Bill passes to improve WA oil spill response programs

On the one-year anniversary of the Gulf Oil Spill, WA Governor Gregoire signed into law a bill that requires the state Department of Ecology to develop new rules to expand programs to train volunteers, require regular oil spill drills, equip commercial fisherman to be first responders, and to improve requirements on oil tankers and other vessels traveling through state waters to stockpile state-of-the-art oil spill response equipment. Washington's NWS Chapter and South Coast Organizing Committee supported a coalition effort to pass this bill. Big thanks to champions in the WA State Legislator – Rep. Christine Rolfes, Rep. Zack Hudgins and Sen. Kevin Ranker.