Oil Pollution Act By D.J. Magee Period 3

Summary The Oil Pollution Act was signed into law by the U.S. legislature in August, The bill was passed due in large part to the concerns about America’s capacity to control the damaging effects of an oil spill in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdeez incident. Under the new provisions, the government’s ability to respond to oil spills was expanded, meaning that there would now be more funding for environmental disaster control. It also lead to the advent of a national contingency plan to be put in effect in the event of another sizable oil spill. This plan mandates how the government will synthesize various public and private response efforts to control a hazardous spill. Local governments were also required to draft area contingency plans, detailing specific aspects of disaster response unique to their areas. The law was also groundbreaking in establishing more stringent restrictions on oil consuming ocean and freshwater vessels, ensuring that shipping companies would be responsible should their vessels spill oil.

Major Provisions Vessel owners became liable for certain spills and all removal costs Provided liability exceptions to the Clean Water Act for 1) persons who acquire a permit for oil discharge. 2)discharges of oil from a public vessel. 3) discharge of oil from onshore facilities covered by the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act Allowed vessel owners to defer liability to a third party should it be discovered that the third party is responsible for the spill States have the ability to enforce the OPA on navigable waters Expanded budget for crisis response contingency plan Liability for tankers larger than 3,000 tons increased to $1,200 per ton Fines authorized at $25,000 per day of spill, or $1000 per barrel of oil released Adjusted the “Trust Fund” borrowing limit from $500 million to $1 billion