To amend title 46, United States Code, to accelerate to 2007 the application of the requirement that a tanker that carries oil in bulk as cargo must be equipped with a double hull, and for other purposes.

February 25, 2003

Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mr. FARR, Mr. ALLEN, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Ms. NORTON, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. LEE, Mr. STARK, and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To amend title 46, United States Code, to accelerate to 2007 the application of the requirement that a tanker that carries oil in bulk as cargo must be equipped with a double hull, 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 `Stop Oil Spills Act of 2003' or the `SOS Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ACCELERATION OF DOUBLE HULL REQUIREMENT FOR TANKERS THAT CARRY OIL IN BULK AS CARGO.

Section 3703a of title 46, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking `2015' each place it appears and inserting `2007'; and

(2) in subsection (c) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:

`(4) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a vessel that has a single hull, double bottom, or double sides may not operate after January 1, 2007.'.

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND FINANCING RATE WITH RESPECT TO OIL TRANSPORTED ON SINGLE HULL OIL TANKERS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Subsection (f) of section 4611 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to application of Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund Financing Rate) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(3) RESTORATION OF TAX WITH RESPECT TO OIL TRANSPORTED ON SINGLE HULL OIL TANKERS- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), beginning on the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Stop Oil Spills Act of 2003, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate under subsection (c) shall apply to--

`(A) crude oil and petroleum products entered into the United States for consumption, use, or warehousing if, at the time of entry, such oil or products are being transported on a single hull tanker; and

`(B) domestic crude oil exported from the United States on a single hull tanker.'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. RESTRICTIONS ON OPERATION OF SINGLE HULL TANKERS TO TRANSPORT OIL.

(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 37 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 3720. Restrictions on operation of single hull tankers

`A tanker that has a single hull shall not be used to transport oil on navigable waters of the United States located within 100 miles of a coastline of the United States, unless--

`(1) the vessel is traveling in the first or last 100 miles of a voyage from or to a port; and

`(2) while departing from or arriving at such port, respectively, the vessel is accompanied by oil spill response vessels.'.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`3720. Restrictions on operation of single hull tankers.'.

(c) APPLICATION- The amendments made by this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

END