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Coast Guard: Adequacy of Preparation and Response to Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

RCED-90-44 Published: Oct 30, 1989. Publicly Released: Nov 29, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) evaluated the oil industry's and the federal government's preparedness for responding to a March 1989 spill of over 10 million gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska; and (2) examined industry and government measures that could prevent future spills.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
To help ensure that an effective course of action is developed for improving the nation's capabilities for preventing and responding to oil and other hazardous cargo spills, Congress may wish to consider legislation designating a single entity or leader for developing an action plan. Alternatives for filling this role include a federal agency, such as the Coast Guard, or commission comprised of representatives from industry, federal agencies, states, and other groups that play key roles in spill prevention and response.
Closed – Not Implemented
This recommendation is no longer applicable because the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 will serve as an action plan.
To help ensure that sufficient funds are available to support improved prevention and response capabilities, Congress may wish to consider establishing a fund, or modifying existing funds, to finance the improvements. Funding options include allowing direct industry funding, user fees such as a per-barrel tax on oil, direct appropriations, or a combination of those three options.
Closed – Implemented
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Title I, Liability and Compensation, established a $1-billion-per-spill federal oil spill fund supported by a 5-cent-per-barrel tax on oil. An accomplishment report is in process.
Because the Coast Guard does not now believe that it has the necessary authority to ensure that adequate response preparations have been made, Congress may wish to consider providing the Coast Guard with explicit authority to carry out its role. Congress may also wish to consider allowing the Coast Guard to delegate this responsibility to states demonstrating an ability to effectively carry out this role.
Closed – Implemented
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 gave the Coast Guard explicit authority to carry out response preparations. The Coast Guard also has delegating authority. An accomplishment report is in process.

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Topics

Accident preventionEmergency preparednessstate relationsHazardous substancesMarine transportationOil spillsPetroleum industryWater pollution controlMilitary forcesResearch and development