Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1984

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

27 June 1983

Last action

25 September 1984 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 98-419.

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 from 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.

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Timeline

27 June 1983
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
27 June 1983
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
27 October 1983
Committee
Subcommittee on Merchant Marine. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-411.
Source: Committee
16 November 1983
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 583.
Source: Calendars
16 November 1983
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Packwood with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 98-314.
Source: Committee
16 November 1983
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
23 February 1984
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works by unanimous consent for the purpose of considering Section 4 of the committee amendment only, for a period not to extend beyond March 1, 1984; ordered further that if at such time the Committee has not reported the bill, the Committee shall be immediately discharged from further consideration thereof.
Source: IntroReferral
29 February 1984
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 686.
Source: Calendars
29 February 1984
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Approved for reporting without amendment without recommendation.
Source: Committee
29 February 1984
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Stafford without recommendation without amendment. Without written report.
Source: Committee
30 March 1984
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
30 March 1984
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
9 August 1984
Passed
Passed House by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
9 August 1984
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
9 August 1984
Floor
Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
17 September 1984
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
17 September 1984
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
17 September 1984
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
25 September 1984
Became law
Became Public Law No: 98-419.
Source: President
25 September 1984
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
25 September 1984
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

4 official files

Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 26 September 1984
View Download Open at official source
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 30 March 1984
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 16 November 1983
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 27 June 1983
Open at official source

Related records

related to → Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1983

Sources

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

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/senate-bill/1546
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/98/s/1546
us · 98-s-1546 · source updated 14 January 2025