🔍 Key Concepts

• Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) oil spill reporting requirements • The difference between civil penalties (fines) and criminal penalties (jail time) • When failure to report becomes a knowing violation that can lead to imprisonment

💭 Think About

• Think about whether failing to notify the Coast Guard is treated as a minor paperwork issue or a serious criminal offense under pollution laws • Consider how U.S. law typically scales prison terms for environmental crimes—are short terms (like 1 year) used for very minor offenses, or is failure to report an oil discharge treated more seriously? • Ask yourself whether Congress would want a strong deterrent for people who might try to hide an oil spill instead of reporting it immediately

✅ Before You Answer

• Review the section of the FWPCA (also known as the Clean Water Act) that covers failure to notify of an oil discharge and note the maximum imprisonment term listed • Confirm that you are looking at the criminal penalty section, not just civil fines or administrative penalties • Verify that the time listed is the maximum possible sentence (“not more than … years”), and match that wording carefully to one of the choices