Senator Lautenberg Introduces Legislation To Better Protect Nation From Oil Spills

As Valdez Oil Spill is Considered in Supreme Court, N.J. Sen.'s New Bills Would Modernize Fuel Tanks, Tracking, Help Prevent Spills

March 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Frank R, Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced legislation to better protect America’s shores—and its economy—from the deadly and toxic effects of oil spills.

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“The last thing America needs is another Exxon Valdez. We cannot let our coastlines, our wildlife or our economy suffer the catastrophic effects of another oil spill,” said Lautenberg. “My bill would modernize our vessels, tracking and licensing, so we can be more confident in the safety of our ocean shipping and help prevent future spills.”

Lautenberg introduced the legislation while chairing a hearing of his subcommittee today on better protection from oil spills. It would:

· require double hulls on bunker fuel tanks on non-tank vessels;
· strengthen the Coast Guard medical review process for licensing pilots and merchant mariners;
· direct the Coast Guard to make improvements to its vessel tracking system to prevent navigational errors and accidents; and
· phase out federal liability limits for oil spills from single-hull tanker ships.

The Senator’s second bill would raise federal liability limits for oil spills, and phase them out altogether for single-hull tanker ships, similar to legislation he proposed in 2004.

Since the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989, oil spills continue to affect American shores. In November 2004, the oil tanker Athos I spilled 265,000 gallons of Venezuelan crude oil into the Delaware River near Paulsboro, New Jersey. In November 2007, the Cosco Busan, a 900-foot container ship capable of carrying in excess of one million gallons of fuel, struck the San Francisco Bay Bridge and spilled 53,569 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the bay. In January, a ship collision resulted in an oil spill in Port Newark, briefly closing the port channel.

Sen. Lautenberg has been a long-time advocate of improved protections from oil spills. He was a champion of the Oil Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the most comprehensive piece of legislation regarding oil spills, and created new 2006 federal requirements including higher spill cost liability limits for single-hull ships and Congressional creation of the Delaware River Oil Spill Advisory Commission.

Source: Senator Frank R, Lautenberg