Which legislation requires spill prevention and response plans for oil and hazardous substances?

The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) is the correct answer because it specifically addresses the need for spill prevention and response plans for oil and hazardous substances. This legislation was enacted to improve the nation’s ability to respond to oil spills and to establish a framework for preventing such spills from occurring in the first place. Under this act, facilities that deal with oil are required to develop and implement Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans that outline procedures to prevent discharges and respond effectively in the event of an oil spill.

The OPA emphasizes the importance of preparedness and provides guidelines for the development of these response plans, ensuring that organizations have proactive measures in place to protect waterways and the environment from potential contamination. This legislation plays a critical role in environmental protection efforts to manage risks associated with oil spills.

In contrast, while the Clean Water Act aims to regulate discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters and set water quality standards, it does not specifically mandate spill prevention plans. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, focuses on the cleanup of hazardous waste sites rather than spill prevention strategies. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed