WASHINGTON STATE MARITIME COOPERATIVE’ S (WSMC’s) SPILL RESPONSE POLICY AND MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITY

·        Under Washington state law, it is the responsibility of the spiller to follow its state approved oil spill contingency plan.  Unless an enrolled Member of WSMC has a different prior agreement with the state, state law requires you to follow your enrollment agreement to use the WSMC oil spill contingency plan. 

·        In the event of an oil spill or potential spill, call WSMC immediately in accordance with the WSMC Field Document and Notification Placard that should be aboard and in the pilot house of each of your vessels.  Your crews should be trained in the use of the WSMC Field Document and Notification Placard.

·        View the WSMC video.   WSMC has a video available to you.  If you do not yet have a copy of our video or DVD, please advise us, and we will send you as many as you need.

·        Upon WSMC’s receipt of notice of a spill or potential spill, or receipt of other notification from any source of a Member Spill, WSMC’s Incident Commander will be notified and shall, without further approval of the Member, arrange for provision of appropriate spill response management and cleanup services, in accordance with WSMC’s oil spill response contingency plan.

·        The member is responsible for the cost of management and cleanup operations. WSMC costs that are the Member’s responsibility include, but are not limited to, charges for WSMC’s Incident Commander and other personnel, Marine Exchange communication charges, and response contractor costs.

·        A fast response may save you money and minimize environmental damage.  WSMC will strive to take the appropriate actions quickly on behalf of the Member to minimize environmental damage.  WSMC’s Incident Commander is experienced in oil spill cleanup and will evaluate the spill and necessary cleanup actions. 

·        If the incident commander determines through reliable sources at the sight of the spill that the necessary actions are being taken to clean the spill or that the spill is not recoverable, he will not call in cleanup resources unnecessarily.  However, if there is any doubt, he will take the prudent course of action, and call in response resources.

·        The member is not always charged.  In the case where response resources are not called in by WSMC’s Incident Commander and it is not necessary for the Incident Commander to respond to the scene or a command center, the Member will not be charged for the Incident Commander’s time.  There may be Marine Exchange communications and administration costs charged to WSMC; however it has been the policy of WSMC to absorb these charges in most cases where a WSMC field response is not made.

·        In summary, it is of utmost importance, required by state law, and is in the Member’s best interests to call WSMC immediately in the event of, or threat of, a spill.  In addition to managing the appropriate and best response on behalf of the Member, WSMC may also assist, if requested, the Member in making all the notifications required under the law.

·        Thank you in advance for your participation in and support of this policy.  Please call WSMC’s Executive Director, Roger Mowery, at (425 486-3501) if you desire more information or have any questions.