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: Broadened enforcement authority. Increased penalties for polluters. Further research and development programs for cleanup and storage technology. Increased potential liabilities. Increased financial responsibility requirements. Liability Under the OPA
A primary emphasis of the OPA is the liability, financial and otherwise, which the act imposes on any party found to be responsible for a destructive oil spill. Any firm identified as a responsible party is subject to virtually unlimited cleanup costs. However, any claimant seeking reimbursement for cleanup costs must first request it directly from the guilty party. If the responsible party refuses, a claimant can then take legal action against the firm or seek it directly from a federally established Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Establishment of the Liability Trust Fund came in 1986, before the Valdez incident.