What does the 1990 Oil Pollution Act require?

In 1990, the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) amended the Clean Water Act to require some oil storage facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans (FRP). On July 1, 1994, EPA finalized the revisions that direct facility owners or operators to prepare and submit plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil (Subpart D).

What is the purpose of the oil pollution prevention and response regulation?

EPA issued the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation to prevent oil spills and to assure that oil facility personnel are prepared to respond if a spill occurs. The regulation has two sets of requirements. The first set of requirements is the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule.

Is the Oil Pollution Act a federal law?

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 as an amendment to the Clean Water Act of 1972.

What is Oil Pollution Act of 1990 OPA 90?

One reason Congress enacted the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was to reduce the occurrence of oil spills through preventive measures and to reduce the impact of future oil spills through increased preparedness.

What does the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 State?

The Federal Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 established pollution prevention as the public policy of the United States. The Federal Act declares that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source wherever feasible, while pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner.

Where is OPA 90 applicable?

OPA 90 proscribes that the responsible parties or facility from which oil is discharged or which poses a substantial threat of discharge of oil, into or upon navigable waters or the adjoining shorelines are strictly liable, jointly and severally under 33 U.S.C. 2702.

How is the Oil Pollution Act enforced?

Domestic production: In the Oil Pollution Act, the U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of screening the application process for vessels, however, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) implements and enforces all of the Oil Pollution Act’s regulations for offshore oil facilities.

Who needs SPCC training?

EPA’s SPCC regulation (found at 40 CFR 112.7) require that the owner or operator of a facility subject to SPCC regulations train all “oil-handling” personnel (see inset). No deviation from this requirement is allowed, even if your plan is signed by a Professional Engineer.

Is the Oil Pollution Act International?

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) (101 H.R. 1465, P.L. 101-380) was passed by the 101st United States Congress and signed by President George H. W. Bush….Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

Who does OPA 90 apply to?

OPA 90 applies to virtually all vessel types, including fishing vessels, passenger craft, work boats, and the cargo ships that carry most U.S. commerce, as well as tank vessels.