The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) adopted a new rule Wednesday outlining oil transportation requirements, including a mandate that Washington railroads file contingency plans by October 1 detailing their ability to respond to potential oil spills.
Prior to the rulemaking, only pipelines and vessels moving oil through the state filed such plans. Ecology hopes the addition of the railroad rule will ensure equal protection of inland natural resources to that of state waters. The plan builds on a separate rule announced last week which requires facilities receiving oil shipments to notify Ecology, enabling emergency crews to efficiently prepare and respond to incidents.
