BILL REQ. #:  H-4444.1 

Read first time 01/19/10.   Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to oil spill contingency plan requirements; amending RCW 90.56.010, 90.56.280, 90.56.210, and 88.46.060; creating a new section; repealing RCW 88.46.100; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that in order to ensure timely environmental protection through rapid oil spill containment and cleanup, covered vessels and facilities should immediately notify the state and implement their oil spill contingency plans when they have emergencies that could result in an oil spill.

Sec. 2   RCW 90.56.010 and 2007 c 347 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Best achievable protection" means the highest level of protection that can be achieved through the use of the best achievable technology and those staffing levels, training procedures, and operational methods that provide the greatest degree of protection achievable. The director's determination of best achievable protection shall be guided by the critical need to protect the state's natural resources and waters, while considering (a) the additional protection provided by the measures; (b) the technological achievability of the measures; and (c) the cost of the measures.
     (2) "Best achievable technology" means the technology that provides the greatest degree of protection taking into consideration (a) processes that are being developed, or could feasibly be developed, given overall reasonable expenditures on research and development, and (b) processes that are currently in use. In determining what is best achievable technology, the director shall consider the effectiveness, engineering feasibility, and commercial availability of the technology.
     (3) "Board" means the pollution control hearings board.
     (4) "Cargo vessel" means a self-propelled ship in commerce, other than a tank vessel or a passenger vessel, three hundred or more gross tons, including but not limited to, commercial fish processing vessels and freighters.
     (5) "Bulk" means material that is stored or transported in a loose, unpackaged liquid, powder, or granular form capable of being conveyed by a pipe, bucket, chute, or belt system.
     (6) "Committee" means the preassessment screening committee established under RCW 90.48.368.
     (7) "Covered vessel" means a tank vessel, cargo vessel, or passenger vessel.
     (8) "Department" means the department of ecology.
     (9) "Director" means the director of the department of ecology.
     (10) "Discharge" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping.
     (11)(a) "Facility" means any structure, group of structures, equipment, pipeline, or device, other than a vessel, located on or near the navigable waters of the state that transfers oil in bulk to or from a tank vessel or pipeline, that is used for producing, storing, handling, transferring, processing, or transporting oil in bulk.
     (b) A facility does not include any: (i) Railroad car, motor vehicle, or other rolling stock while transporting oil over the highways or rail lines of this state; (ii) underground storage tank regulated by the department or a local government under chapter 90.76 RCW; (iii) motor vehicle motor fuel outlet; (iv) facility that is operated as part of an exempt agricultural activity as provided in RCW 82.04.330; or (v) marine fuel outlet that does not dispense more than three thousand gallons of fuel to a ship that is not a covered vessel, in a single transaction.
     (12) "Fund" means the state coastal protection fund as provided in RCW 90.48.390 and 90.48.400.
     (13) "Having control over oil" shall include but not be limited to any person using, storing, or transporting oil immediately prior to entry of such oil into the waters of the state, and shall specifically include carriers and bailees of such oil.
     (14) "Marine facility" means any facility used for tank vessel wharfage or anchorage, including any equipment used for the purpose of handling or transferring oil in bulk to or from a tank vessel.
     (15) "Navigable waters of the state" means those waters of the state, and their adjoining shorelines, that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or are presently used, have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce.
     (16) "Necessary expenses" means the expenses incurred by the department and assisting state agencies for (a) investigating the source of the discharge; (b) investigating the extent of the environmental damage caused by the discharge; (c) conducting actions necessary to clean up the discharge; (d) conducting predamage and damage assessment studies; and (e) enforcing the provisions of this chapter and collecting for damages caused by a discharge.
     (17) "Oil" or "oils" means oil of any kind that is liquid at atmospheric temperature and any fractionation thereof, including, but not limited to, crude oil, petroleum, gasoline, fuel oil, diesel oil, biological oils and blends, oil sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil. Oil does not include any substance listed in Table 302.4 of 40 C.F.R. Part 302 adopted August 14, 1989, under section 101(14) of the federal comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act of 1980, as amended by P.L. 99-499.
     (18) "Offshore facility" means any facility located in, on, or under any of the navigable waters of the state, but does not include a facility any part of which is located in, on, or under any land of the state, other than submerged land.
     (19) "Onshore facility" means any facility any part of which is located in, on, or under any land of the state, other than submerged land, that because of its location, could reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters of the state or the adjoining shorelines.
     (20)(a) "Owner or operator" means (i) in the case of a vessel, any person owning, operating, or chartering by demise, the vessel; (ii) in the case of an onshore or offshore facility, any person owning or operating the facility; and (iii) in the case of an abandoned vessel or onshore or offshore facility, the person who owned or operated the vessel or facility immediately before its abandonment.
     (b) "Operator" does not include any person who owns the land underlying a facility if the person is not involved in the operations of the facility.
     (21) "Passenger vessel" means a ship of three hundred or more gross tons with a fuel capacity of at least six thousand gallons carrying passengers for compensation.
     (22) "Person" means any political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, copartnership, association, firm, individual, or any other entity whatsoever.
     (23) "Ship" means any boat, ship, vessel, barge, or other floating craft of any kind.
     (24) "Spill" means an unauthorized discharge of oil or hazardous substances into the waters of the state.
     (25) "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.
     (26) "Waters of the state" includes lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground water, salt waters, estuaries, tidal flats, beaches and lands adjoining the seacoast of the state, sewers, and all other surface waters and watercourses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington.
     (27) "Worst case spill" means: (a) In the case of a vessel, a spill of the entire cargo and fuel of the vessel complicated by adverse weather conditions; and (b) in the case of an onshore or offshore facility, the largest foreseeable spill in adverse weather conditions.
     (28) "Facility emergency" means a substantial threat of pollution originating from a facility, including failure or degradation of a tank, pipeline, pump, valve, or an explosion, structural failure, fire, reduction or loss of electrical power, reduction or loss of control systems, or other impaired safe operation.
     (29) "Substantial threat of pollution" means any incident or condition that may create a risk of discharge of oil or hazardous substances to the environment.
     (30) "Vessel emergency" means a substantial threat of pollution originating from a covered vessel, including loss or serious degradation of propulsion, steering, means of navigation, primary electrical generating capability, and seakeeping capability.

Sec. 3   RCW 90.56.280 and 1995 c 399 s 218 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) It shall be the duty of any person discharging oil or hazardous substances or otherwise causing, permitting, or allowing the same to enter the waters of the state, unless the discharge or entry was expressly authorized by the department prior thereto or authorized by operation of law under RCW 90.48.200, to immediately notify the coast guard and the division of emergency management. The notice to the division of emergency management within the military department ((of community, trade, and economic development)) shall be made to the division's twenty-four hour statewide toll-free number established for reporting emergencies.
     (2) When a vessel emergency occurs within three miles of the state shoreline or within United States waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca or Puget Sound in which a discharge of oil is likely, the owner or operator or their authorized representative shall notify the emergency management division within the military department as soon as practicable. When making such a notification, the owner, operator, or authorized representative shall provide an estimate of the maximum most probable volume of oil that is at risk of being spilled.
     (3) When a facility emergency occurs in which a discharge of oil is likely, the owner or operator or their authorized representative shall notify the emergency management division within the military department as soon as practicable. When making such a notification, the owner, operator, or authorized representative shall provide an estimate of the maximum most probable volume of oil that is at risk of being spilled.

Sec. 4   RCW 90.56.210 and 2005 c 78 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each onshore and offshore facility shall have a contingency plan for the containment and cleanup of oil spills from the facility into the waters of the state and for the protection of fisheries and wildlife, shellfish beds, natural resources, and public and private property from such spills. Each onshore and offshore facility must activate their contingency plan in the event of an oil spill. In the event of a facility emergency, the facility must also activate their contingency plan. In such cases, the facility must, as soon as practicable, work with appropriate federal authorities and the department to: (a) Assess damage to the facility and determine the probability of a discharge of oil into the environment; (b) develop appropriate source control plans; and (c) determine if it is necessary to preposition oil spill response resources to protect sensitive areas in case of an oil spill.
     (2) The department shall by rule adopt and periodically revise standards for the preparation of contingency plans. The department shall require contingency plans, at a minimum, to meet the following standards:
     (a) Include full details of the method of response to spills of various sizes from any facility which is covered by the plan;
     (b) Be designed to be capable in terms of personnel, materials, and equipment, of promptly and properly, to the maximum extent practicable, as defined by the department removing oil and minimizing any damage to the environment resulting from a worst case spill;
     (c) Provide a clear, precise, and detailed description of how the plan relates to and is integrated into relevant contingency plans which have been prepared by cooperatives, ports, regional entities, the state, and the federal government;
     (d) Provide procedures for early detection of oil spills and timely notification of such spills to appropriate federal, state, and local authorities under applicable state and federal law;
     (e) State the number, training preparedness, and fitness of all dedicated, prepositioned personnel assigned to direct and implement the plan;
     (f) Incorporate periodic training and drill programs to evaluate whether personnel and equipment provided under the plan are in a state of operational readiness at all times;
     (g) Describe important features of the surrounding environment, including fish and wildlife habitat, shellfish beds, environmentally and archaeologically sensitive areas, and public facilities. The departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and the ((office)) department of archaeology and historic preservation, upon request, shall provide information that they have available to assist in preparing this description. The description of archaeologically sensitive areas shall not be required to be included in a contingency plan until it is reviewed and updated pursuant to subsection (((9))) (10) of this section;
     (h) State the means of protecting and mitigating effects on the environment, including fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and other wildlife, and ensure that implementation of the plan does not pose unacceptable risks to the public or the environment;
     (i) Provide arrangements for the prepositioning of oil spill containment and cleanup equipment and trained personnel at strategic locations from which they can be deployed to the spill site to promptly and properly remove the spilled oil;
     (j) Provide arrangements for enlisting the use of qualified and trained cleanup personnel to implement the plan;
     (k) Provide for disposal of recovered spilled oil in accordance with local, state, and federal laws;
     (l) Until a spill prevention plan has been submitted pursuant to RCW 90.56.200, state the measures that have been taken to reduce the likelihood that a spill will occur, including but not limited to, design and operation of a facility, training of personnel, number of personnel, and backup systems designed to prevent a spill;
     (m) State the amount and type of equipment available to respond to a spill, where the equipment is located, and the extent to which other contingency plans rely on the same equipment; and
     (n) If the department has adopted rules permitting the use of dispersants, the circumstances, if any, and the manner for the application of the dispersants in conformance with the department's rules.
     (((2))) (3)(a) The following shall submit contingency plans to the department within six months after the department adopts rules establishing standards for contingency plans under subsection (((1))) (2) of this section:
     (i) Onshore facilities capable of storing one million gallons or more of oil; and
     (ii) Offshore facilities.
     (b) Contingency plans for all other onshore and offshore facilities shall be submitted to the department within eighteen months after the department has adopted rules under subsection (((1))) (2) of this section. The department may adopt a schedule for submission of plans within the eighteen-month period.
     (((3))) (4)(a) The owner or operator of a facility shall submit the contingency plan for the facility.
     (b) A person who has contracted with a facility to provide containment and cleanup services and who meets the standards established pursuant to RCW 90.56.240, may submit the plan for any facility for which the person is contractually obligated to provide services. Subject to conditions imposed by the department, the person may submit a single plan for more than one facility.
     (((4))) (5) A contingency plan prepared for an agency of the federal government or another state that satisfies the requirements of this section and rules adopted by the department may be accepted by the department as a contingency plan under this section. The department shall ensure that to the greatest extent possible, requirements for contingency plans under this section are consistent with the requirements for contingency plans under federal law.
     (((5))) (6) In reviewing the contingency plans required by this section, the department shall consider at least the following factors:
     (a) The adequacy of containment and cleanup equipment, personnel, communications equipment, notification procedures and call down lists, response time, and logistical arrangements for coordination and implementation of response efforts to remove oil spills promptly and properly and to protect the environment;
     (b) The nature and amount of vessel traffic within the area covered by the plan;
     (c) The volume and type of oil being transported within the area covered by the plan;
     (d) The existence of navigational hazards within the area covered by the plan;
     (e) The history and circumstances surrounding prior spills of oil within the area covered by the plan;
     (f) The sensitivity of fisheries, shellfish beds, and wildlife and other natural resources within the area covered by the plan;
     (g) Relevant information on previous spills contained in on-scene coordinator reports prepared by the department; and
     (h) The extent to which reasonable, cost-effective measures to prevent a likelihood that a spill will occur have been incorporated into the plan.
     (((6))) (7) The department shall approve a contingency plan only if it determines that the plan meets the requirements of this section and that, if implemented, the plan is capable, in terms of personnel, materials, and equipment, of removing oil promptly and properly and minimizing any damage to the environment.
     (((7))) (8) The approval of the contingency plan shall be valid for five years. Upon approval of a contingency plan, the department shall provide to the person submitting the plan a statement indicating that the plan has been approved, the facilities or vessels covered by the plan, and other information the department determines should be included.
     (((8))) (9) An owner or operator of a facility shall notify the department in writing immediately of any significant change of which it is aware affecting its contingency plan, including changes in any factor set forth in this section or in rules adopted by the department. The department may require the owner or operator to update a contingency plan as a result of these changes.
     (((9))) (10) The department by rule shall require contingency plans to be reviewed, updated, if necessary, and resubmitted to the department at least once every five years.
     (((10))) (11) Approval of a contingency plan by the department does not constitute an express assurance regarding the adequacy of the plan nor constitute a defense to liability imposed under this chapter or other state law.

Sec. 5   RCW 88.46.060 and 2005 c 78 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each covered vessel shall have a contingency plan for the containment and cleanup of oil spills from the covered vessel into the waters of the state and for the protection of fisheries and wildlife, shellfish beds, natural resources, and public and private property from such spills. The department shall by rule adopt and periodically revise standards for the preparation of contingency plans. Each vessel must activate their contingency plan in the event of an oil spill. In the event of a vessel emergency, the vessel must also activate their contingency plan. In such cases, the vessel must, as soon as practicable, work with appropriate federal authorities and the department to: (a) Assess damage to the vessel and determine the probability of a discharge of oil into the environment; (b) develop appropriate salvage and source control plans; and (c) determine if it is necessary to preposition oil spill response resources to protect sensitive areas in case of an oil spill.
     (2) The department shall require contingency plans, at a minimum, to meet the following standards:
     (a) Include full details of the method of response to spills of various sizes from any vessel which is covered by the plan;
     (b) Be designed to be capable in terms of personnel, materials, and equipment, of promptly and properly, to the maximum extent practicable, as defined by the department, removing oil and minimizing any damage to the environment resulting from a worst case spill;
     (c) Provide a clear, precise, and detailed description of how the plan relates to and is integrated into relevant contingency plans which have been prepared by cooperatives, ports, regional entities, the state, and the federal government;
     (d) Provide procedures for early detection of spills and timely notification of such spills to appropriate federal, state, and local authorities under applicable state and federal law;
     (e) State the number, training preparedness, and fitness of all dedicated, prepositioned personnel assigned to direct and implement the plan;
     (f) Incorporate periodic training and drill programs to evaluate whether personnel and equipment provided under the plan are in a state of operational readiness at all times;
     (g) Describe important features of the surrounding environment, including fish and wildlife habitat, shellfish beds, environmentally and archaeologically sensitive areas, and public facilities. The departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and the ((office)) department of archaeology and historic preservation, upon request, shall provide information that they have available to assist in preparing this description. The description of archaeologically sensitive areas shall not be required to be included in a contingency plan until it is reviewed and updated pursuant to subsection (((9))) (10) of this section;
     (h) State the means of protecting and mitigating effects on the environment, including fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and other wildlife, and ensure that implementation of the plan does not pose unacceptable risks to the public or the environment;
     (i) Establish guidelines for the use of equipment by the crew of a vessel to minimize vessel damage, stop or reduce any spilling from the vessel, and, only when appropriate and only when vessel safety is assured, contain and clean up the spilled oil;
     (j) Provide arrangements for the prepositioning of spill containment and cleanup equipment and trained personnel at strategic locations from which they can be deployed to the spill site to promptly and properly remove the spilled oil;
     (k) Provide arrangements for enlisting the use of qualified and trained cleanup personnel to implement the plan;
     (l) Provide for disposal of recovered spilled oil in accordance with local, state, and federal laws;
     (m) Until a spill prevention plan has been submitted pursuant to RCW 88.46.040, state the measures that have been taken to reduce the likelihood that a spill will occur, including but not limited to, design and operation of a vessel, training of personnel, number of personnel, and backup systems designed to prevent a spill;
     (n) State the amount and type of equipment available to respond to a spill, where the equipment is located, and the extent to which other contingency plans rely on the same equipment; and
     (o) If the department has adopted rules permitting the use of dispersants, the circumstances, if any, and the manner for the application of the dispersants in conformance with the department's rules.
     (((2))) (3)(a) The owner or operator of a tank vessel of three thousand gross tons or more shall submit a contingency plan to the department within six months after the department adopts rules establishing standards for contingency plans under subsection (1) of this section.
     (b) Contingency plans for all other covered vessels shall be submitted to the department within eighteen months after the department has adopted rules under subsection (1) of this section. The department may adopt a schedule for submission of plans within the eighteen-month period.
     (((3))) (4)(a) The owner or operator of a tank vessel or of the facilities at which the vessel will be unloading its cargo, or a Washington state nonprofit corporation established for the purpose of oil spill response and contingency plan coverage and of which the owner or operator is a member, shall submit the contingency plan for the tank vessel. Subject to conditions imposed by the department, the owner or operator of a facility may submit a single contingency plan for tank vessels of a particular class that will be unloading cargo at the facility.
     (b) The contingency plan for a cargo vessel or passenger vessel may be submitted by the owner or operator of the cargo vessel or passenger vessel, by the agent for the vessel resident in this state, or by a Washington state nonprofit corporation established for the purpose of oil spill response and contingency plan coverage and of which the owner or operator is a member. Subject to conditions imposed by the department, the owner, operator, or agent may submit a single contingency plan for cargo vessels or passenger vessels of a particular class.
     (c) A person who has contracted with a covered vessel to provide containment and cleanup services and who meets the standards established pursuant to RCW 90.56.240, may submit the plan for any covered vessel for which the person is contractually obligated to provide services. Subject to conditions imposed by the department, the person may submit a single plan for more than one covered vessel.
     (((4))) (5) A contingency plan prepared for an agency of the federal government or another state that satisfies the requirements of this section and rules adopted by the department may be accepted by the department as a contingency plan under this section. The department shall ensure that to the greatest extent possible, requirements for contingency plans under this section are consistent with the requirements for contingency plans under federal law.
     (((5))) (6) In reviewing the contingency plans required by this section, the department shall consider at least the following factors:
     (a) The adequacy of containment and cleanup equipment, personnel, communications equipment, notification procedures and call down lists, response time, and logistical arrangements for coordination and implementation of response efforts to remove oil spills promptly and properly and to protect the environment;
     (b) The nature and amount of vessel traffic within the area covered by the plan;
     (c) The volume and type of oil being transported within the area covered by the plan;
     (d) The existence of navigational hazards within the area covered by the plan;
     (e) The history and circumstances surrounding prior spills of oil within the area covered by the plan;
     (f) The sensitivity of fisheries and wildlife, shellfish beds, and other natural resources within the area covered by the plan;
     (g) Relevant information on previous spills contained in on-scene coordinator reports prepared by the director; and
     (h) The extent to which reasonable, cost-effective measures to prevent a likelihood that a spill will occur have been incorporated into the plan.
     (((6))) (7) The department shall approve a contingency plan only if it determines that the plan meets the requirements of this section and that, if implemented, the plan is capable, in terms of personnel, materials, and equipment, of removing oil promptly and properly and minimizing any damage to the environment.
     (((7))) (8) The approval of the contingency plan shall be valid for five years. Upon approval of a contingency plan, the department shall provide to the person submitting the plan a statement indicating that the plan has been approved, the vessels covered by the plan, and other information the department determines should be included.
     (((8))) (9) An owner or operator of a covered vessel shall notify the department in writing immediately of any significant change of which it is aware affecting its contingency plan, including changes in any factor set forth in this section or in rules adopted by the department. The department may require the owner or operator to update a contingency plan as a result of these changes.
     (((9))) (10) The department by rule shall require contingency plans to be reviewed, updated, if necessary, and resubmitted to the department at least once every five years.
     (((10))) (11) Approval of a contingency plan by the department does not constitute an express assurance regarding the adequacy of the plan nor constitute a defense to liability imposed under this chapter or other state law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   RCW 88.46.100 (Notification of accidents and near miss incidents) and 2000 c 69 s 10, 1995 c 391 s 9, & 1991 c 200 s 423 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   This act takes effect July 1, 2010.