During the past decade, significant progress has been made toward reducing the amount from and number of oil spills from tank vessels.  Much of that success is the direct result of passage and implementation of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.  However, in recent years, vessel traffic has rapidly increased with our country’s growing dependency on imports and fuel.  With that increase in vessel traffic, it is evident that non-tank vessel spills are a major concern today.  Non-tank vessels can carry millions of gallons of oil as fuel, and the standards for non-tank vessels should be strengthened. 

 

I am aware that the Coast Guard is in the process of finalizing long awaited rulemakings in this area and I encourage them to take the steps necessary to hasten the completion of these regulations. 

 

I look forward to hearing the testimony to better address these issues from a policy perspective.