HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1517

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                           Environmental Affairs

Title:  An act relating to Pacific Ocean Resources Compact.

Brief Description:  Ratifying the Pacific Ocean Resources Compact.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Phillips, Horn, Rust, Basich, Jacobsen, D. Sommers, Brekke, Van Luven, Valle, Sprenkle, G. Fisher, R. King and Wang.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Environmental Affairs, February 26, 1991, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Minority Member; Edmondson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Brekke; G. Fisher; Neher; Phillips; Pruitt; D. Sommers; Sprenkle; and Van Luven.

Staff:  Harry Reinert (786-7110).

Background:  The Western Legislative Conference Ocean Resources Committee has recommended to the west coast states an interstate compact for the regulation of transportation of oil and hazardous substances on the coastal waters.  The States/B.C. Oil Spill Task Force Report also included a recommendation that an interstate compact be examined.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Pacific Ocean Resources Compact is adopted.

The compact may be joined by the states of Oregon, Alaska, California, and Washington and the Province of British Columbia.  The compact is intended to assist in the promotion of interstate commerce, to provide authority to the states to regulate activities that currently are the responsibility of the federal government, to give the states authority to direct some of the activities of federal agencies, and to allow the west coast states to join with British Columbia to have more control over issues of mutual concern related to the transportation of oil.

The compact establishes the Pacific Ocean Resources Compact Authority to implement the intent of the compact.  The authority has the power to establish uniform safety standards for vessel routes, crews, and equipment.  It will also establish a network of response plans of the states, the federal government, and private parties.

The authority has the power to establish requirements for vessel contingency plans within the compact zone.  These requirements must be as stringent as the requirements of the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990.  The authority shall work with the individual states to achieve as much consistency as possible with the individual state requirements.

The authority shall serve as a forum for public participation, interaction with the federal government, and an information clearinghouse on spill response activities.  The authority may also establish a schedule of civil penalties for violations of the compact rules.

Each party to the compact has three representatives on the compact organization, however each party has one vote.  A majority of the parties must approve any action or decision.

Each party to the compact is responsible for a share of the expenses of the compact.  The amount is determined based on the relative proportion of a party's gross state product to the gross state product of all of the parties.  A party is obligated for a minimum of 10 percent and a maximum of 50 percent of the compact budget.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill provided an appropriation from the general fund.  The amended bill removes the appropriation.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Appropriation:  Yes.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Upon ratification by one state and approval by Congress.

Testimony For:  An interstate compact will give the west coast states some additional authority to regulate marine transportation of oil and hazardous substances.  The compact will also provide some consistency in regulation for those involved in trade on the west coast.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Prime Sponsor, Representative Bob Basich (pro); and Randy Ray, AEQUUS (with concerns).