DOWNLOAD
THE MARINE LOG FEATURES CALENDAR FOR 2003
|
June 5, 2003
OPA response plan requirements to cover non-tank vessels?
A maritime update from Blank Rome says that the Administration's recently proposed Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2003 would extend the reach of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 vessel response plan requirements to non-tank vessels. It would also greatly increase the number of chemical cargoes subject to vessel and facility response plan requirements by expanding the current list of hazardous substances currently covered by these requirements. This proposal has not yet been introduced in Congress.
Enactment of this proposal would require owners and operators of certain non-tank vessels to meet the same response plan requirements as currently required under OPA 90 for tank vessels. In addition, it would authorize the Coast Guard to require owners and operators of tank vessels, non-tank vessels, and facilities that handle NLS (noxious liquid substances) cargoes that are currently not regulated under the FWPCA (Federal Water Pollution Control Act) to prepare response plans for such cargoes.
"Careful monitoring is necessary to determine whether, and to what extent, this proposal will be introduced in and adopted by Congress," says Blank Rome. (You can access the complete Blank Rome maritime update on this matter by clicking here)
.
|
