Title: Oil Pollution Act Overview | US Environmental Protection Agency
Headings: Oil Pollution Act Overview
Oil Pollution Act Overview
Overview
Key Provisions of the Oil Pollution Act
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Content: 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. Finally, 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. Key Provisions of the Oil Pollution Act
§1002 (a) Provides that the responsible party for a vessel or facility from which oil is discharged, or which poses a substantial threat of a discharge, is liable for: ( 1) certain specified damages resulting from the discharged oil; and (2) removal costs incurred in a manner consistent with the National Contingency Plan (NCP). §1002 (c) Exceptions to the Clean Water Act (CWA) liability provisions include: ( 1) discharges of oil authorized by a permit under Federal, State, or local law; ( 2) discharges of oil from a public vessel;