| EIIP Virtual Library User-Submitted Document | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Type: Paper | Phase: PREP | ||
| Title: Disaster Preparedness Activities in the United States for Oil Spills | |||
| Author: Coile, Russell, PhD. CEM | Affiliation: Emergency Program Manager, Pacific Grove Fire Department | ||
| Abstract: The United States was shocked by the oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound when the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in March 1989 releasing 260,000 barrels (10 million gallons) of crude oil. The U.S. Congress responded by passing the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The State of California responded by enacting its own comprehensive oil spill program. In fact, the Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of September 1990 paralleled the federal law in some respects, but added additional emphasis on oil spill prevention. The California act created Harbor Safety Committees, expanded requirements for contingency plans both for vessels and marine facilities, created inspection and monitoring programs, required studies of pilotage and tug escorts, and called for educational programs. The State act also created a petroleum chemistry laboratory and trained oil spill response teams. Provisions were made for rehabilitation of oiled wild life. The State's Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response was established in the State's Department of Fish and Game and given major responsibilities. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates and reviews all response plans for vessels, deepwater ports and marine transportation facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates onshore and certain offshore oil facilities. This paper will review the progress that has been made in the United States since 1990 in oil spill prevention and response. | |||
| Date: 6/15/95 | Name: oilspill.txt | File Format: txt | File Size: 27KB |
| Instructions: Click to view, or Shift Click to download this text file. | |||