Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation
in the 112th Congress
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Specialist in Environmental Policy
January 16, 2013
Congressional Research Service
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www.crs.gov
R41684
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Summary
Recent oil spills, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, generated
an increased level of interest in oil spill legislation during the 112th Congress. This report
identifies enacted and proposed legislation from the 112th Congress that pertains to oil spillrelated issues. For this report, oil spill-related issues include oil spill policy matters that concern
prevention, preparedness, response, liability and compensation, and Gulf of Mexico restoration.
In the context of this report, oil spill issues do not generally include matters pertaining to offshore
leasing and drilling.
The 112th Congress enacted two statutes that contain oil spill-related provisions. On January 3,
2012, the President signed P.L. 112-90 (the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job
Creation Act of 2011), which
•
increases civil penalties for violating safety requirements and requires automatic
and remote-controlled shutoff valves on newly constructed transmission
pipelines;
•
directs the Department of Transportation to analyze leak detection systems, and
after a review by Congress, issue requirements based on this analysis; and
•
requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to review
whether current regulations are sufficient to regulate pipelines transmitting
"diluted bitumen," and analyze whether such oil presents an increased risk of
release.
On July 6, 2012, the President signed P.L. 112-141 (MAP-21), which includes a subtitle referred
to as the RESTORE Act. The RESTORE Act establishes the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund in the
General Treasury. Eighty percent of any administrative and civil Clean Water Act Section 311
penalties paid by responsible parties in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill will
provide the revenues for the fund. Amounts in the fund will be available for expenditure without
further appropriation.
The RESTORE Act distributes monies to various entities through multiple processes:
•
35% divided equally among the five Gulf of Mexico states to be applied toward
one or more of 11 designated activities;
•
30% provided to a newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to
finance ecosystem restoration activities in the Gulf Coast region;
•
30% disbursed by the Council to the five Gulf states, based on specific criteria:
shoreline impact; oiled shoreline distance from the Deepwater Horizon rig; and
coastal population. Each state must submit a plan for approval, documenting how
funding will support one or more of the 11 designated activities; and
•
5% to support marine research and related purposes.
Congressional Research Service
Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1
RESTORE Act—Summary.............................................................................................................. 3
Fund Administration .................................................................................................................. 4
Funding Levels .......................................................................................................................... 4
Funding Distribution and Authorized Uses ............................................................................... 6
Figures
Figure 1. RESTORE Act Funding Distribution ............................................................................... 7
Tables
Table 1. List of Acronyms................................................................................................................ 9
Table 2. Enacted Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress......................................................... 10
Table 3. Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress—House Proposals ........................................ 12
Table 4. Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress—Senate Proposals ....................................... 26
Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 34
Congressional Research Service
Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Introduction
Congressional interest in oil spill legislation has historically waxed and waned. Recent oil spills
led some Members of the 112th Congress to express an increased level of interest in oil spill
legislation. On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred at the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform
in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in 11 fatalities. The incident disabled the facility and led to a full
evacuation before the platform sank into the Gulf on April 22, 2010. A significant release of oil at
the sea floor was soon discovered. According to the National Incident Command’s Flow Rate
Technical Group estimate, the well released approximately 206 million gallons (4.9 million
barrels) of oil before it was contained July 15, 2010.1
The 2010 Gulf oil spill and two pipeline spills—an Enbridge pipeline in Michigan (2010)2 and an
ExxonMobil pipeline in Montana (2011)3—continued to generate some interest in a variety of oil
spill-related issues.
This report identifies legislation that addresses oil spill-related issues. For this report, oil spillrelated issues include oil spill policy matters that concern prevention, preparedness, response,
liability and compensation, and Gulf of Mexico restoration. In the context of this report, oil spill
issues do not generally include matters pertaining to offshore leasing and drilling.
For the most part, the underlying statutes for these oil spill-related provisions are found in either
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA),4 the Clean Water Act (CWA) and its amendments,5 or the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and its amendments.6
Table 1 provides a list of acronyms used in the report. Table 2 identifies enacted oil spill
legislation. Table 3 (House proposals) and Table 4 (Senate proposals) provide a snapshot of oil
spill-related bills in the 112th Congress, many of which were (at least in part) offered in response
to issues raised by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.7
1
Approximately 35 million gallons was recovered directly from the wellhead. The Federal Interagency Solutions
Group, Oil Budget Calculator Science and Engineering Team, Oil Budget Calculator—Deepwater Horizon: Technical
Documentation, November 2010.
2
On July 26, 2010, a pipeline released approximately 800,000 gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek, a waterway
that flows into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. For more up-to-date information, see EPA’s Enbridge oil spill
website at http://www.epa.gov/enbridgespill/index.html.
3
On July 1, 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured and released oil into the Yellowstone River near Billings,
Montana. According to the pipeline owner (and cited on EPA’s website), the incident discharged an estimated 42,000
gallons. For more up-to-date information, see EPA’s Yellowstone River spill website at http://www.epa.gov/
yellowstoneriverspill/.
4
Primarily codified at 33 U.S.C. §§2701 et seq. OPA amended other sections of the U.S. Code, including the Clean
Water Act (e.g., 33 U.S.C. §1321) and portions of the tax code (26 U.S.C. §4611 and §9509).
5
33 U.S.C. §§1251 et seq.
6
43 U.S.C. §§1331 et seq.
7
CRS Report R42371, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Highlighted Activities, by (name redacted).
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Some of the bills are similar (if not identical) to proposals from the 111th Congress. (See Text Box
below.) Other bills reflect recommendations by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.8
Oil Spill-Related Legislation in the 111th Congress
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Members in the 111th Congress introduced more than 150 oil spillrelated legislative proposals, enacting three bills into law (P.L. 111-191, P.L. 111-212, and P.L. 111-281). Provisions in
these laws generally concerned short-term matters that will not have a lasting impact on oil spill governance.
However, H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, which the President signed
October 15, 2010 (P.L. 111-281), includes more substantial changes. In addition to the enacted legislation, the House
in the 111th Congress passed several bills, including H.R. 3534 (the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources
Act—CLEAR Act) that included multiple oil spill provisions. The Senate had comparable bills on its Legislative
Calendar, but did not vote on their passage.9
The 112th Congress enacted two statutes with oil spill-related provisions. First, on January 3,
2012, the President signed P.L. 112-90 (the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job
Creation Act of 2011), which includes, among other provisions, the following:
•
increases the maximum amount of civil penalties for violations of safety
requirements;
•
authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to require the installation of automatic
and remote-controlled shutoff valves on newly constructed transmission
pipelines;
•
directs the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report analyzing leak detection
systems and issues involved in requiring them. Based on this analysis (and after a
review period by Congress), the Secretary of Transportation may issue leak
detection requirements; and
•
requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to review
whether current regulations are sufficient to regulate pipelines transmitting
"diluted bitumen," and analyze whether such oil presents an increased risk of
release.10
Second, on July 6, 2012, the President signed P.L. 112-141 (MAP-21).11 That act included a
subtitle referred to as the RESTORE Act.12 A detailed summary of that act is provided below.
8
The final report from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and
supporting documents are available at http://www.oilspillcommission.gov/.
9
For activity in the 111th Congress, see CRS Report R41453, Oil Spill Legislation in the 111th Congress, by (name red
acted).
10
For more information, see CRS Report R42611, Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected
Environmental Issues, coordinated by (name redacted).
11
For more information on this legislation and related issues, see CRS Report R42445, Surface Transportation
Reauthorization Legislation in the 112th Congress: MAP-21, H.R. 7, and H.R. 4348—Major Provisions, coordinated
by (name redacted).
12
Division A, Title I, Subtitle F is titled the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and
Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act).
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
The bills included in the following tables below are not an exhaustive list of bills that may have
some impact on oil spill policy. For example, some Members offered proposals that sought to
spur offshore oil exploration and development. As highlighted below, one enacted bill included
such a provision and several other such bills passed the House:
•
P.L. 112-74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (signed December 23,
2011), included a provision that amends the Clean Air Act (CAA), transferring
air emission authority in the OCS off Alaska’s north coast from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Department of the Interior
(DOI).13
•
H.R. 1230 (passed the House May 5, 2011) would have directed the DOI
Secretary to conduct four oil and gas lease sales—three in the Gulf of Mexico
and one off the coast of Virginia—within specific time frames.
•
H.R. 1229 (passed the House May 11, 2011) would have amended the permit
process time frame and change the venue for judicial review.
•
H.R. 1231 (passed the House May 12, 2011) would have directed the DOI
Secretary to make certain areas of OCS available for leasing based on estimates
of oil and gas resources.
•
H.R. 2021 (passed the House June 22, 2011) would have amended the CAA to
modify the definition of OCS source, to exclude counting support vessel
emissions, and to eliminate Environmental Appeal Board authority over
exploration permits.
In contrast, some Members introduced bills that would have prohibited oil and gas development
in particular areas. The focus of these proposals generally involves environmental protection,
particularly oil spill prevention. As such, these latter proposals are included in the tables below,
but the former proposals are not. The bills identified in the tables are listed in (descending) order
by bill number.
RESTORE Act—Summary
The RESTORE Act establishes the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund in the General Treasury. Eighty
percent of any administrative and civil Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 31114 penalties paid by
responsible parties in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill provide the revenues
for the fund.15 Amounts in the fund will be available for expenditure without further
appropriation.
13
For more information on this issue, see CRS Report R42123, Controlling Air Emissions from Outer Continental
Shelf Sources: A Comparison of Two Programs—EPA and DOI, by (name redacted).
14
33 U.S.C. §1321.
15
Unless specifically addressed otherwise, the Miscellaneous Receipts Act (31 U.S.C. §3302(b)) provides that all court,
or administratively imposed, penalties are paid to the U.S. Treasury. The underlying statutory provisions of the Oil
Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) effectively override this general provision by transferring Clean Water Act Section
311 penalties (among others) into the OSLTF. Thus, the RESTORE Act diverts potential penalty revenues from the
OSLTF. For further information, see CRS Report R41679, Liability and Compensation Issues Raised by the 2010 Gulf
Oil Spill.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Fund Administration
The act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate implementing regulations concerning
trust fund deposits and expenditures. Based on this and other provisions, the act appears to give
the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to determine how much money from the trust fund
should be expended each fiscal year. In the provisions of the act that concern fund distributions,
the act includes the phrase: “Of the total amounts made available in any fiscal year from the Trust
Fund …” Another section gives the Secretary authority to stop expending funds to particular
entities (e.g., states), if the Secretary determines funds are not being used for prescribed activities.
Funding Levels
The amount of revenue that would be available to finance the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund is
uncertain. Some identified responsible parties, including BP, have entered in civil and/or criminal
settlements with the federal government (see Text Box below). However, BP has not resolved its
potential CWA civil penalties, which, as discussed below, could be substantial.
CWA Section 311 authorizes certain civil judicial penalties to the owner, operator, or person in
charge of a vessel, onshore facility, or offshore facility for violations of that provision. A civil
judicial penalty applies to a violation of the CWA prohibition on discharging oil into navigable
waters of the United States.16 The monetary penalty for this violation may be up to $37,500 per
day of violation, or up to $1,100 per barrel discharged. If the violation is deemed a result of gross
negligence or willful misconduct, the penalty is not less than $140,000 for the violation, nor more
than $4,300 per barrel discharged.17 No such negligence determination has been made in
connection with the 2010 oil spill.
According to the most recent estimate from the federal government, the 2010 oil spill resulted in
a discharge of approximately 206 million gallons (4.9 million barrels) in the Gulf of Mexico.18
However, the responsible parties are reportedly disputing this estimate.19 Moreover, an estimated
17% of the 4.9 million barrels did not enter the Gulf environment, but was directly recovered
from the wellhead by BP. It is unknown whether this portion of the oil will be counted in a
potential CWA penalty determination.
16
33 U.S.C. §1321(b)(3). Other potential violations include failure without sufficient cause to carry out a removal order
by the President, and failure to comply with the National Contingency Plan.
17
Congress enacted the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C. §2461 note) to ensure that
inflation over a long period does not erode the deterrent force of a penalty ceiling. Through a rulemaking process, EPA
has adjusted (for inflation) the maximum penalties on several occasions. In a December 1996 rule (61 Federal Register
69360, December 31, 1996), EPA increased the per-barrel penalties from $1,000/barrel and $3,000/barrel to
$1,100/barrel and $3,300/barrel (the higher amounts for gross negligence). These amounts applied from January 30,
1997, through March 15, 2004. The gross negligence penalty was increased to $4,300/barrel in a 2004 rulemaking (69
Federal Register 7121, February 13, 2004), going into effect March 15, 2004. A table documenting these changes is in
40 C.F.R. Section 19.4.
18
Federal Interagency Solutions Group, Oil Budget Calculator Science and Engineering Team, Oil Budget Calculator:
Deepwater Horizon-Technical Documentation, November 2010. See also CRS Report R41531, Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill: The Fate of the Oil, by (name redacted).
19
See e.g., Steven Mufson, “BP lawyers challenge government's size estimate of Gulf of Mexico oil spill,” Washington
Post, December 4, 2010.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Deepwater Horizon Civil and Criminal Settlements
Transocean
On January 3, 2013, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a civil and criminal penalty settlement with
Transocean, the company that owned and operated the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. The civil settlement component
was $1 billion, 80% of which would support the Restoration Trust Fund. The proposed civil settlement is subject to a
public comment period and final approval from the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.20
In the Transocean Guilty Plea agreement, Transocean agreed to pay $400 million. The amount is distributed as
follows:
•
$150 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF);
•
$150 million to National Academy of Sciences for oil spill prevention and response research; and
•
$100 million in fines would go to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
BP
On November 15, 2012, BP and DOJ announced a criminal penalty settlement of approximately $4 billion. The
settlement is subject to court approval.21 The $4 billion would be distributed as follows:
•
$2.394 billion to the NFWF;
•
$1.15 billion to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund;
•
$350 million to the National Academy of Sciences for oil spill prevention and response research; and
•
$100 million to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.
On the same day, BP and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a settlement involving civil
securities fraud charges. BP agreed to pay $525 million to settle the charges, which would be used to establish a fund
to provide harmed investors with compensation for losses they sustained in the fraud.22
MOEX
On February 17, 2012, DOJ and MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC agreed to a $70 million civil penalty settlement, with an
additional $20 million in supplemental environmental projects.23 At the time of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, MOEX
owned approximately 10% of the lease for the Macondo well.24 Of the $70 million penalty amount, $45 million goes
to the United States (into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund), and the remaining $25 million is distributed in various
amounts among the five Gulf states.
The $1,100 to $4,300 per-barrel range is the basis of the oft-cited judicial penalty range for the
2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill: $4.5 billion to $21.5 billion.25 The low end of this range is
achieved by multiplying 4.1 million barrels (amount of discharge after removing the 17% directly
captured by BP) by $1,100/ barrel. The upper end of the range is achieved by multiplying 4.9
million barrels (total discharge amount) by the maximum penalty of $4,300/barrel, which
presumes a determination of either gross negligence or willful misconduct.
20
For further information, see the Department of Justice Press Release at
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/January/13-ag-004.html.
21
See http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/43320121115143613990027.pdf.
22
See SEC Press Release, November 15, 2012, at http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2012/2012-231.htm.
23
The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana approved the settlement on June 8, 2012.
24
For further information, see EPA’s website, which includes the Consent Decree, at
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/moex.html.
25
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, Deep Water: The Gulf Oil
Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling, Report to the President, January 2011, p. 211.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
In addition, when determining the amount of the judicial penalty, CWA Section 311(b)(8)26 states
that “the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, the Secretary [of Homeland
Security],27 or the court, as the case may be,” must consider the following factors:
1. the seriousness of the violation or violations,
2. the economic benefit to the violator, if any, resulting from the violation,
3. the degree of culpability involved,
4. any other penalty for the same incident,
5. any history of prior violations,
6. the nature, extent, and degree of success of any efforts of the violator to minimize
or mitigate the effects of the discharge,
7. the economic impact of the penalty on the violator, and
8. any other matters as justice may require.
Therefore, the judicial civil penalty for the incident could be less than the low end of the above
range ($4.5 billion), even if gross negligence or willful misconduct is determined.
Funding Distribution and Authorized Uses
The act distributes monies from the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund to various entities through
multiple processes. All of the funds—not counting authorized administrative activities—would
support activities in one or more of the five Gulf of Mexico states. The majority of the funds
(65%) is allocated directly to the states (or political subdivisions), with certain conditions. The
different fund allotments and their conditions are discussed below and illustrated in Figure 1.
26
27
33 U.S.C. §1321(b)(8).
The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Figure 1. RESTORE Act Funding Distribution
Does Not Include Distribution of Interest Earned
GCERSOMT
Program
2.5%
Centers of
Excellence
2.5%
TX
7.0%
MS
7.0%
LA
7.0%
Restoration
Council
30.0%
FL
7.0%
AL
7.0%
Gulf Coast states
30.0%
Source: Prepared by CRS.
Notes: The GCERSOMT Program refers to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation,
Monitoring, and Technology Program established by the RESTORE Act.
35%—Equal Shares to the Five Gulf States
The largest portion of the fund (35%) is divided equally among the five Gulf of Mexico states:
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The act has further requirements for specific
distributions to political subdivisions in Florida and Louisiana. In Florida, 75% of its share will
be distributed to the “8 disproportionately affected counties.” In Louisiana, 30% of its share goes
to individual parishes based on a statutory formula.
The act stipulates that the state (or county) funding must be applied toward one or more of the
following 11 activities:
1. Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine
and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region.
2. Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources.
3. Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive
conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring.
4. Workforce development and job creation.
5. Improvements to or on state parks located in coastal areas affected by the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
6. Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including
port infrastructure.
7. Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.
8. Planning assistance.
9. Administrative costs (limited to not more than 3% of a state’s allotment).
10. Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational fishing.
11. Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast Region.
To receive its share of funds, a state must meet several conditions, including a certification (as
determined by the Secretary of the Treasury) that, among other things, funds are applied to one of
the above activities and activities are selected through public input. In addition, states must
submit a multiyear implementation plan, documenting funded activities.
30%—Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
The act distributes 30% of its trust fund monies to a newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Council. The Council is composed of high-level officials from six federal agencies
and the governor (or his/her designee) from each of the five Gulf states. Based on its
Comprehensive Plan, the Council will finance ecosystem restoration activities in the Gulf Coast
region.
30%—Unequal Shares to the Five Gulf States Disbursed by the Council
The act directs the Council to disburse 30% of the trust fund monies to the five Gulf states. The
Council is to develop a distribution formula based on criteria listed in the act. In general, the
criteria involve a measure of shoreline impact; oiled shoreline distance from the Deepwater
Horizon rig; and coastal population. CRS is not aware of an authoritative source that has
estimated how much each state would receive under these criteria.
To receive funding, each state must submit a plan for approval to the Council. State plans must
document how funding will support one or more of the 11 categories listed above. However, only
25% of a state’s funding can be used to support infrastructure projects in categories 6 and 7
above.28
2.5%—Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and
Technology (GCERSOMT) Program
The act establishes the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and
Technology (GCERSOMT) program, funded by 2.5% of monies in the trust fund. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator will implement the program,
which will support marine research projects that pertain to species in the Gulf of Mexico.
28
The act allows states to spend more than 25% of their funding on infrastructure if the state certifies the projects will
meet particular conditions.
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Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
2.5%—Centers of Excellence
The act disburses 2.5% of monies in the trust fund to the five Gulf states to establish—through a
competitive grant program—“centers of excellence.” The centers would be nongovernmental
entities (including public or private institutions) in the Gulf Coast Region.
Interest Earned by the Fund
Finally, interest earned by the trust fund would be distributed as follows:
•
50% would fund the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, so it can “carry
out the Comprehensive Plan.”
•
25% would provide additional funding for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology program mentioned above.
•
25% would provide additional funding for the centers of excellence research
grants mentioned above.
Table 1. List of Acronyms
BOP
Blowout preventer
CAA
Clean Air Act
CEQ
Council on Environmental Quality
CWA
Clean Water Act
CZMA
Coastal Zone Management Act
DHS
Department of Homeland Security
DOI
Department of the Interior
DOT
Department of Transportation
EEZ
Exclusive Economic Zone
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
GAO
Government Accountability Office
MODU
Mobile offshore drilling unit
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OCS
Outer continental shelf
OCSLA
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
OPA
Oil Pollution Act
OSLTF
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
SONS
Spill of National Significance
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Table 2. Enacted Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
P.L. Number
Enacted Date
P.L. 112-90
January 3, 2012
Related Bills
H.R. 2845
Key Oil Spill-Related Provisions
Increases the maximum amount of civil penalties for violations of safety requirements.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to require the installation of automatic and remote-controlled
shutoff valves on newly constructed transmission pipelines.a
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report analyzing leak detection systems and issues involved
in requiring them. Based on this analysis (and after a review period by Congress), the Secretary of
Transportation may issue leak detection requirements.
Requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to review whether current regulations are
sufficient to regulate pipelines transmitting "diluted bitumen," and analyze whether such oil presents an
increased risk of release.
P.L. 112-141
June 6, 2012
H.R. 4348
Includes, among other provisions, the “RESTORE Act.”b This title establishes the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund,
which is supported (without further appropriations) with 80% of any Clean Water Act administrative and civil
penalties paid in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate implementing regulations concerning trust fund deposits
and expenditures.
Distributes funds as follows:
-35%: divided equally among the five Gulf of Mexico states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
These allotments must be applied toward one or more of 11 designated activities, including “workforce
development and job creation.”
-30%: provided to a newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Based on a comprehensive plan,
the Council will finance ecosystem restoration activities in the Gulf Coast region.
-30%: disbursed by the Council to the five Gulf states, based on criteria listed in the act. In general, the criteria
involve a measure of shoreline impact; oiled shoreline distance from the Deepwater Horizon rig; and coastal
population. To receive funding, each state must submit a plan for approval to the Council and document how
funding will support one or more of the 11 designated activities described above.
-2.5%: provided to a newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and
Technology (GCERSOMT) program. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will
implement the program, which will support marine research projects that pertain to species in the Gulf of
Mexico.
-2.5%: disbursed to the five Gulf states to establish—through a competitive grant program—“centers of
excellence” in the Gulf region.
Interest earned by the fund would be distributed as follows:
-50% to support the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council’s Comprehensive Plan
CRS-10
P.L. Number
Enacted Date
Related Bills
Key Oil Spill-Related Provisions
-25% to theGulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology program.
-25% to the centers of excellence grant program.
Source: Prepared by CRS.
Notes: The bills included in this table do not represent an exhaustive list but include bills that generally focus on oil spill policy matters that concern prevention,
preparedness, response, liability and compensation, and Gulf restoration.
a.
For more information, see CRS Report R41536, Keeping America’s Pipelines Safe and Secure: Key Issues for Congress, by (name redacted).
b.
Division A, Title I, Subtitle F is titled the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012
(RESTORE Act).
CRS-11
Table 3. Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress—House Proposals
Bills marked with an asterisk indicate committee or chamber action
Does not include resolutions
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
H.R. 52
Connolly
January 5, 2011
H.R. 53
Connolly
January 5, 2011
H.R. 54
Connolly
January 5, 2011
H.R. 56
Scalise
January 5, 2011
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Oil Pollution
Environmental
Review Act
(OPERA)
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends OCSLA to require the head of any federal agency to treat the
issuance of exploration plans, development production plans, development
operation coordination documents, and lease sales as a major federal action
under NEPA.
Referred to the House
Committee on Ways and
Means
Amends the tax code retroactively to prohibit tax deductions for expenses
related to costs or damages associated with oil spill liability.
Stand by your
Oil Pollution
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends retroactively the OPA definition of responsible party to include any
person having an ownership interest of more than 25% of any of the
responsible party categories (e.g., vessels, facilities, pipelines). Liability limit for
this new category of responsible party is based on the percentage of the
aggregate ownership interests.
Gulf Coast
Restoration
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources; and Committee
on Transportation and
Infrastructure
Creates a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration task force, staffed by highranking federal agency officials, and appointees from Gulf states and local
governments. The President appoints the chair. State governors (Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) submit coastal ecosystem
restoration plans for approval by the chair of the task force.
Establishes a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund, financed by not less
than 80% of any Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines
under §309 and §311 of CWA. The task force chair is to distribute monies
from the fund to states in support of their restoration plans.
H.R. 261
CRS-12
Pallone
January 11, 2011
No New
Drilling Act of
2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends OCSLA to prohibit all oil/gas OCS leasing.
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
H.R. 264
Thompson
H.R. 480
Castor
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
January 26, 2011
Northern
California
Ocean and
Coastal
Protection Act
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA to prohibit oil/gas OCS leases off the coast of
Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties in California.
January 26, 2011
Gulf of Mexico
Economic and
Environmental
Restoration
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and other
committees
Establishes a Gulf of Mexico Recovery Council composed of senior federal
agency officials, and appointees by the President from Gulf states (Louisiana,
Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas) governments; and tribal representatives.
Council duties include reviewing state restoration plans and allocating funds
to states with approved plans; creating a Gulf Observation System, a sea grant
program, a seafood marketing program, a clean energy program, and a Gulf
working group composed of Council members and local parties; submitting an
annual report to Congress.
Establishes the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Recovery Fund
financed by not less than 80% of any Gulf oil spill penalties, settlements, and
fines under CWA §309 and §311. Subject to appropriations, the fund is
available to the Council for redevelopment, restoration, and public health
rehabilitation. The Council is to distribute 80% of available funds in each fiscal
year to support state restoration plans. Allocation to states are based on a
formula: 60% on state’s proportionate length of Gulf coast shoreline—per the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast
Survey—and 40% on state’s proportionate share of population in counties
that border the Gulf coast.
Remaining 20% of funds allocated as follows: 40% to observation system; 30%
to clean energy program; 15% to sea grant program; and 15% to seafood
marketing program.
H.R. 492
CRS-13
Holt
January 26, 2011
Big Oil Bailout
Prevention
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on House
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends OPA retroactively to eliminate the liability limit for offshore facilities.
Bill
Number
Sponsor
H.R. 501
Markey
Introduced
Date
January 26, 2011
Short Title
Major Actions
Implementing
the
Recommendati
ons of the BP
Oil Spill
Commission
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and other
committees
Key Provisions
Title I: Among other provisions,a reorganizes the federal agency in charge of
overseeing offshore oil and gas operations.b
Title II: Directs DOI Secretary to implement regulations that (1) require
third-party certification for BOPs, well casing, and cementing; (2) require
mandatory safety and environmental management systems for operators; (3)
set specific requirements for BOPs, well design, and cement jobs. New
requirements apply to state waters unless state can demonstrate an equal
level of safety.
To obtain leases, easements, or right-of-ways, parties must certify that several
conditions are met, including potential responsible party obligations under
OPA for removal costs and damages.
Instructs DOI Secretary to publish every five years estimates of worst-case
scenario discharges in each OCS region. Increases the review time from 30 to
90 days for exploration plans, allowing additional review time in certain
circumstances. Requires additional response/containment information be
submitted with exploration plans. Requires engineering review and
completion of a safety and environmental management plan before issuance of
drilling permits. Creates additional requirements to meet before issuing
exploration permits: consultation with Secretary of Commerce; available
equipment/technology to remediate a worst-case discharge.
Stipulates that exploration plan approvals require environmental assessments
or environmental impact statements in accordance with NEPA.c Removes the
OCSLA exemption for western and central Gulf of Mexico operations to
submit a development and production plan, the approval (or significant
revision) of which shall require an environmental assessment or
environmental impact assessment per NEPA.
Modifies general policy of the leasing program to direct DOI Secretary to
balance national energy needs with environment and natural resource
protection. Directs DOI Secretary to consider NOAA input regarding the
leasing program. Directs DOI Secretary to request a review of a proposed
leasing program from the Secretary of Commerce and publish reasons for
modifying or rejecting Commerce recommendations. Requires DOI
Secretary’s environmental studies (in 43 U.S.C. §1346) to be in cooperation
with Secretary of Commerce and to conduct research of deepwater oil spills.
Removes an “economically feasible” clause, regarding the use of best available
and safest economically feasible technologies. Directs DOI Secretary to
publish every three years a list of the best available technologies for offshore
operations, including BOP and spill response. Instructs DOI Secretary to
CRS-14
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
promulgate regulations to take effect no later than five years later requiring a
“safety case” be submitted with each new permit to drill.
Modifies inspection regulations by requiring scheduled, monthly inspections at
OCS facilities. Adds loss of well control to list of events for which the Coast
Guard must make an investigation and prepare a public report. Requires an
annual certification that various drilling equipment and processes are in place
and functioning properly. Requires third-party certification of equipment
changes or upgrades.
Increases from 60 to 90 days the time period for filing a petition for a judicial
review of certain leasing program decisions made by the DOI Secretary.
Increases civil and criminal penalty amounts in OCSLA.
Requires lessees to submit daily reports, generated either by the lessee or its
contractor, to DOI Secretary no more than 24 hours after the required date.
Repeals royalty relief provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for
deepwater production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Directs DOI Secretary to create a research and risk assessment program; and
submit a report to Congress on costs of conducting baseline environmental
studies needed to implement OCSLA.
Allows for states to submit recommendations concerning exploration plans in
addition to lease sales and development and production plans. Provides a nonpreemption clause for state and local governments.
Title III: Among other provisions, modifies oil and gas royalty payments.d
Title IV: Creates a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, staffed by
high-ranking federal agency officials, and appointees from Gulf states and local
governments. The President appoints the chair. State governors (Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) submit coastal ecosystem
restoration plans for approval by the chair of the task force. Establishes a Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund, financed by not less than 80% of the
Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA §309
and §311. The task force chair is to distribute monies from the fund to states
in support of their restoration plans.
Title V: Directs CEQ chairman to establish/designate a Regional
Coordination Council for each region. Directs the Councils to prepare (1) an
initial assessment of data and information deficiencies regarding, among other
things, conservation and management of water resources; and (2) a regional
strategic plan to foster sustainable uses of the region’s resources. CEQ
CRS-15
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
chairman must approve the strategic plans. Establishes in the Treasury the
Ocean Resources Conservation and Assistance (ORCA) Fund, subject to
appropriations. ORCA funds allocated by formula for various grant programs
and other purposes.
Title VI: Removes retroactively the liability limit for offshore facilities;
modifies the liability limit provisions for MODUs. Directs the President to
revise the liability limits for vessels, onshore facilities, and deepwater ports at
least once every three years after enactment; revisions should reflect the
greater of (1) liability amount commensurate with risk (as determined by the
President) or (2) an increase in Consumer Price Index.
Amends definition of “removal costs” to include related federal enforcement
activities. Makes a corresponding addition to removal costs liability provision.
Expands definition of “responsible party” for onshore facilities. Amends the
CWA definition of “discharge (in 33 U.S.C. §1321) to also exclude discharges
incidental to salvage activities authorized by the President in accordance with
the NCP.e Adds “salvage activities” to the list of activities exempt from
liability. Modifies cost recovery provisions. Removes a defense—willful
misconduct of the responsible party—for claims against the guarantor.
Adds retroactively human health, including mental health, to the categories of
damages for which a responsible party is liable. Amends OPA liability by
adding Indian Tribes to government revenue and public services damage
categories. Amends OPA definition of responsible party to include any person
having an ownership interest of more than 25% of any of the responsible party
categories (e.g., vessels, facilities, pipelines). Amends OPA to shorten the time
frame from 90 to 45 days for claimants waiting on a responsible party to
address a submitted claim.
Adds considerations for natural resource trustees when determining the
means of addressing natural resource damages; eliminates the “rebuttable
presumption” provision that applies to trustees’ natural resource damage
assessments in administrative or judicial proceedings.
Increases the amount of financial responsibility that offshore facilities must
demonstrate to $300 million, but allows for President to establish alternate
amounts based on several factors, including (among others) the insurance
market, discharge risk, asset value of offshore facility company. Alternate
amounts must be at least $105 million for facilities seaward of state waters
boundary and $30 million for facilities landward of a state waters boundary.
Directs President to review all financial responsibility amounts every three
years and revise upward based on various factors.
CRS-16
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Directs the President to develop regulations allowing advance payments from
the OSLTFf to states and localities to prepare for and mitigate oil spills.
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §9509) to eliminate the $1 billion perincident cap on the OSLTF; allows for advances from the General Treasury to
the OSLTF.
Adds provision stating during a SONS the President may exercise authorities
to ensure that the presentation, filing, processing, settlement, and adjudication
of claims occurs within the areas affected by the spill to greatest extent
practicable. Authorizes the President to require during a SONS a responsible
party to provide information related to its claims process. Required
information includes claim processing time and “any other data … necessary
to ensure the performance of the responsible party or the guarantor with
regard to the processing and adjudication of such claims.”
Adds provision to shipping code (46 U.S.C. §12111) requiring that vessels
(including MODUs) engaged in EEZ resource activities be registered and
owned by a U.S. citizen (i.e., U.S. flagged). Amends OPA to require that
offshore facilities used for oil exploration, development, or production in, on,
above, or below the EEZ must be built in the United States. Allows the DHS
Secretary to grant waiver under certain conditions.
Requires MODU safety management plans pursuant to 46 U.S.C. §3203 plans
that address drilling operations; requires a MODU operator to obtain a
specific license. Directs the DHS Secretary to enhance vessel safety standard
regulations by addressing worst-case discharges; shortens the double-hull
transition period (from 2015 to 2011) for certain single-hull tankers.
Increases certain CWA penalty amounts; modifies the administrative penalty
provisions.
Amends the CWA to require changes to the NCP regarding dispersant use
and regulation, including toxicity thresholds, independent testing, ranking of
dispersants by region, ingredient disclosure; directs EPA to conduct dispersant
risk study; authorizes fee collection to cover EPA’s dispersant evaluation
costs; adds NCP provision concerning containment booms, response planning
for worst-case discharges.
Removes ability for tank vessels and offshore/onshore facilities to operate
without a response plan if a submitted plan is awaiting official approval. Allows
the President to designate which offshore facilities would require response
plan review from the DHS Secretary; requires that response plans contain
additional information (e.g., risk analysis); grants additional authority
concerning response plan oversight (e.g., biennial report to Congress) and
CRS-17
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
enforcement. Amends CWA to more explicitly describe the oil spill
prevention and response duties of EPA, the Coast Guard, DOT, and DOI.
Directs the President to implement or revise memoranda of understanding to
clarify oil spill prevention roles and responsibilities of various federal agencies.
Amends the CWA response plan provisions to require plans to specify
redundancies if planned actions fail; requires response plans be “vetted by
impartial experts.” Amends the OCSLA to prohibit the DOI Secretary from
issuing a license or permit for drilling unless the applicant has an approved
facility response plan. Requires the Coast Guard to inventory and maintain a
database of all vessels capable of oil spill response.
Authorizes additional appropriations from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to
support DHS, EPA, and DOT.
Modifies provisions in OPA Title VII (Research and Development); reduces
membership of Interagency Committee to Coast Guard, NOAA, DOI, and
EPA. Establishes a Science and Technology Advisory Board that assists the
Committee. Authorizes new and increased funding for the regional research
program: §321 provides $48 million for FY2012-FY2016 (without further
appropriation) from oil and gas royalty payments. (See Title III of this bill.) Of
this amount, the bill authorizes (subject to appropriations) specific funding to
NOAA for research activities.
Title VII: Amends CZMA by authorizing grants to states to revise
management programs to implement oil spill response capabilities. Directs
GAO to evaluate (and submit a report to Congress three years after
enactment) the effectiveness of reforms required by this act. Directs a study
from the National Academy of Engineering regarding drilling a relief well in
tandem with an exploration/production well. Establishes a permanent Flow
Rate Technical Group chaired by the Director of the U.S. Geologic Survey
and composed of representatives from the Coast Guard, NOAA, Department
of Energy, national laboratories, and academic institutions.
H.R. 612
CRS-18
Garamendi
February 10,
2011
West Coast
Ocean
Protection Act
of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA to prohibit oil/gas leases in the OCS off the coast of the
California, Oregon, or Washington.
Bill
Number
Sponsor
H.R. 832
Capps
H.R. 1228
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
February 28,
2011
Gulf Coast
Health
Monitoring
and Research
Program Act
of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Energy and
Commerce
Establishes a health screening, monitoring, and research program for oil spill
workers, Gulf residents, and food safety affected by the Deepwater Horizon
spill. Creates a Gulf Coast Health Research Advisory Committee to provide
advice to agencies involved in the program. Directs Secretary of Health and
Human Services to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the
program.
Landry
March 29, 2011
Natural
Resources
Restoration
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Directs EPA to create a panel, in consultation with the National Academy of
Sciences and federal and state trustees, to prepare a preliminary report of
natural resource damages. Requires resource trustees to prepare a “special
assessment” in amount equal to 30% of costs of restoring natural resources
(or a mutually agreed amount). Responsible parties must pay this amount,
which will be used to for restoration projects.
H.R. 1333
Miller
April 1, 2011
Gulf Coast
Economic and
Tourism
Restoration
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee
on Energy and Commerce
Establishes a Gulf Coast Economic Restoration Fund, financed by not less than
40% of the Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under
CWA §§309 and 311. Creates a Gulf Coast Economic Restoration Task Force
to distribute monies, subject to appropriations, from the Fund to Gulf states
to support Gulf coast economic development and tourism.
H.R. 1393
Buchanan
April 6, 2011
Oil Spill
Prevention
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and Committee
on Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends OPA retroactively to eliminate the liability limit for offshore facilities.
Directs the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement to conduct monthly inspections of vessels/facilities drilling for
offshore oil/gas. Prohibits categorical exemptions from any federal
requirement or restriction for oil/gas operations in water over 1,000 feet
deep.
H.R. 1520
Inslee
April 13, 2011
Offshore
Drilling Safety
Improvement
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and Committee
on Energy and Commerce
Amends the OCSLA to require OCS oil and gas drilling and production
operations to have safety and environmental management systems, including
BOPs and additional backup emergency shutoff equipment. The equipment
must use the “best available and safest technologies.” Implementing
regulations are to consider different requirements for different water depths.
H.R. 1568
Woolsey
April 14, 2011
Oil Pollution
Research and
Development
Program
Reauthorizatio
n Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology
Amends multiple provisions in OPA Title VII (research and development):
alters structure of the interagency committee; directs committee to meet
annually and to develop an information clearinghouse; amends implementation
plan provisions; creates an Oil Pollution Research Advisory Committee to
support the Interagency Committee; increases authorization for
appropriations for various provisions.
CRS-19
Bill
Number
Sponsor
H.R. 1597
Capps
H.R. 1664
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
April 15, 2011
California
Ocean and
Coastal
Protection Act
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA to prohibit oil/gas leases in the OCS off the coast of the
California.
Young
April 15, 2011
SAFEGUARDS
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and Committee
on Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends the OCSLA to require that the Coast Guard approve a facility
response plan before a facility receives a permit for exploration or production
activities. Requires the appropriate official to conduct water quality
monitoring 48 hours after an oil or hazardous substance discharge occurs.
Extends review time for exploration plans from 30 to 90 days and allows for
an additional 60-day extension. Prohibits exploration plans from receiving a
NEPA categorical exclusion.
H.R. 1762
Bonner
May 5, 2011
Gulf Coast
Restoration
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure and other
committees
Establishes a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, financed by not less than 80% of
any Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA
§§309 and 311. Creates a Gulf Coast Restoration Task Force, staffed by highranking federal agency officials, and appointees from Gulf states and local
governments. Directs Task Force to distribute Fund monies to the states to
support economic development, tourism promotion, and ecosystem
restoration. At least 80% of a state’s allotment must go to local governments
affected by the 2010 oil spill.
H.R. 1814
Engel
May 10, 2011
Offending Oil
Polluters Act
of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Ways and
Means
Amends the tax code to establish conditions for oil spill responsible parties
who may seek certain tax deductions or credits.
H.R. 1870
Connolly
May 12, 2011
Increase
American
Energy
Production
Now Act of
2011
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and other
committees
Provisions nearly identical to H.R. 501 (above).
H.R. 1890
Tsongas
May 12, 2011
SAFER Drilling
Act
Referred to the House
Committee on Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA to require exploration and development and production
plans to include an oil spill containment and cleanup plan that can address a
worst-case discharge. EPA must approve the containment/cleanup plan.
H.R. 2386
Markey
June 24, 2011
Oil Spill
Victims
Redress Act
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends state court jurisdiction provisions in OPA; amends state authority
regarding additional oil spill liability. Changes effective for any claim that is
pending on, or filed on or after, the date of enactment.
CRS-20
Key Provisions
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
H.R.
2845*
Shuster
September 7,
2011
Pipeline Safety,
Regulatory
Certainty, and
Job Creation
Act of 2011
Passed House December
12, 2011 (H. Rept 112297); passed Senate
December 13, 2011; signed
by President January 3,
2012 (P.L. 112-90)
Details provided in Table 2 (above).
H.R. 3096
Scalise
October 5, 2011
Resources and
Ecosystems
Sustainability,
Tourist
Opportunities,
and Revived
Economies of
the Gulf Coast
States Act of
2011
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure and other
committees
Establishes a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, financed by 80% of any Deepwater
Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA §311. Directs
the Secretary of the Treasury to administer the fund. Fund money will be
distributed as follows:
(1) 35% to the Gulf Coast States in equal shares to support eligible activities,
some of which cover a broad range (e.g., “workforce development and job
creation, and other economic development projects.”)
(2) 60% to the newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council,
which distributes funds based on a Comprehensive Plan. Funding priorities
(e.g., restoration, previous plans, large-scale) apply. Projects must qualify as
one of the specific eligible activities. Annual distributions are subject to a
formula that allocates project funding to states based on (1) miles of oiled
shoreline, (2) oiled shoreline distance to the well head, and (3) coastal
population. These criteria are not weighted equally.
(3) 5% to support research efforts. Equal shares to a newly created Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and
Technology Program and a newly created Fisheries and Ecosystem
Endowment.
(4) 50% of interest earned to support a newly created Gulf of Mexico
Research Endowment; other earned interest would remain in the fund until
expended.
H.R. 3393
CRS-21
Rivera
November 4,
2011
Foreign Oil
Spill Liability
Act of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Amends OPA to make the owner/operator of a foreign offshore unit (e.g., oil
well) liable as an OPA responsible party; amends CWA to subject such units
to CWA discharge penalties.
Bill
Number
H.R.
3408*
Sponsor
Lamborn
Introduced
Date
November 14,
2011
Short Title
PIONEERS
Act
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Reported by the House
Committee on Natural
Resources (H. Rept. 112392) on February 9, 2012;
passed House February 16,
2012
Among other provisions, the passed version included an amendment
(H.Amdt. 951, offered by Scalise) that added the Resources and Ecosystems
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf
Coast States Act of 2012 (“RESTORE Act”).
This act would establish a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund in the Treasury,
financed by 80% of any Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and
fines under CWA §311. Monies in the Fund would be available through future
congressional action to support Gulf Coast restoration—both natural
resources and the regional economy.
H.R. 3426
Connolly
November 16,
2011
Protecting
Neighborhood
s from Oil
Pollution Act
of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Directs EPA to issue regulations requiring the closure of an oil storage facility
if certain conditions apply: (1) facility is located within 1 mile of 100 residents
and 2 or more spills have occurred within 10 years; and (2) facility’s oil spill
led to groundwater contamination affecting 100 or more residents.
H.R. 3472
Young
November 17,
2011
Pirate Fishing
Vessel
Disposal Act
of 2011
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure and other
committees
Amends underlying code of OSLTF (26 U.S.C. 9509) to allow the trust fund to
finance activities concerning forfeited fishing vessels, including sinking,
scrapping, and recycling vessels.
H.R. 3757
Richardson
December 20,
2011
Securing
Health for
Ocean
Resources and
Environment
(SHORE) Act
Referred to the House
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure and other
committees
Title I: Directs NOAA Administrator to review NOAA’s capacity to respond
to oil spills and report to Congress; develop and maintain oil spill trajectory
models; update the environmental sensitivity index products for each U.S.
coastal area and offshore leasing area; prepare a review of subsea
hydrocarbons, including their effects with dispersants on marine resources;
establish a hydrocarbon monitoring and assessment program; set up an
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research; establish an
initiative examining threat and fate of oil spills from aging or abandoned
infrastructure; prepare inventory of offshore abandoned/sunken vessels;
submit report after enactments and every five years thereafter describing
leasing regions’ ecological baselines and risks posed by hydrocarbon
development.
Amends OPA to provide OSLTF monies to NOAA without further
appropriation.
Amends the CZMA to allow Secretary of Commerce to issue grants, not to
exceed $750,000 per year for one state, to states for specific purposes,
including programs to identify and implement policies that address oil spill
response and impacts (environmental, economic, and social) at the state level.
CRS-22
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Grants do not require state matching funds.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a long-term (10-year
minimum) marine environmental monitoring and research program for the
Gulf, ensuring access to independent, peer-reviewed data regarding impacts
associated with Deepwater Horizon spill. Requires biennial reports to
Congress. Data to be available to public after review and approval of Attorney
General.
Directs NOAA with collaboration from other agencies to direct research and
perform actions to improve oil spill prevention, response, and recovery in
Arctic waters.
Title II: Directs Coast Guard to assess and take action to reduce the risk and
improve the capability of the United States to respond to a maritime disaster
in the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
Requires oil spill response plans be updated every five years.
Directs DHS Secretary to establish a program for the formal evaluation and
validation of oil pollution containment and removal technologies and methods.
At each validation, the Secretary is to determine if the process or technology
should be designated as “best available.”
Instructs the DHS Secretary to increase the frequency and
comprehensiveness of safety inspections for U.S. and foreign-flagged vessels.
Adds offshore oil/gas exploration/production facilities (and components such
drilling systems, risers and blowout preventers) to the list of vessels subject
to Coast Guard inspection (33 U.S.C. §3301).
Directs the Coast Guard Commandant, in consultation with NOAA, to
identify areas of U.S. waters in which routing or other navigational measures
should be established to reduce oil spill risks. If identified, the DHS Secretary
and NOAA Administrator are to seek to establish such areas through the
International Maritime Organization. Instructs the Coast Guard Commandant
to submit quarterly data to Congress on data collected in support of this
section.
Allows a state to require 24-hour notification to the state and Coast Guard if
a person transfers more than 250 barrels of oil to, from, or within a vessel in
state waters.
Amends OPA to establish a Gulf of Mexico Regional Citizens’ Advisory
Council composed of Gulf stakeholders to (in general) monitor OCS facility
CRS-23
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
and tanker activities, particularly regarding environmental impacts, and
recommend standards to minimize impacts.
Amends OPA to modify the liability limits for vessels. Increases limits for tank
vessels without double-hulls. Creates new liability limits specific to tank
barges.
Requires the Coast Guard Commandant to make publicly available (on a
website) all prepared and approved Incident Action Plans associated with an
oil spill response that is within the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. The plans are
to be posted no later than 12 hours after an associated action has begun.
Authorizes increased appropriations to the Coast Guard for oil spill research
and development.
Title III: Directs NOAA, in coordination with DHS and EPA, to develop
national protocols concerning shoreline characterization data.
Requires DOI to consider suggestions from Commerce and Coast Guard
when proposing lease sales.
Prior to the approval of any program, lease, exploration plan, or development
and production plan, DOI must consult with NOAA on adverse impacts (e.g.,
oil spills). NOAA may recommend alternatives.
Establishes a Federal Oil Spill Research Committee (replacing the Interagency
Committee in OPA Title VII), represented by NOAA (chair), the Coast
Guard, and EPA, to coordinate oil pollution research and development.
Committee is to assess state of technology and research needs and report to
Congress. Committee is to submit a research implementation plan with
assistance from the National Academy of Sciences. Creates a grant program
to carry out research efforts.
H.R. 3852
Hastings
(FL)
January 31, 2012
NA
Referred to the House
Committee on Ways and
Means
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §162) to prohibit deductions for monies used
to pay oil spill response costs or damage claims.
H.R. 4135
Flake
March 3, 2012
Western
Hemisphere
Energy
Security Act of
2012
Referred to the House
Committee on Foreign
Affairs
Allows U.S. persons to engage in oil spill prevention and cleanup activities in
foreign exclusive economic zones (EEZ) that are contiguous to U.S. EEZ.
CRS-24
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
H.R.
4348*
Mica
April 16, 2012
MAP-21
Passed House on April 18,
2012; passed Senate on
April 24, 2012; signed by
President on July 6, 2012
(P.L. 112-141)
Details provided in Table 2 (above).
H.R. 5745
Ellison
May 15, 2012
End Polluter
Welfare Act of
2012
Referred to the House
Committee on Ways and
Means and other
committees
Increases the per-barrel tax on domestic and imported oil that finances the
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Amends applicability of tax to include bitumen
and bituminous mixtures (i.e., oil sands-derived crude oil materials).
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §280I) to prohibit deductions for monies
used to pay oil spill response costs or damage claims.
Source: Prepared by CRS.
Note: The bills included in this table do not represent an exhaustive list but include bills that generally focus on oil spill policy matters that concern prevention,
preparedness, response, liability and compensation, and Gulf restoration.
a.
Titles VIII and IX of H.R. 501 are not included in this table, because the issues are beyond the scope of this report.
b.
This issue is beyond the scope of this report. For more information, see CRS Report R41485, Reorganization of the Minerals Management Service in the Aftermath of the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, by (name redacted).
c.
For more information, see CRS Report R41265, The 2010 Oil Spill: MMS/BOEMRE and NEPA, by (name redacted).
d.
This issue is beyond the scope of this report. For more information, see CRS Report RL33404, Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework, by (name redacted). See
also CRS Report RS22567, Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases, by (name redacted).
e.
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) contains the federal government’s regulatory and operative requirements for
responding to an oil spill (or hazardous substance release) into or on navigable waters and other specified locations. First developed through administrative processes
in 1968, the NCP has been amended by subsequent laws, including the CWA and the OPA in 1990. Oil spill response actions required under the regulations of the
NCP are binding and enforceable, per these enforcement authorities.
f.
Congress created the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) in 1986, but did not authorize its use or provide its funding until OPA. The National Pollution Funds
Center (NPFC), an office within the Coast Guard, manages the trust fund. Key functions of the trust fund are (1) to provide funds (e.g., to agencies such as EPA) for
immediate oil spill response, and (2) to compensate parties for injuries/damages from the oil spill, if the responsible party (for whatever reason) denies payment, and
the NPFC determines the damages are compensable under the statute. The trust fund is primarily financed through an 8 cents per-barrel tax on domestic and
imported oil. See CRS Report RL33705, Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters: Background and Governance, by (name redacted).
CRS-25
Table 4. Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress—Senate Proposals
Bills marked with an asterisk indicate committee or chamber action
Does not include resolutions
Bill
Number
S. 183
S. 203
Sponsor
Rockefeller
Begich
Introduced
Date
January 25,
2011
January 26,
2011
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Deepwater
Horizon
Survivors’
Fairness Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Amends Shipowner’s Liability Act of 1851 by adding claims related to injury
or wrongful death arising from Deepwater Horizon incident to the list of claims
that are not subject to limitation.
Responsible
Arctic Energy
Development Act
of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Directs NOAA to conduct research to improve oil spill prevention, response,
and recovery in Arctic waters.
Expands liability under Death on the High Seas Act (46 U.S.C. Chapter 303)
and Jones Act (46 U.S.C. §30104).
Directs the Coast Guard to assess U.S. capability to respond to maritime
disasters in the Arctic region and take actions to improve capabilities.
Amends OPA oil pollution research provisions, creating two vice chairmen
for the Interagency Committee: NOAA and EPA. Directs the Interagency
Committee to request a risk assessment from the National Research Council
regarding Arctic oil spill operations.
States that testing of oil spill technologies would not constitute a major
federal action under NEPA. Authorizes EPA, with NOAA and DOI
consultation, to waive any provisions of any laws that limit testing of oil spill
capabilities in U.S. waters.
Authorizes up to $20 million annually without further appropriations to
NOAA from the OSLTF for marine species rescue, rehabilitation, and
recovery.
S. 204
CRS-26
Begich
January 26,
2011
Resources for Oil
Spill Research
and Prevention
Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Finance
Increases the OSLTF per-barrel tax financing rate from 8 to 11 cents for
domestic crude and from 8 to 15 cents for imported crude oil. Repeals the
termination date of the tax.
Amends OPA to allow the increased tax collections (3 cents and 7 cents,
respectively) to pay for NOAA, Coast Guard, and other agency oil spill
research, prevention, and response functions; environmental assessment
studies; and grants to affected states and other entities for OCS oil discharge
research.
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 214
Menendez
January 27,
2011
Big Oil Bailout
Prevention
Unlimited Liability
Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Amends OPA retroactively to eliminate the liability limit for offshore facilities.
S. 215
Menendez
January 27,
2011
Big Oil Bailout
Prevention Trust
Fund Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Finance
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §9509) to eliminate the $1 billion perincident cap on the OSLTF; allows for advances from the General Treasury to
the OSLTF.
S. 338
Feinstein
February 14,
2011
Deepwater
Drilling Royalty
Relief Prohibition
Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural
Resources
Repeals royalty relief provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for
deepwater production in the Gulf of Mexico; amends OCSLA to remove
authority for DOI Secretary to modify royalty payments for leases in water
depths of more than 400 meters.
S. 405
Nelson (FL)
February 17,
2011
Gulf Stream
Protection Act of
2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural
Resources
Amends OCSLA to prohibit DOI Secretary from granting an OCS oil/gas
lease to a party conducting oil/gas operations in Cuban waters, unless the
party has a Cuban oil spill response plan and can demonstrate financial
responsibility to address an oil spill in Cuban waters that would affect U.S.
waters.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to prepare an oil spill risk analysis and
planning process for response plans for nondomestic oil spills in the Gulf of
Mexico. Instructs NOAA to conduct modeling of Cuban waters to support
the risk analysis.
S. 594
Whitehouse
March 16,
2011
Oil Spill Victims
Redress Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Amends state court jurisdiction provisions in OPA; amends state authority
regarding additional oil spill liability. Changes effective for any claim that is
pending on, or filed on or after, the date of enactment.
S. 661
Lautenberg
March 29,
2011
Safe Dispersants
Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Amends CWA to establish conditions in which a dispersant may be used: the
harm from use of the dispersant must be less than the harm of other oil
mitigation options. Directs EPA to establish regulations to require further
information (e.g., effects on various organisms) about dispersants listed on the
Product Schedule. Instructs EPA to conduct dispersant study regarding
impacts and governance.
CRS-27
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 662
Vitter
March 29,
2011
Natural
Resources
Restoration Act
of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Directs EPA to create a panel, in consultation with the National Academy of
Sciences and federal and state trustees, to prepare a preliminary report of
natural resource damages. Requires resource trustees to prepare a “special
assessment” in amount equal to 30% of costs of restoring natural resources
(or a mutually agreed amount). Responsible parties must pay this amount,
which will be used to for restoration projects.
S. 861
Landrieu
April 14, 2011
Resources and
Ecosystems
Sustainability,
Tourist
Opportunities,
and Revived
Economies of the
Gulf Coast States
Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Establishes a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, financed by 80% of any Deepwater
Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA §311. Directs
the Secretary of the Treasury to administer the fund. Fund money will be
distributed as follows:
(1) 35% to the Gulf Coast States in equal shares to support eligible activities;
(2) 60% to the newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council,
which distributes funds based on a Comprehensive Plan. Funding priorities
(e.g., restoration, previous plans, large-scale) apply. Projects must qualify as
one of the specific eligible activities.
(3) 5% to support Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Monitoring, and
Technology Program.
S. 862
Nelson (FL)
April 14, 2011
Comprehensive
Gulf of Mexico
Recovery,
Restoration, and
Resiliency Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Creates a Gulf of Mexico Recovery Fund, financed by not less than 100% of
any Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA
§§309 and 311. Establishes a Gulf of Mexico Recovery Council with the same
members as Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (established by
Executive Order 13554). Council must develop a comprehensive recovery
plan. Funds distributed as follows:
(1) 45% of the funds for local government grants to support economic
development, ecosystem restoration, and public health rehabilitation;
(2) 50% of the funds for grants to other groups, including federal/state
agencies and academic institutions for same purposes;
(3) 5% of the funds available to administer a newly created Fishery
Endowment.
Allocation to states based on formula considering proportion of Gulf
coastline and population on Gulf coastline. Creates a Citizens’ Advisory
Committee that will submit biennial reports to Congress regarding the extent
of achievement of safe oil and gas activities in the Gulf and related issues.
Creates a Scientific Advisory Committee to advise the Council regarding
relevant scientific issues.
CRS-28
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 870
Tester
May 3, 2011
Pollution
Accountability
Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Amends CWA §311 civil penalty provisions by stating that the penalty amount
shall be the higher of $25,000/day or $1,000/barrel of oil discharged. (Note
that these statutory amounts have been increased for inflation through EPA
regulations.)
S. 917
Bingaman
May 9, 2011
Outer
Continental Shelf
Reform Act of
2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural
Resources.
Among other provisions, amends OCSLA policy declaration (§1332) to
require best available technology for operations in the OCS. Directs the DOI
Secretary to create an Outer Continental Shelf Safety and Environmental
Advisory Board to provide independent, peer-reviewed advice.
Disqualifies parties from bidding for OCS leases if, after prior public notice
and opportunity for a hearing, they are identified as a responsible party in an
oil spill and not in compliance with OPA compensation obligations.
Increases the review time from 30 to 90 days for exploration plans, allowing
additional review time in certain circumstances. Requires additional
response/containment information be submitted with exploration plans.
Allows DOI to disapprove an exploration plan under certain conditions
(namely risk of environmental harm).
Requires lease holders seeking to operate in water depths of 500 feet or
more to submit and receive DOI approval for a deepwater operations plan.
Requires drilling permits to be reviewed by two agency engineers; requires
submission and approval of a safety and environmental management plan
before issuance of a drilling permit.
Amends principles of OCSLA leasing program to give equal consideration to
economic, social, and environmental values of the OCS.
Directs DOI to develop research to support OCS resource decisions. Calls
for research and development for OCS risk assessment, environmental
protection, and spill response.
Amends OCLSA provisions regarding best available technology by removing
considerations of increased costs.
Directs DOI to develop regulations requiring submission of a safety case with
a drilling permit.
Directs Coast Guard to expand its investigations to apply to loss of well
control and BOP activation (along with fires and major oil spills).
Allows DOI to request an incident investigation from the National
Transportation Safety Board; directs DOI to create public database of causes
CRS-29
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
and corrective actions for investigated incidents.
Creates fee program to fund inspections at offshore facilities.
Amends OCLSA to increase civil penalty amounts from $20,000/day to
$75,000/day. Increases criminal penalty amount from $100,000 to $10 million.
Requires lessees in the Gulf of Mexico to submit a development and
production plan. Lessees in other locations are currently required to submit
this plan.
Directs the Energy Information Administration to report to Congress on the
economic effects of the moratoria on deepwater drilling established after the
2010 Gulf oil spill.
Modifies underlying objectives of research/development program created by
Energy Policy Act of 2005; expands scope to address deepwater rather than
“ultra-deepwater” activities. Alters award funding available per §999H of the
act to encourage safe operations and preventative technologies. Directs
Secretary of Energy to publish results of research efforts in Federal Register.
Alters advisory committee provisions of §999D of the act.
Creates within the legislative branch the National Commission on Outer
Continental Shelf Oil Spill Prevention to examine/report on the causes
relating to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident. Provides subpoena power to
the Commission.
Directs DOI and the Coast Guard to issue joint regulations regarding
offshore facility systems. Requires certification and classification by third
parties.
S. 926
Menendez
May 9, 2011
Clean Ocean and
Safe Tourism
Anti-Drilling Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA to prohibit leasing in the Mid- or North Atlantic planning
areas.
S. 953*
McConnell
May 11, 2011
Offshore
Production and
Safety Act of
2011
Considered in the
Senate May 18, 2011,
and ultimately
withdrawn
Among other provisions, amends OCSLA to require that exploration plans
include a third-party review describing the means and timeline for subsea
containment of a discharge specific to planned operation. Directs the
Secretary of Energy to report on methodologies and technological responses
to oil spills and mitigating the effects of oil spills. Directs GAO to report on
existing federal government capabilities and legal authorities to prevent and
respond to an oil spill.
CRS-30
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 983
Nelson
May 12, 2011
NA
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Finance
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §162) to prohibit deductions for monies
used to pay oil spill response costs or damage claims.
S. 973
Whitehouse
May 12, 2011
National
Endowment for
the Oceans Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Creates a National Endowment for the Oceans funded by interest earned by
the OSLTF, when the fund balance exceeds $1.5 billion. In addition, 10% of
various civil penalties associated with OCS activity would fund the
endowment.
S. 1140
Rockefeller
May 26, 2011
Gulf Coast
Restoration Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Creates a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration task force, staffed by highranking federal agency officials, and appointees from four of the Gulf states
and local governments. The President appoints the chair. State governors
(Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi) must submit coastal ecosystem
restoration plans for approval by the chair of the task force.
Establishes a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund, financed by not less
than 80% of any Deepwater Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines
under CWA §§309 and 311. The task force chair is to distribute monies from
the fund to states in support of their restoration plans.
S. 1321
Lugar
June 30, 2011
Practical Energy
Plan Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Finance
Among other provisions, directs DOI to report to Congress before issuing
the first 10 drilling permits in selected areas, describing oil spill preparedness,
containment, and response. Amends the OCSLA to require exploration plans
include a third-party review describing the means and timeline for subsea
containment of a discharge specific to planned operation.
S. 1400*
Landrieu
July 21, 2011
Resources and
Ecosystems
Sustainability,
Tourist
Opportunities,
and Revived
Economies
(RESTORE) of
the Gulf Coast
States Act of
2011
Reported from the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works (S.Rept.
112-100)
Establishes a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, financed by 80% of any Deepwater
Horizon-related penalties, settlements, and fines under CWA §311. Directs
the Secretary of the Treasury to administer the fund and distribute as follows:
(1) 35% to the Gulf Coast States in equal shares to support eligible activities,
some of which cover a broad range (e.g., “workforce development and job
creation.”)
(2) 60% to a newly created Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which
distributes funds based on a Comprehensive Plan. Funding priorities (e.g.,
restoration, previous plans, large-scale) apply. Projects must qualify as one of
the specific eligible activities. Annual distributions are subject to a formula
that allocates project funding to states based on (1) miles of oiled shoreline,
(2) oiled shoreline distance to the well head, and (3) coastal population.
These criteria are not weighted equally.
(3) 5% to support research efforts. Equal shares go to a newly created Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and
CRS-31
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
Technology Program and a newly created Fisheries and Ecosystem
Endowment.
(4) interest earned goes to support a newly created National Endowment for
Oceans and a newly created Gulf of Mexico Research Endowment.
S. 1502
Baucus
August 2,
2011
Clean Rivers Act
of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Among other provisions, requires oil spill response plans be made publicly
available. Directs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
to craft regulations requiring consultation with local officials when developing
response plans. Calls for the NCP regulations to be revised to include more
local involvement.
S. 1836
Menendez
November 9,
2011
Foreign Oil
Pollution Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Environment and
Public Works
Amends OPA to make the owner/operator of a foreign offshore unit (e.g., oil
well) liable under OPA. These units would not have a liability limit under
OPA. The OSLTF per-incident expenditure cap (currently $1 billion) would
not apply to spills from these units.
S. 1890
Begich
November 17,
2011
Pirate Fishing
Vessel Disposal
Act of 2011
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Amends underlying code of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. §9509)
to allow the trust fund to finance activities concerning forfeited fishing vessels,
including sinking, scrapping, and recycling vessels.
S. 3080
Sanders
May 10, 2012
End Polluter
Welfare Act of
2012
Referred to the
Senate Finance
Committee
Increases the per-barrel tax on domestic and imported oil that finances the
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Amends applicability of tax to include bitumen
and bituminous mixtures (i.e., oil sands-derived crude oil materials).
Amends the tax code (26 U.S.C. §280I) to prohibit deductions for monies
used to pay oil spill response costs or damage claims.
S. 2365
Hatch
May 25, 2012
WEST Act
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural
Resources
Amends the OCSLA by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that
proposed drilling operations meet oil spill response and containment
requirements before receiving a drilling permit.
S. 3298
Cantwell
June 14, 2012
Oil Spill
Technology and
Research Act of
2012
Referred to the
Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Modifies provisions in OPA Title VII (33 U.S.C. §2761) by replacing the
existing Interagency Committee and its authority with a Federal Oil Spill
Research Committee. The new committee would be composed of
representatives from the Coast Guard, NOAA, DOI, EPA, and other agencies
as determined by the President. A NOAA representative would chair the
committee.
Directs the committee to coordinate a comprehensive oil pollution research
program; submit a report to Congress on state of oil spill prevention and
response capabilities. Establishes a grant program to support research
CRS-32
Bill
Number
Sponsor
Introduced
Date
Short Title
Major Actions
Key Provisions
program.
Amends CWA response plan provisions by requiring plans to be updated
every five years; plans must include best available technology (to the
maximum extent practicable) that can contain a worst-case oil discharge;
plans must identify planned and demonstrated investments in oil spill research
and technology development.
In order to support the best available technology provision, the act directs
the Coast Guard to develop a program of evaluating oil pollution containment
and removal methods and technologies.
Source: Prepared by CRS.
Note: The bills included in this table do not represent an exhaustive list but include bills that generally focus on oil spill policy matters that concern prevention,
preparedness, response, liability and compensation, and Gulf restoration.
CRS-33
Enacted and Proposed Oil Spill Legislation in the 112th Congress
Author Contact Information
(name redacted)
Specialist in Environmental Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
Congressional Research Service
34
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