HR 54 - Stand by your Oil Pollution Act - U.S. House Bill

To amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to extend liability to corporations, partnerships, and other persons having ownership interests in responsible parties, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 5, 2011

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia (for himself and Mr. TONKO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to extend liability to corporations, partnerships, and other persons having ownership interests in responsible parties, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Stand by your Oil Pollution Act' (or the `STOP Act').

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

Section 1001(32) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701(32)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(G) PERSON HAVING OWNERSHIP INTEREST- Any corporation, partnership, or other person (other than an individual) having an ownership interest (directly or indirectly), in any person (including a lessee, permittee, or licensee) described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F) if such ownership interest is, in the aggregate, more than 25 percent of the total ownership interests in such person.'.

SEC. 3. LIMITS ON LIABILITY.

Section 1004 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(e) Limitation on Liability of Certain Persons- The liability of a responsible party described in section 1001(32)(G) with respect to an incident shall not exceed the percentage of the aggregate ownership interests, determined at the time of such incident, of such responsible party in all other responsible parties with respect to such incident.'.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by this Act shall apply to an incident occurring on or after January 1, 2010.

END