Amends the emergency response system for the Strait of Juan de Fuca to include a catastrophic event response requiring covered vessel operators to have a valid contract for the specific vessel with a multimission tug on station and available any hour of any day. The contracted vessel must be permanently stationed in the Neah Bay staging area. (See also Companion SB 5344).   Official Text and Analysis.

To change the minimum requirements of the emergency response towing vessel to remove references to firefighting and salvage and to more closely mirror the existing vessel stationed at Neah Bay. The substitute bill also allows the Director to suspend the emergency response towing vessel requirement if no adequate vessel is available, allows the emergency response towing vessel to be deployed by the Department and vessels that are not required to have a contingency plan on file with the Department, requires the Director to initiate discussions with an equivalent official in British Columbia, adds an intent section, specifically allows the emergency response system in the bill to include coverage into the Pacific Ocean, and removes language that drills must be designed to determine the capability to respond to a worst-case spill situation.

To require the state of Washington is to provide any additional funding necessary to secure an emergency response towing vessel for the Strait of Juan de Fuca if the cumulative annual contract amount for all covered vessels exceeds the state's cost in its 2007-2009 biennium contract for a Neah Bay response vessel.

To offer a striking amendment that modifies the original bill.

To require the state of Washington to provide any additional funding necessary to secure an emergency response towing vessel for the Strait of Juan de Fuca if the cumulative annual contract amount for all covered vessels exceeds the state's cost in its 2007-2009 biennium contract for a Neah Bay response vessel.