117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5958


To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase the civil and criminal penalties for oil spills, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 12, 2021

Mr. Lieu (for himself, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Porter, Mr. Levin of California, and Mr. Lowenthal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase the civil and criminal penalties for oil spills, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

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

SEC. 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   .