SAFETY OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.

SEC. 8343. [46 U.S.C. 70034 note] SAFETY OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. (a) In General.—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a pilot program to establish and implement a process to— (1) establish safety zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic zone; (2) account for the number of safety zones established for special activities; (3) differentiate whether an applicant who requests a safety zone for such activities is— (A) an individual; (B) an organization; or (C) a government entity; and (4) account for Coast Guard resources utilized to enforce safety zones established for special activities, including— (A) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and (B) the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required. (b) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the expiration of the pilot program, the Commandant shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding— (1) the process required under subsection (a); and (2) whether the authority to establish safety zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic zone should be extended or made permanent in the interest of safety. (c) Authorization.—The pilot program under subsection (a) is authorized for fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, and 2032. (d) Definitions.—In this section: (1) Safety zone.—The term “safety zone” has the meaning given such term in section 165.20 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations. (2) Special activities.—The term “special activities” includes— (A) space activities, including launch and reentry, as such terms are defined in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, carried out by United States citizens; and (B) offshore energy development activities, as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near a fixed platform. (3) United states citizen.—The term “United States citizen” has the meaning given the term “eligible owners” in section 12103 of title 46, United States Code. (4) Fixed platform.—The term “fixed platform” means an artificial island, installation, or structure permanently attached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration or exploitation of resources or for other economic purposes.