ORS 468B.340 Legislative findings and intent

The Legislative Assembly finds that:

Oil spills present a serious danger to the fragile natural environment of the state.

Commercial vessel activity on the navigable waters of the state is vital to the economic interests of the people of the state.

Recent studies conducted in the wake of disastrous oil spills have identified the following problems in the transport and storage of oil:

Gaps in regulatory oversight;

Incomplete cost recovery by states;

Despite research in spill cleanup technology, it is unlikely that a large percentage of oil can be recovered from a catastrophic spill;

Because response efforts cannot effectively reduce the impact of oil spills, prevention is the most effective approach to oil spill management; and

Comprehensive oil spill prevention demands participation by industry, citizens, environmental organizations and local, state, federal and international governments.

Therefore, the Legislative Assembly declares it is the intent of ORS 468B.345 to 468B.415 to establish a program to promote:

The prevention of oil spills especially on the large, navigable waters of the Columbia River, the Willamette River and the Oregon coast;

The prevention of oil spills along high hazard train routes;

Oil spill response preparedness, including the identification of actions and content required for an effective contingency plan;

A consistent west coast approach to oil spill prevention and response;

The establishment, coordination and duties of safety committees as provided in ORS 468B.415; and

To the maximum extent possible, coordination of state programs with the programs and regulations of the United States Coast Guard and adjacent states.