II
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3569
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 12, 2010
Mr. Nelson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To improve the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to releases of subsea oil and gas, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Subsea Hydrocarbon Imagery and
Planning Act of 2010
.
Improvements to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oil spill response
Subsea hydrocarbon review
Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall conduct a comprehensive review of the current state of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the capacity of the Administration to monitor, map, and track subsea hydrocarbons.
Elements
The review conducted under subsection (a) shall include the following:
A review of protocol for application of dispersants that contemplates the variables of temperature, pressure, and depth of the site of release of hydrocarbons.
A review of technological capabilities to detect the presence of subsea hydrocarbons at various concentrations and at various depths within a water column resulting from releases of oil and natural gas after a spill.
A review of technological capabilities for
expeditiously identifying the source (known as fingerprinting
)
of subsea hydrocarbons.
A review of coastal and ocean current modeling as it relates to predicting the trajectory of oil and natural gas.
A review of the effect of subsea hydrocarbons (all concentrations including down to hydrocarbon chains in solution) on all levels of the food web, including evaluations of seafood safety, toxicity to individuals, negative impacts to reproduction, bioaccumulation, growth, and such other matters as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.
Development of recommendations on priorities for improving forecasting of movement of subsea hydrocarbons.
Development of recommendations for long-term remote monitoring of subsea hydrocarbons after a spill, including dissolved oxygen impacts.
Development of recommendations for implementation of a Subsea Hydrocarbon Monitoring and Assessment program within the Office of Response and Restoration.
Program required
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a hydrocarbon monitoring and assessment program. Such program shall be based on the recommendations developed under the comprehensive review required by subsection (a).
Funding
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund established by section 9509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the provisions of this section $15,000,000 to remain available until expended.