Preventing spills is always our first goal, but despite our efforts, spills still happen. The goal of our spill preparedness work is to reduce environmental impacts of spills. We require oil handlers in Washington to be ready for a rapid, aggressive, and well-coordinated response to spills. We also require those responsible for spills to compensate the state for spill damages by restoring natural resources.
Responding to spills
We are committed to rapid, aggressive, and well-coordinated responses. We respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to spills that pose an immediate threat to public health and the environment. We strive to minimize spill impacts and also to provide timely information about current incidents. We also work to restore publicly owned resources injured as a result of spills.
We respond to incidents involving oil and hazardous materials that may harm Washington’s environment, public health, safety, and economy. We are designated as the State-On-Scene Coordinator for oil spills that get into Washington's water. Our response teams are based in Bellingham, Bellevue, Olympia, Vancouver, Union Gap, and Spokane.