Under OPA 90, who has the authority to designate the responsible party for an oil spill?

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) holds the authority to designate the responsible party for an oil spill. This designation is critical as it identifies the entity that is responsible for cleaning up the spill and managing the response efforts. The FOSC’s role is pivotal during the immediate response to oil spills, enabling coordinated action among federal, state, and local agencies as well as the responsible party.

The Federal On-Scene Coordinator is typically appointed from the ranks of federal agencies, such as the Coast Guard or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and they ensure that the response to an oil spill complies with existing regulations while addressing the environmental impact effectively. Their designation of the responsible party is a key step in mitigating the effects of the spill and ensuring that the necessary resources are deployed to manage the situation.

The other options represent various levels of authority and responsibility, but they do not hold the designated power to officially assign the role of responsible party in the context of oil spill management under OPA 90.