OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN RULEMAKING – PIPELINE
On October 12, 2016, the Washington State, Department of Ecology adopted amendments to Chapter 173-182 WAC, Oil Spill Contingency Plan Rule – Pipeline Updates.
The rule requirements were last updated for pipelines in 2006. At that time the pipeline planning standards were developed to align with the marine terminal standards. In Washington pipelines exist in both marine and inland areas. After several years of implementing the rule, they have identified the need to update the standards to ensure that required oil spill response equipment is appropriate for the pipeline risks and operating environments (marine and inland). This rulemaking implements the following:
- Updates definitions to ensure clarity and consistency with existing federal regulations.
- Clarifies the Worst Case Discharge calculation for pipelines.
- Creates a new pipeline geographic information planning standard which will use available geo-referenced data to support preparedness planning and initial decision making during pipeline oil spills.
- Enhances existing air monitoring requirements for pipelines to ensure safety of oil spill responders and the general public.
- Enhances spills to ground requirements to ensure rapid, aggressive and well-coordinated responses to spills to ground which could impact ground water.
- Updates pipeline planning standard storage requirements to ensure the equipment required is appropriate for the environments pipelines may impact.
- Expands the Best Achievable Protection (BAP) Review Cycle to facilities and pipelines.
- Other changes to clarify language.
This rule becomes effective on November 12, 2016. Click here for a link to the Washington State Rulemaking documents.