Ranker Introduces Oil Spill Safeguards

From the State Democrats Office

State Senator Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, introduced new legislation today designed to prevent catastrophic oil spills, establish stronger spill-response plans and place responsibility for any impacts of the spill firmly on those who contaminate Washington’s waterways.

Legislators say that last year’s massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico exposed shortcomings in industry regulations and cleanup plans, underscoring the danger for the Puget Sound if such an event ever happened here.

“In Washington, vessels travel close to our shorelines and in confined waterways, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and the Columbia River,” Said Ranker. “A major spill would not only be an environmental catastrophe, it would also cripple our state’s economy, costing as much as 165,000 jobs and $10.8 billion in economic impacts.  We cannot afford to leave our livelihood so unprotected.”

Ranker’s proposal includes provisions to prevent oil spills before they happen and to ensure a partnership between those who transport fuel products through Washington waterways and increasing spill response mechanisms.

It also addresses the liability of those who contaminate Washington waters.

Contaminators are currently liable for effects of the oil spill itself, but current law does not clearly state who is liable for impacts associated with the clean-up of a spill.

Before the Gulf spill, no more than a few thousand gallons of dispersant were used on any one clean-up effort. During the Gulf clean-up, just under 2 million gallons of dispersants were used, both subsurface and on the surface, to break down the oil in the water.

The effects of the dispersants will remain unknown for years to come. Should they prove detrimental, there exists no recourse for those communities negatively affected, as they were not caused by the spill, but instead were caused by the clean-up of the spill.

Ranker’s bill seeks to close this gap in liability, making it clear that the party responsible for the spill is responsible for all impacts associated with the spill.

“By giving companies a stake in the future effects of the techniques utilized in a clean-up effort, we create a partnership between environmental safety and a speedy recovery.” Ranker said. “This bill ensures our future economic and environmental safety.”

Ranker who chairs the Senate Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee, said the bill is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday, January 26, 2011.