14 U.S.C. § 910: Small boat station closures

Summary

The Secretary cannot close a Coast Guard multimission small boat station or subunit unless three things are true: remaining rescue forces keep people safe in that area; local weather and water conditions (including water temperature, tides, and currents) mean the station is not needed; and the Coast Guard’s search-and-rescue response-time rules are still met. The Secretary must also give the public a chance to comment and hold public meetings in the station’s area about the closure. The Secretary may change how stations operate or move resources to be more efficient, but any actual closures must follow the rules above.

Title 14, §910

Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Closures.—

The Secretary may not close a Coast Guard multimission small boat station or subunit unless the Secretary—

(1)determines that—

(A)remaining search and rescue capabilities maintain the safety of the maritime public in the area of the station or subunit;

(B)regional or local prevailing weather and marine conditions, including water temperature or unusual tide and current conditions, do not require continued operation of the station or subunit; and

(C)Coast Guard search and rescue standards related to search and rescue response times are met; and

(2)provides an opportunity for public comment and for public meetings in the area of the station or subunit with regard to the decision to close the station or subunit.

(b)Operational Flexibility.—

The Secretary may implement any management efficiencies within the small boat station system, such as modifying the operational posture of units or reallocating resources as necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public nationwide. No stations or subunits may be closed under this subsection except in accordance with subsection (a).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 675 of this title as this section. 2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–213 substituted “Secretary may not” for “Secretary of Homeland Security may not” in introductory provisions. 2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–296, which directed amendment of section 674 of this title by substituting “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation” in introductory provisions, was executed to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 674 of this title as this section by Pub. L. 107–295, see below. Pub. L. 107–295 renumbered section 674 of this title as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

§910 Small Boat Station Closures