<P> Although the OPA provides a framework for oil spillage governance recent events resulting in the BP deep water oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico suggest more can and should have been done in this area . Evidence of this fact is present in the recommendations and investigations present in the January 2011 report by the recently established National Oil Spill Commission . A further sign of lack of proper governance is implicit in the action of the federal government to rename and reform the Minerals Management Service (MMS) into the now Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement . </P> <P> The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill served as a major focal point in oil spill governance and reform . Prior to the Exxon Valdez incident a number of laws were in place to prevent and respond to oil spills . These include: </P> <Ul> <Li> The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 1968: The NCP established the response system the federal government was to follow in the event of oil spills and release of hazardous materials into the environment . The NCP was a response by U.S. policy makers to the Torrey Canyon oil tanker spill off the coast of England . It has since been amended by the Clean Water Act (1972), the Oil Pollution Act (1990) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Competition and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980 . The Oil Pollution Act increased the role and dimensions of the NCP by establishing a more robust planning and response system to improve response and prevent spills in marine environments . </Li> <Li> The Clean Water Act (1972): The clean water act (CWA) was the most extensive legislation which considered oil spills prior to the Exxon Valdez spill . The CWA made provisions for post-spill reporting, response and liability by the responsible party . </Li> <Li> The Trans - Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act (1973): Major oil transportation via pipelines goes through the Trans - Alaskan route . Spills from pipelines along this route although inland, could migrate into coastal waters via inland rivers . Hence the act was established to cover oil spills and liability relating to the Trans - Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). </Li> <Li> The Deep Port Act (1974): This was the major statute for deep water spill incidents . It addressed oil spills, cleanup and liability at deepwater oil ports . </Li> <Li> The Outer Continent Shelf Lands Act Amendments (1978): This act addressed oil spills, cleanup and liability structure for oil extraction facilities in federal offshore waters . </Li> <Li> The Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Act of (1979): This act granted the Department of Transport (DOT) authority to govern oil spills from pipelines . </Li> <Li> The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of (2006): This act was established to improve pipeline safety and security practices . This act also reaffirmed the role of the federal office of pipeline safety relevant governing body in terms of pipeline spills under the DOT . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 1968: The NCP established the response system the federal government was to follow in the event of oil spills and release of hazardous materials into the environment . The NCP was a response by U.S. policy makers to the Torrey Canyon oil tanker spill off the coast of England . It has since been amended by the Clean Water Act (1972), the Oil Pollution Act (1990) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Competition and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980 . The Oil Pollution Act increased the role and dimensions of the NCP by establishing a more robust planning and response system to improve response and prevent spills in marine environments . </Li>

Legislations that have been implemented to minimize the damage caused by oil spills