§8676b Vessels stricken from Naval Vessel Register: transfer by gift or otherwise for use as artificial reefs

Summary

The Secretary of the Navy can give or transfer Navy ships that have been removed from the Naval Vessel Register to a State, Commonwealth, possession, city, or local government to be used as artificial reefs. Any transfer agreement must say the new owner will use, place, build, watch over, and manage the ship only as an artificial reef under the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984 (33 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). The reef may also be used to improve diving if that does not harm fishery resources (see section 3(14) of the Magnuson‑Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(14))). The recipient must get and follow all required federal, state, interstate, and local permits. The Navy must make sure the ship is prepared using the environmental best management practices made under section 3504(b) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–314; 16 U.S.C. 1220 note) and any other environmental laws. The Navy may pay some transfer or preparation costs. A State or local government may receive more than one ship. The Secretary can add other terms to a transfer. Nothing here gives reef use priority over other allowed uses like domestic scrapping or other disposals.