A bill to amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to provide authority to the Secretary of Commerce to issue permits to construct, operate, and maintain certain offshore port and terminal facilities.

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Provides authority to the Secretary of Commerce to issue permits to construct, operate, and maintain offshore port and terminal facilities. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, in the issuance of such permits to take into account the need for such ports or facilities as a means of supplying the energy needs of the Nation; to consider the environmental impact of any such port or facility; to consider the availability of alternative sites and methods of construction; and to provide for public hearings to assure thorough consideration of these factors.…