SEC. 202. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require all 
response plans approved by the Coast Guard under section 
311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1321(j)) to be updated not less than once every 
5 years. 
(b) BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY.—Each response 
plan update under subsection (a) shall utilize the best 
commercially available technology and methods to contain 
and remove to the maximum extent practicable a worst 
case discharge (including a discharge resulting from fire 
or explosion), and to mitigate or prevent a substantial 
threat of such a discharge. 
(c) TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may es-
tablish requirements and guidance for utilizing the 
best commercially available technology and methods 
under subsection (b). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The best commercially 
available technology and methods shall be based on 
measurable standards and capabilities whenever 
practicable. 
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(d) RESUBMISSION.—Each update under subsection 
(a) shall be considered a significant change requiring it 
to be resubmitted for approval by the Coast Guard. 
SEC. 203. OIL SPILL TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a 
program for the formal evaluation and validation of oil 
pollution containment and removal methods and tech-
nologies. 
(b) APPROVALS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The program under sub-
section (a) shall include the establishment of a proc-
ess for new methods and technologies— 
(A) to be submitted to and evaluated by 
the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating; and 
(B) to gain validation for use in spill re-
sponses and inclusion in response plans under 
section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). 
(2) PERFORMANCE
CAPABILITIES.—Following 
each validation under paragraph (1)(B), the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall consider whether the method or 
technology meets a performance capability war-
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ranting designation of a new standard for best avail-
able technology or methods. 
(c) TECHNOLOGY
CLEARINGHOUSE.—Each tech-
nology and method validated under subsection (b)(1)(B) 
shall be included in the comprehensive list of spill removal 
resources maintained by the Coast Guard through the Na-
tional Response Unit. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall consult 
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Under Secretary 
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, the Adminis-
trator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sec-
retary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy in 
carrying out this section. 
SEC. 204. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 
FOR MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS. 
(a) APPLICATION.—Section 3202 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘vessel, 
or self-propelled mobile offshore drilling unit; and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘vessel; and’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) OTHER VESSELS.—This chapter applies to a 
vessel that— 
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‘‘(1) is a passenger vessel or small passenger 
vessel and is transporting more passengers than a 
number prescribed by the Secretary based on the 
number of individuals on the vessel that could be 
killed or injured in a marine casualty; or 
‘‘(2) is a mobile offshore drilling unit.’’. 
(b) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.—Section 3203 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS.—The 
safety management system described in subsection (a) for 
a mobile offshore drilling unit operating in waters subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States, including the ex-
clusive economic zone (as established by Presidential Proc-
lamation Numbered 5030 of March 10, 1983 (16 U.S.C. 
1453 note)), shall include processes, procedures, and poli-
cies related to the safe, environmentally sound operation 
and maintenance of all machinery and systems of the unit 
that are used for the commercial industrial functions and 
purposes of the unit.’’. 
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SEC. 205. GULF OF MEXICO LONG-TERM MARINE ENVIRON-
MENTAL MONITORING AND RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND RESEARCH 
PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and subject 
to the availability of appropriations or other sources 
of funding, the Secretary, acting through the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
shall establish and carry out a long-term marine en-
vironmental monitoring and research program for 
the marine and coastal environment of the Gulf of 
Mexico to ensure that the Federal Government has 
independent, peer-reviewed scientific data and infor-
mation to assess long-term direct and indirect im-
pacts on trust resources located in the Gulf of Mex-
ico and Southeast region resulting from the oil spill 
caused by the mobile offshore drilling unit Deep-
water Horizon. 
(2) PERIOD OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary, act-
ing through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere, shall carry out the program 
under paragraph (1) during the 10-year period be-
ginning on the date of commencement of the pro-
gram. The Secretary may extend the period if the 
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Secretary determines that additional monitoring and 
research is warranted. 
(b) SCOPE OF PROGRAM.—The program under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Monitoring and research of the physical, 
chemical, and biological characteristics of the af-
fected marine, coastal, and estuarine regions of the 
Gulf of Mexico and other regions of the exclusive 
economic zone (as established by Presidential Proc-
lamation Numbered 5030 of March 10, 1983 (16 
U.S.C. 1453 note)) and adjacent regions affected by 
the oil spill caused by the mobile offshore drilling 
unit Deepwater Horizon. 
(2) The fate, transport, and persistence of oil 
released during the spill and spatial distribution 
throughout the water column, including in-situ burn 
residues. 
(3) The fate, transport, and persistence of 
chemical dispersants applied in-situ or on surface 
waters. 
(4) Identification of lethal and sub-lethal im-
pacts to shellfish, fish, and wildlife resources that 
utilize habitats located within the affected region. 
(5) Impacts to regional, State, and local econo-
mies that depend on the natural resources of the af-
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fected region, including commercial and recreational 
fisheries, tourism, and other wildlife-dependent 
recreation. 
(6) Such other elements that the Secretary con-
siders necessary to ensure a comprehensive marine 
research and monitoring program to comprehend the 
implications to trust resources caused by the oil spill 
from the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Ho-
rizon. 
(c) COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION.—In devel-
oping the research and monitoring program under sub-
section (a), the Secretary, acting through the Under Sec-
retary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall— 
(1) coordinate with the United States Geologi-
cal Survey; and 
(2) consult with— 
(A) the National Ocean Research Leader-
ship Council established under section 8932 of 
title 10, United States Code; 
(B) such representatives from the Gulf 
coast States and affected countries as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate; 
(C) such academic institutions and other 
research organizations as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate; and 
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(D) such other experts with expertise in 
long-term environmental monitoring and re-
search of the marine environment as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—Upon the review and 
approval by the Attorney General regarding impacts on 
legal claims or litigation involving the United States, data 
and information generated through the program estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall be managed and archived 
to ensure that it is accessible and available to the general 
public for their use and information. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the commencement of the program under subsection 
(a), and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a comprehensive report— 
(1) summarizing the activities and findings of 
the program; and 
(2) detailing areas and issues requiring future 
monitoring and research. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) GULF COAST STATE.—The term ‘‘Gulf coast 
State’’ means each of the States of Texas, Lou-
isiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
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(3) TRUST RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘trust re-
sources’’ means the living and non-living natural re-
sources belonging to, managed by, held in trust by, 
appertaining to, or otherwise controlled by the 
United States, any State, federally recognized Indian 
Tribe, or a local government. 
SEC. 206. USE OF OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND FOR 
EXPENSES OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT-
MOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 1012(a)(5)(B) of the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)(B)) is amended by striking 
‘‘$15,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$25,000,000’’. 
SEC. 207. NOTICE TO STATES OF BULK OIL TRANSFERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A State may require, by law, a 
person to provide notice of 24 hours or more to the State 
and to the Coast Guard before transferring oil in bulk as 
cargo in an amount equivalent to 250 barrels or more to, 
from, or within a vessel in State waters. 
(b) COAST GUARD ASSISTANCE.—The Commandant 
of the Coast Guard may assist a State in developing ap-
propriate methodologies for joint Federal and State notifi-
cation of an oil transfer described in subsection (a) to min-
imize any potential burden to vessels. 
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SEC. 208. COAST GUARD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 1012(a)(5)(A) of the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)(A)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$25,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$50,000,000’’; and 
(2) by striking the semicolon at the end and in-
serting ‘‘, of which amount not less than 40 percent 
shall be used to conduct research, development, and 
evaluation of oil spill response and removal tech-
nologies and methods;’’. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING MARINE 
OIL SPILL RESPONSE CAPA-
BILITIES 
SEC. 301. PROMPT PUBLICATION OF OIL SPILL INFORMA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In any response to an oil spill in 
which the Commandant of the Coast Guard serves as the 
Federal On-Scene Coordinator leading a Unified Com-
mand, the Commandant shall publish, on a publicly acces-
sible website, all written Incident Action Plans prepared 
and approved as a part of the response to such oil spill. 
(b) TIMELINESS AND DURATION.—The Commandant 
shall— 
(1) publish each Incident Action Plan under 
subsection (a) promptly after such plan is approved 
for implementation by the Unified Command, and in 
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