1. Fire-retardant materials exemption
Section 3503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “2008, this section” and inserting “2028, this subsection”; and
in subsection (b)(1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “this section” and inserting “subsection (a)”;
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “and crew” after “prospective passengers”;
in subparagraph (B), by inserting “or crew member” after “passenger”;
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end; and
by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:
“(D) the owner or managing operator of the vessel shall—
“(i) make annual structural alterations to not less than 10 percent of the areas of the vessel that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials;
“(ii) provide advance notice to the Coast Guard regarding the alterations made pursuant to clause (i); and
“(iii) comply with any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard; and
“(E) the requirements referred to in subparagraph (D)(iii) shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with the preservation of the historic integrity of the vessel in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public.”