Oil Pollution Act of

In addition to implementing federal statutes for the NPDES, UIC, and stormwater programs, states and tribes may impose their own requirements to protect their water resources, both surface and underground. For example, they can establish water quality standards for some or all of their surface waters. These standards are approved by the USEPA and become the baseline for CWA permits (USEPA, 2008i). 

A cornerstone of the strategy to prevent oil spills from reaching the nation s waters is the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan. The USEPA promulgated regulahons to implement this part of the OPA  

SPCC plans must be prepared, certified (by a professional engineer), and implemented by facilihes that store, process, transfer, distribute, use, drill for, produce, or refine oil. 

Facilities must establish procedures and methods and install proper equipment to prevent an oil release. 

Facilities must train personnel to properly respond to an oil spill by conducting drills and training sessions. 

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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 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. 

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). 

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. 

Michael M. Gibson, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 1993, ISBN T-0471-57478-3. This book contains Information about regulatory programs of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 that affect the oil Industry. Land and water-based spills are addressed In terms of regulatory requirements and enforcement actions. 

EPA and the Coast Guard should bolster state and local involvement in oil spill contingency planning and training and create a mechanism for local involvement in spill planning and response similar to the Regiorud Citizens Advisory Councils mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 

Exxon developed the prototype for an industry leading safety management system (OIMS), which it apphed to aU its businesses worldwide. Other leading oil companies developed similar or derivative systems about this time. The US passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which requires tankers to be double hulled by 2015. 

In response to the spill. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). The legislation included a clause that prohibits any vessel that, after March 22, 1989, has caused an oil spill of more than one million US gallons (3800 m ) in any marine area, from operating in Prince William Soimd. 

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