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Task Force Members or their representatives at this Annual Meeting were Ernesta Ballard, Commissioner, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Linda Hoffman, Director of the Washington Department of Ecology; Alan Kiphut, Land Quality Division Manager for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; Laurence Lau, Deputy Director for the Environmental Health Division of the Hawaii Department of Health; Carlton Moore, Administrator of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response in the California Department of Fish and Game; and Eric Partridge, Assistant Deputy Minister for the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection.
A total of seventy-nine persons were in attendance, including the Task Force Coordinating Committee members, 2004 Legacy Award Winners, and invited speakers. Please reference Attachment A of these summary notes for a complete listing.
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The agenda for the 2004 Annual Meeting is provided in Attachment B. The following summary notes include links to the PowerPoint presentations given by speakers.
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Alaska: Ernesta Ballard, Commissioner, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, commended Larry Dietrick for his management of the Division of Spill Prevention and Response. She noted that, as an oil rich state, Alaska is aggressively seeking production; protection of the environment during production and transport is DEC’s responsibility.
Ernesta reported that DEC has been revising their spill prevention, preparedness, and response regulations for production and exploration facilities, and explained that public comments received from both industry and public interest groups during that process indicated a different perspective on regulations than she is pursuing. Having served as Regional Administrator for EPA Region 10, she knows that early environmental regulations took a command and control approach which added costs for the regulated community and restricted activities in favor of shared community values such as a clean environment. Legislatures provide the forum for defining those values as laws. Whereas the proscriptive command and control approach clearly defined expectations, it also reduced innovation. She is favoring performance-based regulations that define the desired end-point and allow the regulated community to find the best way to reach these standards, considering their specific situation, while utilizing Best Achievable Technology and Best Management Practices.
Washington: Linda Hoffman, Director of the Washington Department of Ecology first addressed activities of the Spill Prevention Section of the Spills Program. She reported that Ecology had presented ECOPRO awards to two foreign-flag tanker operators over the last year: MTM Ship Management Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and Thenamaris Ships Management Inc. of Athens, Greece. Linda explained that Island Tug and Barge, a previous Legacy Award winner, is going through the ECOPRO audit process now. Ecology’s Spills Program has also worked with facilities to develop accelerated above-ground storage tank inspection compliance schedules which are more effective for both the environment and the economy. For more information on Ecology’s use of voluntary incentive programs to prevent oil spills, please go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/prevention/bap/bapbase.htm.
The Spill Preparedness Section is completing ten-year revisions to their contingency planning rules. Stakeholders have been extensively involved in the review process. The Section also developed DRILLTRAC, which establishes ICS training and competency standards for every employee of the Spills Program, thus enhancing competency as well as trust within the regulated sector.
Regarding Spill Response, Linda noted that the Foss barge spill had occurred just before the last legislative session, with the result that a bill was passed directing Ecology to develop regulations that improve both spill prevention and response for transfers of bulk oil. She also reported that Ecology is working with Oregon DEQ and the Army Corps of Engineers to address frequent spills from dams on the Columbia River.
Hawaii: Laurence Lau, Deputy Director for the Environmental Health Division of the Hawaii Department of Health reported to the assembly that 88 releases had been reported in 2003, but the primary incident for the Hazards Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) section over the last year had been a fire at the Sand Island tire recycling facility. Since one burning tire produces 1.9 liters of oil, HEER estimated that a total of 3,380 gallons were released.
Abandoned drums continue to be a problem in the Islands, and Larry also noted that fishing vessels and processing ships grounded along remote sections of the Hawaiian Island chain present both oil spill and other environmental risks. Most owners have no money to deal with salvage, so these wrecks become the problem of the state.
The first wharf was built in Honolulu Harbor in 1825; construction in the harbor since then has included many pipelines and bulk petroleum storage facilities, many of which have long since been abandoned. HEER estimates that there are approximately 20 miles of abandoned pipelines in the 300 acre area of the harbor. A voluntary agreement signed by local industry and government entities in 1998 initiated a harbor cleanup project that is ongoing; over 14,000 gallons of residual oil and vapor have been recovered from abandoned pipelines so far.
Larry reported that the Hawaii Department of Health provides facilities throughout the islands for collecting waste oil from all boats and vessels, but that often hazardous materials are also dumped, complicating disposal.
The revised MOU with the NW Cruise Ship Association was signed by Governor Lingle February 14th; it sets standards for waste water management and requires oil spill contingency plans and drills. It applies to waters out to 4 miles, along the 100 fathom curve - thus going beyond the 3-mile limit of state waters - and includes marine sanctuaries. Larry noted a large increase in the number of cruise ship arrivals in Hawaii, including two home-ported vessels; 127 arrivals are planned this year and 195 are projected for 2005.
He reminded everyone that Hawaii’s largest spill risk comes from Oahu’s offshore single point mooring where tankers transfer crude for the refineries at Barber’s Point. Hawaii continues to cooperate with Clean Islands Council and the US Coast Guard to maintain dispersant capability for the islands as well as mechanical recovery capability.
California: Carlton Moore, Administrator of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response in the California Department of Fish and Game, began his update with comments on the Spill of National Significance (SONS) exercise which California hosted April 19-23rd. He noted that the Mexican Navy had participated and successfully moved boom and skimmers across the border for “mutual aid.” Carl explained that the Mexican government had been concerned about the use of dispersants in their waters, but the exercise helped them learn how the decision is weighed for appropriate use, and they are now more receptive. Carl also explained that this was the first SONS exercise to be conducted under the new National Emergency Response Plan. The next such event will be called an “Incident of National Significance” or “IONS.” He further noted that a Places of Refuge decision was played out as part of the 2004 SONS scenario.
Looking at spill trends in California, Carl explained that there have been fewer transportation spills but more from pipelines. A #2 diesel spill from a pipeline occurred in the Suisun marsh right after the SONS exercise. The marsh is part of a migratory flyway and home to many nesting ducks. The pipeline operators actually increased the spill volume in their attempts to find the leak, and failed to report the spill for what the preliminary investigation indicated was the first 22 hours. Governor Schwarzenegger was “involved and informed” Carl reported. When an EPA official told the media early in the spill event that the volume “could be a million gallons” (the actual spill volume was approximately 200,000 gallons) this remark initiated a media frenzy that snarled traffic and actually inhibited the response. Carl stated that OSPR sees a need for an inventory and risk assessment of the state’s pipeline infrastructure.
Carl noted that the offshore lightering operation in Southern California has had a “spotless record so far.”
OSPR is sponsoring a bill to update California’s oil spill legislation and rules. It will redefine “marine waters” to include the San Francisco Bay delta. Another statutory change will revise the membership requirements for Harbor Safety Committees, allowing each Committee to choose its own membership.
Several LNG terminal proposals are being considered in California, both on and off-shore. OSPR is monitoring these developments, as is California State Lands.
Carl noted several upcoming events:
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OSPR is partnering with California State Lands to host the Prevention First conference in Long Beach September 14-15 |
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OSPR will host a workshop to identify all trustees in the state |
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OSPR co-hosted a very successful oil spill technology conference with Chevron earlier this year and is planning to do another conference in 2005 |
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OSPR also plans to host an On-Scene Coordinator workshop that will allow the FOSCs, SOSCs, Navy OSCs, and others to improve spill response coordination |
British Columbia: Eric Partridge, Assistant Deputy Minister for the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection opened his remarks by stating that British Columbia is very engaged in the Task Force. With more than 29,000 kilometers of coastline at risk from oil spills, the Province relies heavily on industry and federal agencies to prevent and prepare for on-water response to spills. The Province assesses risks and prepares for shoreline response.
Places of Refuge is an issue of great concern to BC, considering that both the TAPS tankers and Great Circle Routes pass their coast, and considering how many sheltered bays and harbors are available.
Eric explained that the Province continues to promote policies regarding the use of In-Situ Burning and Dispersants. They are also promoting the use of ICS and Unified Command, and have noted the need for improved rescue tug capabilities, especially along the Northern BC coastline.
The Ministry is building incident management teams and shoreline cleanup teams, providing ICS/UC team training and a signage system for use in command centers. These Provincial incident management teams have been training with Burrard Clean, the regional cleanup organization.
Eric reported that the Ministry is expanding their coastal resource inventory as well as developing a risk-based decision model that will aid the 15 Provincial response officers in assessing which spills require response.
Eric noted that outcome-based legislation has also been implemented in BC, and agreed with Ernesta that industry wants both flexibility and certainty.
Oregon: Alan Kiphut, Land Quality Division Manager for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality commented that DEQ is also struggling to find the right balance between proscriptive rules and encouraging a performance-based approach to outcomes.
He reported that there had been no catastrophic spill events in Oregon over the past year, although dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers is an ongoing challenge. There was a 1300 galloon oil spill from the Dalles Dam on the Columbia River earlier this year, and DEQ and Ecology are both working with the Corps to improve their spill prevention efforts at all the dams.
Fuel trucks on Oregon’s highways are also a challenge, Al noted. Overall, there were more than 2000 spills reported last year, and DEQ only has a small spill program staff.
Although the entire agency is working to update their enforcement regulations, no legislation is planned for the 2005 session. Homeland Security is requiring a lot of attention, he said, since DEQ is the primary state agency for response to terrorist events.
PLEASE NOTE: For more information on all the Task Force member agencies, please reference the Task Force website for links to each agency’s website as well as to the 2004 Annual Report for the Pacific States/BC Oil Spill, which includes updates from member agencies.
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On the occasion of the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force’s 15th anniversary, three of the original Task Force Members offered the following observations:
Fred Hansen, TriMet General Manager: Fred noted that after the Exxon Valdez oil spill the question was how the region would respond. The directors of the region’s environmental agencies, including BC, had been meeting regularly, so the oil spill prompted them to work collaboratively to formalize regional cooperation across both state and international boundaries. They jointly hired salvors to assess the tanker’s safety if it were to be towed, acting rapidly and cohesively. "It’s the relationship side that is emphasized" by the Task Force, Fred commented.
As they looked into the future, they wanted to emphasize oil spill prevention as well as response, and to focus on small spills as well as catastrophic spills.
Fred commended the Task Force for its work over the years, and advised us to continue our emphasis on spill prevention. He also encouraged the Task Force to address the demand side of the equation and promote alternatives to petroleum products. Fossil fuels represent the "most pressing environmental problem that we face in the long run" he concluded.
Richard Dalon, former Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Environment: Richard recalled that after the tank barge Nestucca spilled some of its load of crude oil in December of 1988, the US Coast Guard contacted British Columbia officials and assured them that no oil would go into Canada. Oil hit the beaches of Vancouver Island four days later; he explained that the oil had been hard to track because it had floated just below the water’s surface. The Canadian Coast Guard and many volunteers showed up to clean up the oil, but there was no plan in place and no clarity as to who was in charge. He commented that there were probably more media than responders, which triggered the involvement of Provincial politicians.
Richard had been working with Christine Gregoire in the environmental directors’ group mentioned by Fred, so he worked with her on this response and also recommended establishing a transboundary coordination mechanism between the two states. When the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened three months later, he suggested to the Premier that they expand the coordination effort to include the entire West Coast region.
Noting that the 1990 Report and its recommendations for improving spill prevention, preparedness, and response was the first product of the Oil Spill Task Force, he congratulated the Task Force on its accomplishments since then. He noted that he was proud to have played a small part in getting the Task Force launched, and cautioned against complacency – which can result in both reduced funding and less attention to the ongoing risks.
A message from Christine Gregoire, Washington State Attorney General was read by Linda Hoffman: As one of the original members of the Oil Spill Task Force, it is a pleasure to send my warmest greetings to the attendees of this 15th Anniversary Meeting. I regret that I am unable to attend, but would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the Task Force’s outstanding work. Protecting the marine resources of our states and provinces requires an exceptional level of cooperation and coordination. When this Task Force was established it underlined the importance of taking an interconnected approach to oil spills and related issues.
The commitment that our respective governments showed in creating the Task Force was an important step toward keeping our marine waters safe for future generations, and the Task Force’s achievements have provided ample evidence of the positive results of such commitment. Since its founding in 1989, the Task Force has been a model of successful interstate and international cooperation. The Task Force has facilitated the sharing of information and resources, the coordination of spill response efforts, and a cross-border commitment to reducing the risk of spills occurring.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Task Force members and contributors, we are better able to protect our precious natural resources in 2004 than we were in 1989. Best wishes for a successful meeting and still more success in the coming year.
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Jean Cameron, the Task Force Executive Coordinator, gave a brief overview of Task Force activities during the past year as well as the new Five Year Strategic Plan and 2004-2005 Annual Work Plan. (PLEASE NOTE: More details are available in the 2004 Annual Report and in the Plans posted on the Task Force website.) She noted that the new Mission Statement as adopted by the Members the day before is “The Mission of the Oil Spill Task Force is to strengthen state and Provincial abilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills.”
She explained that the Oil Spill Task Force organizes its initiatives under its three objectives of spill prevention, spill preparedness and response, and communications. Under our Spill Prevention Objective, we continued a number of ongoing projects over the last year, such as:
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Implementation of recommendations made by the West Coast Offshore Vessel Traffic Risk Management Project Workgroup, specifically those regarding AIS carriage and consistent ballast water exchange standards for coastwise traffic |
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We set up a listserve for members of The Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team, which provides a forum for those educating recreational boaters and marina operators to share ideas regarding oil spill prevention |
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The Task Force Coordinating Committee tracked various Topics of Concern such as the double hull conversion status of the TAPS tankers, spill risks from sunken vessels, and illegal waste oil dumping |
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Jean reported that Stan Norman had led a discussion at MARAD’s Ship Operations Cooperative Program meeting in March regarding Best Industry Practices for vessel spill prevention for large vessels and tug/tow operations, and that the Task Force had sponsored a Roundtable discussion on Cruise Ship Pollution Prevention in January.
Led by Jack Barfield of the Washington Department of Ecology, Task Force Member agencies continued to collaborate on the development of a regional spills database, refining data and the use of a common dictionary of terms. This activity is intended to help the Task Force target their spill prevention efforts. A brief overview of the 2003 data shows that:
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The total spill volume in 2003 was 253,606 gallons, of which 88.9% was non-crude. This represents a 32.6% decrease in total oil spilled from 2002 |
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Only 16 crude oil spills were reported for a total volume of 27, 897 gallons, representing about 11% of the 2003 total. Pipelines and Facilities were the only two contributors to crude spills, at 83% and 17% respectively. Equipment Failure and Human Error were the largest contributors to the causal category for crude spills at 70% and 22%, respectively |
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By product, Diesel and Gasoline were the largest contributors to the non-crude category at 46% and 20%, respectively. By source, Facilities and Vehicles were the two largest contributors in the non-crude category, 48% and 28% respectively. Equipment Failure and Human error were the largest contributors to the causal category for non-crude spills, at 31% and 30%, respectively |
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Jean reported that ongoing activities under the Spill preparedness/response objective included:
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Updating the Integrated Vessel Response Plan Guidelines to reflect recent rule changes among member agencies |
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Maintaining the OILS-911 spill reporting number for use by recreational boaters and small vessel operators |
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Tracking such Topics of Concern as salvage capabilities, response technologies, and response organizations’ capabilities in our region |
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The Task Force’s major new initiative under this Objective is addressing Places of Refuge. This project is co-chaired by Linda Pilkey-Jarvis of Ecology for the Task Force and by CAPT Rob Lorigan for the US Coast Guard Pacific Area. They convened a stakeholder workgroup in February, who chartered a subcommittee to develop an Area Plan annex to operationalize IMO’s guidelines on Places of Refuge. Jean explained that the draft annex had just been sent to the Captains of the Port and Area Committees in our region for their review/comment. The Project Workgroup is also reviewing it. After incorporating recommended revisions, the Co-Chairs expect to post the draft annex on the Task Force website for public comment early this fall and are hoping to have a final product by year end.
Jean explained that the annex provides decision-making checklists as well as pre-planning guidelines to assemble all possible information in advance on potential places of refuge, but does NOT pre-designate places of refuge, which might be ports, anchorages, or protected bays. She also noted that the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada will “Canadianize” the final product with regard to references to appropriate authorities.
Reporting on the new Five Year Strategic Plan, Jean noted that the Task Force members had also adopted a Vision Statement, which is “No Spilled Oil.” She explained that other than some minor edits, the Goals and Objectives are largely unchanged.
Under those objectives, the Task Force will continue many of its ongoing efforts such as regional data collection, maintaining the OILS-911 spill reporting number, coordinating oiled wildlife care capabilities, keeping a focus on response capabilities, and promoting transboundary coordination. New initiatives over the next 5 years will include:
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Implementing the Places of Refuge planning and response process |
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Preventing spills during transfers of bulk oil |
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An increased focus on spill prevention for small vessels and facilities currently unregulated by the states |
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A focus on preventing transportation spills on highways and railroads |
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For next year’s work plan, which will be the first to implement the new Strategic Plan, the ongoing projects will include:
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Database development |
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Places of Refuge |
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POSPET, tracking TAPS, promoting Best Industry Practices, tracking Topics of Concern, and maintaining the IVRP and OILS-911 |
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The new projects will focus on preventing & containing spills during oil transfers, updating our regional Drill/Exercise credit protocols, and hosting a Roundtable on trucking spill prevention & response.
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The Task Force gives Legacy Awards to recognize the work of organizations and individuals in both the public and private sectors who’ve done outstanding work to prevent, prepare for, or respond to oil spills in our region. All of the 2004 Legacy Award winners are indeed “Partners in Prevention.” The 2004 Awards were presented to:
The Alaska Tanker Company
Joan Lundstrom of the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Group Portland
The TAPS Trade Shippers including:
• ConocoPhillips Marine/Polar Tankers
• SeaRiver Maritime, Inc.
• Tesoro Maritime and Seabulk Tankers
• The Alaska Tanker Company
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| See more photos and information about the 2004 Legacy Award winners... |
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Captain Peter Bonebakker
Marine Superintendent
ConocoPhillips Marine/Polar Tankers
CAPT Bonebakker began his remarks by noting the "spirit values" of ConocoPhillips Marine and Polar Tankers, which includes a commitment to safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and teamwork. The company’s goal is to protect the spectacular environment in which they operate while meeting the energy needs of the western United States. ConocoPhillips Marine/Polar Tankers analyzes risks and looks for lessons learned, he said.
The Polar Tanker fleet is currently comprised of six vessels in two classes, with two new Endeavor class tankers on the way. The three tankers which will be retired are double-bottoms. The fleet will all be Endeavor class by 2008, CAPT Bonebakker noted.
The Endeavor Class tankers are built at a cost of $200 million each. They feature two rudders, two propulsion systems, and two separate engine rooms. The vessel can run on one propulsion system and each engine room is self-sufficient. Overall, they are considered 17 times less likely to fail due to mechanical problems. CAPT Bonebakker also noted that most piping was placed below deck, which further reduces the chances of spills to water. The vessels are also designed to meet the IMO standards for air quality emissions.
The three Endeavor class tankers currently in service were named after Captain Cook’s vessels of exploration: The Polar Endeavor, the Polar Resolution, and the Polar Discovery. The Endeavor class tankers are built for the West Coast trade, specifically for a 30-year life in the Gulf of Alaska conditions. Sturdier steel is used in the hulls, which makes them heavier ships with smaller cargo capacities. Computer modeling was used to identify stress areas. The first vessel to be put into service, the T/V Endeavor, has just completed her first inspection with no problems found.
CAPT Bonebakker explained that the Endeavor class tankers were designed by naval architects in consultation with crews and seafarers familiar with the TAPS trade. In addition, Polar’s Bridge Team training involves the ARPA ABs as well as pilots and VTS personnel. The simulators used in the training utilize graphics from the west coast ports visited by the ships. Polar has also customized manned ship handling courses with models of the Endeavor class tankers.
CAPT Bonebakker also explained that ConocoPhillips Marine/Polar Tankers is committed to a zero discharge goal by January 1, 2006. They reduced their total wastes by 47% in 2003 through a dedicated recycling program and use of incinerators. Also in 2003, the Polar Discovery took its first load from Alaska, no spills occurred and no notices of violations were received, and Polar received the AMS Environmental Preservation Award. In addition, a major oil spill exercise was conducted in Puget Sound which involved over 200 people, including the company’s Incident Management Team. At the time of this meeting, Polar was planning for a major drill in Prince William Sound scheduled for the week of August 3rd.
Asked during the Question/Answer period about the adequacy of waste oil reception facilities at ports, CAPT Bonebakker replied that the issue needs industry attention. CAPT Bonebakker’s PowerPoint presentation is available at:
The buffet luncheon was co-hosted by the Task Force and the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council.
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moderated by Ernesta Ballard, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Anil Mathur, President, Alaska Tanker Company :
Mr. Mathur explained that the Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) was created five years ago to carry BP’s Alaska production to Puget Sound, San Francisco, Long Beach, and Honolulu. ATC is in compliance with the ISM Code, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and has been awarded the Washington Department of Ecology’s ECOPRO award, and the US Coast Guard’s Benkert Osprey Award.
As the number and volume of spills have gone down, so have ATC’s operating costs. Injury claims have been reduced by 90%. He estimated that ATC saves $5 – 10 million/year on reduced insurance costs, fewer claims, and reduced repair costs. The company has now gone six million man hours without any lost-time injuries. Anil attributed these improvements to a combination of leadership, maintenance, and engineering. Constant vigilance is required in the context of client expectations and societal pressure.
Safety is personal, he said, not just a statistic. With that in mind, success requires personal accountability. Commitment leads to actions which produce results.
Anil noted the following leadership principles to which he adheres:
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Make yourself bigger than the problem you face, thus converting that problem to solvable elements |
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Good teamwork can withstand major challenges |
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When implementing change, listen to your team and respond accordingly |
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Lead them to a place where they want to meet the challenge |
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Have spill prevention and preparedness/response systems in place so your emphasis is really on human behaviors to implement and improve those systems |
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Bill Deaver, President & COO, Totem Ocean Express:
Mr. Deaver noted that Totem Ocean Express is part of the Saltchuck Company and was founded in 1975. They began a fleet renewal process in 1991, with NASSCO building their new Orca Class vessels, which the Task Force honored with a Legacy Award in 2000.
The Midnight Sun and the Northstar are roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vessels which travel to Anchorage, Alaska from Tacoma, Washington two to three times each week. The run is approximately 1,450 nm each way, and crews can face seas up to 60’ and winds up to 100 knots in the Gulf of Alaska. Cook Inlet has its own challenges, including winter ice, strong tidal currents, and 35’ tides. Totem’s new Orca Class ships are specifically designed for a 40 year lifetime in these conditions, Bill explained, and noted that the tanker companies that cross the Gulf of Alaska shared advice when Totem was in the design phase.
The vessels use diesel/electric systems that can maintain speeds in heavy weather. Their design includes a “whale back” and large freeboard areas, with a bow that keeps heavy waves from hitting vehicles carried on the top deck. The new design intentionally left bow thrusters off in consideration of the heavy levels of silt in Cook Inlet. The Orca Class has redundant engines, two auxiliary generators, two motors, two propellers, and two rudders. The fuel tanks are placed away from the ship’s hull so they are less likely to rupture in the event of a collision or grounding, the lubricant seals are improved to prevent leaks, and all piping is internal. The vessels also include a ballast water system that can be moved internally as needed but does not need to be discharged. All black and grey waters are treated, and the hulls have been strengthened to withstand the Cook Inlet ice. In response to a later question, Bill noted that the vessels are bunkered in Tacoma and hold 8000 bbls of fuel.
On the human side of the equation, Bill noted, crews and bridge teams went through extensive training on the new vessels, both shore-side and on board.
Steve Pollock, General Manager and John Staynor, ISO/ISM Coordinator, Island Tug & Barge:
Steve and John explained that Island Tug and Barge (ITB) is a family-owned company that was started in 1965 to serve the logging and mining industries in British Columbia. Now the company also provides ship bunkering services and moves bulk fuel along the Pacific NW coast between Portland, Oregon and SE Alaska. They also supply submarine cable.
ITB began a fleet upgrade in 1999 and has added three new double-hull barges. These new barges are ice-classed and include closed loading and vapor recovery systems. ITB has also retrofitted some of their barges and added closed loading systems and on-board spill response capability.
John stated that ITB is committed to “doing things right,” explaining that a family name is at stake, which provides motivation to exceed regulatory requirements. ITB has voluntarily met all ISM standards, although their vessels are not subject to the SOLAS code. They’ve also complied with the ISO 9001 standards and met Washington’s BAP standards. ITB is also an Associate Member for ECOPRO and is working towards full ECOPRO certification. ITB received a Task Force Legacy Award in 2001. They’ve also complied with SOPEP requirements as well as implemented ISPS plans although their vessels are less than 500 tons.
ITB implements an innovative Masters Apprenticeship Program. Candidates are nominated anonymously by existing masters and then go through a formal training and vetting process that includes mentoring by experienced masters.
John Devens, Executive Director, Prince William Sound RCAC :
Mr. Devens explained that the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWS RCAC) was officially formed by OPA ’90, as was the Cook Inlet RCAC. Local citizens had called for double-hulled tankers, escort tugs, response preparations and a citizen’s council even before 1989. “The PWS RCAC is demanding,” he acknowledged, “but so are the TAPS trade shippers.”
The PWS RCAC is an organization whose membership is eighteen local community and interest group organizations; over fifty volunteers are involved in the Board and various technical committees. Funding is primarily provided by Alyeska pursuant to OPA ’90, and supports a staff of 18 in offices in both Valdez and Anchorage. OPA ’90 clearly defines their contract with Alyeska with regard to authorities and responsibilities; any projects not covered by the Alyeska funding contract must be supported by other grants and funds.
The PWS RCAC monitors local response plans and industry efforts and comments on government policies and rules. They have advocated for double hull tankers, tug designs, geographic response strategies, ice radar detection, ballast water and vapor control systems at the terminal, fire-fighting systems, and restrictions on dispersant use. John noted that the tanker industry originally opposed many of these initiatives, but once science and common sense were brought to bear in partnership efforts, the appropriate decisions resulted.
Joe Angelo, Director of Environmental Standards, US Coast Guard:
Mr. Angelo addressed spill prevention initiatives undertaken at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), specifically double hull standards. He noted that he spends a lot of time negotiating international standards and suggested that if just half of the West Coast stakeholders were players at IMO his job would be much easier!
Joe explained that after OPA ’90 set a double hull standard for the US, IMO adopted regulations 13F and 13G as amendments to MARPOL 73/78. 13G was subsequently amended in 2001 following the T/V Erika incident and then again in 2003 as a result of the T/V Prestige oil spill, to be consistent with OPA 90. In addition, IMO adopted 13H in 2003 to prohibit carrying of heavy fuel oils in single hull tankers in certain waters. Two exceptions were also added: 13G and 13H both allow a flag state to extend the life of a single hull tanker beyond the dates in regulation (under certain conditions) and also allow a port state to deny entry of single hull tankers that have had their life extended by a flag state.
IMO has defined categories of tankers as 20,000 DWT tankers which are either MARPOL (Category 2) or PRE-MARPOL (Category 1), or those less than 20,000 DWT but larger than 4,999 DWT (Category 3). Phase-out schedules are then set for these categories as follows:
• Category 1 tankers by April 2005
• Category 2 and 3 tankers by:
- 2005 if delivered before 1978
- 2006 if delivered 1978 and 1979
- 2007 if delivered 1980 and 1981
- 2008 if delivered 1982
- 2009 if delivered 1983
- 2010 if delivered 1984 or later
Joe noted that the US State Department has decided not to allow the US to become a party to the amended regulation 13G, since the schedule was still inconsistent with OPA ‘90. Single hull tankers calling at US ports will still have to meet the OPA ‘90 phase out schedule. And, although OPA ‘90 has no phase out based upon the carriage of heavy oils, the US will not be a party to 13H since it references 13G, which we are not a party to.
Joe also described a new international regulation that will require the pump room of all oil tankers of 5000 DWT and above constructed on or after 1 January 2007 to be protected by a double bottom. The double bottom depth must be not less than b/15 or 2 meters, whichever is less. This is an amendment to MARPOL to be adopted in October of 2004.
He also reported that the IMO subcommittee on Ship Design and Equipment is developing double hull requirements to protect fuel tanks on all types of ships, although applications most likely will only pertain to new ships. He expects this new regulation to be finalized in 2005 with possible adoption in 2006.
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During the public comment period, Rich Berkowitz of the Transportation Institute asked what action the Task Force planned to take over the next five years with regard to Pipeline Spills. Jean Cameron replied that the Task Force had completed a project on Pipeline Spill Prevention in 1998-1999 and that the new Strategic Plan calls for the Task Force to monitor data on pipeline spills, cooperate on new spill prevention policies for pipelines as appropriate, and monitor US and Canadian federal policy developments on this topic.
Mr. Berkowitz also questioned whether the Task Force would be further involved with cruise ship pollution issues, since the topic is broader than our core oil spill mission. Jean noted that cruise ships represent oil spill risks and that all member jurisdictions have seen significant increases in cruise ship traffic over the past few years. For that reason, cruise ships will be a “Topic of Concern” to be tracked and discussed by the Coordinating Committee, but will not be a specific Task Force project.
Kevin Mercier of the California State Lands Commission, Marine Facilities Division, asked whether the Task Force would be interested in establishing a near-miss reporting system for the West Coast, since the federal effort to do so had not succeeded. There was considerable audience discussion as to why the federal effort had not succeeded, but there was a general consensus among the Task Force agencies that this was not a project they wished to undertake. One attendee noted that Seaways magazine published by the Nautical Institute provides a section on lessons learned from near-miss incidents which is useful to the mariner.
Ernesta Ballard was asked whether the performance-based standards are labor-intensive to evaluate. She replied that drills and exercises provide the evaluation mechanism for response standards.
Linda Hoffman recommended that the Task Force address the issues raised by Anil Mathur regarding how to create and sustain a “people-focused” approach – i.e., a behavioral approach to spill prevention and good management. The other Task Force Members agreed to address this as the theme for their 2005 Annual Meeting.
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The Task Force Members then signed the Statements of Authority for the new Five Year Strategic Plan and the 2004-2005 Annual Work Plan. Both documents are available at www.oilspilltaskforce.org. The meeting adjourned at approximately 4pm.
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Please Note: Copies of all PowerPoint presentations are available upon request to Jean Cameron, Task Force Executive Coordinator at JeanRCameron@oregoncoast.com.
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Attachment A: 2004 Annual Meeting Attendees (pdf doc 40Kb ...)
Attachment B: Agenda (pdf doc 50Kb ...)
Attachment C: Speaker Bios (pdf doc 52Kb ...)
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