CLAIM SUMMARY / DETERMINATION FORM 

Date : 1/11/2010 

Claim Number : 910057-001

Claimant : State of Florida

Type of Claimant : State 

Type of Claim : Removal Costs 

Claim Manager : 

Amount Requested : $260.50 

FACTS: 

Oil Spill Incident: On May 20, 2009, Florida Department of Environmental Protection 

(FL DEP) Bureau of Emergency Response (BER) responded along with USCG Sector 

Jacksonville to investigate a reported diesel spill. Kristen Lee Towing, the Responsible 

Party (RP) spilled approximately 30 gallons of diesel from a UTV through an electric 

pump. The spilled diesel entered St. Johns River, a navigable waterway of the United 

States, creating a visible sheen.1

When BER and USCG Sector Jacksonville arrived on-scene, the presence of fuel was still 

in the water. Per USCG instructions, the caretaker of the vessel, Kristen Lee Towing (the 

actual owner is M Square Builders, located in Sparta, NJ), was to open the tanks and 

pump the remainder of the fuel from them to prevent more discharging. As the weather 

conditions were rainy and windy, BER stayed on site until containment boom was placed 

around the vessel and the tanks were closed. The tanks were to be pumped the following 

day, May 21, 2009. The RP was issued a NOFI.2

Description of Removal Activities for this claimant: BER responded to the spill site on 

May 20, 2009 to assess cleanup actions and any damage to the environment as a result of 

the fuel spillage. As the cleanup was in-progress and the sheen on the water began to 

dissipate, BER took no further action. Invoices are for Florida personnel, transportation, 

equipment and administrative costs.

The Claim: On January 6, 2010 the FL DEP submitted a removal cost claim to the 

National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) for reimbursement of their uncompensated 

removal costs of State personnel, equipment and administrative costs in the amount of 

$260.50. 

FL DEP is claiming $ 181.22 in State personnel expenses, $42.28 in State transportation 

expenses, $15.00 in State equipment (vehicle, pads, and clothing) expenses, and $22.00 

in State administrative/documentation/photo fees. 

APPLICABLE LAW: 

Under OPA 90, at 33 USC § 2702(a), responsible parties are liable for removal costs and 

damages resulting from the discharge of oil into navigable waters and adjoining 

shorelines, as described in Section 2702(b) of OPA 90. A responsible party’s liability 

 

1

 See, USCG Sector Jacksonville MISLE Case Report # 452713 

2

 See, FL DEP Emergency Response Incident Report and USCG Sector Jacksonville MISLE Case Report # 452713 
will include “removal costs incurred by any person for acts taken by the person which are 

consistent with the National Contingency Plan”. 33 USC § 2702(b)(1)(B).

"Oil" is defined in relevant part, at 33 USC § 2701(23), to mean “oil of any kind or in any 

form, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other 

than dredged spoil”.

The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF), which is administered by the NPFC, is 

available, pursuant to 33 USC §§ 2712(a)(4) and 2713 and the OSLTF claims 

adjudication regulations at 33 CFR Part 136, to pay claims for uncompensated removal 

costs that are determined to be consistent with the National Contingency Plan and 

uncompensated damages. Removal costs are defined as “the costs of removal that are 

incurred after a discharge of oil has occurred or, in any case in which there is a 

substantial threat of a discharge of oil, the costs to prevent, minimize, or mitigate oil 

pollution from an incident”.

Under 33 USC §2713(b)(2) and 33 CFR 136.103(d) no claim against the OSLTF may be 

approved or certified for payment during the pendency of an action by the claimant in 

court to recover the same costs that are the subject of the claim. See also, 33 USC 

§2713(c) and 33 CFR 136.103(c)(2) [claimant election]. 

33 U.S.C. §2713(d) provides that “If a claim is presented in accordance with this section, 

including a claim for interim, short-term damages representing less than the full amount 

of damages to which the claimant ultimately may be entitled, and full and adequate 

compensation is unavailable, a claim for the uncompensated damages and removal costs 

may be presented to the Fund.” 

Under 33 CFR 136.105(a) and 136.105(e)(6), the claimant bears the burden of providing 

to the NPFC, all evidence, information, and documentation deemed necessary by the 

Director, NPFC, to support the claim. 

Under 33 CFR 136.105(b) each claim must be in writing, for a sum certain for each 

category of uncompensated damages or removal costs resulting from an incident. In 

addition, under 33 CFR 136, the claimant bears the burden to prove the removal actions 

were reasonable in response to the scope of the oil spill incident, and the NPFC has the 

authority and responsibility to perform a reasonableness determination. Specifically, 

under 33 CFR 136.203, “a claimant must establish -

(a) That the actions taken were necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate the effects of 

the incident;

(b) That the removal costs were incurred as a result of these actions;

(c) That the actions taken were determined by the FOSC to be consistent with the 

National Contingency Plan or were directed by the FOSC.”

Under 33 CFR 136.205 “the amount of compensation allowable is the total of 

uncompensated reasonable removal costs of actions taken that were determined by the 

FOSC to be consistent with the National Contingency Plan or were directed by the 
FOSC. Except in exceptional circumstances, removal activities for which costs are being 

claimed must have been coordinated with the FOSC.” [Emphasis added]. 

DETERMINATION OF LOSS: 

A. Overview: 

1. USCG Sector Jacksonville provided FOSC coordination. 

2. The incident involved the discharge of “oil” as defined in OPA 90, 33 U.S.C. § 

2701(23), to navigable waters.

3. In accordance with 33 CFR § 136.105(e)(12), the claimant has certified no suit has 

been filed in court for the claimed uncompensated removal costs. 

4. The claim was submitted on time. 

5. The RP was identified and contacted by claimant. 

6. The NPFC Claims Manager has thoroughly reviewed all documentation submitted 

with the claim and determined that the removal costs presented were for actions in 

accordance with the NCP and that the costs for these actions were indeed reasonable 

and allowable under OPA and 33 CFR § 136.205. 

B. Analysis: 

NPFC CA reviewed the actual cost invoices and dailies to confirm that the claimant had 

incurred all costs claimed. The review focused on: (1) whether the actions taken were 

compensable “removal actions” under OPA and the claims regulations at 33 CFR 136 (e.g., 

actions to prevent, minimize, mitigate the effects of the incident); (2) whether the costs were 

incurred as a result of these actions; (3) whether the actions taken were determined by the 

FOSC, to be consistent with the NCP or directed by the FOSC, and (4) whether the costs 

were adequately documented and reasonable. 

On that basis, the Claims Manager hereby determines that the claimant did in fact incur 

$260.50 of uncompensated removal costs and that that amount is properly payable by the 

OSLTF as full compensation for the reimbursable removal costs incurred by the claimant and 

submitted to the NPFC under claim #910057-001. The claimant states that all costs claimed 

are for uncompensated removal costs incurred by the claimant for this incident on May 20, 

2009. The claimant represents that all costs paid by the claimant are compensable removal 

costs, payable by the OSLTF as presented by the claimant. 

C. Determined Amount: 

The NPFC hereby determines that the OSLTF will pay $260.50 as full compensation for the 

reimbursable removal costs incurred by the Claimant and submitted to the NPFC under claim 

# 910057-001. All costs claimed are for charges paid for by the Claimant for removal 

actions as that term is defined in OPA and, are compensable removal costs, payable by the 

OSLTF as presented by the Claimant. 

AMOUNT: $260.50

Claim Supervisor: 

Date of Supervisor’s review: 
Supervisor Action: 

Supervisor’s Comments: