PUBLIC LAW 104-324—OCT. 19, 1996 110 STAT. 3947 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. — The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "3719. Reduction of oil spills from non-self-propelled tank vessels.". SEC. 902. REQUIREMENT FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(f)(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the Towing Safety Advisory Committee and taking into consideration the characteristics, methods of operation, and nature of service of towing vessels, may require the installation, maintenance, and use of a fire suppression system or other measures to provide adequate assurance that fires on board towing vessels can be suppressed under reasonably foreseeable circumstances. "(2) The Secretary shall require under paragraph (1) the use of a fire suppression system or other measures to provide adequate assurance that a fire on board a towing vessel that is towing a non-self-propelled tank vessel can be suppressed under reasonably foreseeable circumstances.". (b) REGULATIONS. — The Secretary of the department in which 46 USC 4102 the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations establishing note. the requirement described in subsection (f)(2) of section 4102 of title 46, United States Code, as added l3y this section, by not later than October 1, 1997. SEC. 903. STUDIES ADDRESSING VARIOUS SOURCES OF OIL SPILL RISK. 46 USC 3703 (a) STUDY OF GROUP-5 FUEL OIL SPILLS.— ^°^' (1) DEFINITION.— In this subsection, the term "group-5 fuel oil" means a petroleum-based oil that has a specific gravity of greater than 1.0. (2) COORDINATION OF STUDY.— The Secretary of Transportation shall coordinate with the Marine Board of the National Research Council to conduct a study of the relative environmental and public health risks posed by discharges of group- 5 fuel oil. (3) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED. —The study under this subsection shall include a review and analysis of— (A) the specific risks posed to the public health or welfare of the United States, including fish, shellfish and wildlife, public and private property, shorelines, beaches, habitat, and other natural resources under the jurisdiction or control of the United States, as a result of an actual or threatened discharge of group-5 fuel oil from a vessel or facility; (B) cleanup technologies currently available to address actual or threatened discharge of group-5 fuel oil; and (C) any technological and financial barriers that prevent the prompt remediation of discharges of group-5 fuel oil. (4) REPORT.— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study under this subsection.
�
