(1) The department shall establish a field operations program to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The field operations program shall include, but is not limited to, the following elements:

(a) Education and public outreach;

(b) Review of lightering and bunkering operations to prevent oil spills;

(c) Evaluation and boarding of tank vessels for compliance with prevention plans prepared pursuant to this chapter;

(d) Evaluation and boarding of covered vessels that may pose a substantial risk to the public health, safety, and the environment;

(e) Evaluation and boarding of covered vessels for compliance with rules adopted by the department to implement recommendations of regional marine safety committees; and

(f) Collection of vessel information to assist in identifying vessels which pose a substantial risk to the public health, safety, and the environment.

(2) The department shall coordinate the field operations program with similar activities of the United States coast guard. To the extent feasible, the department shall coordinate its boarding schedules with those of the United States coast guard to reduce the impact of boardings on vessel operators, to more efficiently use state and federal resources, and to avoid duplication of United States coast guard inspection operations.

(3) In developing and implementing the field operations program, the department shall give priority to activities designed to identify those vessels which pose the greatest risk to the waters of the state. The department shall consult with the marine transportation industry, individuals concerned with the marine environment, other state and federal agencies, and the public in developing and implementing the program required by this section.

Severability—1993 c 162: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1993 c 162 s 4.]

Effective date—1993 c 162: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993." [ 1993 c 162 s 5.]