Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)

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Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)
Ellen Liu Period 5
Drafted in 1990 Amended the Clean Water
Act National
Function prevent and respond to the oil
spills imposes liability for removal cost and
damages resulting from the oils that are
discharged into the waters or any damages done to
natural resources. In response to the Exxon
Valdez spill in March 1989 of over 11 million
gallons into Prince William Sound, it was
realized that US lacked funds to respond to the
spill and scope of damages under the federal law
to those impacted by the spill was narrow
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• It
• Set new requirements for vessel construction and
  crew licensing and manning
• Mandate contingency planning
• Enhanced federal response capability
• Broadened enforcement authority
• Increased penalties
• Created new research and development program
• Increased potential liabilities
• Broadened financial responsibility requirements
• Agencies EPA, Interagency Coordinating Committee
  on Oil Pollution Research, Departments of
  Commerce, Energy, Interior, and Defense