Reply #14: The law says "into or upon the navigable waters of the United States": [View All]

It's for every drop of oil that spills into U.S. navigable waters.

33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972)

(3) The discharge of oil or hazardous substances (i) into or
upon the navigable waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines,
or into or upon the waters of the contiguous zone, or (ii) in
connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act or the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, or which may affect natural
resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive
management authority of the United States (including resources
under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976), in
such quantities as may be harmful as determined by the President
under paragraph (4) of this subsection, is prohibited, except (A) in
the case of such discharges into the waters of the contiguous zone
or which may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining
to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United
States (including resources under the Fishery Conservation and
Management Act of 1976), where permitted under the Protocol of
1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships, 1973, and (B) where permitted in quantities
and at times and locations or under such circumstances or
conditions as the President may, by regulation, determine not to be
harmful. Any regulations issued under this subsection shall be consistent
with maritime safety and with marine and navigation laws
and regulations and applicable water quality standards.