WAC 173-182 & WAC 173-186

Oil Spill Contingency Plan Rulemaking

Tracking Ecology's rulemaking process for WSMC members

The Washington Department of Ecology is amending the rules governing oil spill contingency plans for vessels, facilities, pipelines, and railroads. Four of the six topic areas draw on recommendations from the 2025 Best Achievable Protection (BAP) workgroups. This page helps you follow the process, understand what's being proposed, and know when to weigh in.

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New
Preliminary draft rule language is now open for informal comment. On May 18, 2026, Ecology released its first preliminary draft of WAC 173-182 and WAC 173-186, along with an overview table of changes. Submit comments by June 17, 2026 to have them considered before Ecology prepares the next draft; the informal comment period stays open until October 30, 2026.
Read the draft documents →

Where Things Stand

The CR-101 was filed January 21, 2026 (WSR 26-03-094). Ecology is currently in the Rule Development phase — drafting proposed language with stakeholder input. A first preliminary draft was released in May 2026 for informal review and comment. Proposed rule text is expected early spring 2027.

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CR-101
Jan 2026
2
Rule Development
2026 – 2027
Current
3
CR-102
Spring 2027
4
Public Comment
Spring 2027
5
CR-103
Summer 2027
6
Effective
Fall 2027

What's Being Discussed

Six topic areas are part of this rulemaking. Four draw on recommendations from Ecology's 2025 Best Achievable Protection workgroups.

Non-Floating Oils BAP
Response planning for oils that can sink, including diluted bitumen from the Trans Mountain pipeline.
WAC 173-182 · WAC 173-186
Shoreline Cleanup Assessment BAP
Building SCAT into a broader Shoreline Response Program with defined roles and earlier mobilization.
WAC 173-182 · WAC 173-186
Southern Resident Killer Whales BAP
Deterrence planning to protect endangered orcas during oil spill response operations.
WAC 173-182 · WAC 173-186
Uncrewed Aerial Systems BAP
Outcome-based rules for drone use in spill mapping, shoreline assessment, and tactical support.
WAC 173-182 · WAC 173-186
Middle Columbia River
New equipment planning standards for vessels operating in the Middle Columbia River corridor.
WAC 173-182
Administrative Updates
Grammar fixes, outdated references, and readability improvements across both WAC chapters.
WAC 173-182 · WAC 173-186

Get Involved

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Meeting Calendar
View upcoming stakeholder meetings and public hearings
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Documents
Read the new draft rule language, WAC text, and BAP reports
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Email Comments
Send comments directly to Ecology's rulemaking team
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Stay Updated
Sign up for WSMC rulemaking notifications
This page is maintained by the Washington State Maritime Cooperative as a resource for its members. It is not the official rulemaking page. For official information, visit Ecology's rulemaking page or contact spillsrulemaking@ecy.wa.gov.