Coast Guard Announces Interim Rule

The U.S. Coast Guard has published an interim rule that adjusts limits of liability for vessels and deepwater ports under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The interim rule, effective July 31, 2009, increases the current OPA 90 limits of liability for vessels and deepwater ports to reflect significant increases in the Consumer Price Index since the limits were amended by the Delaware River Protection Act of 2006. The rule also increases the current OPA 90 limit of liability for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port to reflect Consumer Price Index increases since the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port limit was established by regulation in 1995.