Federalism, the Admiralty, and Oil Spills
Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, Vol. 27, p. 379, 1996
38 Pages Posted: 10 Dec 2011
Date Written: January 1, 1996
Abstract
The Exxon Valdez oil spill brought to the public’s attention a matter of national and international importance. How best to deal with the legal ramifications of these oil spills has become a matter of great concern to politicians, environmentalists, and the oil and transportation industries. Issues exist relating to cleanup costs, compensation for loss of natural resources, criminal liability, and payment for civil damages. This article suggests that the courts can and should overcome this political impasse by reasserting the federal power to deal with these admiralty issues.
Keywords: Maritime law, federalism, oil spilled, Exxon, federal statutory law
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