WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Kay
Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Committee, to improve oil
spill response capabilities by enhancing the United States Coast Guard’s
ability to prepare for and respond to offshore oil spills along coastal
waterways.
“The Coast Guard is the nation’s first responder for oil
spills in the marine environment. One of the lessons we have learned in the
aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill is that the Coast Guard needs
additional tools and assets to effectively respond to oil spills and hazardous
substance releases,” said Senator Hutchison. “This bill would establish a
Coast Guard National Strike Force with the ability to respond to a spill
anywhere in the continental United States within 24 hours. The
legislation would also establish a center of expertise to train first
responders on the latest techniques and strategies to combat oil spills and the
release of other hazardous materials.”
The Oil Spill Response and Mitigation Act of 2010 (S.3614)
would specifically:
- Create a Maritime Center
of Expertise for Oil Spill Response. This Center would train Coast Guard
personnel, as well as other federal, state and local first responders, on
the latest techniques and strategies to respond to oil spills; - Require the Coast Guard to
maintain a National Strike Force and Strike Force Teams with the ability
to mobilize and respond to oil spills and hazardous substance releases
anywhere in the continental United States within 24 hours; - Require oversight and
certification of oil spill response organizations to ensure they have the
ability to respond to oil spills and require that these organizations provide
an inventory of available oil spill response equipment to the Coast
Guard. This would help ensure the rapid deployment of oil spill
response assets in the event of an oil spill; - Require the Coast Guard to
maintain an inventory of oil spill response equipment that has been tested
and approved to ensure that first responders are using the most effective
equipment and technologies available; and - Establish a program that
would allow the Coast Guard to conduct research, development, and testing
of oil spill and hazardous substance response equipment, technologies, and
techniques.
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