WSR 97-10-096
PERMANENT RULES
OFFICE OF MARINE SAFETY
[Filed May 7, 1997, 11:35 a.m.]
Date of Adoption: May 7, 1997.
Purpose: To implement RCW 88.40.020 (2)(b) by establishing lower limits of financial responsibility for tank barges 300 gross tons or less and by exempting oil spill response barges from complying with financial responsibility requirements.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 88.40.020 (2)(b), 88.40.020(5), and 88.40.030.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 97-07-064 on March 19, 1997.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: (1) WAC 317-50-030(2), at the request of the Marine Spill Response Corporation, the definition of "oil spill response barge" was changed to allow a broader range of activities. The proposed definition limited the use of an oil spill response barge to carrying recovered oil. The new definition allows any response related activity such as a lightering barge or a staging platform for response equipment.
(2) WAC 317-50-050(3), at the request of the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS), this subsection has been changed to reflect actual practice. The proposed subsection required submission of a copy of a pollution coverage policy issued by a member of the WQIS. In actual practice, WQIS issues the policy.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 8, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 8, amended 0, repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
May 6, 1997
Barbara Herman
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-010 Purpose. This chapter allows owners and operators
of small tank barges to reduce their financial responsibility under RCW
88.40.020 (2)(b) without compromising protection of the states marine
environments and public health and safety. This chapter also exempts
tank barges dedicated solely to oil spill response activities from the
requirement to possess financial responsibility under RCW 88.40.020.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-020 Application. This chapter applies to any tank barge
in state waters that is 300 gross tons or less or that is an oil spill
response barge.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-030 Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in chapter 317-05 WAC and the following apply to this section:
(1) "Financial responsibility" means demonstrated capability to meet state and federal financial liability requirements for actual costs of oil spill removal, natural resource damages, and necessary expenses.
(2) "Oil spill response barge" means a barge dedicated solely to oil spill response activities.
(3) "Nonpersistent oil" means a petroleum-based oil that, at the time of shipment, consists of hydrocarbon fractions where:
(a) At least 50 percent by volume distill at a temperature of 340 degrees Celsius (645 degrees Fahrenheit); and
(b) At least 95 percent by volume distill at a temperature of 370 degrees Celsius (700 degrees Fahrenheit).
(4) "Persistent oil" means a petroleum-based oil that does not meet the distillation criteria for nonpersistent oil.
(5) "Small tank barge" means a tank barge three hundred gross tons or less.
(6) "State waters" means the navigable waters of the state as defined in WAC 317-05-020(10).
(7) "Tank barge" means a tank vessel without a means of self-propulsion or a self-propelled tank vessel less than forty meters (one hundred and thirty feet) in overall length.
(8) "Tank vessel" means a ship that is constructed or adapted to carry, or that carries, oil in bulk as cargo or cargo residue, and that:
(a) Operates on the waters of the state; or
(b) Transfers oil in a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of this state.
A ship is constructed or adapted to carry oil in bulk as cargo or
cargo residue if authorized to do so under the ships certification or
classification. A vessel carries oil as cargo or cargo residue if the
oil is carried for dispensing to other vessels or equipment off the
vessel, or for delivery from point to point, regardless of whether direct
compensation for carriage is involved. A vessel being used to collect
spilled oil from the water, and that may have some recovered oil storage
capacity, does not carry oil as cargo.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-040 Financial responsibility for small tank barges. (1) An owner or operator of a small tank barge covered by an oil spill prevention plan on file with the office in compliance with chapter 317-21 WAC shall possess financial responsibility in the amount determined under subsection (2) of this section. If the owners or operators oil spill prevention plan is disapproved by the office or voluntarily withdrawn, the owner or operator shall possess financial responsibility in the amount of at least five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000).
(2) Financial responsibility for a small tank barge is the greater of two million dollars ($2,000,000) or:
(a) For tank barges certified to carry persistent oil, $3000 per barrel of the barges total capacity, or if assigned a load line under 46 CFR Parts 42 or 44, per barrel of allowed capacity; or
(b) For tank barges certified to carry nonpersistent oil, $1,500 per
barrel of the barges total capacity, or if assigned a load line under
46 CFR Parts 42 or 44, per barrel of allowed capacity.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-050 Evidence of financial responsibility for small tank barges. Evidence of financial responsibility for a small tank barge may be one or a combination of the following:
(1) A current and valid certificate of enrollment in a Protection and Indemnity Mutual Association.
(2) A current and valid Master Certificate of Financial Responsibility issued by the US Coast Guard under 33 CFR 138.110 and a copy of the letter of insurance, enrollment or other summary of coverage provided by the guarantor for which the Master Certificate is issued.
(3) A copy of a policy issued by the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) or a certificate of insurance evidencing placement with WQIS issued by a licensed broker that includes at a minimum:
(a) The term of the policy;
(b) The amount of deductible or similar retention of liability; and
(c) A description of the coverage limits in relation to a vessel oil spill.
(4) The office may consider other evidence of financial
responsibility if the owner or operator demonstrates the financial
ability to meet state and federal financial liability for the actual
costs for removal of oil spills, for natural resource damages, and
necessary expenses. Acceptable evidence is a written opinion, based on
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP),
signed by an independent certified public accountant licensed to practice
in the United States that the coverage meets the standards of 33 CFR
138.80 for the amount required by WAC 317-50-040(2).
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-060 Submitting evidence of financial responsibility. (1) A small tank barge owner or operator shall submit evidence that demonstrates financial responsibility under WAC 317-50-040 for each barge entering or operating in Washington waters. The evidence must be included in the oil spill prevention plan submitted under chapter 317-21 WAC and on file with the office twenty-four hours before the barge enters Washington waters.
(2) The following are considered significant changes for the purpose of updating a barges oil spill prevention plan under WAC 317-21-530:
(a) A change in the term or amount of coverage;
(b) A change in the type of coverage;
(c) Termination of coverage;
(d) A new coverage provider; and
(e) A change that may affect the opinion of the independent
certified public accountant submitted to the office under WAC 317-50-050(4).
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-070 Enforcement. A small tank barge owner or operator who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter and any order or directive issued by the office requiring compliance with this chapter may be subject to any or all of the following:
(1) Assessment of a civil penalty of up to $100,000 per day for each day the owner or operators barge is found without evidence of financial responsibility required under this chapter;
(2) Disapproval of the owners or operators oil spill prevention plan under chapter 317-21 WAC;
(3) Referral for prosecution under RCW 88.46.080;
(4) Denial of entry into state waters.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-080 Financial responsibility for oil spill response barges. (1) A tank barge used solely as an oil spill response barge is not required to possess evidence of financial responsibility under RCW 88.40.020 if the owner or operator submits to the office a letter certifying that:
(a) The barge is used exclusively for oil spill response activities and will not be used to carry oil in bulk as cargo;
(b) The owner or operator is an approved response contractor under WAC 317-10-090; and
(c) The owner or operator is indemnified by plan holders for whom the owner or operator is a primary response contractor for liabilities that may arise under state and federal law.
(2) The letter must be in writing, on letterhead and signed by the chief executive officer of the owner or operator, or authorized representative. Identifying information for each tank barge covered by the letter must be provided and include at least the vessels name, Lloyds number or official number, country of registry, and gross tonnage.
(3) Any change in status of ownership, charter arrangement,
classification, or use must be reported to the office within 10 working
days of the change.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 317-50-900 Severability. If any provision of this chapter or
its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the chapter or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected.
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