The Oil Pollution Act (101 H.R.1465, P.L. 101-380 [1]) was passed by the United States Congress to prevent further oil spills from occurring in the United States. It was written and passed into law after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
The law stated that It stated that companies must have a "plan to prevent spills that may occur" and have a "detailed containment and cleanup plan" for oil spills. The law also includes a clause that prohibits any vessel that, after March 22, 1989, has caused an oil spill of more than one million U.S. gallons (3,800 m³) in any marine area, from operating in Prince William Sound.[1]
The bill enjoyed widespread support, passing the House 375-5 and the Senate by voice vote before conference, and unanimously in both chambers after conference.
In April 1998, Exxon argued in a legal action against the federal government that the Exxon Valdez should be allowed back into Alaskan waters. Exxon claimed the OPA was effectively a bill of attainder, a regulation that was unfairly directed at Exxon alone.[2] In 2002, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Exxon. As of 2002, OPA had prevented 18 ships from entering Prince William Sound.[3]
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   | Oil Pollution Act Overview - Oil Pollution Act Overview | Emergency Management | US EPA |
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