Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1320 Ratification Number:428 Act Number:372 Primary Sponsor:Land Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Oil Spill Responders Liability Act Companion Bill Number:4473 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:Apr 30, 1992 Computer Document Number:NO5/8092.BD Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:May 19, 1992 Introduced Date:Feb 25, 1992 Date of Last Amendment:Apr 08, 1992 Last History Body:------ Last History Date:May 19, 1992 Last History Type:Act No. 372 Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Land Hinds Passailaigue Fielding Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ ---
1320 ------ May 19, 1992 Act No. 372
1320 ------ May 19, 1992 Signed by Governor
1320 ------ May 13, 1992 Ratified R 428
1320 House Apr 30, 1992 Read third time, enrolled for
ratification
1320 House Apr 29, 1992 Read second time
1320 House Apr 15, 1992 Committee Report: Favorable 20
1320 House Apr 14, 1992 Introduced, read first time, 20
referred to Committee
1320 Senate Apr 09, 1992 Read third time, sent to House
1320 Senate Apr 08, 1992 Amended, read second time,
ordered to third reading with
notice of general amendments
1320 Senate Mar 31, 1992 Committee Report: Favorable 01
with amendment
1320 Senate Feb 25, 1992 Introduced, read first time, 01
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A372, R428, S1320)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 44 TO TITLE 48, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA OIL SPILL RESPONDERS LIABILITY ACT TO CONFORM SOUTH CAROLINA LAW WITH THE FEDERAL OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 AND WITH THE LAW OF ADJACENT STATES BY PROVIDING IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY ACTS OF SIMPLE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF PERSONS RESPONDING TO OIL SPILLS AND TO ENSURE THAT A PARTY CAUSING AN OIL SPILL REMAINS LIABLE FOR REMOVAL COSTS AND DAMAGES.
Whereas, the Congress of the United States has enacted the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990, Public Law No. 101-380, 104 Stat. 484 (1990), which provides limited liability for persons who respond to oil spills; and
Whereas, the limit on liability provided under the federal Oil Pollution Act extends only to acts of simple negligence involving property damage; and
Whereas, eighteen coastal states, including North Carolina and Georgia, have enacted statutes consistent with the federal Oil Pollution Act providing identical limits on liability; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that, in order to assure that the coastal environment of South Carolina will receive a prompt and equal response to a catastrophic oil spill under the federal Oil Pollution Act, it is reasonable and necessary to enact provisions of law consistent with that act and with the laws of other coastal states so as to provide for limited immunity for responders to oil spills. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
South Carolina Oil Spill Responders Liability Act
SECTION 1. Title 48 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 48-44-10. This chapter may be cited as the South Carolina Oil Spill Responders Liability Act.
Section 48-44-20. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) `Damages' means damages of any kind for which liability may exist under the laws of this State resulting from, arising out of, or related to the discharge or threatened discharge of oil.
(2) `Discharge' means an emission, other than natural seepage, intentional or unintentional, and includes, but is not limited to, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping.
(3) `Federal on-scene coordinator' means the federal official predesignated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the United States Coast Guard to coordinate and direct federal responses under subpart D, or the official designated by the lead agency to coordinate and direct removal under subpart E, of the National Contingency Plan.
(4) `National Contingency Plan' means the National Contingency Plan prepared and published under Section 311(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1321(d), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law No. 101-380, 104 Stat. 484 (1990).
(5) `Oil' means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.
(6) `Person' means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, the State, a municipality, a commission, or a political subdivision of the State, or an interstate body.
(7) `Removal costs' means the costs of removal incurred after a discharge of oil or, when there is a substantial threat of a discharge of oil, the costs to prevent, minimize, or mitigate oil pollution from an incident.
(8) `Responsible party' means a responsible party as defined under Section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law No. 101-380, 104 Stat. 484 (1990).
Section 48-44-30. (A) Notwithstanding other provisions of law, a person is not liable for removal costs or damages which result from actions taken or omitted to be taken in the course of rendering care, assistance, or advice consistent with the National Contingency Plan or as otherwise directed by the federal on-scene coordinator or by the state official with responsibility for oil spill response.
(B) Subsection (A) does not apply:
(1) to a responsible party;
(2) with respect to personal injury or wrongful death; or
(3) if the person is grossly negligent or engages in wanton or wilful misconduct.
(C) A responsible party is liable for removal costs and damages that another person is relieved of under subsection (A).
(D) Nothing in this section affects the liability of a responsible party for oil spill response under state law."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 19th day of May, 1992.