“Puget Sound already faces a myriad of challenges but a large oil spill would immediately devastate our environment, economy and cultural resources,” said Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) Executive Director David Dicks. “Oil spill contingency plans help ensure the companies handling and transporting billions of gallons of oil in and out of the Sound are prepared to quickly and aggressively respond to any spill they might cause.”
The Partnership advises Ecology on spill prevention, preparedness and response issues affecting the Sound.
Under state law, all refineries, oil tankers and tank vessels, large cargo and commercial fish-processing vessels, passenger ships, oil storage facilities and oil pipeline companies must have spill contingency plans to operate in Washington.
Dale Jensen, who oversees Ecology’s statewide spill preparedness, prevention and response activities, said the approved readiness plans are the first to fully satisfy a new oil spill contingency rule updated in 2006.
“While preventing spills is our top priority, every contingency plan outlines the response actions each company will take to minimize environmental impacts from a spill,” Jensen said. “A critical requirement is that all the companies must focus on protecting highly sensitive areas in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, the outer coast and the Columbia River estuary.”
In 2007, Ecology gave conditional approval to all oil-handing and shipping operations required to have spill contingency plans in Washington.
Companies need to maintain oil-spill response equipment in at least 45 strategic locations across the state to ensure timely responses to oil spills even in remote locations. If needed, Ecology can call for the equipment to be deployed during a spill.