USC Chapter 7

USC Chapter 7
in effect

14 U.S.C. § 701 Cooperation with other agencies, States, territories, and political subdivisions

(a) The Coast Guard may, when so requested by proper authority, utilize its personnel and facilities (including members of the Auxiliary and facilities governed under chapter 39) to assist any Federal agency, State, Territory, possession, or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, to perform any activity for which such personnel and facilities are especially qualified. The Commandant may prescribe conditions, including reimbursement, under which personnel and facilities may be provided under this subsection. (b) The Coast Guard, with the consent of the head of the agency concerned, may avail itself of such officers and employees, advice, information, and facilities of any Federal agency, State, Territory, possession, or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia as may be helpful in the performance of its duties. In connection with the utilization of personal services of employees of state or local governments, the Coast Guard may make payments for necessary traveling and per diem expenses as prescribed for Federal employees by the standardized Government travel regulations.

14 U.S.C. § 702 State Department

The Coast Guard, through the Secretary, may exchange information, through the Secretary of State, with foreign governments and suggest to the Secretary of State international collaboration and conferences on all matters dealing with the safety of life and property at sea, other than radio communication.

14 U.S.C. § 703 Treasury Department

Commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard are deemed to be officers of the customs and when so acting shall, insofar as performance of the duties relating to customs laws are concerned, be subject to regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury governing officers of the customs.

14 U.S.C. § 704 Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force

(a) The Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force at the request of the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement for the cost thereof, as agreed, receive members of the Coast Guard for instruction in any school, including any aviation school, maintained by the Army or the Air Force, and such members shall be subject to the regulations governing such schools. (b) Officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard shall be permitted to purchase quartermaster supplies from the Army at the same price as is charged the officers and enlisted members of the Army. (c) Articles of ordnance property may be sold by the Secretary of the Army to officers of the Coast Guard for their use in the public service in the same manner as these articles are sold to officers of the Army.

14 U.S.C. § 705 Navy Department

(a) The Secretary of the Navy, at the request of the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement for the cost thereof, as agreed:(1) build any vessel for the Coast Guard at such Navy yards as the Secretary of the Navy may designate; (2) receive members of the Coast Guard for instruction in any school, including any aviation school maintained by the Navy, and such members shall be subject to the regulations governing such schools; (3) permit personnel of the Coast Guard and their dependents to occupy any public quarters maintained by the Navy and available for the purpose; and (4) detail personnel from the Chaplain Corps to provide services, pursuant to section 1789 of title 10, to the Coast Guard. (b) Officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard shall be permitted to purchase quartermaster supplies from the Navy and the Marine Corps at the same price as is charged the officers and enlisted members of the Navy and Marine Corps. (c) When the Coast Guard is operating in the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary shall provide for such peacetime training and planning of reserve strength and facilities as is necessary to insure an organized, manned, and equipped Coast Guard when it is required for wartime operation in the Navy. To this end, the Secretary of the Navy for the Navy, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, for the Coast Guard, may from time to time exchange such information, make available to each other such personnel, vessels, facilities, and equipment, and agree to undertake such assignments and functions for each other as they may agree are necessary and advisable. (d)(1) As part of the services provided by the Secretary of the Navy pursuant to subsection (a)(4), the Secretary may provide support services to chaplain-led programs to assist members of the Coast Guard on active duty and their dependents, and members of the reserve component in an active status and their dependents, in building and maintaining a strong family structure. (2) In this subsection, the term “support services” include transportation, food, lodging, child care, supplies, fees, and training materials for members of the Coast Guard on active duty and their dependents, and members of the reserve component in an active status and their dependents, while participating in programs referred to in paragraph (1), including participation at retreats and conferences. (3) In this subsection, the term “dependents” has the same meaning as defined in section 1072(2) of title 10.

14 U.S.C. § 706 United States Postal Service

Coast Guard facilities and personnel may be utilized for the transportation and delivery of mail matter during emergency conditions or at isolated locations under such arrangements as may be satisfactory to the Secretary and the United States Postal Service.

14 U.S.C. § 707 Department of Commerce

In order to promote the safety of life and property on and over the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, and to facilitate the preparation and dissemination by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the weather reports, forecasts, and warnings essential to the safe and efficient conduct of domestic and international commerce on and over such seas and waters, the Commandant may cooperate with the Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by procuring, maintaining, and making available, facilities and assistance for observing, investigating, and communicating weather phenomena and for disseminating weather data, forecasts and warnings, the mutually satisfactory terms of such cooperation in weather service to be agreed upon and arranged between the Commandant and the Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

14 U.S.C. § 708 Department of Health and Human Services

(a) The Commandant may assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services in providing medical emergency helicopter transportation services to civilians. The Commandant may prescribe conditions, including reimbursement, under which resources may be provided under this section. The following specific limitations apply to assistance provided under this section:(1) Assistance may be provided only in areas where Coast Guard units able to provide the assistance are regularly assigned. Coast Guard units may not be transferred from one area to another to provide the assistance. (2) Assistance may be provided only to the extent it does not interfere with the performance of the Coast Guard mission. (3) Providing assistance may not cause an increase in amounts required for the operation of the Coast Guard. (b) An individual (or the estate of that individual) who is authorized by the Coast Guard to provide a service under a program established under subsection (a) and who is acting within the scope of that individual’s duties is not liable for injury to, or loss of, property or personal injury or death that may be caused incident to providing the service.

14 U.S.C. § 709 Maritime instruction

The Coast Guard may, when so requested by proper authority, detail members for duty in connection with maritime instruction and training by the several States, Territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and when requested by the Maritime Administrator, detail individuals in the Coast Guard for duty in connection with maritime instruction and training by the United States. The service rendered by any individual so detailed shall be considered Coast Guard duty.

14 U.S.C. § 710 Assistance to foreign governments and maritime authorities

(a) Detail of Members to Assist Foreign Governments.—The President may upon application from the foreign governments concerned, and whenever in his discretion the public interests render such a course advisable, detail members of the Coast Guard to assist foreign governments in matters concerning which the Coast Guard may be of assistance. (b) Technical Assistance to Foreign Maritime Authorities.—The Commandant, in coordination with the Secretary of State, may provide, in conjunction with regular Coast Guard operations, technical assistance (including law enforcement and maritime safety and security training) to foreign navies, coast guards, and other maritime authorities. (c) Grants to International Maritime Organizations.—After consultation with the Secretary of State, the Commandant may make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements with, international maritime organizations for the purpose of acquiring information or data about merchant vessel inspections, security, safety, environmental protection, classification, and port state or flag state law enforcement or oversight. (d) Authorized Activities.—(1) The Commandant may use funds for—(A) the activities of traveling contact teams, including any transportation expense, translation services expense, or administrative expense that is related to such activities; (B) the activities of maritime authority liaison teams of foreign governments making reciprocal visits to Coast Guard units, including any transportation expense, translation services expense, or administrative expense that is related to such activities; (C) seminars and conferences involving members of maritime authorities of foreign governments; (D) distribution of publications pertinent to engagement with maritime authorities of foreign governments; and (E) personnel expenses for Coast Guard civilian and military personnel to the extent that those expenses relate to participation in an activity described in subparagraph (C) or (D). (2) An activity may not be conducted under this subsection with a foreign country unless the Secretary of State approves the conduct of such activity in that foreign country. (3) The amount of funds used under this subsection may not exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year.

14 U.S.C. § 711 Coast Guard officers as attachés to missions

Commissioned officers may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, be regularly and officially attached to the diplomatic missions of the United States in those nations with which the United States is extensively engaged in maritime commerce. Expenses for the maintenance of such Coast Guard attachés abroad, including office rental and pay of employees and allowances for living quarters, including heat, fuel, and light, may be defrayed by the Coast Guard.

14 U.S.C. § 712 Contracts with Government-owned establishments for work and material

(a) In General.—All orders or contracts for work or material, under authorization of law, placed with Government-owned establishments by the Coast Guard, shall be considered as obligations in the same manner as provided for similar orders or contracts placed with private contractors, and appropriations for such work or material shall remain available for payment therefor as in the case of orders or contracts placed with private contractors. (b) Orders and Agreements for Industrial Activities.—Under this section, the Coast Guard industrial activities may accept orders from and enter into reimbursable agreements with establishments, agencies, and departments of the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

14 U.S.C. § 713 Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities: contracts with other agencies and instrumentalities to provide or obtain goods and services

The Coast Guard Exchange System, or a morale, welfare, and recreation system of the Coast Guard, may enter into a contract or other agreement with any element or instrumentality of the Coast Guard or with another Federal department, agency, or instrumentality to provide or obtain goods and services beneficial to the efficient management and operation of the Coast Guard Exchange System or that morale, welfare, and recreation system.

14 U.S.C. § 714 Arctic maritime domain awareness

(a) In General.—The Commandant shall improve maritime domain awareness in the Arctic—(1) by promoting interagency cooperation and coordination; (2) by employing joint, interagency, and international capabilities; and (3) by facilitating the sharing of information, intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime domain between the Coast Guard and departments and agencies listed in subsection (b). (b) Coordination.—The Commandant shall seek to coordinate the collection, sharing, and use of information, intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime domain between the Coast Guard and the following:(1) The Department of Homeland Security. (2) The Department of Defense. (3) The Department of Transportation. (4) The Department of State. (5) The Department of the Interior. (6) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (8) The Environmental Protection Agency. (9) The National Science Foundation. (10) The Arctic Research Commission. (11) Any Federal agency or commission or State the Commandant determines is appropriate. (c) Cooperation.—The Commandant and the head of a department or agency listed in subsection (b) may by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, share personnel, services, equipment, and facilities to carry out the requirements of this section. (d) 5-year Strategic Plan.—Not later than January 1, 2016 and every 5 years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 5-year strategic plan to guide interagency and international intergovernmental cooperation and coordination for the purpose of improving maritime domain awareness in the Arctic. (e) Definitions.—In this section the term “Arctic” has the meaning given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).

14 U.S.C. § 715 Oceanographic research

The Coast Guard shall conduct such oceanographic research, use such equipment or instruments, and collect and analyze such oceanographic data, in cooperation with other agencies of the Government, or not, as may be in the national interest.

14 U.S.C. § 716 Arctic maritime transportation

(a) Purpose.—The purpose of this section is to ensure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic including the availability of aids to navigation, vessel escorts, spill response capability, and maritime search and rescue in the Arctic. (b) International Maritime Organization Agreements.—To carry out the purpose of this section, the Secretary is encouraged to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to conclude and execute agreements to promote coordinated action among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic nations to ensure, in the Arctic—(1) placement and maintenance of aids to navigation; (2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and salvage capabilities; (3) oil spill prevention and response capability; (4) maritime domain awareness, including long-range vessel tracking; and (5) search and rescue. (c) Coordination by Committee on the Maritime Transportation System.—The Committee on the Maritime Transportation System established under section 55501 11 See References in Text note below. of title 46, United States Code, shall coordinate the establishment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic necessary to carry out the purpose of this section. (d) Agreements and Contracts.—The Secretary may, subject to the availability of appropriations, enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements with, or make grants to, individuals and governments to carry out the purpose of this section or any agreements established under subsection (b). (e) Icebreaking.—The Secretary shall promote safe maritime navigation by means of icebreaking where necessary, feasible, and effective to carry out the purposes of this section. (f) Arctic Definition.—In this section, the term “Arctic” has the meaning given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).

14 U.S.C. § 717 Agreements

(a) In General.—In carrying out section 504(a)(4), the Commandant may—(1) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and other agreements with—(A) Federal entities; (B) other public or private entities in the United States, including academic entities; and (C) foreign governments with the concurrence of the Secretary of State; and (2) impose on and collect from an entity subject to an agreement or contract under paragraph (1) a fee to assist with expenses incurred in carrying out such section. (b) Deposit and Use of Fees.—Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as offsetting receipts. The fees may be used, to the extent provided in advance in an appropriation law, only to carry out activities under section 504(a)(4).

14 U.S.C. § 718 Training; emergency response providers

(a) In General.—The Commandant may, on a reimbursable or a non-reimbursable basis, make a training available to emergency response providers whenever the Commandant determines that—(1) a member of the Coast Guard, who is scheduled to participate in such training, is unable or unavailable to participate in such training; (2) no other member of the Coast Guard, who is assigned to the unit to which the member of the Coast Guard who is unable or unavailable to participate in such training is assigned, is able or available to participate in such training; and (3) such training, if made available to such emergency response providers, would further the goal of interoperability among Federal agencies, non-Federal governmental agencies, or both. (b) Emergency Response Providers Defined.—In this section, the term “emergency response providers” has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101). (c) Treatment of Reimbursement.—Any reimbursements for a training that the Coast Guard receives under this section shall be credited to the appropriation used to pay the costs for such training. (d) Status; Limitation on Liability.—(1) Status.—Any individual to whom, as an emergency response provider, training is made available under this section, who is not otherwise a Federal employee, shall not, because of that training, be considered a Federal employee for any purpose (including the purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 (relating to tort claims)). (2) Limitation on liability.—The United States shall not be liable for actions taken by an individual in the course of training made available under this section.

14 U.S.C. § 719 Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants

(a) Additional Forms of Transactions Authorized.—(1) In general.—The Commandant may enter into—(A) transactions (other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants) in carrying out basic, applied, and advanced research projects; and (B) agreements with the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Secretary of a military department, or any other official designated by the Secretary of Defense under section 2371b 11 See References in Text note below. of title 10 to participate in prototype projects and follow-on production contracts or transactions that are being carried out by such official and are directly relevant to the Coast Guard’s cyber capability and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and intelligence initiatives. (2) Additional authority.—The authority under this subsection is in addition to the authority provided in section 717 to use contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants in carrying out such projects. (3) Funding.—In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), the Commandant may use funds made available to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts for—(A) operations and support; (B) research, development, test, and evaluation; and (C) procurement, construction, and improvement. (b) Recovery of Funds.—(1) In general.—Subject to subsection (d), a cooperative agreement for performance of basic, applied, or advanced research authorized by section 717, and a transaction authorized by subsection (a), may include a clause that requires a person or other entity to make payments to the Coast Guard or any other department or agency of the Federal Government as a condition for receiving support under the agreement or transaction, respectively. (2) Availability of funds.—The amount of any payment received by the Federal Government pursuant to a requirement imposed under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Amounts so deposited shall be available for the purposes of carrying out this section, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts. (c) Conditions.—(1) In general.—The Commandant shall ensure that to the extent that the Commandant determines practicable, no cooperative agreement containing a clause described in subsection (c)(1),22 So in original. Probably should be “subsection (b)(1)”. and no transaction entered into under subsection (a), provides for research that duplicates research being conducted under existing programs carried out by the Coast Guard. (2) Other agreements not feasible.—A cooperative agreement containing a clause described in subsection (c)(1),2 or under a transaction authorized by subsection (a), may be used for a research project only if the use of a standard contract, grant, or cooperative agreement for such project is not feasible or appropriate. (d) Education and Training.—The Commandant shall—(1) ensure that management, technical, and contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in the award or administration of transactions under this section or other innovative forms of contracting are afforded opportunities for adequate education and training; and (2) establish minimum levels and requirements for continuous and experiential learning for such personnel, including levels and requirements for acquisition certification programs. (e) Protection of Certain Information From Disclosure.—(1) In general.—Disclosure of information described in paragraph (2) is not required, and may not be compelled, under section 552 of title 5 for 5 years after the date on which the information is received by the Coast Guard. (2) Limitation.—(A) In general.—Paragraph (1) applies to information described in subparagraph (B) that is in the records of the Coast Guard only if the information was submitted to the Coast Guard in a competitive or noncompetitive process having the potential for resulting in an award, to the party submitting the information, of a cooperative agreement for performance of basic, applied, or advanced research authorized by section 717 or another transaction authorized by subsection (a). (B) Information described.—The information referred to in subparagraph (A) is the following:(i) A proposal, proposal abstract, and supporting documents. (ii) A business plan submitted on a confidential basis. (iii) Technical information submitted on a confidential basis. (f) Regulations.—The Commandant shall prescribe regulations, as necessary, to carry out this section. (g) Annual Report.—On the date on which the President submits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Commandant shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing each use of the authority provided under this section during the most recently completed fiscal year, including details of each use consisting of—(1) the amount of each transaction; (2) the entities or organizations involved; (3) the product or service received; (4) the research project for which the product or service was required; and (5) the extent of the cost sharing among Federal Government and non-Federal sources.

14 U.S.C. § 720 VHF communications services

(a) The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may authorize a person providing commercial VHF communications services to place commercial VHF communications equipment on real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard (including towers) subject to any terms agreed to by the parties. The Secretary and that commercial VHF communications service provider also may enter into an agreement providing for VHF communications services to the Coast Guard (including digital selective calling and radio direction finding services) at a discounted rate or price based on providing such access to real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard. (b) Commercial VHF communication equipment placed on real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard under this section shall not interfere in any manner with any current or future Coast Guard communication equipment. (c) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights or obligations of the United States under section 704(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 332 note) with respect to the availability of property or under section 359(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 357(d)) with respect to charges for transmission of distress messages.

14 U.S.C. § 721 Responses to safety recommendations

(a) In General.—Not later than 90 days after the National Transportation Safety Board submits to the Commandant a recommendation, and supporting justification for such recommendation, relating to transportation safety, the Commandant shall submit to the National Transportation Safety Board a written response to the recommendation, including whether the Commandant—(1) concurs with the recommendation; (2) partially concurs with the recommendation; or (3) does not concur with the recommendation. (b) Explanation of Concurrence.—The Commandant shall include in a response submitted under subsection (a)—(1) with respect to a recommendation with which the Commandant concurs or partially concurs, an explanation of the actions the Commandant intends to take to implement such recommendation or part of such recommendation; and (2) with respect to a recommendation with which the Commandant does not concur, the reasons the Commandant does not concur. (c) Failure To Respond.—If the National Transportation Safety Board has not received the written response required under subsection (a) by the end of the time period described in such subsection, the National Transportation Safety Board shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that such response has not been received.

14 U.S.C. § 722 Cooperation with eligible entities

(a) In General.—(1) Provision of assistance.—Subject to the availability of appropriations and for the purpose of mitigating the impacts of Coast Guard actions including expansion of bases, including direct or indirect impacts, to natural resources and cultural resources, the Commandant may provide Federal financial assistance, except for loans or loan guarantees, or make grants to an eligible entity. (2) Use of funds.—Financial assistance or grants made under paragraph (1) may be used to—(A) limit any development or use of such natural resources and cultural resources as a result of such Coast Guard actions described in paragraph (1); (B) maintain and maintain access to, such natural resources and cultural resources, including—(i) Tribal treaty fisheries and shellfish harvest, and usual and accustomed fishing areas; and (ii) subsistence fisheries, or any other fishery or shellfish harvest, of an Indian Tribe; (C) provide a means to replace, repair, or restore such natural resources and cultural resources of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization if such property is damaged by Coast Guard actions described in paragraph (1), in consultation with the affected Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization; and (D) maintain and improve natural resources located outside a Coast Guard installation, if the purpose of the agreement is to relieve or eliminate current or anticipated challenges that could restrict, impede, or otherwise interfere with, directly or indirectly, current or anticipated Coast Guard actions described in paragraph (1). (3) Limitation.—Financial assistance or grants made under paragraph (1) may not be used for the purpose of the Coast Guard receiving any funds. (b) Notification; Availability of Agreements to Congress.—(1) Notification.—The Commandant shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation or the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate (and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in the case of an eligible entity that is an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization or Native Hawaiian organization) and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives in writing not later than the date that is 3 full business days prior to any day on which the Commandant intends to enter into such an agreement or contract, or make a grant under subsection (a), and include in such notification the anticipated costs of carrying out the agreement, to the extent practicable. (2) Availability of agreements.—A copy of such financial assistance or grant made under subsection (a) shall be provided to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation or the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate or the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives not later than 5 full business days after the date on which such request is submitted to the Commandant. (c) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be construed to undermine the rights of any Indian Tribe to seek full and meaningful government-to-government consultation under this section or under any other law. (d) Definitions.—In this section:(1) Cultural resource.—The term “cultural resource” means any of the following:(A) A building, structure, site, district, or object eligible for or included in the National Register of Historic Places maintained under section 302101 of title 54. (B) Cultural items, as such term is defined in section 2(3) of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001(3)). (C) An archaeological resource, as such term is defined in section 3(1) of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470bb(1))). (D) An archaeological artifact collection and associated records covered by part 79 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. (E) A sacred site, as such term is defined in section 1(b) of Executive Order No. 13007 (42 U.S.C. 1996 note; relating to Indian sacred sites). (F) Treaty or trust resources of an Indian Tribe, including the habitat associated with such resources. (G) Subsistence resources of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization including the habitat associated with such resources. (2) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means the following:(A) A State, or a political subdivision of a State. (B) A local government. (C) An Indian Tribe. (D) Native Hawaiian organization. (E) A Tribal organization. (3) Indian tribe.—The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (4) Native hawaiian organization.—The term “Native Hawaiian organization” has the meaning given such term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517) except the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (5) Natural resource.—The term “natural resource” means land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, water, ground water, drinking water supplies, and other such resources belonging to, managed by, held in trust by, appertaining to, or otherwise controlled by the United States (including the resources of the waters of the United States), any State or local government, any Indian Tribe, any member of an Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization, if such resources are subject to a trust restriction on alienation and have been categorized into 1 of the following groups:(A) Surface water resources. (B) Ground water resources. (C) Air resources. (D) Geologic resources. (E) Biological resources. (6) State.—The term “State” includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States. (7) Tribal organization.—The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

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