The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that each Coast Guard small boat station (including a seasonally operated station) maintains, within the area of responsibility for the station, at least 1 vessel that is fully capable of performing offshore rescue operations, taking into consideration prevailing weather, marine conditions, and depositional geologic features such as sand bars.

(Added Pub. L. 104–324, title III, §309(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3919, §673; renumbered §674, Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, §405(a)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2115; amended Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, §1704(a), (f)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314, 2316.)

A prior section 674 was renumbered section 675 of this title.

**2002**—Pub. L. 107–296, §1704(f)(1), which directed renumbering of the section 673 of this title that was added by Pub. L. 104–324, §309(a), as section 673a of this title, could not be executed because of the prior amendment by Pub. L. 107–295, see below.

Pub. L. 107–296, §1704(a), which directed amendment of section 673a of this title by substituting “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”, was executed by making the substitution in this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 107–295 renumbered section 673 of this title, relating to small boat station rescue capability, as this section.

Amendment by section 1704(a) of Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Amendment by section 1704(f)(1) of Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.