Title: Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Headings: Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Oil Pollution Act of 1990
What Is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Key Takeaways
Understanding the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Liability Under the OPA

Content: Oil Pollution Act of 1990
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Oil Pollution Act of 1990
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James Chen, CMT, is the former director of investing and trading content at Investopedia. He is an expert trader, investment adviser, and global market strategist. Learn about our editorial policies
James Chen
Updated Oct 8, 2019
What Is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
The U.S. Congress enacted the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) to streamline and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) power to prevent oil spills. It was passed as an amendment to the Clean Water Act of 1972 following the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 is one of the most wide-reaching and critical pieces of environmental legislation ever passed. Key Takeaways
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 expanded the power of federal agencies to prevent and punish mass oil spills. It was passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The act was passed as an amendment to the Clean Water Act of 1972. Understanding the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
The Oil Pollution Act was designed to establish a comprehensive federal framework that would prevent future spills and develop cleanup procedures in the case of a spill-related emergency. Primary enforcement and administration of the act are by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).