Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act

S 4816 would establish the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary to protect ancient cypress trees off Alabama's coast. It designates a specific area (defined by coordinates) as a protected zone, banning activities like cutting trees, using underwater explosives, or drilling, while allowing existing fishing, diving, and oil/gas operations (with pre-enactment permits) and new artificial reefs for recreation. The Secretary of Commerce must create a management plan within two years to balance conservation with compatible uses, involving public input and an advisory council including Alabama's conservation department. This law directly affects anyone using the sanctuary area, including recreational users, commercial operators, and existing oil/gas leaseholders.