(a) Congressional policy
In recognition of the historical significance of the wreck of the United States ship Monitor to coastal North Carolina and to the area off the coast of North Carolina known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, the Congress directs that a suitable display of artifacts and materials from the United States ship Monitor be maintained permanently at an appropriate site in coastal North Carolina.
(b) Disclaimer
This section shall not affect the following:
(1) Responsibilities of Secretary
The responsibilities of the Secretary to provide for the protection, conservation, and display of artifacts and materials from the United States ship Monitor.
(2) Authority of Secretary
The authority of the Secretary to designate the Mariner's Museum, located at Newport News, Virginia, as the principal museum for coordination of activities referred to in paragraph (1).
Amendments
2000—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 106–513 redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which required the Secretary to submit a plan for a suitable display in coastal North Carolina of artifacts and materials of the United States ship Monitor.
Management, Recovery, and Preservation Plan for U.S.S. MONITOR
Pub. L. 104–283, §4, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3363, provided that: "The Secretary of Commerce shall, within 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 1996], prepare and submit to the Committee on Resources [now Committee on Natural Resources] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a long-range, comprehensive plan for the management, stabilization, preservation, and recovery of artifacts and materials of the U.S.S. MONITOR. In preparing and implementing the plan, the Secretary shall to the extent feasible utilize the resources of other Federal and private entities with expertise and capabilities that are helpful."
Graveyard of the Atlantic Artifacts
Pub. L. 102–587, title II, §2201, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5047, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) the display and interpretation of artifacts recovered from the area of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to North Carolina generally known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, including artifacts recovered from the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary; and
"(2) administration and operations of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
"(b)
"(c)