Oil Pollution Act

The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 is a United States federal law that was enacted in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The Act was designed to strengthen the federal government's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills, establish measures for dealing with the consequences of such spills, and provide the financial resources to carry out these measures. The OPA mandates that oil storage facilities and vessels must have a plan to respond to large discharges of oil and assigns liability for the costs of cleanup and damage to natural resources. It also includes provisions that require the development of Area Contingency Plans by federal, state, and local authorities, and the creation of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is used to pay for cleanup when the responsible party is unable or unwilling to do so. The Act has had a significant impact on the maritime industry, influencing the design, construction, and operation of vessels and facilities to minimize the risk of oil spills.
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