The House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5057 to help our communities address the increasing amount of crude oil being carried through our state via train. The Oil Transportation Safety Act requires advance notice of oil shipments to better equip local emergency responders in case of a derailment, spill or fire. The bill also provides funding for planning and safety measures through an increase in the barrel tax and extension of the tax to oil transported by rail and through pipelines.
Last month, the House passed House Bill 1449 with a 60-38 bipartisan vote. “As we saw during the House vote last month, the safety of oil transportation is not a partisan issue,” said Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, the prime sponsor of HB 1449. “We all share a goal to protect the health and safety of our families, first responders, waterways, and natural landscapes. This legislation gives our communities the information and resources needed to manage the oil being hauled through our state.”
“I have listened to feedback from stakeholders and I believe that the bill passed today incorporates these suggestions into a measure that provides safety for our community without compromising security or proprietary business information.” said Farrell. “I encourage the Senate to accept these changes so we can take responsible action on oil transportation safety now.”
The sharp increase in the amount of crude oil coming in to Washington by rail creates significant risks to the region’s people, economy, and environment. A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation released in February predicts that oil train derailments will occur 10 times a year over the next two decades, cause more than $4 billion in damages, and put densely populated areas at risk.
The rail lines carrying crude oil across Washington move through densely populated areas in Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, and Spokane, and pass by sensitive environmental areas such as shorelines and estuaries. The Washington Department of Ecology estimates that the amount of crude oil that comes through our state could triple within the next 5 years to nearly 9 billion gallons each year.
