OIL POLLUTION ACT DRAFT YEAR: 1990 TSUKIKO JERGER

DESCRIPTION/ ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTED Improved the nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills by establishing provisions that broadened the federal government's ability, and provided the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills. Also created the national Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund which is available to provide up to one billion dollars per spill incident. They increased penalties for regulatory noncompliance, widened the response and enforcement authorities of the Federal government, and preserved State authority to establish law governing oil spill prevention and response. Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker hit a reef in Alaska and spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil, making it the largest spill in US history. Many factors complicated the cleanup efforts following the spill. The size of the spill and its remote location, accessible only by helicopter and boat, made government and industry efforts difficult and tested existing plans for dealing with such an event. This led to OPA.

EPA is responsible for regulating and enforcing the Oil Pollution Act of It is a national EPA Act. AGENCY/GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT