Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§1220c–1 Financial assistance to State to prepare transferred ship

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 25B— - REEFS FOR MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION › § 1220c–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may use appropriated funds to help a State that receives an obsolete ship transferred under this chapter prepare it as an artificial reef, including cleanup, towing, and sinking. The Secretary decides the amount based on funds, its benefit, and cost‑effectiveness compared to other disposal options, and may require cost data and conditions that protect the environment and U.S. interests. No funds may go to foreign countries.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §1220c–1

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations, may provide, to any State to which an obsolete ship is transferred under this chapter, financial assistance to prepare the ship for use as an artificial reef, including for—
(1)environmental remediation;
(2)towing; and
(3)sinking.
(b)The Secretary shall determine the amount of assistance under this section with respect to an obsolete ship based on—
(1)the total amount available for providing assistance under this section;
(2)the benefit achieved by providing assistance for that ship; and
(3)the cost effectiveness of disposing of the ship by transfer under this chapter and provision of assistance under this section, compared to other disposal options for that ship.
(c)The Secretary—
(1)shall require a State seeking assistance under this section to provide cost data and other information determined by the Secretary to be necessary to justify and document the assistance; and
(2)may require a State receiving such assistance to comply with terms and conditions necessary to protect the environment and the interests of the United States.
(d)The Secretary may not provide assistance under this section to a foreign country to which an obsolete ship is transferred under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7 of Pub. L. 92–402 was renumbered section 8 and is classified to section 1220d of this title.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–84 added subsec. (d).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 1220c–1

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73