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HR 2291 101th Congress House

Clean Ocean Act of 1989

Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for effective and efficient response to discharges of oil and hazardous substances, to provide for … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for effective and efficient response to discharges of oil and hazardous substances, to provide for funding of such response by private industry, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 23, 1989 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Emergency ManagementFines (Penalties)Liability for oil pollutionLiability for toxic substances pollution damages
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Oil pollution of rivers, harbors, etc.Oil pollution of the sea
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 3, 1989
See H.R.1465.
Jun 14, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation.
Jun 14, 1989
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, DOT, and EPA.
May 22, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources.
May 22, 1989
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, EPA, and OMB.
May 9, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
May 9, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
May 9, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 3, 1989

See H.R.1465.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Clean Ocean Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make persons responsible for discharges of oil or hazardous substances into navigable waters liable for all removal costs incurred by the United States.

Directs the Administrator to revise the National Contingency Plan under such Act to require owners and operators of vessels or facilities to: (1) provide equipment that is adequate to minimize damage, and suitable for responding effectively to, discharges of oil or hazardous substances; (2) provide such equipment in an amount appropriate for the unique features of the environment; (3) have such equipment inspected for certification by the Coast Guard at least every three years; (4) provide response teams for Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the northeast, mid-, and south Atlantic coasts, and inland waters; (5) ensure that such teams are properly and immediately in use upon receiving notice of any discharge and are engaged in containment and removal activities no later than five hours after receiving such notice; and (6) subject such teams to federally approved training, review, and approval by the agency responsible for administering such team, and periodic drills without prior notice.

Authorizes the Administrator to permit owners and operators to engage in cooperative efforts to comply with the Plan.

Requires all activities under the Plan to be funded by persons engaged in interstate commerce in the production or transportation of oil or any hazardous substance.

Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to charge a fee for certification inspections.

Requires owners and operators to meet the requirements of the revised Plan no later than December 31, 1990.

Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Makes chief executive officers of owners or operators jointly and severally liable for: (1) any fines assessed against such owners or operators; and (2) all costs incurred by the United States for the removal of oil or hazardous substances pursuant to this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2291: Clean Ocean Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2291/
MLA
"H.R. 2291: Clean Ocean Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2291/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2291, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2291/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2291: Clean Ocean Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2291/)
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