((a)) ** .—** A duty assignment for an active duty member of the Coast Guard in support of a declaration of a major disaster or emergency by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( et seq.) or in response to a spill of national significance shall be treated, for the purpose of , as a duty assignment in support of a contingency operation.

((b)) ** .—** In this section:

((1)) ** .—** The term “spill of national significance” means a discharge of oil or a hazardous substance that is declared by the Commandant to be a spill of national significance.

((2)) ** .—** The term “discharge” has the meaning given that term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ().