Office of the Vice President
Room S-212, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 2O510

Dear Mr. Vice President:

    We know you share our commitment to both expanding Pacific Rim trade and protecting the marine and coastal resources of the Pacific Northwest. We would therefore strongly urge you to join a growing number of local, state, and federal leaders calling for additional measures to better protect our marine resources from the threat of oil spills and other maritime accidents.

    The economy of the Puget Sound region has been fueled in large part by increasing trade with Pacific Run countries. One out of four jobs in the Puget Sound area is directly related to foreign trade. This trade is rapidly increasing in both tonnage and value bringing with it economic opportunity and family wage jobs. Much of this maritime trade is borne by foreign flagships, including an increasing percentage of the crude oil bound for North Puget Sound refineries since the lifting of the export restrictions on Alaska North Slope oil in 1996.

    The overall increase in maritime traffic, the growing proportion of foreign vessels -- which bring with a higher number of ships with language, safety, and navigational problems -- and especially the increase in foreign tanker traffic put Puget Sound resources at greater risk. Both the regional economy and the integrity of the Puget Sound ecosystem, which is a cornerstone of the quality of life that defines the region could be devastated by an oil spill in this fragile inland sea. To counter this growing threat, regional, and national leaders must respond with serious risk reduction measures which do not compromise the competitive position of Puget Sound ports vis-à-vis other west coast ports.

    The weakest link in our defense against a catastrophic oil spill is in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where container ships from Asian ports, tankers from Alaska, and a growing number of other vessels converge -- often in bad weather -- enter one of the busiest marine corridors in the world. Since the Exxon Valdez spill in 1988 double tug escorts have been required for laden tankers traveling east from Port Angeles to north Puget Sound refineries.

    Although the Coast Guard sponsored Volpe Study of maritime hazards did not specifically focus on the need for tug escorts it did conclude that groundings and collisions pose the greatest threat and that additional spill protection is needed in the north Puget Sound area. The maritime industry has responded by proposing the International Tug of Opportunity System (ITOS). The Volpe Study and the ITOS are important steps toward reducing the risk of marine spills in the strait or Puget Sound and should be applauded. They should, however, be viewed as initial steps and not final solutions. Requiring tug escorts for laden tankers west of Port Angeles would greatly enhance the effectiveness ITOS and significantly reduce the risk of a catastrophic oil spill in our waters.

    Clearly, we need to improve vessel safety in the most cost-effective manner. There is potentially broad support for an interim requirement for tug escorts west of Port Angeles to the J buoy at the mouth of the straits until the ITOS and other measures to reduce the risk of spills -- better radar coverage, enforcement of language and other crew proficiency requirements, improved maritime traffic lanes, a dedicated rescue vessel at Neah Bay -- can be fully evaluated. We should also evaluate the question of whether a dual tug requirement is ultimately necessary if a single tug meeting certain performance requirements provides sufficient protection. In addition, the evaluation should determine whether improved oil tankers with full double hul1s and redundant propulsion and steering systems should have the escort requirement waived to provide an economic incentive for oil transportation in these safer vessels.

    Ultimately, the question is who bears the risk during an interim evaluation period -- the environment and citizens of the Puget Sound area or the oil industry? Given the magnitude of thr consequences associated with a major spill in the Straits or Puget Sound, the answer should be clear

    The British Co1urnbia/Washington State Marine Science Panel concluded that a "large spill in the shared waters is highly likely within 20 years. If such a spill occurs, there will be extensive losses of plants and wildlife, commercial and recreational uses, and property values. We must do all we reasonable can to prevent oil spills by minimizing the risks associated with oil transportation." Prince William Sound only got tug escorts after the Exxon Valdez spill; the Pacific Northwest should not have to endure a similar catastrophe to get tug escorts for the heavily traveled Strait of Juan de Fuca.

    We strongly urge you to join the counties most affected by a spill in the straits (Clallam, Jefferson, and San Juan), the broadly-representative Puget Sound Council, the Washington Departments of Natural Resources and Ecology, Indian tribes, the City of Seattle, and many other regional entities in supporting tug escorts for the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Port Angeles.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray                Unites States Senator

Jack Metcalf Member of Congress