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2019 House Bill 1578: Reducing threats to southern resident killer whales by improving the safety of oil transportation
Introduced by Rep. Debra Lekanoff (Whatcom County) (D) on January 24, 2019
Referred to the House Environment & Energy Committee on January 24, 2019
Substitute offered in the House on February 19, 2019
Requires a tug escort in Rosario Strait and connected waterways to the east for laden oil tankers of between 5,000 and 40,000 metric deadweight tons and for articulated tug-barges and certain towed waterborne vessels of at least 5,000 metric deadweight tons.
Referred to the House Appropriations Committee on February 25, 2019
Amendment offered by Rep. Debra Lekanoff (Whatcom County) (D) on March 7, 2019
Amends the existing statutory prohibition on oil tankers of at least 125,000 deadweight tons in Puget Sound to specify that the United States coast guard may issue a waiver allowing their entrance consistent with federal regulations; (2) Delays the effective date of the statutory tug escort requirements on certain oil-bearing vessels in Rosario Strait and connected waterways from October 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020; (3) Limits the scope of tug escort requirements in statute or adopted by rule to address only towed waterborne vessels or barges that are designed to transport oil in bulk; (4) Directs the board of pilotage commissioners, when adopting tug escort rules, to consider subsequent research or reports on same topics as the 2018 southern resident killer whale task force report, in addition to considering the 2018 report; (5) Authorizes the board of pilotage commissioners to consider the benefits of vessel safety measures that are newly in effect on or after July 1, 2019, prior to adopting tug escort requirements by rule; (6) Eliminates authority for the department of ecology to adopt rules by 2025 requiring covered vessels to establish an emergency response towing vessel in Puget Sound; (7) Requires the department of ecology to report to the legislature by 2023 regarding whether an emergency response towingvessel serving Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and Rosario Strait will reduce oil spill risk, based on a quantitative assessment using the department of ecology's model; (8) Requires the department of ecology and board of pilotage commissioners to consider adopted tug escort and emergency response towing vessel requirements and adopt updated rules as necessary no less often than every ten years, rather than every ten years; (9) Requires the department of ecology to discuss emergency response system options and the impacts of vessel traffic on treaty- protected fishing in advance of the 2019 Salish Sea shared waters forum, rather than to specifically discuss how to fund a shared system similar to the Neah Bay emergency response towing vessel; and (10) Makes technical corrections, such as correcting internal references.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 7, 2019
Amendment offered by Rep. Matt Shea (Spokane Valley) (R) on March 7, 2019
Requires the Board of Pilotage Commissioners to consider estimates of the expected costs and benefits of draft or adopted tug escort rules to private persons or businesses, by category, and to state agencies to administer the rule.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 7, 2019
Received in the Senate on March 11, 2019
Referred to the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee on March 11, 2019
Amendment offered in the Senate on March 26, 2019
Includes tug escort requirements for Rosario Strait may be suspended through rules based on expertise gained after consideration of information during rule review; adds clarifying language regarding the definition of ATBs and towed waterborne vessels and impacted federally recognized Indian tribes.
Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 27, 2019
Includes tug escort requirements for Rosario Strait may be suspended through rules based on expertise gained after consideration of information during rule review; adds clarifying language regarding the definition of ATBs and towed waterborne vessels and impacted federally recognized Indian tribes.
Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on April 9, 2019
Amendment offered by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) (D) on April 12, 2019
Requires Ecology, in its discussions for options of an emergency response system for Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and Rosario Strait to include all potentially affected federally recognized Indian treaty tribes.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on April 12, 2019
Signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on May 8, 2019