WHEREAS, this administration recognizes the need for a coordinated response program and designated response team trained and equipped for dealing with spills, accidents, and incidents involving hazardous materials in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, no single agency or industry is capable of handling the problem alone at this time, and there is no existing coordinated system among the agencies assigned responsibilities in the area of hazardous materials,

WHEREAS, the State of Washington has the responsibility to provide leadership in this area; and

WHEREAS, the scope of this responsibility includes incidents arising from raw product preparation, manufacturing, processing, merchandising, transportation, storage, use, and disposal of such chemicals and related materials; and

WHEREAS, the authority to establish a coordinated response system is inherent In my office as Chief Executive of the State of Washington.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dixy Lee Ray, Governor of the State of Washington, do hereby order and direct:

A. That the Washington State Hazardous Materials Committee be established as the response team with the authority and responsibility to develop, implement, and administer a program which will incorporate all present teams, agencies, and systems into one response unit:

B. That the Interagency Memorandum of Understanding, duly signed by the heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Emergency Services, Fisheries, Game, General Administration, Labor and Industries, Military, Natural Resources, Social and Health Services, Transportation, the Utilities and Transportation Commission and the Washington State Patrol, be the instrument of implementation. The Memorandum of Understanding is hereby attached to and made a part of this Executive Order.

C. That the above-named agencies affected by or having expertise in responding to hazardous materials incidents join in the coordinated Plan of action as set forth, described, and agreed to in the Memorandum of Understanding attached hereto.

D. That in the event of a hazardous materials incident that has the potential for affecting human lives, animal life, the environment, or property, the response plan will proceed in immediate effect.

E. That the Hazardous Materials Committee direct operations, as set forth in the attached Memorandum of Understanding, receive communications, assess conditions, compile and critique data and reports, and transmit recommendations to affected agencies for immediate response to emergency conditions resulting from a hazardous materials incident, and engage in follow-up activities for the prevention of future incidents.

F. That a change of personnel in the Department of Emergency Services has been made as well as within my own personal staff which necessitates a change In the chairmanship of the Washington State Hazardous Materials Committee and that therefore page 6 of the "Memorandum of Understanding'; referring to committee structure should be and hereby is amended to read as follows: "The Chairman of the Washington State Hazardous Materials Committee shall be Betty McClelland, Special Assistant to the Governor on Hazardous Waste and Energy Matters."

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