For Immediate Release
December 13, 2010 Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
Legislature Passes Oil Spill Bill Raises Liability Cap
The Senate Committee today passed bill S2108 (Smith 39-1), which removes a liability cap for damages from oil spills. This legislation is desperately needed, given that the old liability cap was passed in 1976. Under the current cap of $65 million, New Jersey would not be properly compensated if there was an oil spill off our coast. Considering the spill happening in the Gulf, this bill is needed to update our rules and laws so taxpayers are not on the hook if such an incident occurred in New Jersey.
"If we don't raise the liability cap, instead of the polluters paying, the taxpayers will," New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "We believe this legislation is an important step forward in protecting our coasts from oil spills. If companies know they'll have to pay for damages, they may do things in a safer way."
With the threat of drilling in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region, an accident that would damage our shores could become a reality and we must be protected. The Sierra Club believes the state should hold companies liable for this damage. Furthermore, there is still a chance that oil from the Gulf spill will impact New Jersey. We must be prepared in the event we are affected by that spill.
- Download full text: 1213_S2108_Oil_Liability.doc