Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 61 views

    9 Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    Uploaded by

    Ur Loafer Mariner
    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) was passed by Congress in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It aimed to prevent future spills by requiring oil transport and storage companies to present spill prevention and response plans. It also expanded the federal government's ability to respond to spills by providing funding and resources. Key provisions included increased liability limits for vessel owners, requirements for double-hulled tankers and oil spill response plans, and fines for non-compliance.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    9 Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    Uploaded by

    Ur Loafer Mariner
    61 views6 pages
    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) was passed by Congress in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It aimed to prevent future spills by requiring oil transport and storage companies to present spill prevention and response plans. It also expanded the federal government's ability to respond to spills by providing funding and resources. Key provisions included increased liability limits for vessel owners, requirements for double-hulled tankers and oil spill response plans, and fines for non-compliance.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) was passed by Congress in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It aimed to prevent future spills by requiring oil transport and storage companies to present spill prevention and response plans. It also expanded the federal government's ability to respond to spills by providing funding and resources. Key provisions included increased liability limits for vessel owners, requirements for double-hulled tankers and oil spill response plans, and fines for non-compliance.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    61 views6 pages

    9 Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    Uploaded by

    Ur Loafer Mariner
    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) was passed by Congress in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It aimed to prevent future spills by requiring oil transport and storage companies to present spill prevention and response plans. It also expanded the federal government's ability to respond to spills by providing funding and resources. Key provisions included increased liability limits for vessel owners, requirements for double-hulled tankers and oil spill response plans, and fines for non-compliance.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 6

    Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    (OPA-90)
    GENERAL
    • The Oil Pollution Act was passed by the United States
    Congress to prevent further oil spills from occurring in the
    United States. It stated that:
    • "A company cannot ship oil into the United States
    until it presents a plan to prevent spills that may occur.
    It must also have a detailed containment and cleanup
    plan in case of an oil spill emergency."
    • OPA-90 was in response to public concern following the
    Exxon Valdez incident.
    • OPA-90's intention was to improve the nation's ability to
    prevent and respond to oil spills by establishing provisions
    that expand the federal government's ability, and provide
    the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills.
    Key Provisions of the OPA
    • Provides that the a vessel or facility from which oil is discharged is
    liable for:
    (1) certain specified damages resulting from the discharged oil;
    (2) removal costs incurred in a manner consistent with the National
    Contingency Plan (NCP).
    (3) If the party can establish that the removal costs and damages
    resulting from an incident were caused solely by an act or omission
    by a third party, the third party will be held liable for such costs
    and damages.
    (4)The liability for tank vessels larger than 3,000 gross tons is $1,200
    per gross ton or $10 million max, whichever is greater.
    (5)For ports the liability for pollution would be $350 millon per spill
    & for offshore facilities the fine upto $150 million
    Requirements of OPA
    After the grounding of the Exxon Valdez the requirements put
    forward by OPA 90
    1)Only double hulled tankers to call at US ports.
    2)The owners and operators of tanker vessels are required to
    maintain Vessel Response Plans (VRPs)
    3) Appoint Qualified Individuals and contract-recognized Oil
    Spill Response Organizations (OSROs).
    4)OPA improved the nations ability to respond to oil spills
    &provide money and resources necessary.
    5)The OPA created the national Oil Spill Liability Trust
    Fund which is available to provide up to one billion dollars .
    FINES
    1)The fine for failing to notify the appropriate Federal
    agency of a discharge is increased from a maximum of
    $10,000 to a maximum of $250,000 for an individual or
    $500,000 for an organization. The maximum prison term
    is also increased from one year to five years. The penalties
    for violations have a maximum of $250,000 and 15 years in
    prison.
    2) Civil penalties are authorized at $25,000 for each day of
    violation or $1,000 per barrel of oil discharged. Failure to
    comply with a Federal removal order can result in civil
    penalties of up to $25,000 for each day of violation.
    Vessel Response Plan
    Vessels to report when 200 miles from US coast. US Cost Guards will track
    vessels from this location.
    Vessels to give following information
    a)Name & vessels particulars, Characteristics
    b)Owners to send plans of GA plans, tank plans, pipings systems etc
    c)Cow operations if going to be carried out
    d) IG & PV system in entirety
    e)SOPEP/SMPEP as applicable. SOPEP Equipment whether in order.
    f) Contingency plan in case of spills
    g)Reporting systems in case of oil spills
    h)ODMC . Over discharge valves , blanks on o/b discharge line
    i) Whether all crew aware actions in emergency
    J)When vessel is 12nm off / at anchorage Coast Guards / Verifying authority will
    board vessels to check all details.

    You might also like