- By 12/31/2021, complete a synopsis of changing vessel traffic trends.
OIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY - 2019 LEGISLATION
Chapter 88.16 RCW, Pilotage Act
The 2019 Legislature enacted new safety requirements to close the safety gap further on the acute risk of a potentially large oil spill in the Salish Sea from tank vessels by passing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1578 Reducing threats to southern resident killer whales by improving the safety of oil transportation.
ESHB 1578 will require in Rosario Strait and connected waterways east, as of September 1, 2020, tug escorts on laden oil tankers between 5,000 and 40,000 deadweight tons, and on both laden Articulated Tug Barges (ATBs) and towed waterborne vessels or barges that are 1) designed to transport oil in bulk internal to the hull, and 2) greater than 5,000 deadweight tons.
- By 12/31/2025, adopt rules regarding tug escorts to address the peculiarities of Puget Sound for:
- Oil tankers between 5,000 and 40,000 deadweight tons; and
- ATBs and towed waterborne vessels or barges greater than 5,000 deadweight tons
- Oil tankers between 5,000 and 40,000 deadweight tons; and
- By 10/1/2028, and no less than every 10 years after, consider:
- Effects of the rules
- Whether experiences or forecasted changes to traffic or risk necessitate a change
- Effects of the rules
BPC entered into an interagency agreement with the Department of Ecology for assistance with these activities.
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ESHB 1578 also gave the BPC authority to partner with the Department of Ecology on this work. Deliverables include:
- By 9/1/2020, identify and define geographic zones to inform modeling analysis.
- By 9/1/2023, consult with potentially affected federally recognized Indian treaty fishing tribes, other federally recognized treaty tribes with potentially affected interests, United State Coast Guard, Puget Sound Harbor Safety Committee, ports, local governments, state agencies, and other appropriate entities and complete analysis of tug escorts using the model developed by the Department of Ecology.