Delaware River Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-1412
Sponsor: Rep. LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2005-03-17 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Army Corps of Engineers
Authorization
Coast guard
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Delaware
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental monitoring
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Evidence (Law)
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to water pollution control
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Harbors
Indexing (Economic policy)
Law
Liability for environmental damages
Marine safety
Marine transportation
Navigation
New Jersey
Nonprofit organizations
Oil pollution
Pennsylvania
Planning
Refuse and refuse disposal
Research and development
Rivers
Science, Technology, Communications
Self-incrimination
Social Welfare
Sonar
Tankers
Technological innovations
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation engineering
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Waterways

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: 
Delaware River Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to require any person who knows of a release from a vessel or facility of any object that creates an obstruction in the navigable waters of the United States to notify the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and the Secretary of the Army.
 
Urges the Secretary of the Army to place a high priority on enhancing the Army Corps of Engineers' capabilities to detect submerged obstructions in U.S. waterways through the use of advanced technologies. Grants the Secretary of the Army authority to remove obstructions from the Delaware River.
 
Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 gradually to increase liability limits associated with oil spills for single-hull and double-hull tank vessels and other type tank vessels.
 
Establishes the submerged oil program to monitor and evaluate the environmental effects of submerged oil. Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct a demonstration project in the Delaware River to develop and demonstrate technologies and management practices to remove submerged oil.
 
Establishes the Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee.

action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Delaware River Protection Act of 2005 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to require any person who knows of a release from a vessel or facility of any object that creates an obstruction in the navigable waters of the United States to notify the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and the Secretary of the Army.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to gradually increase liability limits associated with oil spills for single-hull and double-hull tank vessels and other type tank vessels.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Philadelphia Area Committee to review and revise annually the Philadelphia Area Contingency Plan (a plan to remove a worst case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such a discharge, from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility operating in or near an area) to include available data and biological information on environmentally sensitive areas of the Delaware River and Delaware Bay that has been collected by federal and state surveys.
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes the submerged oil program to detect, monitor, and evaluate the environmental effects of submerged oil. Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct a demonstration project to develop and demonstrate technologies and management practices to remove submerged oil from the Delaware River and other navigable waters. Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010.
 
(Sec. 6) Establishes the Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Commandant and Congress on methods to improve the prevention of and response to future oil spills in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay.

action_date: 2005-06-27
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 16, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Delaware River Protection Act of 2005 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to require any person who knows of a release from a vessel or facility of any object that creates an obstruction in the navigable waters of the United States to notify the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and the Secretary of the Army.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to gradually increase liability limits associated with oil spills for single-hull and double-hull tank vessels and other type tank vessels.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Philadelphia Area Committee to review and revise annually the Philadelphia Area Contingency Plan (a plan to remove a worst case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such a discharge, from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility operating in or near an area) to include available data and biological information on environmentally sensitive areas of the Delaware River and Delaware Bay that has been collected by federal and state surveys.
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes the submerged oil program to detect, monitor, and evaluate the environmental effects of submerged oil. Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct a demonstration project to develop and demonstrate technologies and management practices to remove submerged oil from the Delaware River and other navigable waters. Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010.
 
(Sec. 6) Establishes the Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Commandant and Congress on methods to improve the prevention of and response to future oil spills in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-28
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5197-5198)
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5197-5198)
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1412.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5197-5200)
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Mr. LoBiondo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 79.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-137.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-137.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2005-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Introduced in House