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To amend the National Marine Sanctuary Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency.

S. 5359 · 118th Congress · Nov 20, 2024 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Prohibition on requiring authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables previously authorized by Federal or State agencies

The National Marine Sanctuary Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 310 the following:

“310A. Prohibition on requiring authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables previously authorized by Federal or State agencies

“(a) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary may not prohibit or require any authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if a license, lease, or permit issued by a Federal or State agency authorizing such installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery is in effect.

“(b) Interagency cooperation—The Secretary may direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation under section 304(d) in any Federal agency action described in that section and involving the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.”