§722 Cooperation with Eligible Entities

Summary

The Commandant may give federal money or grants (not loans or loan guarantees) to eligible groups, when money is available, to reduce harm to natural and cultural resources from Coast Guard actions like base expansions. The funds can be used to limit development or use of affected resources; keep and protect access such as tribal treaty and subsistence fishing; repair, replace, or restore tribal or Native Hawaiian resources if they are damaged (after talking with the tribe or organization); and protect resources outside Coast Guard sites when that helps avoid problems that could affect Coast Guard activities. The money cannot be used so the Coast Guard itself receives funds. The Commandant must notify Congress in writing at least 3 full business days before entering one of these agreements. The notice must go to the Senate Commerce Committee or the Senate Homeland Security Committee (and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee when the recipient is an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Native Hawaiian organization) and to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and should include expected costs when possible. A copy of the agreement must be given to those committees no later than 5 full business days after a request is sent to the Commandant. This does not take away any Indian Tribe’s right to government-to-government consultation. Definitions (one line each): Cultural resource — historic sites, artifacts, sacred places, treaty or subsistence resources; Eligible entity — States and subdivisions, local governments, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations; Natural resource — land, water, air, wildlife, and similar resources.