AUTHORITY TO CONVEY OBSOLETE VESSELS TO UNITED STATES TERRITORIES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES FOR REEFING.

SEC. 3516. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY OBSOLETE VESSELS TO UNITED STATES TERRITORIES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES FOR REEFING.(a) Deadline for Preparation.—Paragraph (1) of section 3504(b) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for 117 STAT. 1796 Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–314; 116 Stat. 2754; 16 U.S.C. 1220 note) is amended by striking “September 30, 2003,” and inserting “March 31, 2004,”.(b) Guidance on Practices.—Such section is further amended—(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting “guidance recommending” after “jointly develop”;(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting “guidance recommending” before “environmental best management practices”;(3) in paragraph (3)—(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “recommended” after “include”;(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following new subparagraph (B):“(B) promote consistent use of such practices nationwide;”; and(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking “establish baselines” and inserting “provide a basis”; and(4) in paragraph (4), by striking “guidelines to be used by” and inserting “guidance for”.(c) Applications for Preparation of Vessels as Reefs.—Such section is further amended—(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):“(5) Not later than March 31, 2004, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly establish an application process for governments of States, commonwealths, and United States territories and possession, and foreign governments, for the preparation of vessels for use as artificial reefs, including documentation and certification requirements for that application process.”.