FL H0853

Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to mandate skimmer use for removing oil discharged into state waters, with skimmers meeting department-established minimum effectiveness standards.

Authorizes use of dispersants or other spill-mitigating substances only if skimming fails to meet standards and if the department determines the substance causes less adverse environmental and health effects than allowing oil to degrade naturally.

Requires the department to monitor concentrations of any dispersants or spill-mitigating substances used pursuant to the Toxic Substance Control Act and Clean Water Act, and publish monitoring results on its website within 24 hours.

Directs the department to adopt rules establishing standards for dispersant and spill-mitigating substance effectiveness and toxicity, including evaluation of environmental persistence, effects on marine life and workers, efficacy under various conditions, and comparative harm to human health and the environment.

Requires the department to submit a report to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House by January 1, 2012, describing evaluation findings and proposed rules for implementing the dispersant authorization provisions.