On March 12, 2026, six industry leaders gathered to mark 35 years of the Oil Pollution Act with a candid panel discussion titled “Built for Oil, Blind to Whats Next.” The full recording is now available.
How might enforcement shift under an administration perceived to favor deregulation and economic growth over tighter environmental oversight and legal action? As seen in OFFSHORE, www.offshore-mag.com BY DOUGLAS MARTIN, OPA90 Forum Presently, uncertainty exists about how federal authorities will exercise their enforcement powers over oil and gas/vessel casualties, and oil Read more
By Dennis L. Bryant, Bryant’s Maritime Consulting EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In 1998, an obscure, last minute addition to the Coast Guard Authorization Act amended section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), expanding the definition of “discharge”, and clarifying the liability of responders engaged in preventing the substantial threat Read more
By Fred Kuffler, Partner, Montgomery, McKracken, Walker & Rhoades, LLP OPA 90 PRECLUDES USA’S LIABILITY FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR REMOVAL COSTS AND DAMAGES Savage Services Corp v. USA, 25 F. 4th 925 (11th Cir. 2022) In the first case to examine the issues, the Federal Court of Read more
We are pleased to bring you the inaugural edition of the OPA 90 Forum Newsletter. Our goal is to share key knowledge and information for marine professionals dedicated to safeguarding our waters. As we navigate the complexities of oil spill prevention and response, the OPA 90 Forum stands as a Read more
By Rik van Hemmen, President of Martin Ottoway Humanity simply strives to increase its level of predictability whether as a person, or as a group of people. When humans attain a certain level of predictability, their hope for the future goes up and their level of anxiety goes down. Predictability Read more
By Dennis L. Bryant A casualty on a vessel tied up at a pier, dock, or wharf is still a marine casualty and the master/owner/operator must still notify the U,S. Coast Guard. If the vessel falls within the purview of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the Qualified Individual Read more