The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr.
Vice President of the United States
The Capitol, Room S-212
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Vice President Gore:

I am writing to thank you and the Administration for your active role in improving marine safety in the North Puget Sound. Both Transportation Secretary Slater and Coast Guard Admiral North have provided valuable leadership to the ongoing discussion about minimizing the risk of oil spills in this region. The state of Washington welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the Administration over the next year or two to evaluate the effectiveness of the International Tug of Opportunity System (ITOS) and to establish more comprehensive, and effective long-term improvements in our system for oil spill prevention.

However, I must convey my concern about the need for improved safety measures while these reviews are underway. The Coast Guard-sponsored Volpe Study concluded that vessel groundings and collisions pose a significant oil spill risk in the North Puget Sound area. From our experience, the six fall/winter months when weather conditions are poor pose the highest risk. In response to these findings, Tom Fitzsimmons, Director of the Washington Department of Ecology, wrote to Secretary Slater in March, l998, emphasizing the need for near-term improvements to the safety system while the ITOS review and additional planning takes place.

Mr. Fitzsimmons identified several possible improvements that could serve as the basis for discussions with all involved parties. While industry representatives have recently expressed a willingness to seriously consider developing a measure for this season, we are growing increasingly anxious as winter approaches. We remain open to a number of solutions; however the two options that appear to hold the most hope for immediate and significant improvements involve either:

1) the enhancement of the tug escort system for oil tankers as they enter the Strait of Juan De Fuca; or

2) the addition of rescue tug resources near Neah Bay and the San Juan Islands.

I urge your support for these or comparable interim safety measures. As you are aware Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Jack Metcalf have called for similar near-term improvements as have a number of local governments, citizen groups and the Makah-Indian Nation.

Again, I thank you and the Administration for the outstanding leadership you have provided on these issues and I stand ready to work with you to protect our precious coastal environment.

Sincerely,

Gary Locke
Governor