HOUSE BILL REPORT
HJM 4014
BYRepresentatives Valle, Jones, Basich, Rust, Dorn and Spanel
Petitioning Congress to examine safety issues and boat construction regarding marine transportation of oil.
House Committe on Environmental Affairs
Majority Report: Do pass. (11)
Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; Brekke, G. Fisher, Phillips, Pruitt, Schoon, Sprenkle, Van Luven and Walker.
House Staff:Bonnie Austin (786-7107)
AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989
BACKGROUND:
The federal Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) regulates the design, construction, operation and movement of bulk-cargo vessels that carry oil and hazardous substances. Under the PWSA, the Secretary of Transportation is empowered to establish regulations for vessel design, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, and operation. The PWSA gives the Coast Guard the authority to control the movement of vessels in ports and in areas where hazardous conditions exist. The Coast Guard may establish vessel routing plans and set vessel size, speed and operating conditions in hazardous areas or at times of adverse weather conditions, reduced visibility, or congested traffic.
The regulations adopted under the PWSA have been criticized as not being stringent enough to protect the marine environment from oil spills. For example, current federal design standards do not require that vessels be double-hulled.
SUMMARY:
Congress is asked to study oil pollution and oil spills related to the marine transportation of oil, and to enact legislation that assures greater protection of the marine environment.
Fiscal Note: Requested February 20, 1989.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: Jim Oberlander, Department of Ecology.
House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: The federal law needs to be revised to ensure greater protection of the marine environment, especially in the areas of inspection and training.
House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.