READ FIRST TIME 02/24/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to the oil spill advisory council; amending RCW 90.56.005 and 90.56.060; and adding new sections to chapter 90.56 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 90.56.005 and 2004 c 226 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature declares that ((the increasing reliance on)) water borne transportation as a source of supply for oil and hazardous substances poses special concern for the state of Washington. Each year billions of gallons of crude oil and refined petroleum products are transported as cargo and fuel by vessels on the navigable waters of the state. These shipments are expected to increase in the coming years. Vessels transporting oil into Washington travel on some of the most unique and special marine environments in the United States. These marine environments are a source of natural beauty, recreation, and economic livelihood for many residents of this state. As a result, the state has an obligation to ensure the citizens of the state that the waters of the state will be protected from oil spills.
     (2) The legislature finds that prevention is the best method to protect the unique and special marine environments in this state. The technology for containing and cleaning up a spill of oil or hazardous substances is ((in the early stages of development)) at best only partially effective. Preventing spills is more protective of the environment and more cost-effective when all the response and damage costs associated with responding to a spill are considered. Therefore, the legislature finds that the primary objective of the state is to ((adopt)) achieve a zero spills strategy to prevent any oil or hazardous substances from entering waters of the state.
     (3) The legislature also finds that:
     (a) Recent accidents in Washington, Alaska, southern California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the nation have shown that the transportation, transfer, and storage of oil have caused significant damage to the marine environment;
     (b) Even with the best efforts, it is nearly impossible to remove all oil that is spilled into the water, and average removal rates are only fourteen percent;
     (c) Washington's navigable waters are treasured environmental and economic resources that the state cannot afford to place at undue risk from an oil spill; ((and))
     (d) The state has a fundamental responsibility, as the trustee of the state's natural resources and the protector of public health and the environment to prevent the spill of oil; and
     (e) In section 5002 of the federal oil pollution act of 1990, the United States congress found that many people believed that complacency on the part of industry and government was one of the contributing factors to the Exxon Valdez spill and, further, that one method to combat this complacency is to involve local citizens in the monitoring and oversight of oil spill plans. Congress also found that a mechanism should be established that fosters the long-term partnership of industry, government, and local communities in overseeing compliance with environmental concerns in the operation of crude oil terminals. Moreover, congress concluded that, in addition to Alaska, a program of citizen monitoring and oversight should be established in other major crude oil terminals in the United States because recent oil spills indicate that the safe transportation of oil is a national problem.
     (4) In order to establish a comprehensive prevention and response program to protect Washington's waters and natural resources from spills of oil, it is the purpose of this chapter:
     (a) To establish state agency expertise in marine safety and to centralize state activities in spill prevention and response activities;
     (b) To prevent spills of oil and to promote programs that reduce the risk of both catastrophic and small chronic spills;
     (c) To ensure that responsible parties are liable, and have the resources and ability, to respond to spills and provide compensation for all costs and damages;
     (d) To provide for state spill response and wildlife rescue planning and implementation;
     (e) To support and complement the federal oil pollution act of 1990 and other federal law, especially those provisions relating to the national contingency plan for cleanup of oil spills and discharges, including provisions relating to the responsibilities of state agencies designated as natural resource trustees. The legislature intends this chapter to be interpreted and implemented in a manner consistent with federal law;
     (f) To provide broad powers of regulation to the department of ecology relating to spill prevention and response;
     (g) To provide for an independent ((oversight board)) oil spill advisory council to review on an ongoing basis the adequacy of oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response activities in this state; and
     (h) To provide an adequate funding source for state response and prevention programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 90.56 RCW to read as follows:
     (1)(a) There is established in the office of the governor the oil spill advisory council.
     (b) The primary purpose of the council is to maintain the state's vigilance in, by ensuring an emphasis on, the prevention of oil spills to marine waters, while recognizing the importance of also improving preparedness and response.
     (c) The council shall be an advisory body only.
     (2)(a) In addition to members appointed under (b) of this subsection, the council is composed of the chair-facilitator and sixteen members representing various interests as follows:
     (i) Three representatives of environmental organizations;
     (ii) One representative of commercial shellfish interests;
     (iii) One representative of commercial fisheries that primarily fishes in Washington waters;
     (iv) One representative of marine recreation;
     (v) One representative of tourism interests;
     (vi) Three representatives of county government from counties bordering Puget Sound, the Columbia river/Pacific Ocean, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca/San Juan Islands;
     (vii) One representative of marine labor;
     (viii) Two representatives of marine trade interests;
     (ix) One representative of major oil facilities;
     (x) One representative of public ports; and
     (xi) An individual who resides on a shoreline who has an interest, experience, and familiarity in the protection of water quality.
     (b) In addition to the members identified in this subsection, the governor shall invite the participation of tribal governments through the appointment of two representatives to the council.
     (3) Appointments to the council shall reflect a geographical balance and the diversity of populations within the areas potentially affected by oil spills to state waters.
     (4) Members shall be appointed by the governor and shall serve four-year terms, except the initial members appointed to the council. Initial members to the council shall be appointed as follows: Six shall serve two-year terms, six shall serve three-year terms, and seven shall serve four-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position vacated. Members serve at the pleasure of the governor.
     (5) The governor shall appoint a chair-facilitator who shall serve as a nonvoting member of the council. The chair shall not be an employee of a state agency, nor shall the chair have a financial interest in matters relating to oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response. The chair shall convene the council at least four times per year. At least one meeting per year shall be held in a Columbia river community, an ocean coastal community, and a Puget Sound community. The chair shall consult with councilmembers in setting agendas and determining meeting times and locations.
     (6) All members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses while attending meetings of the council or technical advisory committees as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members of the council identified in subsection (2)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), and (xi) of this section shall be compensated on a per diem basis as a class two group according to RCW 43.03.230.
     (7) The first meeting of the council shall be convened by the governor or the governor's designee. Other meetings may be convened by a vote of at least a majority of the voting members of the council, or by call of the chair. All meetings are subject to the open public meetings act. The council shall maintain minutes of all meetings.
     (8) To the extent possible, all decisions of the council shall be by the consensus of the members. If consensus is not possible, nine voting members of the council may call for a vote on a matter. When a vote is called, all decisions shall be determined by a majority vote of the voting members present. Two-thirds of the voting members are required to be present for a quorum for all votes. The subject matter of all votes and the vote tallies shall be recorded in the minutes of the council.
     (9) The council may form subcommittees and technical advisory committees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 90.56 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The duties of the council include:
     (a) Selection and hiring of professional staff and expert consultants to support the work of the council;
     (b) Early consultation with government decision makers in relation to the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs, analyses, rule making, and related oil spill activities;
     (c) Providing independent advice, expertise, research, monitoring, and assessment for review of and necessary improvements to the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs, analyses, rule making, and other decisions, including those of the Northwest area committee, as well as the adequacy of funding for these programs;
     (d) Monitoring and providing information to the public as well as state and federal agencies regarding state of the art oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs;
     (e) Actively seeking public comments on and proposals for specific measures to improve the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response program, including measures to improve the effectiveness of the Northwest area committee;
     (f) Evaluating incident response reports and making recommendations to the department regarding improvements;
     (g) Consulting with the department on lessons learned and agency progress on necessary actions in response to lessons learned;
     (h) Promoting opportunities for the public to become involved in oil spill response activities and provide assistance to community groups with an interest in oil spill prevention and response, and coordinating with the department on the development and implementation of a citizens' involvement plan;
     (i) Serving as an advisory body to the department on matters relating to international, national, and regional issues concerning oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response, and providing a mechanism for stakeholder and public consideration of federal actions relating to oil spill preparedness, prevention, and response in or near the waters of the state with recommended changes or improvements in federal policies on these matters;
     (j) Accepting moneys from appropriations, gifts, grants, or donations for the purposes of this section; and
     (k) Any other activities necessary to maintain the state's vigilance in preventing oil spills.
     (2) The council shall establish a work plan for accomplishing the duties identified in subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) The council is not intended to address issues related to spills involving hazardous substances.
     (4) By September 15, 2006, the council shall recommend to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature, proposals for the long-term funding of the council's activities and for the long-term sustainable funding for oil spill preparedness, prevention, and response activities.
     (5) By September 1st of each year, the council shall make recommendations for the continuing improvement of the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response activities through a report to the governor, the director, and the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives.

Sec. 4   RCW 90.56.060 and 2004 c 226 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall prepare and annually update a statewide master oil and hazardous substance spill prevention and contingency plan. In preparing the plan, the department shall consult with an advisory committee representing diverse interests concerned with oil and hazardous substance spills, including the United States coast guard, the federal environmental protection agency, state agencies, local governments, port districts, private facilities, environmental organizations, oil companies, shipping companies, containment and cleanup contractors, tow companies, ((and)) hazardous substance manufacturers, and with the oil spill advisory council.
     (2) The state master plan prepared under this section shall at a minimum:
     (a) Take into consideration the elements of oil spill prevention and contingency plans approved or submitted for approval pursuant to this chapter and chapter 88.46 RCW and oil and hazardous substance spill contingency plans prepared pursuant to other state or federal law or prepared by federal agencies and regional entities;
     (b) State the respective responsibilities as established by relevant statutes and rules of each of the following in the prevention of and the assessment, containment, and cleanup of a worst case spill of oil or hazardous substances into the environment of the state: (i) State agencies; (ii) local governments; (iii) appropriate federal agencies; (iv) facility operators; (v) property owners whose land or other property may be affected by the oil or hazardous substance spill; and (vi) other parties identified by the department as having an interest in or the resources to assist in the containment and cleanup of an oil or hazardous substance spill;
     (c) State the respective responsibilities of the parties identified in (b) of this subsection in an emergency response;
     (d) Identify actions necessary to reduce the likelihood of spills of oil and hazardous substances;
     (e) Identify and obtain mapping of environmentally sensitive areas at particular risk to oil and hazardous substance spills;
     (f) Establish an incident command system for responding to oil and hazardous substances spills; and
     (g) Establish a process for immediately notifying affected tribes of any oil spill.
     (3) In preparing and updating the state master plan, the department shall:
     (a) Consult with federal, provincial, municipal, and community officials, other state agencies, the state of Oregon, and with representatives of affected regional organizations;
     (b) Submit the draft plan to the public for review and comment;
     (c) Submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature for review, not later than November 1st of each year, the plan and any annual revision of the plan; and
     (d) Require or schedule unannounced oil spill drills as required by RCW 90.56.260 to test the sufficiency of oil spill contingency plans approved under RCW 90.56.210.
     (4) The department shall evaluate the functions of advisory committees created by the department regarding oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs, and shall revise or eliminate those functions which are no longer necessary.