Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/3013

 124 STAT. 2987 PUBLIC LAW 111–281—OCT. 15, 2010 (b) DUAL ESCORT VESSELS FOR DOUBLE HULLED TANKERS IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 4116(c) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (46 U.S.C. 3703 note) is amended— (A) by striking ‘‘Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The’’; and (B) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(2) PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The requirement in paragraph (1) relating to single hulled tankers in Prince William Sound, Alaska, described in that paragraph being escorted by at least 2 towing vessels or other vessels considered to be appropriate by the Secretary (including regulations promul- gated in accordance with section 3703(a)(3) of title 46, United States Code, as set forth in part 168 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on March 1, 2009) implementing this subsection with respect to those tankers) shall apply to double hulled tankers over 5,000 gross tons transporting oil in bulk in Prince William Sound, Alaska. ‘‘(B) IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec- retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe interim final regulations to carry out subparagraph (A) as soon as practicable without notice and hearing pursuant to section 553 of title 5 of the United States Code.’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (b) take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) PRESERVATION OF STATE AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this Act or in any other provision of Federal law related to the regulation of maritime transportation of oil shall affect, or be construed or interpreted as preempting, the authority of any State or political subdivision thereof which require the escort by one or more tugs of laden oil tankers in the areas which are specified in section 4116(c) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (46 U.S.C. 3703 note). (d) VESSEL TRAFFIC RISK ASSESSMENT.— (1) REQUIREMENT.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, acting through the appropriate Area Committee established under section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, shall prepare a vessel traffic risk assessment for Cook Inlet, Alaska, within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) CONTENTS.—The assessment shall describe, for the region covered by the assessment— (A) the amount and character of present and estimated future shipping traffic in the region; and (B) the current and projected use and effectiveness in reducing risk, of— (i) traffic separation schemes and routing meas- ures; (ii) long-range vessel tracking systems developed under section 70115 of title 46, United States Code; (iii) towing, response, or escort tugs; (iv) vessel traffic services; (v) emergency towing packages on vessels; Alaska. Deadline. 46 USC 3703 note. 46 USC 3703 note. Regulations. Applicability.