Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-685
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Coast guard
Government studies and investigations
International law and treaties
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Oil and gas
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Water quality
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: 
Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009 - Requires double hull protection of oil fuel tanks on certain vessels with a tank capacity of at least 600 cubic meters.
 
Provides steps to be taken by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating regarding maritime emergency prevention, including: (1) authorizing ordering the vessel to operate or anchor in a specified manner (including the power to order a change of direction or speed); (2) requiring port and waterway safety assessments; and (3) requiring a review and validation of the recruiting, retention, training, and expansion of vessel traffic service personnel.
 
Establishes the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee.
 
Requires establishment of medical standards and periodic physical examinations for merchant mariners.
 
Requires that at least one trained and experienced pollution investigator be on duty or on call at all times for each Coast Guard Sector Command.
 
Modifies requirements regarding the duration of merchant mariner's documents and certificates of registry.
 
Authorizes the extending of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner's documents in specified circumstances. Terminates that authorization on December 31, 2011.
 
Establishes the Support of Seafarers Fund to: (1) pay support for a seafarer in the United States who is involved in any matter related to the Coast Guard's administration or enforcement of any treaty, law, or regulation; or (2) pay support for any seafarer abandoned in the United States. Requires a shipowner to reimburse the Fund, plus a surcharge, in certain circumstances. Authorizes the requiring of a related bond or surety.

action_date: 2009-06-15
text: 
Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Requires double hull protection of oil fuel tanks on certain vessels with a tank capacity of at least 600 cubic meters. Defines &quot;oil fuel&quot; as any oil used as fuel in connection with the vessel's propulsion and auxiliary machinery.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to: (1) provide guidance to all vessel traffic personnel that clearly defines the use of authority to direct or control vessel movement when such direction or control is justified in the interest of safety; and (2) require vessel traffic personnel communications to identify the vessel, rather than the pilot, when vessels are operating in vessel traffic service pilotage areas.
 
Requires the Secretary to identify, and report to Congress concerning, requirements for the necessary expansion, improvement, or construction of buildings, networks, communications, or other infrastructure to improve the effectiveness of existing vessel traffic service systems, or necessary to support recommended new vessel traffic service systems, including all necessary costs for construction, reconstruction, expansion, or improvement.
 
Requires a review and validation of the recruiting, retention, training, and expansion of vessel traffic service personnel.
 
(Sec. 4) Establishes the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on: (1) medical determinations for merchant mariner credentials; (2) related medical standards and guidelines; (3) education for physicians, physician's assistants, or nurse practitioners conducting merchant mariner medical exams (medical examiners); and (4) medical research. Directs the Secretary to appoint a chief medical examiner.
 
Requires establishment of medical standards and requirements for periodic physical examinations for merchant mariners.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a comprehensive study to assess the role that human factors, mechanical or equipment failure, and environmental factors play in marine casualty causation; and (2) compare and contrast the procedures and processes employed by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Requires a report to Congress.
 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) conduct a comprehensive review of existing studies of the need for tractor tug escorts to be used by vessels carrying petroleum products or with large supplies of fuel onboard in the five largest U.S. ports; (2) consolidate the existing information and address unaddressed issues; and (3) report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires that at least one trained and experienced pollution investigator be on duty or on call at all times for each Coast Guard Sector Command.
 
(Sec. 8) Modifies requirements regarding the duration of merchant mariner's documents and certificates of registry.
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes the extending of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner's documents in specified circumstances. Terminates that authorization on December 31, 2011.
 
(Sec. 10) Establishes the Support of Seafarers Fund. Authorizes payment from the Fund of necessary support for certain seafarers (defined as alien crewmen employed in any capacity on board a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction) who enter, remain, or have been paroled into the United States who are involved in an investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any matter related to the administration or enforcement of any treaty, law, or regulation by the Coast Guard, and seafarers who have been abandoned in the United States. Set forth provisions affecting shipowners concerning bonding requirements and Fund reimbursements from shipowners not in compliance. Sets forth reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. 

action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Requires double hull protection of oil fuel tanks on certain vessels with a tank capacity of at least 600 cubic meters. Defines &quot;oil fuel&quot; as any oil used as fuel in connection with the vessel's propulsion and auxiliary machinery.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to: (1) provide guidance to all vessel traffic personnel that clearly defines the use of authority to direct or control vessel movement when such direction or control is justified in the interest of safety; and (2) require vessel traffic personnel communications to identify the vessel, rather than the pilot, when vessels are operating in vessel traffic service pilotage areas.
 
Requires the Secretary to identify, and report to Congress concerning, requirements for the necessary expansion, improvement, or construction of buildings, networks, communications, or other infrastructure to improve the effectiveness of existing vessel traffic service systems, or necessary to support recommended new vessel traffic service systems, including all necessary costs for construction, reconstruction, expansion, or improvement.
 
 
Requires a review and validation of the recruiting, retention, training, and expansion of vessel traffic service personnel.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires that at least one trained and experienced pollution investigator be on duty or on call at all times for each Coast Guard Sector Command.
 
(Sec. 5) Modifies requirements regarding the duration of merchant mariner's documents and certificates of registry.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the extending of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner's documents in specified circumstances. Terminates that authorization on December 31, 2011.
 
(Sec. 7) Limits to one the number of reports regarding port security terrorism exercises that the Coast Guard is required to submit each year to the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires that compliance with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 be determined by reference to the latest statement titled &quot;Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation&quot; for this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-11-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2010-11-15
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2010-11-15
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2010-11-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2010-11-15
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2010-11-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2010-09-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: The committee amendments were withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7764-7769; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S7764-7768)
action_date: 2009-06-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 77.
action_date: 2009-06-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 111-26.
action_date: 2009-06-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 111-26.
action_date: 2009-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3685-3686)
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate