Background: Oil Spill and Response. The Legislature enacted oil spill prevention and response measures in 1990 to promote the safety of marine transportation and protect state waters from oil spills. The Director of the Department of Ecology (Ecology) has the primary authority to oversee prevention, abatement, response, containment, and clean-up efforts for oil spills in state waters. The oil spill program requires oil spill prevention plans, contingency response plans, and documentation of financial responsibility for vessels and facilities that may discharge oil into navigable waters.

Owners and operators of onshore and offshore facilities must prepare and submit oil spill contingency and prevention plans. The contingency plan must meet standards identified by Ecology and provide for the containment and cleanup of oil spills into the waters of the state. A facility is, with a few exceptions, a structure, a pipeline, a device, or equipment located on or near state waters that transfers oil to or from a vessel or pipeline. All covered vessels and facilities must have an oil spill contingency plan on file with Ecology. The contingency plan is a legally binding agreement on the party submitting the plan.

As part of certain contingency plans, geographic response plans (GRPs) must be developed. GRPs are site-specific strategies to respond to a spill of oil or oil product on water. GRPs address the risk of spills from ships, refineries and facilities, pipelines, rail, dams, highways, and other transportation-related sources. The purpose of a GRP is to provide guidance to a responder in the event of a spill, to ensure the response is fast and effective, and to protect sensitive resources. GRPs are developed in partnership with Ecology, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Federal jurisdiction for oil spill prevention and preparedness is determined by the potential sources of oil spills, e.g., vessels, facilities, and pipelines. For example the EPA has jurisdiction over onshore, non-transportation facilities, whereas the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Transportation (USDOT) have jurisdiction over onshore transportation facilities and deepwater ports. For offshore pipelines, transmission lines, and inland pipelines, the Pipeline and Materials Hazardous Safety Administration within USDOT has jurisdiction.

The definition of oil under oil spill prevention and financial responsibility means oil of any kind that is liquid at atmospheric temperature and fractionation, which is the use of heat to separate hydrocarbons to refine the oil. Those oils explicitly listed are, but are not limited to: crude oil, petroleum, gasoline, fuel oil, diesel oil, biological oils and blends, oil sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.

Oil Spill Response Tax and Oil Spill Administration Tax. Current law provides for an oil spill administration tax and an oil spill response tax. These taxes are imposed when marine terminals in Washington receive crude oil or petroleum products from waterborne vessels or barges operating in the state's waters. The oil spill administration tax is $0.04 tax on each 42 gallon barrel with the receipts funding oil spill prevention, response, and restoration programs as well as administrative costs and collection costs. The oil spill response tax is $0.01 per barrel tax which funds the state response to those oil spills involving clean-up costs in excess of $50,000. The oil spill response tax is deposited into the oil spill prevention account and the tax is suspended when that account's balance reaches $9 million. The two oil spill taxes currently do not apply when crude oil is received at an oil terminal from a railroad tank car.

Railroad Safety. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is responsible for establishing national railroad safety rules. The rules address concerns such as hazardous materials, track, signal and train control, operating practices, and motive of power and equipment. The Surface Transportation Board has jurisdiction over railroad rates, service issues, mergers, sales, construction, and abandonment of rail lines.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has jurisdiction for crossing safety, railroad employee safety, responding to citizen complaints, and promoting public awareness of railroad safety. UTC approves new crossings and modification or closures of existing crossings; inspects public crossings for compliance with federal safety standards; employs four inspectors certified by FRA to enforce federal safety rules for hazardous materials, signal and train control, track, and operating practices disciplines; inspects walkways within railroad yards and responds to requests for exemptions to overhead and side clearance rules; and investigates complaints related to crossing conditions, walkways, and train noise.

Emergency Planning. In 1986 Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in response to public concerns about hazardous and toxic materials in their communities. The Governor of each state designates a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). SERC supervises and coordinates the activities of local emergency planning committees and reviews local emergency response plans. Local emergency planning committees develop emergency response plans and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Local emergency planning committees are required to annually update their plans but not to resubmit to SERC.

Study Provisions. During the 2014 Session, the Legislature incorporated study provisions into the supplemental operating budget, ESSB 6002. Under the budget proviso, Ecology, in consultation with other assigned agencies, must assess public health and safety, and analyze risks, gaps, and options for increasing public safety and improving spill prevention and response readiness, as well as environmental impacts associated with the transport of oil through the state. A draft report and recommendations were submitted to the Legislature on December 1, 2014. The final report is due March 15, 2015.

Summary of Bill: Oil Spill and Response. Ecology must provide to the Legislature by December 1, 2015, a review of all state and federal GRPs as needed in required contingency spill prevention and response plans. Beginning December 31, 2016, through December of 2021, Ecology must provide annual updates on the progress made toward completing the GRPs. Ecology must contract with eligible third parties when practicable, to ensure at least 50 percent of the GRPs are completed by December 1, 2017.

Ecology must develop a grant program for emergency first responders to meet the needs for oil and hazardous materials spill prevention and response plans. Ecology, in consultation with with emergency first responders, oil spill response cooperatives, and representatives from the oil, rail, and businesses receiving liquid bulk crude, must evaluate oil spill and hazardous material response and firefighting equipment and resources currently available throughout the state; review local emergency management coordinating efforts for oil spill and hazardous materials response; determine the need for equipment and resources; and identify areas or regions of the state in greatest need of oil spill and hazardous materials response and firefighting resources. Grants must be prioritized for applicants from areas determined to have the greatest need and coordinated to maximize currently existing equipment and resources.

For the purposes of financial responsibility of the transport of petroleum products, vessel oil spill and response, and oil and hazardous substance spill prevention and response, the definition of oil or oils is revised to mean any oil that is liquid at 25 degrees Celsius and one atmosphere of pressure, and to include bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and natural gas well condensate.

Ecology and UTC must hold a symposium on emergency spill prevention and response activities for the international transport of liquid bulk crude oil. The symposium must address cooperative emergency spill prevention and response activities between shared international and state borders, expected risks posed by transport of Canadian crude oil or liquid bulk crude oil throughout the Pacific Northwest region; and an update of the marine transport of liquid bulk crude oil.

Oil Spill Response Tax and Oil Spill Administration Tax. The oil spill response tax and the oil spill administration tax are imposed on the privilege of receiving crude oil at a bulk oil terminal within this state from a rail tank car. A bulk oil terminal is defined in the bill as any kind of facility, other than a waterborne vessel, that is used to transfer crude oil from a rail tank car. A tank car is defined to mean a rail car with a body consisting of a tank for transporting liquids.

Railroad Safety. First-class cities may participate in UTC's crossing safety inspection program within the city. Within 30 days of the effective date of this act, first-class cities must provide UTC a list of all existing public crossings. In addition, the city must notify UTC within 30 days of modifying, closing, or opening a grade crossing within the city limits.

Emergency Planning. Local emergency planning committees must update their hazardous materials plans on a five-year cycle for compliance review by the director of the Emergency Planning Council.