Oil Spill Contingency Plan Rulemaking Kickoff Meeting

This rulemaking focuses on potential amendments to Ecology’s oil spill contingency plan rules: Chapter 173-182 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan and Chapter 173-186 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan – Railroad.  

During the meeting, we will: 

• Review the rulemaking scope, goals, and objectives  
• Walk through the anticipated timeline and rule development process  
• Explain how and when interested parties can provide informed and meaningful feedback  

Background

The Washington State Department of Ecology is announcing a rulemaking to amend two chapters of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC): Chapter 173-182 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan and Chapter 173-186 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan – Railroad.  

This rulemaking will update both chapters to consider the following recommendations from the 2025 Best Achievable Protection (BAP) workgroups:   

• Amend existing requirements for technical manuals to include equipment and tactics for non-floating oil (NFO) response and to ensure responders can quickly evaluate the potential behavior and environmental impacts of NFO while maintaining safety.   
• Strengthen existing drill requirements for NFO responses.  
• Strengthen existing drill requirements for Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) deterrence tactics.  
• Incorporate Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) into current planning standards for shoreline cleanup.   
• Update aerial surveillance requirements to  
  • incorporate Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) as an optional response tool in low visibility environments;  
  • improve alignment between facility and covered vessel planning standards; and  
  • focus rules on desired outcomes and mission objectives rather than specific equipment or sensors.
• Incorporate updates to align with modern agency practices and recent updates to related rules.  
• Make minor administrative updates to correct grammatical issues, outdated references, and improve readability of rule language.   

This rulemaking will update Chapter 173-182 WAC to:  

• Consider new equipment planning standards for vessels operating in the Middle Columbia River to address changes in spill risks in that area.   
• Clarify existing requirements to eliminate ambiguity and improve consistent application of the rule.