The Legislation Project Brody Ferretta

Mr. Bodas

Period 1

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 Oil Pollution Act Draft Year: 1990 National

The Act Description: The OPA improved the nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills by

establishing provisions that expand the federal government's ability, and provide the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills

Environmental issues affected: Oil spills can cause both immediate and long term environmental damage in Marine ecosystems, marshes, and beaches. Oil spills highly affect birds by preventing them to fly when they become coated and causing a loss of insulation.

Oil spills frequently kill marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals and sea otters. The deadly damage can take several forms. The oil sometimes clogs the blow holes of whales and dolphins, making it impossible for the animals to breathe properly and disrupting their ability to communicate. Oil coats the fur of otters and seals, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia.

Even when marine mammals escape the immediate effects, an oil spill can cause damage by contaminating their food supply. Marine mammals that eat fish or other food that has been exposed to an oil spill may be poisoned by the oil and die or can experience other problems.

Regulation The Oil Pollution Act was passed by the 101st United States

Congress, and signed by President George H. W. Bush Implemented on August 18th, 1990

Bibliography "Oil Pollution Act Overview." EPA. Environmental Protection

Agency, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/lawsregs/opaover.htm>.