10 U.S.C. § 8676 — Vessels stricken from Naval Vessel Register; captured vessels: conveyance by donation

(a) Authority to Make Transfer — The Secretary of the Navy may donate all rights to a vessel struck from the Register, or a captured vessel, for use as a public museum or memorial display in the United States. Recipients can be: (1) any state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or a municipal or political subdivision of one; or (2) any nonprofit entity.

(b) Limitations on Liability and Responsibility — (1) The United States, its departments, agencies, officers, and employees are not legally liable for any injury or property damage happening on a donated vessel. (2) Despite any other law, the Department of Defense and its people have no responsibility or obligation to fund any improvement, upgrade, modification, maintenance, preservation, or repair of a donated vessel.

(c) Transfers To Be at No Cost to Department of Defense — Transferring the vessel, maintaining and preserving it as a museum or memorial, and eventually disposing of it (including demilitarizing any Munitions List items at the end of its life as a museum) must all happen at no cost to the Department of Defense.

(d) Application of Environmental Laws — This section does not change how federal, state, interstate, and local environmental laws — including the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 — apply to the Department of Defense or to whoever receives the vessel.

(e) Definitions — "Nonprofit entity" means an organization qualifying as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. "Munitions List" means the United States Munitions List created under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act. "Donee" means whoever receives a vessel under subsection (a).