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New WSMC Field Document - April 15, 2008 IMPORTANT NOTICE WSMC’S NEW FIELD DOCUMENT REPLACES THE FIELD GUIDE AND PLACARD AND OTHER INFORMATION ON WSMC’S OIL SPILL RESPONSE CONTINGENCY PLAN AND ENROLLMENT FORMS WSMC is replacing its FIELD GUIDE and PLACARD with a new FIELD DOCUMENT. The new FIELD DOCUMENT meets the recently revised rules of the Washington Department of Ecology (WA ECY). The new three page document is compact and easier to distribute. The new FIELD DOCUMENT is attached. Please print in color for placement aboard all WSMC covered vessels. The new FIELD DOCUMENT is also available for download and printing from WSMC’s website (www.WSMCOOP.org ). You may also order copies of the FIELD DOCUMENT from WSMC.Important: WSMC ship agent members are requested to notify their principals/clients of WSMC’s new FIELD DOCUMENT. Please give this notice wide distribution to your client companies. NOTE: Washington Department of Ecology (WA ECY) field inspectors may board your vessel and hold a notification drill at any time while your vessel is in Washington State waters. WA ECY requires that the FIELD DOCUMENT be readily accessible to the crew, otherwise WA ECY may levy a civil penalty. WSMC recommends that for ease of accessibility, for those vessels with US Coast Guard federal plans, that the WSMC FIELD DOCUMENT be placed inside the front cover of your vessel’s Federal Vessel Response Plan for easy access by the vessel’s crew. WA ECY and WSMC also recommend that WSMC’s contact information be added to each vessel’s Federal Response Plan and that WSMC be identified as an organization to notify immediately in the State of Washington for oil spills or threatened oil spills. Other news: WSMC submitted its new oil spill response contingency plan to meet the October 26, 2007 deadline established by the WA ECY. This new plan was required in order to meet new rules and planning standards adopted in 2007 by WA ECY. WSMC and WA ECY then discussed refinement of certain portions of the plan and WSMC was granted an extension to April 15, 2008 to submit a new plan to WA ECY. WSMC has submitted its Contingency Plan, early this week, for review by WA ECY, which will now start its agency’s plan review process, including a 30-day period for public review and comment. WSMC’s existing Oil Spill Contingency Plan will remain in effect until WA ECY accepts WSMC’s new plan (which will likely be a "conditional approval" that is typically granted during the plan review period). The most significant changes to the new plan are the proposals to meet WA ECY’s new and more extensive equipment standards. WSMC cannot be certain what the final costs will be of any additional equipment required to meet the standards imposed by WA ECY and how that might impact WSMC’s rate structure until the plan review process is completed by WA ECY. Also, in order to meet the new Washington regulations and requirements, WSMC has prepared a revised Vessel Enrollment Agreement (VEA). The new WSMC VEA will consist of a single form that will replace the two separate forms that are currently used for tankers and non-tankers. The new VEA is expected to be implemented by mid 2008 and will be phased in over the subsequent enrollment year. WSMC will later provide the details of implementing the new VEA. Thank you for your participation and support. Our cooperative works very hard to maintain the highest level of efficient and cost-effective service, preparedness and professionalism for our members. General administrative questions may be addressed to WSMC at the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound. Also, if you desire a copy of an informational pamphlet, copies of the FIELD DOCUMENT, enrollment forms, WSMC’s Contingency Plan on CD, other published information, or the WSMC video (now on DVD), please call or contact Cynthia Reed at (206)448-7557 or email at cynthia@marineexchangesea.com. You may also contact our Executive Director, Roger Mowery at (425) 486-3501, or email at rogermowery@comcast.net, if you desire more information or have any questions. Very truly yours, | |||||
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