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 requires 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.
For the September 1, 2020 implementation of tug escorts in Rosario Strait and connected waters east, the BPC adopted an interpretive statement regarding terms in ESHB 1578. ESHB 1578 also gave the BPC authority to partner with the Department of Ecology on this work.
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.
Geographic Zones as adopted by the BPC - 7/16/2020 (pdf)
DownloadBy 12/31/2021 complete a synopsis of changing vessel traffic trends.
Synopsis of Changing Vessel Traffic Trends (pdf)
DownloadBy 9/1/2023 consult with potentially affected federally recognized Indian treaty fishing tribes, other federally recognized treaty tribes with potentially affected interests, United States 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.
By 12/31/2025 adopt rules regarding tug escorts to address the peculiarities of Puget Sound for:
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking CR 102 (pdf)
DownloadBy 10/1/2028 and no less than every 10 years after, consider:
The purpose of the BPC's OTSC is to conduct analysis and provide recommendations to the Board concerning the responsibilities outlined in the 2019 legislative act Reducing the threats to southern resident killer whales by improving the transportation of oil.
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