OPA 90 Forum News
OPA 90 at 35: Panel Discussion Now Available
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 does PHMSA differ in scenario planning from the EPA and the USCG? – OPA90
As I have written about numerous times, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) all fall under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90). While they share Read more
There is a big difference between PHMSA OPA90 Resource Planning and the EPA and the USCG.
In the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90), there are many similarities among the three agencies with inland jurisdiction: the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). However, Read more
Opinion: Oil and gas/vessel marine casualty regulatory enforcement is changing
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 Read more
Mechanical Removal and Responder Immunity
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 Read more
The Polluter Pays – Sometimes
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 Read more
March 2025 OPA 90 Forum Newsletter
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 Read more