Oil Spill Response Hearing In Everett Tuesday

The Washington State Department of Ecology is holding a public hearing in downtown Everett, Washington on Tuesday to gather input on rules covering oil spill response. Here’s more information.

Ecology is formally proposing an update to Chapter 173-182 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan Rule. This rule requires large commercial vessels, oil handling facilities, and pipelines to have detailed contingency plans and contracts for appropriate equipment and trained personnel to respond to spills that may occur.

This rulemaking will:

• Establish requirements for review and approval of Spill Management Teams including entities providing wildlife rehabilitation and recovery services.
• Enhance requirements for readiness for spills of oils that, depending on their chemical properties, environmental factors (weathering), and method of discharge, may submerge or sink.
• Update drill requirements to reflect legislative direction.
• Update planning standards to align vessel and facility requirements and ensure best achievable protection is maintained in contingency plans.
• Enhance planning standards for oiled wildlife response.
• Make other edits to address inconsistent or unclear direction in the rule, or other administrative edits.

Event agenda:

• Presentation
• Question and answer session
• Public hearing where you can submit oral comments

Background: This rulemaking would amend Chapter 173-182 WAC, Oil spill contingency plan. Review related documents on the page for this rulemaking.

The public hearing will be held Tuesday September 17th at the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel, 3003 Colby Avenue in downtown Everett. It will start at 1 PM.

Those who can’t attend may submit comments online by October 6th at this link.