Oil spill law is tough, and durable. (Oil Pollution Act of 1990)

That Du Pont commercial showing seals clapping their flippers, whales cavorting and penguins dancing with joy at Du Pont's decision to use double-hull tankers in the future is certainly one of the most effective commercial ever made for TV.

It strikes a chord with the public and virtually assures that Congress will never back off from the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) and will not, on its own initiative, try to fine tune the Act to solve the financial liability problems it created. it might even if difficult for Du Pont (a potential victim of the liability problem) to persuade Congress to re-visit the legislation.

The bad news comes from Edmund B. Welch, who's in a better position than anyone else to know.

"Politically, not much has changed from the time of the congressional debates over two years ago and from the Oil Pollution Act's enactment more than a year ago," said Welch, chief counsel of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.

Congress sometimes makes mistakes, and …