1. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)
By: Eileen De Vera

2. Description of Purpose:
Basic Information
Name: OPA
Draft Year: 1990 by the 101st Congress
International / National Scope
Description of Purpose:
This act has strengthened EPA’s ability to prevent oil spills, and even how they respond to oil spills. It allows for the federal government to intervene on clean up, and makes companies liable for up to $75 million if they are responsible for an oil spill.

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Issues Affected:
It has affected oil tankers entering Prince William Sound that are carrying more than one million gallons of oil.
The OPA has prevented Exxon from entering Alaskan waters since the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Agency/Group Responsible:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

4. Works Cited:
Robyn Kenney (Lead Author);Cutler Cleveland (Topic Editor) "Oil Pollution Act of 1990, United States". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth November 10, 2008; Last revised Date October 24, 2010; Retrieved April 29, < ?topic=50366>