Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1983

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 March 1983

Last action

25 September 1984 · Committee

Status

See S.1546.

Summary

Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 to define an "application" as any application submitted under such Act for a license for the ownership, construction, and operation of a deepwater port. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a license for the ownership, construction, and operation of a deepwater port (currently, authorizes the Secretary to issue, transfer, amend, or renew such licenses). Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of the licensee, to transfer or amend such licenses after reasonable public notice and an opportunity to comment and upon the Secretary making a certain determination. Requires licenses issued under such Act to be uniform, if practicable. Provides a procedure for achieving such uniformity. Directs that licenses issued under such Act shall remain in effect until revoked by the Secretary or until surrendered by the licensee (currently, such licenses are for a term not to exceed 20 years, with possible renewal). Requires the Secretary at the request of the licensee to review any regulation or any provision or condition of any license to determine if it is cost-effective and necessary to meet the objectives of such Act. Requires the Secretary to correct or rescind non-conforming regulations and license conditions. Requires the Secretary to include any action taken under this section in the annual report to Congress required by such Act. Requires licensees under such Act to operate as common carriers and to accept, transport, or convey without discrimination all oil delivered to the port according to its license. Authorizes licensees to base rates for transportation, storage, and other services on competition, market conditions, and the ability to maintain the economic viability of such port. Provides for remedial action by the Secretary against licensees not in compliance with such rate and discrimination requirements, including the suspension and termination of noncompliant licensees. Repeals the Deepwater Port Liability Fund. Requires all assets of such Fund to be paid to the State deepwater port regulatory agency of the adjacent coastal State which is nearest to the deepwater port where such fees were initially collected. Requires the Secretary to determine the amount of claims outstanding against the Fund within 90 days and to withhold a sufficient reserve from Fund assets to pay these claims. Makes conforming amendments to substitute the revolving fund established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for the Deepwater Port Liability Fund, in order to fund oil spill clean-up at deepwater ports. Declares that the owner and operator of a vessel shall be jointly and severally liable, without regard to fault, for cleanup costs and damages that result for oil spills within any safety zone, except when such vessel is moored at a deepwater port. Prohibits imposing liability with respect to damages claimed by a damaged party (caused by oil spills) if the owner or operator of a vessel, the licensee, or the United States, can show that such damage was caused solely by the negligence of such party. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for a revolving fund to carry out oil and other hazardous materials discharge clean-up at deepwater ports (currently, such clean up is funded by the Deepwater Port Liability Fund). Prohibits deepwater ports licensed under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 from permitting certain foreign vessels from calling at or utilizing such ports (except for force majeure situations), unless the vessel owner or operator has designated an agent in the United States for receipt of service of process for any claim or legal proceeding resulting from activities of the vessel while located within the safety zone.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

24 March 1983
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Source: IntroReferral
24 March 1983
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
24 March 1983
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
7 April 1983
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Water Resources.
Source: Committee
11 April 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, EPA, OMB, Army.
Source: Committee
28 April 1983
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Merchant Marine.
Source: Committee
28 April 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, Justice, FTC, EPA, Commerce.
Source: Committee
5 May 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from FERC, State, FTC, Justice.
Source: Committee
23 May 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Received From FERC.
Source: Committee
28 July 1983
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
4 August 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Received From OMB.
Source: Committee
17 August 1983
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from State.
Source: Committee
14 September 1983
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Source: Committee
14 September 1983
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
22 September 1983
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Source: Committee
22 September 1983
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
9 November 1983
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Report No: 98-519 (Part I).
Source: Committee
9 November 1983
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Report No: 98-519 (Part I).
Source: Committee
22 February 1984
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
10 August 1984
Calendars
Placed on Union Calendar No: 548.
Source: Calendars
10 August 1984
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Report No: 98-519 (Part II).
Source: Committee
10 August 1984
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Report No: 98-519 (Part II).
Source: Committee
10 August 1984
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Source: Committee
25 September 1984
Committee
See S.1546.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

3 official files

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Reported to House amended, Part II
summary · EN · 10 August 1984
Open at official source
Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 9 November 1983
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 24 March 1983
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Related records

related to → Deep-Draft Navigation Act of 1983
related to ← Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1984

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/house-bill/2353
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/98/hr/2353
us · 98-hr-2353 · source updated 29 August 2025