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Agency Plots Strategy to Prevent Marine Oil Spills ; More Inspectors, Stricter Rules Sought

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By AP

SEATTLE (AP) State environmental regulators are asking the Legislature for tougher rules to avoid marine oil spills, and more money for inspectors.

At issue is revenue from a tax already collected on oil brought to Washington refineries.

The Department of Ecology wants to use the money to hire six additional staff members who would monitor fuel transfers on or off vessels in state waters a move spurred by a 2003 spill.

Ecology also wants to crack down on the growing business of fueling ships from trucks, which raises new spill scenarios.

Traditionally, ships have been fueled from barges or the equivalent of marine gas stations. Both are more expensive than truck delivery, in part because more safety precautions and training are required.

Ecology's critics say the agency has waited too long to act since a Foss Maritime barge spilled about 4,700 gallons of heavy fuel oil while being filled at a ChevronTexaco Corp. terminal at Point Wells, near Edmonds.

And they note the agency still hasn't tackled the most controversial spill-control proposals that followed that accident: A ban on ships refueling in rough weather, and a requirement that ships be ringed with oil-containment booms every time they're gassed up.

The agency says extra inspectors would allow Ecology for the first time to routinely monitor refueling near water. Not every fill- up could be scrutinized, but many could be, Ecology says, which would help reinforce a culture of safety.

California state inspectors monitor about one-fifth of that state's refuelings.

Ecology aims to witness a third of Washington's, but does not yet know how many fuel transfers are happening, or where.

Source: Columbian

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