Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act

Bill: 118-hr-5373
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2023-09-08
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Marine and inland water transportation

Marine pollution

Oil and gas

Pollution liability
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5373 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 8, 2023 Mr. Lieu (for himself, Ms. Brownley , Mr. Levin , Ms. Porter , Ms. Barragán , and Mr. Carbajal ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase the civil and criminal penalties for oil spills, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act . 2. Civil and criminal penalties relating to oil spills (a) Civil penalties Section 311(b)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking an amount up to each place it appears and inserting an amount that is at least ; and (2) in subparagraph (D) by striking not more than and inserting at least . (b) Criminal penalties Section 309(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1319(c) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking $2,500 and inserting $5,000 ; (B) by striking $25,000 and inserting $50,000 ; (C) by striking not more than 1 year and inserting not more than 2 years ; and (D) by striking punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $50,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment of not more than 2 years, or by both and inserting the maximum punishment shall be doubled with respect to both fine and imprisonment ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking not less that $5,000 and inserting not less than $10,000 ; (B) by striking $50,000 and inserting $100,000 ; (C) by striking not more than 3 years and inserting not more than 6 years ; and (D) by striking punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $100,000 per day of violation, or imprisonment of not more than 6 years, or by both and inserting the maximum punishment shall be doubled with respect to both fine and imprisonment ; and (3) in paragraph (3)(A)— (A) by striking $250,000 and inserting $500,000 ; (B) by striking not more than 15 years and inserting not more than 30 years ; and (C) by striking $1,000,000 and inserting $2,000,000 .