House Committee Passes Garamendi Bill to Remove Abandoned and Derelict Vessels | Bass Angler Magazine
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Representative John Garamendi’s (D-CA08) “Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act” (H.R.7719) as part of the “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024” (H.R.7659), by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 53 to 3. Garamendi is a senior member of the Committee and served as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation from 2013 to 2018.
Garamendi’s new bill would allow the United States Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the Bay-Delta and waterways nationwide. Garamendi’s bill legislates recommendations from a 2020 blue-ribbon report from the State of California’s and other Pacific State’s Oil Spill Task Force and builds upon 1997 legislation by the late Representative Pete Stark (D-CA). It also provides a federal counterpart to the California State Lands Commission’s Abandoned Vessels Removal Program for State Waterways. As Lieutenant Governor of California from 2007 to 2009, Garamendi served ex officio as a State Lands Commissioner.
“Abandoned and derelict vessels are a safety hazard, blight to our waterways, and major eyesore. As these vessels decay, they pollute our waterways with debris, fiberglass from hulls, leftover gasoline, motor oil, battery fluids, and other harmful chemicals. My bill would unlock billions in new federal funding to remove existing abandoned vessels at no expense to taxpayers and hold those dumping their derelict vessels in our waterways accountable. Every vessel removed is one step closer to keeping our working waterfronts and waterways safe and clean for all to enjoy,” said Congressman John Garamendi.
While abandoned and derelict vessels are a pervasive problem nationwide, there is no federal law that holds vessel owners accountable who illegally dump their vessels in public waterways or funds their removal. The “Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Act of 2024” (H.R.7719) fills gaps in current federal law by:
- Establishing a national standard for determining if a vessel is abandoned before removal: Directs the Coast Guard and Army Corps to issue joint regulations for how they determine if a vessel has indeed been abandoned. These regulations require that the agencies attempt to identify and notify a vessel owner prior to determining that a vessel has been abandoned, assessing a fine, and initiating collection and disposal of the abandoned vessel.
- Unlocking the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for removal of abandoned and derelict vessels: Makes up to $1.5 billion per year from the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund available for the collection and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels. The bill ensures sustainability of the Trust Fund by holding vessel owners liable for the cost of vessel collection and then redepositing any recovered expenses back into the Trust Fund.
- Ensuring that vessels purchased at federal auctions will not become abandoned and derelict: Sets new, national standards for individuals purchasing vessels at federal auctions, such as holding proper insurance and proof of sufficient financial resources to maintain the vessel properly. These standards will prevent federally auctioned vessels from being abandoned and removed at public expense in future years.
- Authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to remove abandoned and derelict vessels: Allows the Army Corps to remove abandoned and derelict vessels that do not impede navigation. Currently, the Army Corps is only authorized to remove vessels if they present an impediment or hazard to navigation of a federally regulated waterway.
- Creating a national inventory of abandoned and derelict vessels: Directs the Coast Guard to collaborate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a public, national inventory of abandoned and derelict vessels. Although many states have public websites that map the location of abandoned vessels within their boundaries, there is currently no comprehensive national inventory. It also directs these federal agencies to develop a process allowing states, tribal governments, and the public to submit potentially abandoned and derelict vessels for inclusion in the national inventory.
The “Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Act” (H.R.7719) is endorsed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, American Sportfishing Association, Dredging Contractors of America, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, American Salvage Association, and Restore the Delta.
