Fuel Accident Prevention & Response Team
Governor's Request To The Team
- Team
- Public
- Subcommittees
- Team
- Public
- Subcommittees
Final Report and Recommendations
History of the Team
On June 10, 1999 a pipeline carrying gasoline through Bellingham's Whatcom Falls Park began leaking hundreds of thousands of gallons of gasoline. The spilled fuel ignited, and three young people died. In addition, the explosion destroyed a one mile stretch of the banks of Whatcom Creek.
When he visited the scene, Governor Locke noted that the accident highlighted the need for close scrutiny and extreme caution in constructing, operating and maintaining fuel-related facilities in Washington. He also pointed out that since nothing can be risk-free, the state must ensure that we are prepared and informed about how to react in the event of a major accident. The Governor announced the establishment of a Fuel Accident Prevention and Response Team to evaluate our state's current status and make recommendations if shortcomings are revealed.
He asked the seven team members to analyze current requirements and performance by federal, state and local agencies and report back to him by the end of the year.
Governor's Request To the TeamI hope this group will deliver a report and recommendations by the end of the year that will:
- clarify responsibilities for oversight of the fuel transportation and storage industry to ascertain if there are gaps or deficiencies in federal and state responsibilities that we should fill;
- determine whether or not local first responders should update their response plans;
- evaluate whether or not we should set up Regional Incident Command Teams that could be on the scene of a major accident within a few hours to support local authorities; and
- consider the costs of any changes and the funding sources needed to meet those costs.
For information about this web page, please contact Carol Jolly at (360) 902-0639 or [email protected]