Oil Pollution Act

The Oil Pollution Act of 1924 was the first federal statute prohibiting pollution of waters strictly by oil. As indicated earlier, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1972 provided a comprehensive plan for the cleanup of waters polluted by oil spills and intentional or accidental release of oil into the water. The subsequent laws, including the Clean Water Act of 1977 and with its later amendments, provide for regulation of pollution of waters by oil spills and other forms of discharges. These legislations also incorporate certain provisions of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which was intended to prevent any obstruction to the use of navigable waters for interstate commerce. 

The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 streamlined and strengthened the EPA s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or 

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In 1965 the Water Quahty Act established a new trend in water pollution control. It provided that the states set water quality standards in accordance with federal guidelines. If the states f ed to do so, the standards would be set by the federal government subject to a review hearing. In 1966, the Clean Water Restoration Act transferred the Feder Water Pollution Control Administration from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of the Interior. It also gave the Interior Department the responsibility for the Oil Pollution Act. 

The Oil Pollution Act, wliich prohibits the discluirge of oil from any vessel into navigable waters, was passed in 1924. The penalties for violators were the same is those for the Refuse Act of 1899 with one addition tlie Coast Guard had the authority to suspend or revoke licenses held by the officers of vessels found to be in viohition of the act. 

The Oil Pollution Act of 1961 was primarily concerned witli tlie regulation of the deliberate discharge of oil or oil wastes into Uie water. As a result of Uiis act, Uie owners of transport sliips were to take precautions to minimize Ute effect of pollution. Oily ballast water separators were required on ships, and owners Imd to maintain oil record books. Violators of Uie Oil Pollution Act were subject to fines of not more than 1,000 for improper record keeping. 

The disposal of produced water into the British sector of the North Sea is governed by The Prevention of Oil Pollution Act, 1971. 4-3 In summary, this act makes discharging any oil into the sea an offense however, the secretary of state has the power to grant exemptions from the act, which provides the necessary operational flexibility. 

The Oil Pollution Act is roughly similar to Superfund but is specifically applied to releases of oil and petroleum products. 

All the early water legislation addressed die issue of pollution, but die issue of emergency plamiiiig and response was overlooked. The Oil Pollution Act of 1961 and the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966 leaned toward prevention and response, but die efforts fell sliort of providing itieaniiigful legislation. 

In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez incident. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which required the Coast Guard to strengthen its regulations on oil tank vessels and oil tank owners and operators (EPA, 2003 d). 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2003d). Oil Pollution Act. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http //www.epa.gov/ oilspill/opaover.htm... 

Environmental Emergencies Fact Sheet on Pesticides Oil Pollution Act Risk Management Program... 

Research into the impact of the spills has been aided by the passage of the US Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which included a provision establishing the Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI). OSRI provides funding to support oil-spill related research as well as education and technology development for dealing with oil spills in the Arctic environment. The results of research it supported and other research, such as that funded as part of litigation activities, has been summarized in the 2002 National Research Council report Oil and the Sea Inputs, Fates and Effects. This report also puts into perspective the small contribution of tanker and pipeline spills as compared to other sources of ocean oil such as land-based runoff, polluted rivers, small boats and water craft, as well natural seeps from the sea floor. 

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