EPA Vows 'Waters' Rule Will Resolve Confusion Over Oil Spill Jurisdiction

摘要

EPA is vowing that its proposal to clarify the Clean Water Act's (CWA) scope will resolve long-running confusion over the law's oil spill prevention requirements by ending existing inconsistencies between the definition of jurisdic-tional waters in the spill provisions and other CWA programs, providing clarity sought by the oil industry. Industry fears the jurisdiction rule - which the agency is taking comment on through Oct. 20 - may complicate compliance with EPA's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, developed under section 311 of the water law. The SPCC rule aims to reduce oil spills by requiring facilities that store oil in significant amounts to prepare control plans and adopt certain measures to keep accidental releases from reaching navigable waters.