E2SHB 1186 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
NOT ADOPTED 04/05/2011
Beginning on page 1, after line 2 of the amendment, strike all of section 1
Renumber the remaining sections and correct any internal references accordingly.
Beginning on page 5, line 35 of the amendment, strike all of sections 3 through 15 and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 88.46 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department shall evaluate and update planning standards for
oil spill response equipment required under contingency plans required
by this chapter, including aerial surveillance, in order to ensure
access in the state to equipment that represents the best achievable
protection to respond to a worst case spill and provide for continuous
operation of oil spill response activities to the maximum extent
practicable and without jeopardizing crew safety, as determined by the
incident commander or the unified command.
(2) The department shall by rule update the planning standards at
five-year intervals to ensure the maintenance of best available
protection over time.
(3) The department shall evaluate and update planning standards for
tank vessels by December 31, 2012.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 88.46 RCW
to read as follows:
By December 31, 2012, the department shall complete rule making for
purposes of improving the effectiveness of the vessels of opportunity
system to participate in spill response.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 A new section is added to chapter 88.46 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department shall establish a volunteer coordination system.
The volunteer coordination system may be included as a part of the
state's overall oil spill response strategy, and may be implemented by
local emergency management organizations, in coordination with any
analogous federal efforts, to supplement the state's timely and
effective response to spills.
(2) The department should consider how the volunteer coordination
system will:
(a) Coordinate with the incident commander or unified command of an
oil spill and any affected local governments to receive, screen, and
register volunteers who are not affiliated with the emergency
management organization or a local nongovernmental organization;
(b) Coordinate the management of volunteers with local
nongovernmental organizations and their affiliated volunteers;
(c) Coordinate appropriate response operations with different
classes of volunteers, including pretrained volunteers and convergent
volunteers, to fulfill requests by the department or an oil spill
incident commander or unified command;
(d) Coordinate public outreach regarding the need for and use of
volunteers;
(e) Determine minimum participation criteria for volunteers; and
(f) Identify volunteer training requirements and, if applicable,
provide training opportunities for volunteers prior to an oil spill
response incident.
(3) An act or omission by any volunteer participating in a spill
response or training as part of a volunteer coordination system, while
engaged in such activities, does not impose any liability on any state
agency, any participating local emergency management organization, or
the volunteer for civil damages resulting from the act or omission.
However, the immunity provided under this subsection does not apply to
an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or
wanton misconduct.
(4) The decisions to utilize volunteers in an oil spill response,
which volunteers to utilize, and to determine which response activities
are appropriate for volunteer participation in any given response are
the sole responsibilities of the designated incident commander or
unified command.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 A new section is added to chapter 88.46 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department is responsible for requiring joint large-scale,
multiple plan equipment deployment drills of tank vessels to determine
the adequacy of the owner's or operator's compliance with the
contingency plan requirements of this chapter. The department must
order at least one drill as outlined in this section every three years.
(2) Drills required under this section must focus on, at a minimum,
the following:
(a) The functional ability for multiple contingency plans to be
simultaneously activated with the purpose of testing the ability for
dedicated equipment and trained personnel cited in multiple contingency
plans to be activated in a large scale spill; and
(b) The operational readiness during both the first six hours of a
spill and, at the department's discretion, over multiple operational
periods of response.
(3) Drills required under this section may be incorporated into
other drill requirements under this chapter to avoid increasing the
number of drills and equipment deployments otherwise required.
(4) Each successful drill conducted under this section may be
considered by the department as a drill of the underlying contingency
plan and credit may be awarded to the plan holder accordingly.
(5) The department shall, when practicable, coordinate with
applicable federal agencies, the state of Oregon, and the province of
British Columbia to establish a drill incident command and to help
ensure that lessons learned from the drills are evaluated with the goal
of improving the underlying contingency plans.
Sec. 6 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. 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 consistent
with this chapter 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 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) 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;
(p) Compliance with section 7 of this act if the contingency plan
is submitted by an umbrella plan holder; and
(q) Include any additional elements of contingency plans as
required by this chapter.
(2)(((a))) The owner or operator of a ((tank)) covered vessel ((of
three thousand gross tons or more shall)) must submit ((a)) any
required contingency plan updates to the department within ((six months
after)) the timelines established by 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)(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) 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) 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)(a) 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.
(b) The department must notify the plan holder in writing within
sixty-five days of an initial or amended plan's submittal to the
department as to whether the plan is disapproved, approved, or
conditionally approved. If a plan is conditionally approved, the
department must clearly describe each condition and specify a schedule
for plan holders to submit required updates.
(7) 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) 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) 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) 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. 7 A new section is added to chapter 88.46 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) When submitting a contingency plan to the department under RCW
88.46.060, any umbrella plan holder that enrolls both tank vessels and
covered vessels that are not tank vessels must, in addition to
satisfying the other requirements of this chapter, specify:
(a) The maximum worst case discharge volume from covered vessels
that are not tank vessels to be covered by the umbrella plan holder's
contingency plan; and
(b) The maximum worst case discharge volume from tank vessels to be
covered by the umbrella plan holder's contingency plan.
(2) Any owner or operator of a covered vessel having a worst case
discharge volume that exceeds the maximum volume covered by an approved
umbrella plan holder may enroll with the umbrella plan holder if the
owner or operator of the covered vessel maintains an agreement with
another entity to provide supplemental equipment sufficient to meet the
requirements of this chapter.
(3) The department may approve an umbrella plan holder that covers
vessels having a worst case discharge volume that exceeds the maximum
volume if:
(a) The department determines that the umbrella plan holder should
be approved for a lower discharge volume;
(b) The owner or operator includes documentation in the plan and
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department showing that any
vessel that exceeds the umbrella plan holder's maximum volume has
access to supplemental equipment and programs sufficient to meet the
worst case discharge volume of the vessel; and
(c) The department has previously approved a plan that relies on a
listing of the supplemental equipment and programs to meet the
requirements of this chapter.
Sec. 8 RCW 88.46.100 and 2000 c 69 s 10 are each amended to read
as follows:
(((1))) In ((order to assist the state in identifying areas of the
navigable waters of the state needing special attention, the owner or
operator of a covered vessel shall notify the)) addition to any
notifications that the owner or operator of a covered vessel must
provide to the United States coast guard ((within one hour:))
regarding a vessel emergency, the owner or operator of a covered vessel
must notify the state of any vessel emergency that results in the
discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil to state waters or
that may affect the natural resources of the state within one hour of
the onset of that emergency. The purpose of this notification is to
enable the department to coordinate with the vessel operator,
contingency plan holder, and the United States coast guard to protect
the public health, welfare, and natural resources of the state and to
ensure all reasonable spill preparedness and response measures are in
place prior to a spill occurring.
(a) Of the disability of the covered vessel if the disabled vessel
is within twelve miles of the shore of the state; and
(b) Of a collision or a near miss incident within twelve miles of
the shore of the state.
(2) The state military department and the department shall request
the coast guard to notify the state military department as soon as
possible after the coast guard receives notice of a disabled covered
vessel or of a collision or near miss incident within twelve miles of
the shore of the state. The department shall negotiate an agreement
with the coast guard governing procedures for coast guard notification
to the state regarding disabled covered vessels and collisions and near
miss incidents.
(3) The department shall prepare a summary of the information
collected under this section and provide the summary to the regional
marine safety committees, the coast guard, and others in order to
identify problems with the marine transportation system.
(4) For the purposes of this section:
(a) A tank vessel or cargo vessel is considered disabled if any of
the following occur:
(i) Any accidental or intentional grounding;
(ii) The total or partial failure of the main propulsion or primary
steering or any component or control system that causes a reduction in
the maneuvering capabilities of the vessel;
(iii) An occurrence materially and adversely affecting the vessel's
seaworthiness or fitness for service, including but not limited to,
fire, flooding, or collision with another vessel;
(iv) Any other occurrence that creates the serious possibility of
an oil spill or an occurrence that may result in such a spill.
(b) A barge is considered disabled if any of the following occur:
(i) The towing mechanism becomes disabled;
(ii) The towboat towing the barge becomes disabled through
occurrences defined in (a) of this subsection.
(c) A near miss incident is an incident that requires the pilot or
master of a covered vessel to take evasive actions or make significant
course corrections in order to avoid a collision with another ship or
to avoid a grounding as required by the international rules of the
road.
(5) Failure of any person to make a report under this section shall
not be used as the basis for the imposition of any fine or penalty
Sec. 9 RCW 90.48.366 and 2007 c 347 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The department, in consultation with the departments of fish
and wildlife and natural resources, and the parks and recreation
commission, shall adopt rules establishing a compensation schedule for
the discharge of oil in violation of this chapter and chapter 90.56
RCW. The amount of compensation assessed under this schedule shall be:
(a) For spills totaling one thousand gallons or more in any one
event, no less than ((one dollar)) three dollars per gallon of oil
spilled and no greater than ((one)) three hundred dollars per gallon of
oil spilled; and
(b) For spills totaling less than one thousand gallons in any one
event, no less than one dollar per gallon of oil spilled and no greater
than one hundred dollars per gallon of oil spilled.
(2) Persistent oil recovered from the surface of the water within
forty-eight hours of a discharge must be deducted from the total spill
volume for purposes of determining the amount of compensation assessed
under the compensation schedule.
(3) The compensation schedule adopted under this section shall
reflect adequate compensation for unquantifiable damages or for damages
not quantifiable at reasonable cost for any adverse environmental,
recreational, aesthetic, or other effects caused by the spill and shall
take into account:
(((1))) (a) Characteristics of any oil spilled, such as toxicity,
dispersibility, solubility, and persistence, that may affect the
severity of the effects on the receiving environment, living organisms,
and recreational and aesthetic resources;
(((2))) (b) The sensitivity of the affected area as determined by
such factors as:
(((a))) (i) The location of the spill;
(((b))) (ii) Habitat and living resource sensitivity;
(((c))) (iii) Seasonal distribution or sensitivity of living
resources;
(((d))) (iv) Areas of recreational use or aesthetic importance;
(((e))) (v) The proximity of the spill to important habitats for
birds, aquatic mammals, fish, or to species listed as threatened or
endangered under state or federal law;
(((f))) (vi) Significant archaeological resources as determined by
the department of archaeology and historic preservation; and
(((g))) (vii) Other areas of special ecological or recreational
importance, as determined by the department; and
(((3))) (c) Actions taken by the party who spilled oil or any party
liable for the spill that:
(((a))) (i) Demonstrate a recognition and affirmative acceptance of
responsibility for the spill, such as the immediate removal of oil and
the amount of oil removed from the environment; or
(((b))) (ii) Enhance or impede the detection of the spill, the
determination of the quantity of oil spilled, or the extent of damage,
including the unauthorized removal of evidence such as injured fish or
wildlife.
Sec. 10 RCW 90.56.370 and 2000 c 69 s 21 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Any person owning oil or having control over oil that enters
the waters of the state in violation of RCW 90.56.320 shall be strictly
liable, without regard to fault, for the damages to persons or
property, public or private, caused by such entry.
(2) Damages for which responsible parties are liable under this
section include loss of income, net revenue, the means of producing
income or revenue, or an economic benefit resulting from an injury to
or loss of real or personal property or natural resources.
(3) Damages for which responsible parties are liable under this
section include damages provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this
section resulting from the use and deployment of chemical dispersants
or from in situ burning in response to a violation of RCW 90.56.320.
(4) In any action to recover damages resulting from the discharge
of oil in violation of RCW 90.56.320, the owner or person having
control over the oil shall be relieved from strict liability, without
regard to fault, if that person can prove that the discharge was caused
solely by:
(a) An act of war or sabotage;
(b) An act of God;
(c) Negligence on the part of the United States government; or
(d) Negligence on the part of the state of Washington.
(((3))) (5) The liability established in this section shall in no
way affect the rights which: (a) The owner or other person having
control over the oil may have against any person whose acts may in any
way have caused or contributed to the discharge of oil, or (b) the
state of Washington may have against any person whose actions may have
caused or contributed to the discharge of oil.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11 (1) The director of the department of
ecology must formally request that the federal government contribute to
the establishment of regional oil spill response equipment caches in
Washington to ensure adequate response capabilities during a multiple
spill event.
(2) This section expires December 31, 2014."
E2SHB 1186 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
NOT ADOPTED 04/05/2011
On page 23, beginning on line 2 of the title amendment, after "insert" strike the remainder of the title amendment and insert "amending RCW 88.46.060, 88.46.100, 90.48.366, and 90.56.370; reenacting and amending RCW 88.46.010; adding new sections to chapter 88.46 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and providing an expiration date."