Big Oil Bailout Prevention Unlimited Liability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3165
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-07-12
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Marine pollution

Oil and gas

Pollution liability

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-07-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Big Oil Bailout Prevention Unlimited Liability Act of 2016</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to revise requirements governing the liability of parties that are responsible for oil discharges from offshore facilities into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Currently, responsible parties are liable for the total of all removal costs plus $75 million. The bill: (1) removes the cap of $75 million on liability, and (2) makes the responsible parties liable for all covered damages. Covered damages includes damages for: (1) loss of natural resources, property, revenue, or profits; or (2) costs of providing increased public services during or after removal activities, such as fire protection. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3165 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 12, 2016 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Markey , Mr. Reed , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Mikulski , Mr. Franken , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Nelson , Mr. Peters , and Mr. Booker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to require oil polluters to pay the full cost of oil spills, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Unlimited Liability Act of 2016 . 2. Removal of limits on liability for offshore facilities Section 1004(a)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ( 33 U.S.C. 2704(a)(3) ) is amended by striking plus $75,000,000 and inserting and the liability of the responsible party under section 1002 .