,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhdi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ad1 #bjbb,mr4 ,markey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard to establish a process to update the vessel response plan program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,oil ,spill ,response ,review ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,even a minor oil spill can cause significant harm to individual organisms1 entire populations1 and ecosystems4 7#b7 ,the impacts from certain oil spills can last for years or even decades4 7#c7 ,the #bjaj ,deepwater ,horizon oil spill in the ,gulf of ,mexico released more than #ajj1jjj1jjj gallons of oil before it was contained #hf days later4 7#d7 ,the #aihi ,exxon ,valdez spill released about #aa1jjj1jjj gallons of oil1 and cleanup efforts continued intermittently for #c years4 7#e7 ,since #bjah1 the ,coast ,guard has only verified the accuracy of salvage and marine firefighting information in #ga of over #c1jjj submitted ,v,r,ps4 7#f7 ,the ,national ,response ,center collects oil spill incident data1 but data are often initial1 unverified estimates4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,commandant ,the term ,commandant means the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard4 7#b7 ,,acp ,the term ,,acp means an area contingency plan4 7#c7 ,,vrp ,the term ,,vrp means a vessel response plan4 #d4 ,increasing data collection and verification to update the ,,vrp program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,commandant shall develop and carry out a process to update its review of ,v,r,ps1 which are required to be submitted to the ,coast ,guard under part #aee of title #cc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 by increasing the collection and improving the quality of incident data on oil spill location and response capability4 7b7 ,activities ,in developing and carrying out the process required by subsection 7a71 the ,commandant shall-- 7#a7 not less frequently than every #c years1 verify the efficacy of-- 7,a7 information submitted to the ,commandant pursuant to part #cjj of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 through random selection and auditing of all reported information from not less than #cj percent of-- 7i7 submitted ,v,r,ps2 7ii7 area drills conducted pursuant to section #caa7;j77#g7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acba7;j77#g772 and 7iii7 responses to oil spill incidents that require mobilization of contracted response resources2 and 7,b7 oil spill data stored in the ,marine ,information for ,safety and ,law ,enforcement database and reported by on-scene coordinators pursuant to section #cjj4cjj of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation72 7#b7 not less frequently than annually1 review1 and update as necessary-- 7,a7 the information contained in the ,coast ,guard ,response ,resource ,inventory and other tools used to document the availability and status of oil spill response equipment so as to ensure that such information and tools remain current and accurate2 and 7,b7 processes for data submission to the ,response ,resource ,inventory to ensure that ,oil ,spill ,removal ,organizations and other participating entities submit accurate and regularly updated information2 7#c7 establish procedures for-- 7,a7 incorporating oil spill incident data from oil spill reports and ,,vrp exercises into-- 7i7 ,v,r,ps1 including alternative planning criteria review and approval processes2 and 7ii7 ,,acp development2 7,b7 mitigating the impact of military personnel rotations in ,coast ,guard field units on knowledge and awareness of ,,vrp requirements1 including knowledge relating to the evaluation of proposed alternatives to national planning requirements2 and 7,c7 evaluating the consequences of reporting inaccurate data in ,v,r,ps submitted to the ,commandant pursuant to part #cjj of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 and submitted for storage in the ,marine ,information for ,safety and ,law ,enforcement database pursuant to section #cjj4cjj of that title 7or any successor regulation72 7#d7 develop standard tools1 job aids1 and guidance that-- 7,a7 may be shared with vessel owners and operators and ,coast ,guard field units to assist with accurately calculating and measuring the performance and viability of proposed alternatives against national planning criteria requirements and coastal zone ,a,c,ps2 and 7,b7 recognize regionally specific challenges2 7#e7 review subcontracts related to submitted ,v,r,ps to ensure that all necessary equipment and response resources are obligated to satisfy the ,,vrp planning requirements and respond to an oil spill1 as applicable2 7#f7 not less frequently than every #e years1 review1 and revise as necessary1 ,coast ,guard planning1 preparedness1 and oil spill response strategies based on analyses of-- 7,a7 incident data on oil spill location and response capability2 7,b7 oil spill risk assessments2 7,c7 oil spill response effectiveness and the effects of such response on the environment2 and 7,d7 oil spill response exercises conducted pursuant to section #caa7;j77#g7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acba7;j77#g772 and 7#g7 collaborate with the heads of other ,federal agencies to increase ,federal ,government engagement with ,state1 local1 and ,tribal agencies and stakeholders1 including regulated entities1 for the purpose of strengthening coordination and efficiency of oil spill responses4 7c7 ,public availability of data ,subject to section #eeb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,commandant shall make available to the public the data described in subsection 7b77#a74 7d7 ,annual report ,not less frequently than annually1 the ,commandant shall submit to ,congress a report on the status of ongoing and planned efforts to improve the policies1 guidance1 and processes of the ,,vrp program1 including actions of the ,maritime ,oil ,spill ,response ,plan ,advisory ,group1 based on feedback1 public comment1 and other engagement from the ,coast ,guard and maritime transportation industry stakeholders4 #e4 ,expenditure purposes of ,oil ,spill ,liability ,trust ,fund ,section #ieji7;c77#a7 of title #bf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,f71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 1 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,g7 to increase support for marine pollution disaster planning1 preparedness1 and response strategies1 including for-- 7i7 incident data collection and verification and for regular updates to vessel response plans and area contingency plan review2 and 7ii7 training and equipping residents of ,tribal and remote communities with resources and information for effective planning1 preparedness1 and response4 4 #f4 ,national oil spill response study 7a7 ,in general ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study on ,coast ,guard and ,environmental ,protection ,agency oversight of national1 regional1 and local area oil spill response frameworks4 7b7 ,elements ,the study required by subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an assessment of lessons learned with respect to oil spill responses based on research conducted as a result of the ,deepwater ,horizon oil spill in #bjaj and other marine pollution disasters1 which shall include an assessment of-- 7,a7 oil spill response and prevention technologies2 and 7,b7 methods and best practices for oil spill mitigation and prevention4 7#b7 ,an analysis of major changes in national1 regional1 and local area oil spill response frameworks since #bjaj for the purpose of assessing whether such changes have improved oil spill responses4 7#c7 ,an analysis of available information on the short-term and long-term effects of the use of chemical dispersants and potential alternatives in oil spill and marine pollution responses4 7#d7 ,recommendations for legislative and regulatory action that would facilitate better implementation of best available technologies and methods for effective oil spill response4 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to ,congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,public availability ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall be made publicly available on the internet website of the ,comptroller ,general4