118 HR 5373 IH: Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-09-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5373IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 8, 2023Mr. Lieu (for himself, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Levin, Ms. Porter, Ms. Barragán, and Mr. Carbajal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureA BILLTo amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase the civil and criminal penalties for oil spills, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act.

2.

Civil and criminal penalties relating to oil spills

(a)

Civil penalties

Section 311(b)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (A) by striking an amount up to each place it appears and inserting an amount that is at least; and(2)in subparagraph (D) by striking not more than and inserting at least.(b)

Criminal penalties

Section 309(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1)—(A)by striking $2,500 and inserting $5,000;(B)by striking $25,000 and inserting $50,000; (C)by striking not more than 1 year and inserting not more than 2 years; and(D)by striking punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $50,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment of not more than 2 years, or by both and inserting the maximum punishment shall be doubled with respect to both fine and imprisonment; (2)in paragraph (2)—(A)by striking not less that $5,000 and inserting not less than $10,000; (B)by striking $50,000 and inserting $100,000; (C)by striking not more than 3 years and inserting not more than 6 years; and(D)by striking punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $100,000 per day of violation, or imprisonment of not more than 6 years, or by both and inserting the maximum punishment shall be doubled with respect to both fine and imprisonment; and(3)in paragraph (3)(A)—(A)by striking $250,000 and inserting $500,000;(B)by striking not more than 15 years and inserting not more than 30 years; and (C)by striking $1,000,000 and inserting $2,000,000.