WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined representatives from the Washington state legislature, Puget Sound Partnership, Clallam County, and the Makah Tribe to show her support for state legislation designed to strengthen Washington state’s oil spill safety net by making the tug at Neah Bay a permanent, year-round fixture. The tug, stationed at Neah Bay, has historically been funded on a year-to-year basis, a practice that has led to great uncertainty in western Washington. Cantwell has consistently fought for federal oil spill legislation that would solve the response tug problem once and for all by making the tug a year round, permanent fixture in Neah Bay that is funded by the oil and shipping industries. This state legislation was made possible by a federal regulation issued by the Coast Guard on December 31, 2008 after many months of urging by Cantwell.

 

“It’s impossible to imagine the state of Washington without its pristine coastlines and spectacular ocean views. Maritime activities and facilities in Seattle alone support more than 190,000 jobs in the region and generate $857 million in revenue for the state,” said Cantwell. “But no matter how lightly we tread, we always put our waterways at risk. For example, every year, 15 billion gallons of oil navigate through the Puget Sound, bringing with it the possibility of disaster. The Neah Bay Tug is an important part of our oil spill safety net designed to prevent such a disaster. It deserves to be made a permanent, year round fixture that is funded by those that bring the risk to our waterways. Over the last decade, the tug has saved 41 vessels and prevented countless spills, and today, we’re one step closer to ensuring it is there to help for years to come. I know that with this state legislation and support of members of the state legislature, our County Commissioner, and the Makah Tribe, we can make our oil safety net stronger. Our waterways and the jobs that depend on them deserve nothing less."

 

Currently, the Neah Bay response tug is funded by Washington state’s Department of Ecology and depends on annual appropriations by the state legislature. The Coast Guard Authorization bill introduced by Senator Cantwell in the 110th Congress includes a provision that would create a permanent, year-round, and user-funded response tug at Neah Bay. The state legislation is modeled after this Cantwell-sponsored federal legislation and was introduced by State Senator Kevin Ranker and State Representative Kevin Van De Wege.

 

“As we work to pass a rescue tug bill this session, it’s great to have an ally like Senator Cantwell, who has long championed oil spill response and prevention legislation at the federal level,” said Rep. Kevin Van De Wege.

 

###