Governor slated to sign oil spill prevention act.

SB 6269-S2.E – DIGEST

Addresses oil transportation safety. Finds that the department of ecology’s oil spill program faces a critical funding gap due to the lack of adequate revenue to fully fund the prevention and preparedness services required by state law, including the 2015 oil transportation safety act.

Declares an intent to: (1) Provide adequate revenue to fully fund prevention and preparedness services required by state law;

(2) Direct the department of ecology to specifically address the risks of oils submerging and sinking; and (3) More extensively coordinate with our Canadian

partners in order to protect the state’s economy and its shared resources.

Requires the department of ecology to: (1) Establish the Salish Sea shared waters forum to address common issues in the cross-boundary waterways between Washington state and British Columbia such as: Enhancing efforts to reduce oil spill risk, addressing navigational safety, and promoting data sharing; and (2) In consultation with the Puget Sound partnership and the pilotage commission, complete a report of vessel traffic

and vessel traffic safety within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound area that includes the San Juan archipelago, its connected waterways, Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, Rosario

Strait, and the waters south of Admiralty Inlet.

Provides a July 1, 2021, expiration date for the Salish Sea shared waters forum.