The Oil Pollution Act of 1990

1. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 By: Erin Frederickson • The Oil Pollution Act was passed in 1990 by the United States Congress, and signed by President George H.W. Bush, to mitigate and prevent civil liability for future oil spills off the coast of the United States. • It amended the Clean Water responding Act and addressed the wide range of problems associated with preventing, to, and paying for oil pollution incidents in navigable waters of the United States. • The law stated that companies must have a "plan to prevent spills that may occur" and have a "detailed containment and cleanup plan" for oil spills. The law also includes a clause that prohibits any vessel that, after March 22, 1989, has caused an oil spill of more than one million U.S. gallons in any marine area, from operating in Prince William Sound. • It created a comprehensive prevention, response, liability, and compensation regime to deal with vessel- and facility-caused oil pollution to U.S. navigable waters • Some environmental issues that were affected by the Oil Pollution Act were the protection of marine life from any pollutants in their natural waters, as well as wildlife areas were oil is being drawn near their natural habitats.

2. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 • Because of the OPA, the Federal government is required to direct all public and private response efforts for certain types of spill events; Area Committees composed of federal, state, and local government officials must develop detailed, location-specific Area Contingency Plans; and owners or operators of vessels and certain facilities that pose a serious threat to the environment must prepare their own Facility Response Plans. • The OPA increased penalties for regulatory noncompliance, broadened the response and enforcement authorities of the Federal government, and preserved State authority to establish law governing oil spill prevention and response. • The EPA is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the regulations created by the Oil Pollution Act. By doing so, the nation is protected and insured that if any disaster were to happen with an oil spill, the federal government and the EPA would be there to clean up and protect the environment.