[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12463-S12464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SECTION 1102 OF THE COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1996

  Mr. STEVENS. As chairman of the Senate Oceans and Fisheries 
Subcommittee, I wish to comment on section 1102 of S. 1004, my bill to 
reauthorize the U.S. Coast Guard which was recently passed by both the 
House and Senate.
  Section 1102 provides funding for the Prince William Sound Oil Spill 
Recovery Institute [OSRI] located in Cordova, AK. The OSRI was created 
under section 5001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 [OPA '90] to 
identify the best available techniques, equipment, and material for 
dealing with Arctic and Subarctic oil spills and to assess the effects 
of the Exxon Valdez spill on Prince William Sound's natural resources 
and on the environment, economy, and lifestyle of its residents.

[[Page S12464]]

  Section 1102 of S. 1004 amends OPA '90 so that the National Pollution 
Funds Center will make payments directly to the OSRI for these 
activities, rather than through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration or annual appropriations. The OSRI will conduct its 
mission over the next 10 years using annual interest from $22.5 million 
that was transferred from the Trans-Alaska Liability Pipeline Fund to 
the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The initial payment to OSRI, which 
will occur within 60 days after the enactment of S. 1004, will include 
the interest that has accrued from the date of the first transfer of 
funds from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Fund to the Oil Spill Liability 
Trust Fund pursuant to section 8102(a)(2)(B)(ii) of OPA '90.
  Section 1102 makes other changes to enhance the effectiveness of the 
OSRI. It reduces the size and changes the composition of the OSRI 
Advisory Board, broadens the OSRI's mission, and allows the OSRI 
Advisory Board to request a scientific review every 5 years by the 
National Academy of Sciences to be performed by the Academy in carrying 
out section 7001(b)(2) of OPA '90.
  The conferees intend for the Interagency Coordinating Committee on 
Oil Pollution Research (established under section 7001 of OPA '90) to 
coordinate with the OSRI and the Arctic Research Commission in 
developing and overseeing the national oil spill research plan. By 
involving these two entities, the Interagency Committee will be able to 
ensure that Arctic and Subarctic prevention and mitigation research 
needs are being fully identified and met. The Interagency Committee 
should include relevant recommendations of the OSRI in its reports to 
Congress, and should include OSRI representatives in meetings and other 
activities regarding oil pollution.

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