86 STAT, 432 Report to Congress. SEC. 203. The Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall, for a period of ten years following the enactment of this title, make a report to the Congress at the beginning of each regular session, regarding his activities under this title. Such report shall include but not be limited to (A) a description of the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary (i) to improve vessel maneuvering and stopping ability and otherwise reduce the risks of collisions, groundings, and other accidents, (ii) to reduce cargo loss in the event of collisions, groundings, and other accidents, and (iii) to reduce damage to the marine environment from the normal operation of the vessels to which this title applies, (B) the progress made with respect to the adoption of international standards for the design, construction, alteration, and repair of vessels to which this title applies for protection of the marine environment, and (C) to the extent that the Secretary finds standards with respect to the design, construction, alteration, and repair of vessels for the purposes set forth in (A)(i), (ii), or (iii) above not possible, an explanation of the reasons therefor. Approved July 10, 1972. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: HOUSE REPORTS: No. 92-563 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) SENATE REPORT No. 92-724 (Comm. on Commerce). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 117 (1971): Oct. 18, considered and passed House. June 26, Senate agreed to conference report. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS: Vol. 8, No. 29 (1972): July 10, Presidential statement. Public Law 92-374 92nd Congress, S. 2684 August 10, 1972 An Act To amend section 309 of the Merchant Marine Act. 1936, as amended. 86 STAT. 528 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress usxembled, That section 509 of High speed the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, is amended by inserting in the fourth vessels. sentence thereof after the words. "oceangoing barge of more than 49 Stat. 2000; two thousand five hundred gross tons" a comma and the words, "or in 66 Stat. 761; the case of a vessel of more than two thousand five hundred horsepower 81 Stat. 660. designed to be capable of sustained speed of not less than forty knots". Approved August 10, 1972. 46 USC 1159. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: HOUSE REPORT No. 92-1217 accompanying H. R. 11300 (Comm. on Merchant SENATE REPORT NO. 92-722 (Comm. on Commerce). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 118 (1972): Mar. 30, considered and passed Senate. July 31, considered and passed House, in lieu of H. R. 11300. Public Law 92-402 An Act To authorize appropriations for the fiscal year 1973 for certain maritime programs of the Department of Commerce, and for related purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation as the appropriation Act may provide for the use of the Department of Commerce, for the fiscal year 1973, as follows: (a) acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of vessels and construction-differential subsidy and cost of national defense features incident to the construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning of ships, $280,000,000, of which $30,000,000 is for the purchase of modern or reconstructed United States-flag vessels for lay-up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet; (b) payment of obligations incurred for ship operation subsidies, $232,000,000; (c) expenses necessary for research and development activities (including reimbursement of the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund for losses resulting from expenses of experimental ship operation), $30,000,000; (d) reserve fleet expenses, $3,900,000; (e) maritime training at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, $7,854,000; and (f) financial assistance to State marine schools, $2,290,000. SEC. 2. Section 905 (a) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, is amended as follows: (1) By inserting after the words "except that" the words "in the context of section 607 of this Act concerning capital construction funds and". (2) By striking out the words "to the extent provided in uniform regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce". (3) By inserting before the period at the end thereof the words "in their operation or in competing for charters, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 204 (b) of this Act". SEC. 3. (a) Any State may apply to the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter referred to in this Act as the "Secretary") for Liberty ships which, but for the operation of this Act, would be designated by the Secretary for scrapping if the State intends to sink such ships for use as an offshore artificial reef for the conservation of marine life. Commerce Department maritime programs. Appropriation authorization. 52 Stat. 964; 84 Stat. 1034. 46 USC 1244. 84 Stat. 1026. 46 USC 1177. 86 STAT, 617 86 STAT. 618 46 USC 1114. Liberty ships, use as artifi oial reefs. (b) A State shall apply for Liberty ships under this Act in such Conditions. manner and form as the Secretary shall prescribe, but such application shall include at least (1) the location at which the State proposes to sink the ships, (2) a certificate from the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, that the proposed use of the particular vessel or vessels requested by the State will be compatible with water quality standards and other appropriate environmental protection requirements, and (3) statements and estimates with respect to the conservation goals which are sought to be achieved by use of the ships. (c) Before taking any action with respect to an application submitted under this Act, the Secretary shall provide copies of the application to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, and any other appropriate Federal officer, and shall consider comments and views of such officers with respect to the application. 86 STAT, 618 SEC. 4. If, after consideration of such comments and views as are received pursuant to section 3(c), the Secretary finds that the use of Liberty ships proposed by a State will not violate any Federal law. contribute to degradation of the niarine environment, create undue interference with commercial fishing or navigation, and is not frivolous, he shall transfer without consideration to the State all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to any Liberty ships which are available for transfer under this Act if— (1) the State gives to the Secretary such assurances as he deems necessary that such ships will be utilized and maintained only for the purposes stated in the application and, when sunk, will be charted and marked as a hazard to navigation; (2) the State agrees to secure any licenses or permits which may be required under the provisions of any other applicable Federal law; (3) the State agrees to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary shall require in order to protect the marine environment and other interests of the United States; and (4) the transfer would be at no cost to the Government with the State taking delivery of such Liberty ships at fleetside of the National Defense Reserve Fleet in an "as is-where is" condition. SEC. 5. A State may apply for more than one Liberty ship under this Act. The Secretary shall, however, taking into account the number of Liberty ships which may be or become available for transfer under this Act, administer this Act in an equitable manner with respect to the various States. SEC. 6. A decision by the Secretary denying any application for a Liberty ship under this Act is final. Approved August 22, 1972. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: HOUSE REPORT No. 92-934 (Comm. on Merohant Marine and Fisheries). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 118 (1972): Apr. 11, considered and passed House. July 26, considered and passed Senate, amended. Public Law 92-408 An Act To establish the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to establish the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (hereafter referred to in this Act as the "refuge") as part of the national wildlife refuge system. SEC. 2. (a) The refuge shall consist of certain lands, to be determined by the Secretary of the Interior with the advice and consent of the Secretary of the Navy, within the United States Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California. (b) Upon determination of the boundaries of the refuge by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Navy the Secretary of the Interior shall immediately designate the area agreed upon as the refuge by publication of a description of such area in the Federal Register. (c) That portion of the United States Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California, designated pursuant to this Act as a national wildlife refuge shall be transferred, without consideration, to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior at such times as such portion is determined by the Department of Defense to be excess to its needs. 86 STAT. 633 Seal Beach Establishment. Publication in SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the refuge Administration. in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 927; 18 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 82 Stat. 359. and pursuant to plans which are mutually acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Navy. SEC. 4. There is authorized to be appropriated until the close of Appropriation. June 30, 1977, not to exceed $525,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act. Approved August 29, 1972. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: HOUSE REPORT No. 92-1093 (Comm. on Merohant Marine and Fisheries). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 118 (1972): June 5, considered and passed House. |