Comprehensive Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Liability and Compensation Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

15 January 1979

Last action

30 September 1980 · Introduced

Status

Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summary

Title I: Domestic Oil Pollution Liability, Compensation, and Fund - Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Comprehensive Oil Spill Liability Fund for the purposes of paying for otherwise uncompensated losses resulting from oil pollution. Enumerates the sources of monies to be deposited in such fund, including a fee not to exceed three cents per barrel of oil, imposed upon owners of facilities receiving oil. Obligates owners of such oil to reimburse the refinery or terminal the full amount of the fee levied on such person's oil. Imposes a civil penalty on any person required to pay or collect such fees who fails to do so. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury at times when fund assets are insufficient to meet fund liabilities. Lists the types of injuries which may be compensated under this Act and the potential claimants who have standing to assert claims involving each such type of damage. Imposes joint, several, and strict liability on the owners and operators of each pollution source. Specifies liability limits, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, for ships and other vessels. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish limits on the liability of classes of facilities used for transporting, producing, processing, storing, or transferring oil. Requires the owner or operator: (1) of any such facility; or (2) of any vessel which uses such facility or navigable waters of the United States, to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable liability limits. Directs the person in charge of a vessel or facility to immediately notify the Secretary of Transportation of any pollution incident in which the vessel or facility is involved. Specifies procedures whereby the Secretary may, in the absence of such an admission, designate and advertise pollution sources. Directs the Secretary, in instances in which (1) the owner and operator of a vessel or facility designated by the Secretary deny such vessel's or facility's involvement; (2) the source of the discharge is a public vessel; or (3) the Secretary is unable to designate the pollution source, to advertise claims with limited exceptions to be presented initially to the owner or operator, or to such person's guarantor. Permits claimants either to present a claim to the fund or to bring an action in an appropriate United States court if liability is denied or the claim is not settled within a specified period. Sets forth procedures for the disposition and appeal of claims submitted to the fund. Requires both the plaintiff and the defendant in a court action brought against an owner, operator, or guarantor to forward copies of all pleadings to the fund. Permits the fund to intervene in such actions. Subrogates any person or government entity, including the fund, paying compensation to all the claimant's claims and rights under this Act. Specifies procedures for and the measure of recovery in actions brought by the fund against owners, operators, or guarantors of alleged pollution sources. Declares that the rights and remedies under this Act shall be exclusive with respect to economic loss caused by oil pollution. Sets penalties for persons failing to comply with specified provisions in this Act. Directs the President to conduct a study to determine whether adequate private oil pollution protection is reasonably available to owners and operators of vessels and facilities. Title II: Effective Dates; Conforming Amendments - Specifies the effective date of this Act. Amends specified laws, including the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act, to conform with the the provisions of this Act.

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

Timeline

15 January 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
15 January 1979
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Source: IntroReferral
15 January 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
15 May 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part I).
Source: Committee
15 May 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part I).
Source: Committee
16 May 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part II).
Source: Committee
16 May 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part II).
Source: Committee
20 May 1980
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Source: IntroReferral
20 June 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Ways and Means with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part III).
Source: Committee
20 June 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Ways and Means with amendment, H. Rept. 96-172 (Part III).
Source: Committee
18 September 1980
Floor
Measure called up by special rule in House.
Source: Floor
19 September 1980
Vote
Measure passed House, amended, roll call #571 (288-11).
Source: Floor
19 September 1980
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, roll call #571 (288-11).
Source: Floor
19 September 1980
Floor
Measure considered in House.
Source: Floor
30 September 1980
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

5 official files

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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 19 September 1980
Open at official source
Reported to House amended, Part III
summary · EN · 20 June 1980
Open at official source
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Reported to House amended, Part II
summary · EN · 16 May 1980
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Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 15 May 1979
Open at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 15 January 1979
Open at official source
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Related records

related to → A resolution providing for the consideration of H.R. 85 to provide a comprehensive system of liability and compensation for oil spill damage and removal costs, and for other purposes.

Sources

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

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/house-bill/85
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/hr/85
us · 96-hr-85 · source updated 7 April 2025