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HR 1539 102th Congress House Taxation Business losses Congressional reporting requirements Corporation taxes Environmental Protection Federal receipts and expenditures Government trust funds Income tax Liability for oil pollution Liability for toxic substances pollution damages Oil pollution Petroleum Petroleum industry Revolving funds Tankers Tax deductions Waterways

Oil Spill Tax Act

Introduced: March 20, 1991 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 20, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Mar 20, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Oil Spill Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to trade or business expenses to disallow the deduction for oil and hazardous substances cleanup costs if the Secretary of the Treasury receives notification from the relevant authority that the taxpayer has failed to comply with specified Federal environmental law. Disallows such deduction where it can be shown that the oil or hazardous substance discharge was the result of willful negligence or willful misconduct. Reduces the tax attributes of the taxpayer by the amount disallowed.

Disallows a deduction for losses resulting from any oil or hazardous substance discharge if the cleanup costs of such discharge are disallowed as a deduction.

Sets forth time limits for: (1) the Secretary to assess any deficiency attributable to the notification of noncompliance with Federal environmental law; and (2) the taxpayer to file a claim for credit or refund attributable to receipt of such notification.

Establishes an account in the Treasury to consist of the increase in revenues resulting under this Act. Makes such amounts available for: (1) the revolving fund under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for expenses related to removal of discharged oil; or (2) the Hazardous Substance Superfund.

Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the decrease of Federal revenues because of the allowance of the deduction for oil and hazardous substances cleanup costs. Requires the Secretary to report annually to such committees on the amount expended on environmental cleanup costs and the amount accruing to the Treasury by reason of the disallowance of such deduction.

What's happening now March 20, 1991

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1539: Oil Spill Tax Act. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1539/
MLA
"H.R. 1539: Oil Spill Tax Act." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1539/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1539, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1539/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1539: Oil Spill Tax Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1539/)
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