Proposed bill would make oil owners pay for spills

OLYMPIA – The financial responsibility for an oil spill could belong to facilities and vessels owners that produce and transport oil under proposed House Bill 1691.

“The goal is to minimize the permanent long-standing damage that can happen when a catastrophic spill happens,” said Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-Kent, the primary sponsor of this bill.

The bill requires the owners or operators of oil vessels and facilities to demonstrate their financial ability to pay for its oil damage and to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility (COFR) from the Department of Ecology (DOE).

The bill forces pa...