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Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-73

§556 Disposal of dredge vessels

Title 40 › Subtitle SUBTITLE I— - FEDERAL PROPERTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - DISPOSING OF PROPERTY › § 556

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator of General Services can sell or lease a U.S. Army Corps dredging vessel and its federal equipment when the Secretary of the Army says it is no longer needed. Buyers can include foreign governments for Corps technical aid, maritime academies for training, or public bodies for science, education, or culture. The vessel can also be sold only for scrap. The vessel cannot be used for dredging inside the United States. Money from any sale or lease must go into the revolving fund authorized by section 101 (9th par.) of the Civil Functions Appropriation Act, 1954 (33 U.S.C. 576) and can be used, as appropriation laws allow, for operating and maintaining Corps vessels.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §556

Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator of General Services, pursuant to sections 521 through 527, 529, and 549 of this title, may dispose of a United States Army Corps of Engineers vessel used for dredging, together with related equipment owned by the Federal Government and under the control of the Chief of Engineers, if the Secretary of the Army declares the vessel to be in excess of federal needs.
(b)Disposal under this section is accomplished—
(1)through sale or lease to—
(A)a foreign government as part of a Corps of Engineers technical assistance program;
(B)a federal or state maritime academy for training purposes; or
(C)a non-federal public body for scientific, educational, or cultural purposes; or
(2)through sale solely for scrap to foreign or domestic interests.
(c)A vessel described in subsection (a) shall not be disposed of under any law for the purpose of engaging in dredging activities within the United States.
(d)Amounts collected from the sale or lease of a vessel or equipment under this section shall be deposited into the revolving fund authorized by section 101 (9th par.) of the Civil Functions Appropriation 11 So in original. Probably should be “Appropriations”. Act, 1954 (33 U.S.C. 576), to be available, as provided in appropriation laws, for the operation and maintenance of vessels under the control of the Corps of Engineers.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 55640:483d.Pub. L. 99–662, title IX, § 945, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4200. In subsection (a), the words “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers” are substituted for “Corps of Engineers” for clarity. The words “Secretary of the Army” are substituted for “Secretary” because of section 2 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33:2201). In subsection (d), the words “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers” are substituted for “Corps of Engineers” for clarity.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 556

Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73