs of the Secretary and the Federal Government,
the Secretary shall notify the Alaska native village corporation
for St. Paul Island of the determination.
‘‘(2) ELECTION TO RECEIVE.—Not later than 60 days after
the date receipt of the notification of the Secretary under subsection (a), the Alaska native village corporation for St. Paul
Island shall notify the Secretary in writing whether the Alaska
native village corporation elects to receive all right, title, and
interest in the land or a portion of the land.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00045

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Effective date.

Publication.

Deadlines.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 72

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘(3) TRANSFER.—If the Alaska native village corporation
provides notice under paragraph (2) that the Alaska native
village corporation elects to receive all right, title and interest
in the land or a portion of the land, the Secretary shall transfer
all right, title, and interest in the land or portion to the Alaska
native village corporation at no cost.
‘‘(4) OTHER DISPOSITION.—If the Alaska native village corporation does not provide notice under paragraph (2) that the
Alaska native village corporation elects to receive all right,
title, and interest in the land or a portion of the land, the
Secretary may dispose of the land in accordance with other
applicable law.
‘‘(f) DETERMINATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this subsection and not less than once
every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall determine whether
property located on St. Paul Island and not transferred to
the Natives of the Pribilof Islands is in excess of the smallest
practicable tract enclosing land—
‘‘(A) needed by the Secretary for the purposes of carrying out the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 1151 et
seq.);
‘‘(B) in the case of land withdrawn by the Secretary
on behalf of other Federal agencies, needed for carrying
out the missions of those agencies for which land was
withdrawn; or
‘‘(C) actually used by the Federal Government in
connection with the administration of any Federal installation on St. Paul Island.
‘‘(2) REPORT OF DETERMINATION.—When a determination
is made under subsection (a), the Secretary shall report the
determination to—
‘‘(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives;
‘‘(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
‘‘(C) the Alaska native village corporation for St. Paul
Island.’’.

Deadlines.

SEC. 524. REDUNDANT CAPABILITY.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadline.
Time period.
Effective date.
Determination.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), section 681 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by
this Act, shall not be construed to prohibit any transfer or conveyance of lands under this subtitle or any actions that involve the
dismantling or disposal of infrastructure that supported the former
LORAN system that are associated with the transfer or conveyance
of lands under section 522.
(b) REDUNDANT CAPABILITY.—If, within the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines
that a facility on Tract 43, if transferred under this subtitle, is
subsequently required to provide a positioning, navigation, and
timing system to provide redundant capability in the event GPS
signals are disrupted, the Secretary may—
(1) operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, repair, and
replace such facility; and

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00046

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 73

(2) in carrying out the activities described in paragraph
(1), enter, at any time, the facility without notice to the extent
that it is not possible to provide advance notice, for as long
as such facility is needed to provide such capability.

Subtitle C—Conveyance of Coast Guard
Property at Point Spencer, Alaska
SEC. 531. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Major shipping traffic is increasing through the Bering
Strait, the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and the Arctic Ocean,
and will continue to increase whether or not development of
the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States is undertaken
in the future, and will increase further if such Outer Continental Shelf development is undertaken.
(2) There is a compelling national, State, Alaska Native,
and private sector need for permanent infrastructure development and for a presence in the Arctic region of Alaska by
appropriate agencies of the Federal Government, particularly
in proximity to the Bering Strait, to support and facilitate
search and rescue, shipping safety, economic development, oil
spill prevention and response, protection of Alaska Native
archaeological and cultural resources, port of refuge, arctic
research, and maritime law enforcement on the Bering Sea,
the Chukchi Sea, and the Arctic Ocean.
(3) The United States owns a parcel of land, known as
Point Spencer, located between the Bering Strait and Port
Clarence and adjacent to some of the best potential deepwater
port sites on the coast of Alaska in the Arctic.
(4) Prudent and effective use of Point Spencer may be
best achieved through marshaling the energy, resources, and
leadership of the public and private sectors.
(5) It is in the national interest to develop infrastructure
at Point Spencer that would aid the Coast Guard in performing
its statutory duties and functions in the Arctic on a more
permanent basis and to allow for public and private sector
development of facilities and other infrastructure to support
purposes that are of benefit to the United States.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 532. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle:
(1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the meaning given that
term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act
of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
(2) BSNC.—The term ‘‘BSNC’’ means the Bering Straits
Native Corporation authorized under section 7 of the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606).
(3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the Port
Coordination Council established under section 541.
(4) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the Port Management
Coordination Plan developed under section 541.
(5) POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Point Spencer’’ means the
land known as ‘‘Point Spencer’’ located in Townships 2, 3,
and 4 South, Range 40 West, Kateel River Meridian, Alaska,
between the Bering Strait and Port Clarence and withdrawn

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00047

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 74

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

by Public Land Order 2650 (published in the Federal Register
on April 12, 1962).
(6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise specifically provided,
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the department
in which the Coast Guard is operating.
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Alaska.
(8) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ or ‘‘Tracts’’ means any of
Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract 4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, as
appropriate, or any portion of such Tract or Tracts.
(9) TRACTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6.—The terms ‘‘Tract 1’’, ‘‘Tract
2’’, ‘‘Tract 3’’, ‘‘Tract 4’’, ‘‘Tract 5’’, and ‘‘Tract 6’’ each mean
the land generally depicted as Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract 3, Tract
4, Tract 5, or Tract 6, respectively, on the map entitled the
‘‘Point Spencer Land Retention and Conveyance Map’’, dated
January 2015, and on file with the Department of Homeland
Security and the Department of the Interior.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

Deadlines.

SEC. 533. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY LAND IN POINT SPENCER.

Notification.

(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 1, 3, AND 4.—Within 1
year after the Secretary notifies the Secretary of the Interior that
the Coast Guard no longer needs to retain jurisdiction of Tract
1, Tract 3, or Tract 4 and subject to section 534, the Secretary
of the Interior shall convey to BSNC or the State, subject to valid
existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States
in and to the surface and subsurface estates of that Tract in
accordance with subsection (d).
(b) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TRACTS 2 AND 5.—Within 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this section and subject to
section 534, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject
to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 2
and Tract 5 in accordance with subsection (d).
(c) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TRACT 6.—Within one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to sections 534
and 535, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, subject to
valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the surface and subsurface estates of Tract 6
in accordance with subsection (e).
(d) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, OR 5.—
(1) DETERMINATION AND OFFER.—
(A) TRACT 1, 3, OR 4.—If the Secretary makes the
determination under subsection (a) and subject to section
534, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 1, Tract
3, or Tract 4 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(B) TRACT 2 AND 5.—Subject to section 534, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 2 and Tract 5 to
BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(2) OFFER TO BSNC.—
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.—If BSNC chooses to accept
an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph (1),
the Secretary of the Interior shall consider Tract 6 as
within BSNC’s entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8))
and shall convey such Tract to BSNC.

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00048

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 75

(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines to accept
an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph (1),
the Secretary of the Interior shall offer such Tract for
conveyance to the State under the Act of July 7, 1958
(commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48
U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508).
(3) OFFER TO STATE.—
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State chooses to
accept an offer of conveyance of a Tract under paragraph
(2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider such
Tract as within the State’s entitlement under the Act of
July 7, 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood
Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508) and
shall convey such Tract to the State.
(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State declines to accept
an offer of conveyance of a Tract offered under paragraph
(2)(B), such Tract shall be disposed of pursuant to
applicable public land laws.
(e) ORDER OF OFFER TO CONVEY TRACT 6.—
(1) OFFER.—Subject to section 534, the Secretary of the
Interior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to the State.
(2) OFFER TO STATE.—
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY STATE.—If the State chooses to
accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph
(1), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider Tract 6
as within the State’s entitlement under the Act of July
7, 1958 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’)
(48 U.S.C. note prec. 21; Public Law 85–508) and shall
convey Tract 6 to the State.
(B) DECLINE BY STATE.—If the State declines to accept
an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph (1),
the Secretary of the Interior shall offer Tract 6 for conveyance to BSNC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(3) OFFER TO BSNC.—
(A) ACCEPTANCE BY BSNC.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), if BSNC
chooses to accept an offer of conveyance of Tract 6
under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of the Interior
shall consider Tract 6 as within BSNC’s entitlement
under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)) and shall convey
Tract 6 to BSNC.
(ii) LEASE BY THE STATE.—The conveyance of Tract
6 to BSNC shall be subject to BSNC negotiating a
lease of Tract 6 to the State at no cost to the State,
if the State requests such a lease.
(B) DECLINE BY BSNC.—If BSNC declines to accept
an offer of conveyance of Tract 6 under paragraph (2)(B),
the Secretary of the Interior shall dispose of Tract 6 pursuant to the applicable public land laws.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 534. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, LIABILITY, AND MONITORING.

42 USC 9620
note.

(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

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00049

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 76

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
environmental law, including section 120(h) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
(b) LIABILITY.—A person to which a conveyance is made under
this subtitle shall hold the United States harmless from any liability
with respect to activities carried out on or after the date of the
conveyance of the real property conveyed. The United States shall
remain responsible for any liability with respect to activities carried
out before such date on the real property conveyed.
(c) MONITORING OF KNOWN CONTAMINATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent practicable and subject
to paragraph (2), any contamination in a Tract to be conveyed
to the State or BSNC under this subtitle that—
(A) is identified in writing prior to the conveyance;
and
(B) does not pose an immediate or long-term risk to
human health or the environment;
may be routinely monitored and managed by the State or
BSNC, as applicable, through institutional controls.
(2) INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS.—Institutional controls may
be used if—
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Governor of the State concur that such
controls are protective of human health and the environment; and
(B) such controls are carried out in accordance with
Federal and State law.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 535. EASEMENTS AND ACCESS.

(a) USE BY COAST GUARD.—The Secretary of the Interior shall
make each conveyance of any relevant Tract under this subtitle
subject to an easement granting the Coast Guard, at no cost to
the Coast Guard—
(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, airstrips,
runways, and taxiways that are located on such Tract; and
(2) the right to access such landing pads, airstrips, runways, and taxiways.
(b) USE BY STATE.—For any Tract conveyed to BSNC under
this subtitle, BSNC shall provide to the State, if requested and
pursuant to negotiated terms with the State, an easement granting
to the State, at no cost to the State—
(1) use of all existing and future landing pads, airstrips,
runways, and taxiways located on such Tract; and
(2) a right to access such landing pads, airstrips, runways,
and taxiways.
(c) RIGHT OF ACCESS OR RIGHT OF WAY.—If the State requests
a right of access or right of way for a road from the airstrip
to the southern tip of Point Spencer, the location of such right
of access or right of way shall be determined by the State, in
consultation with the Secretary and BSNC, so that such right
of access or right of way is compatible with other existing or
planned infrastructure development at Point Spencer.
(d) ACCESS EASEMENT ACROSS TRACTS 2, 5, AND 6.—In conveyance documents to the State and BSNC under this subtitle, the
Coast Guard shall retain an access easement across Tracts 2, 5,
and 6 reasonably necessary to afford the Coast Guard with access
to Tracts 1, 3, and 4 for its operations.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00050

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 77

(e) ACCESS.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Coast Guard shall provide to the State
and BSNC, access to Tracts for planning, design, and engineering
related to remediation and use of and construction on those Tracts.
(f) PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS.—No public access easements
may be reserved to the United States under section 17(b) of the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)) with
respect to the land conveyed under this subtitle.

Deadline.

SEC. 536. RELATIONSHIP TO PUBLIC LAND ORDER 2650.

(a) TRACTS NOT CONVEYED.—Any Tract that is not conveyed
under this subtitle shall remain withdrawn pursuant to Public
Land Order 2650 (published in the Federal Register on April 12,
1962).
(b) TRACTS CONVEYED.—For any Tract conveyed under this
subtitle, Public Land Order 2650 shall automatically terminate
upon issuance of a conveyance document issued pursuant to this
subtitle for such Tract.

Termination.

SEC. 537. ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

Conveyance of any Tract under this subtitle shall not affect
investigations, criminal jurisdiction, and responsibilities regarding
theft or vandalism of archeological or cultural resources located
in or on such Tract that took place prior to conveyance under
this subtitle.
SEC. 538. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.

(a) PREPARATION OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon
as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Secretary shall
prepare maps and legal descriptions of Tract 1, Tract 2, Tract
3, Tract 4, Tract 5, and Tract 6. In doing so, the Secretary of
the Interior may use metes and bounds legal descriptions based
upon the official survey plats of Point Spencer accepted by the
Bureau of Land Management on December 6, 1978, and on information provided by the Secretary.
(b) SURVEY.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall survey
Tracts conveyed under this subtitle and patent the Tracts in accordance with the official plats of survey.
(c) LEGAL EFFECT.—The maps and legal descriptions prepared
under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under subsection
(b) shall have the same force and effect as if the maps and legal
descriptions were included in this Act.
(d) CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior may correct
any clerical and typographical errors in the maps and legal descriptions prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under
subsection (b).
(e) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the maps and legal descriptions
prepared under subsection (a) and the surveys prepared under
subsection (b) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of—
(1) the Bureau of Land Management; and
(2) the Coast Guard.

Consultation.

Deadline.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

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

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00051

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 78

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
pursuant to this subtitle against the State’s remaining entitlement
under section 6(b) of the Act of July 7, 1958 (commonly known
as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’; Public Law 85–508: 72 Stat. 339).
(b) CONVEYANCES TO BSNC.—The Secretary of the Interior
shall charge any conveyance of land conveyed to BSNC pursuant
to this subtitle, against BSNC’s remaining entitlement under section 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1613(h)(8)).
SEC. 540. REDUNDANT CAPABILITY.

Determination.
Deadline.
Time period.
Effective date.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), section
681 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall
not be construed to prohibit any transfer or conveyance of lands
under this subtitle or any actions that involve the dismantling
or disposal of infrastructure that supported the former LORAN
system that are associated with the transfer or conveyance of lands
under this subtitle.
(b) CONTINUED ACCESS TO AND USE OF FACILITIES.—If the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating
determines, within the 5-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, that a facility on any of Tract 1, Tract
3, or Tract 4 that is transferred under this subtitle is subsequently
required to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system
to provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are disrupted, the Secretary may, for as long as such facility is needed
to provide redundant capability—
(1) operate, maintain, keep, locate, inspect, repair, and
replace such facility; and
(2) in carrying out the activities described in paragraph
(1), enter, at any time, the facility without notice to the extent
that it is not possible to provide advance notice.
SEC. 541. PORT COORDINATION COUNCIL FOR POINT SPENCER.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Deadlines.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Port Coordination
Council for the Port of Point Spencer.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of a representative
appointed by each of the following:
(1) The State.
(2) BSNC.
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council are as follows:
(1) To develop a Port Management Coordination Plan to
help coordinate infrastructure development and operations at
the Port of Point Spencer, that includes plans for—
(A) construction;
(B) funding eligibility;
(C) land use planning and development; and
(D) public interest use and access, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, protection of Alaska Native archaeological and cultural resources, and other matters that
are necessary for public and private entities to function
in proximity together in a remote location.
(2) Update the Plan annually for the first 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter.
(3) Facilitate coordination among BSNC, the State, and
the Coast Guard, on the development and use of the land
and coastline as such development relates to activities at the
Port of Point Spencer.

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00052

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 79

(4) Assess the need, benefits, efficacy, and desirability of
establishing in the future a port authority at Point Spencer
under State law and act upon that assessment, as appropriate,
including taking steps for the potential formation of such a
port authority.
(d) PLAN.—In addition to the requirements under subsection
(c)(1) to the greatest extent practicable, the Plan developed by
the Council shall facilitate and support the statutory missions and
duties of the Coast Guard and operations of the Coast Guard
in the Arctic.
(e) COSTS.—Operations and management costs for airstrips,
runways, and taxiways at Point Spencer shall be determined pursuant to provisions of the Plan, as negotiated by the Council.

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 601. MODIFICATION OF REPORTS.

(a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421(d) of the Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103
note) is amended by striking ‘‘On March 1, 2007, and annually
thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than July 1 of each year’’.
(b) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABILITY.—Section 603(c)(3)
of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (33
U.S.C. 2704 note) is amended by striking ‘‘on an annual basis.’’
and inserting ‘‘not later than January 30 of the year following
each year in which occurs an oil discharge from a vessel or nonvessel
source that results or is likely to result in removal costs and
damages (as those terms are defined in section 1001 of the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that exceed liability limits
established under section 1004 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
(33 U.S.C. 2704).’’.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
submit to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating a report detailing the specifications and capabilities for interoperable communications the Commandant determines
are necessary to allow the Coast Guard to successfully carry out
its missions that require communications with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental entities.
SEC. 602. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES.

The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amended—
(1) in section 610, by—
(A) striking the section enumerator and heading and
inserting the following:

16 USC 1431
note.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES.’’;

(B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any future
expanded boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine
Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of any national marine sanctuary that preserves shipwrecks or maritime heritage in the Great Lakes’’; and
(C) inserting before the period at the end the following:
‘‘, unless the designation documents for such sanctuary
do not allow taking up or discharging ballast water in
such sanctuary’’; and

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00053

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 80

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(2) in the table of contents in section 2, by striking the
item relating to such section and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’.
SEC. 603. USE OF VESSEL SALE PROCEEDS.

Deadline.

(a) AUDIT.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct an audit of funds credited in each fiscal year after fiscal
year 2004 to the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund that are attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve
Fleet that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103,
and 57104 of title 46, United States Code, including—
(1) a complete accounting of all vessel sale proceeds attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense
Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102,
57103, and 57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each
fiscal year after fiscal year 2004;
(2) the annual apportionment of proceeds accounted for
under paragraph (1) among the uses authorized under section
308704 of title 54, United States Code, in each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2004, including—
(A) for National Maritime Heritage Grants, including
a list of all annual National Maritime Heritage Grant
grant and subgrant awards that identifies the respective
grant and subgrant recipients and grant and subgrant
amounts;
(B) for the preservation and presentation to the public
of maritime heritage property of the Maritime Administration;
(C) to the United States Merchant Marine Academy
and State maritime academies, including a list of annual
awards; and
(D) for the acquisition, repair, reconditioning, or
improvement of vessels in the National Defense Reserve
Fleet; and
(3) an accounting of proceeds, if any, attributable to the
sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, and
57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each fiscal year after
fiscal year 2004, that were expended for uses not authorized
under section 308704 of title 54, United States Code.
(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit the audit conducted in subsection (a) to the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 604. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES COST ASSESSMENT.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Contracts.
Deadline.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) COST ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter into an
arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which
the Academy, by no later than 365 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00054

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 81

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the costs incurred by the Federal Government to carry
out polar icebreaking missions. The assessment shall—
(1) describe current and emerging requirements for the
Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking capabilities, taking into
account the rapidly changing ice cover in the Arctic environment, national security considerations, and expanding commercial activities in the Arctic and Antarctic, including marine
transportation, energy development, fishing, and tourism;
(2) identify potential design, procurement, leasing, service
contracts, crewing, and technology options that could minimize
life-cycle costs and optimize efficiency and reliability of Coast
Guard polar icebreaker operations in the Arctic and Antarctic;
and
(3) examine—
(A) Coast Guard estimates of the procurement and
operating costs of a Polar icebreaker capable of carrying
out Coast Guard maritime safety, national security, and
stewardship responsibilities including—
(i) economies of scale that might be achieved for
construction of multiple vessels; and
(ii) costs of renovating existing polar class icebreakers to operate for a period of no less than 10
years.
(B) the incremental cost to augment the design of
such an icebreaker for multiuse capabilities for scientific
missions;
(C) the potential to offset such incremental cost
through cost-sharing agreements with other Federal
departments and agencies; and
(D) United States polar icebreaking capability in
comparison with that of other Arctic nations, and with
nations that conduct research in the Arctic.
(b) INCLUDED COSTS.—For purposes of subsection (a), the
assessment shall include costs incurred by the Federal Government
for—
(1) the lease or operation and maintenance of the vessel
or vessels concerned;
(2) disposal of such vessels at the end of the useful life
of the vessels;
(3) retirement and other benefits for Federal employees
who operate such vessels; and
(4) interest payments assumed to be incurred for Federal
capital expenditures.
(c) ASSUMPTIONS.—For purposes of comparing the costs of such
alternatives, the Academy shall assume that—
(1) each vessel under consideration is—
(A) capable of breaking out McMurdo Station and conducting Coast Guard missions in the Antarctic, and in
the United States territory in the Arctic (as that term
is defined in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy
Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111)); and
(B) operated for a period of 30 years;
(2) the acquisition of services and the operation of each
vessel begins on the same date; and
(3) the periods for conducting Coast Guard missions in
the Arctic are of equal lengths.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00055

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

Examination.

PUBL120

130 STAT. 82

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
(d) USE OF INFORMATION.—In formulating cost pursuant to
subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences may utilize
information from other Coast Guard reports, assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast Guard Polar class icebreakers or
for the acquisition of a polar icebreaker for the Federal Government.
SEC. 605. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENTS.

(a) ‘‘ELETTRA III’’.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 12112 and
12132, of title 46, United States Code, and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel M/
V Elettra III (United States official number 694607).
(2) LIMITATION ON OPERATION.—Coastwise trade authorized
under a certificate of documentation issued under paragraph
(1) shall be limited to the carriage of passengers and equipment
in association with the operation of the vessel in the Puget
Sound region to support marine and maritime science education.
(3) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTIFICATE.—A
certificate of documentation issued under paragraph (1) shall
expire on the earlier of—
(A) the date of the sale of the vessel or the entity
that owns the vessel;
(B) the date any repairs or alterations are made to
the vessel outside of the United States; or
(C) the date the vessel is no longer operated as a
vessel in the Puget Sound region to support the marine
and maritime science education.
(b) ‘‘F/V RONDYS’’.—Notwithstanding section 12132 of title 46,
United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the F/V Rondys (O.N. 291085)
SEC. 606. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL.

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the
Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that
describes the current operations to perform the International Ice
Patrol mission and on alternatives for carrying out that mission,
including satellite surveillance technology.
(b) ALTERNATIVES.—The report required by subsection (a) shall
include whether an alternative—
(1) provides timely data on ice conditions with the highest
possible resolution and accuracy;
(2) is able to operate in all weather conditions or any
time of day; and
(3) is more cost effective than the cost of current operations.
SEC. 607. ASSESSMENT OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES.
ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Consultation.

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in
consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the head of any other agency

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00056

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 83

the Commandant determines appropriate, shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of oil spill response activities specific
to the Great Lakes. Such assessment shall include—
(1) an evaluation of new research into oil spill impacts
in fresh water under a wide range of conditions; and
(2) an evaluation of oil spill prevention and clean up contingency plans, in order to improve understanding of oil spill
impacts in the Great Lakes and foster innovative improvements
to safety technologies and environmental protection systems.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall submit to the Congress a report on the results of
the assessment required by subsection (a).

Evaluation.

SEC. 608. REPORT ON STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY DETECTING PASSENGERS WHO HAVE FALLEN OVERBOARD.

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit
a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that—
(1) describes the status of technology for immediately
detecting passengers who have fallen overboard;
(2) includes a recommendation to cruise lines on the feasibility of implementing technology that immediately detects passengers who have fallen overboard, factoring in cost and the
risk of false positives;
(3) includes data collected from cruise lines on the status
of the integration of the technology described in paragraph
(2) on cruise ships, including—
(A) the number of cruise ships that have the technology
to capture images of passengers who have fallen overboard;
and
(B) the number of cruise lines that have tested technology that can detect passengers who have fallen overboard; and
(4) includes information on any other available technologies
that cruise ships could integrate to assist in facilitating the
search and rescue of a passenger who has fallen overboard.

Recommendation.

SEC. 609. VENUE.

Section 311(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(d)) is amended by striking
the second sentence and inserting ‘‘In the case of Hawaii or any
possession of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, the appropriate
court is the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii,
except that in the case of Guam and Wake Island, the appropriate
court is the United States District Court for the District of Guam,
and in the case of the Northern Mariana Islands, the appropriate
court is the United States District Court for the District of the
Northern Mariana Islands.’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

SEC. 610. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO E-LORAN.

(a) DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00057

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

130 STAT. 84
14 USC 681.
Notification.
Determination.

14 USC
631 prec.

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016
‘‘§ 681. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not carry out activities
related to the dismantling or disposal of infrastructure comprising
the LORAN–C system until the date on which the Secretary provides to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate notice of a determination by the Secretary that such infrastructure is not required
to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide
redundant capability in the event the Global Positioning System
signals are disrupted.
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to activities
necessary for the safety of human life.
‘‘(c) DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On any date after the notification is
made under subsection (a), the Administrator of General Services, acting on behalf of the Secretary, may, notwithstanding
any other provision of law, sell any real and personal property
under the administrative control of the Coast Guard and used
for the LORAN–C system, subject to such terms and conditions
that the Secretary believes to be necessary to protect government interests and program requirements of the Coast Guard.
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.—
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.—The proceeds of such
sales, less the costs of sale incurred by the General Services
Administration, shall be deposited as offsetting collections
into the Coast Guard ‘Environmental Compliance and Restoration’ account and, without further appropriation, shall
be available until expended for—
‘‘(i) environmental compliance and restoration purposes associated with the LORAN–C system;
‘‘(ii) the costs of securing and maintaining equipment that may be used as a backup to the Global
Positioning System or to meet any other Federal
navigation requirement;
‘‘(iii) the demolition of improvements on such real
property; and
‘‘(iv) the costs associated with the sale of such
real and personal property, including due diligence
requirements, necessary environmental remediation,
and reimbursement of expenses incurred by the General Services Administration.
‘‘(B) OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.—After the completion of activities
described in subparagraph (A), the unexpended balances
of such proceeds shall be available for any other environmental compliance and restoration activities of the Coast
Guard.’’
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the beginning
of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

‘‘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–

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00058

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120

PUBLIC LAW 114–120—FEB. 8, 2016

130 STAT. 85

281; 128 Stat. 3040), and the item relating to that section
in section 2 of such Act, are repealed.
(B) Subsection 559(e) of the Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–83; 123
Stat. 2180) is repealed.
(b) AGREEMENTS TO DEVELOP BACKUP POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING SYSTEM.—Section 93(a) of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the
end of paragraph (23), by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(24) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding at the end the following
the following:
‘‘(25) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and
other agreements with Federal entities and other public or
private entities, including academic entities, to develop a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide redundant
capability in the event Global Positioning System signals are
disrupted, which may consist of an enhanced LORAN system.’’.
SEC. 611. PARKING.

Section 611(a) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281; 128 Stat. 3064)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—Through September 30, 2017, additional
parking made available under paragraph (2) shall be made available
at no cost to the Coast Guard or members and employees of the
Coast Guard.’’.
SEC. 612. INAPPLICABILITY OF LOAD LINE REQUIREMENTS TO CERTAIN UNITED STATES VESSELS TRAVELING IN THE GULF
OF MEXICO.

Section 5102(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(13) a vessel of the United States on a domestic voyage
that is within the Gulf of Mexico and operating not more
than 15 nautical miles seaward of the base line from which
the territorial sea of the United States is measured between
Crystal Bay, Florida and Hudson Creek, Florida.’’.

ccoleman on DSK8P6SHH1 with PUBLAWLAW

Approved February 8, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4188 (S. 1611):
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–168 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) accompanying S. 1611.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 161 (2015): Dec. 10, considered and passed House.
Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Vol. 162 (2016): Feb. 1, House concurred in Senate amendment.

Æ

VerDate Mar 15 2010

04:31 Apr 29, 2016

Jkt 059139

PO 00120

Frm 00059

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6580

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL120.114

PUBL120