Business & industry requirements

We have inspection, planning, and reporting requirements for oil-handling industries. These requirements help prevent spills of oil and hazardous materials. When spills do happen, our requirements help reduce impacts to Washington's environment, economy, public health and safety, and cultural and historic resources.

A large vessel, an oil train passing through Seattle, above ground pipelines, and facility towers. — Each year, vessels, rail, pipelines, and facilities move 20 billion gallons of oil in Washington.

Spill prevention and preparedness requirements

In general, we require:

Inspections of oil-handling facilities, certain vessels, and oil transfers over water.
Contingency or response plans, to reduce response time in case a spill happens.
Advanced notice of oil transfers over water.

Our requirements for vessels include inspections of vessels and oil transfers over water, preventive measures for oil transfers, vessel emergency reporting, oil spill contingency planning, and oil spill drills. What we require depends on the type of vessel.

See details on regulations for cargo, passenger, fishing, and tank vessels.

We have regulations for transferring oil over water, inspections, staff training, spill contingency plans, and oil spill drills. What we require depends on whether a facility is Class 1, 2, 3, or 4.

See details on regulations for oil-handling facilities.

We require railroads and pipelines operating in Washington to be prepared to respond to spills by developing spill contingency plans and practicing the plans with oil spill drills. We also require reporting of oil moved by these modes of transportation.

See details on regulations for railroads and pipelines.

Primary response contractors assist contingency plan holders in the event of a spill. We have requirements for their certification.

See details on regulations for primary response contractors.

Spill reporting and response requirements

We require anyone spilling oil or hazardous materials to report the spill.
Industry with oil spill contingency plans or spill response plans may have additional requirements.

Contact information

Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program
360-407-7455

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Business & industry requirements

Spill prevention and preparedness requirements

Spill reporting and response requirements

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Contact information