New oil spill bill looks stronger

Representatives Christine Rolfes and Zack Hudgins are the lead sponsors of HB1186, a bill now in the news that would improve preparations to respond to oil spills in Puget Sound.  The roundup:

• Morning News Tribune, Jan. 12
• Joel Connelly, Seattle P-I Jan. 12
• AP video- Presidential panel's report "rekindles push for reform," Jan. 11

If enacted, HB1186 would
be a significant improvement over current regulations on spill contingency planning, in that it would create specific public actions -- such as enlisting commercial fishing vessels and volunteers into response networks -- that oil and oil transportation companies would have to implement in order to be in compliance. Also required is review of spill response plans by the Director of the Department of Ecology.

In the past, oil companies evaded disclosure of their spill contingency planning. A few years ago we found that companies would submit 'plans' that didn't include any details.  Instead, the companies engaged consultants to create the plans, and those consultants weren't required to disclose anything to the Oil Spill Commission.