A bill to amend the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 to improve community outreach, public participation, and the consideration of community and environmental impacts with respect to the issuance of a license under that Act, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 18, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The NO SPILLS Act of 2024 strengthens federal oversight of deepwater ports by requiring more thorough environmental reviews and community engagement before licenses are issued. The bill significantly increases financial liability limits for oil spills under the Oil Pollution Act, raising some caps from millions to tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, ensuring companies carry greater financial responsibility for potential disasters. The legislation expands the definition of affected communities to include environmental justice communities, low-income areas, and Indigenous tribes, and requires the Department of Transportation to conduct active outreach to these populations, provide at least 90-day public comment periods, and translate all documents into relevant languages. The bill also mandates a comprehensive environmental impact statement for all proposed deepwater ports in the Gulf of Mexico within one year and prohibits issuing new deepwater port licenses until that study is completed. Additionally, it expands environmental review criteria to include air quality, climate impacts, and effects on endangered species, and eliminates federal funding for liquefied natural gas research programs.
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