Authority to establish safety zones for special activities in exclusive economic zone

(a) Special activities in exclusive economic zone Subchapter I of chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 70008. Special activities in exclusive economic zone (a) In general The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may establish safety zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic zone. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Safety zone The term safety zone — (A) means a water area, shore area, or water and shore area to which, for safety or environmental purposes, access is limited to authorized persons, vehicles, or vessels; and (B) may be stationary and described by fixed limits or may be described as a zone around a vessel in motion. (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) 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 fixed platforms. (3) United States citizen The term United States citizen has the meaning given the term eligible owners in section 12103. (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.. (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 70007 the following: 70008. Special activities in exclusive economic zone.. (c) Repeal Section 8343 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) is repealed. (d) Retroactive effective date The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall take effect as if enacted on February 1, 2024.