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House Committee Examines Woolsey Bill to Improve Emergency Response to Oil Spills

6/4/09
Washington, DC – A House subcommittee today held a hearing on legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) to improve the government’s response capabilities to oil spills.  Each year there are over 100 such spills in U.S. waters, resulting in the discharge of approximately 3 million gallons of oil.  Woolsey’s legislation, H.R. 2693, the Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act, would streamline the federal government’s interagency emergency planning process, and ensure that emergency officials have the most effective equipment, training, and tactics available.

“Oil spills are a daily threat to communities across the country, including those in the Bay Area.  That’s why, in addition to working to prevent these accidents, the federal government must provide emergency responders with the necessary resources to quickly contain and clean up spills when they occur,” said Woolsey.  “Those of us in the Bay Area know firsthand that even relatively minor incidents can have grave environmental consequences.  Two years ago, the Cosco Busan lost 60,000 barrels of oil in San Francisco Bay, closing our beaches, threatening protected marine sanctuaries, and killing thousands of birds and sea life.”

Woolsey’s legislation would create the Federal Oil Spill Research Committee to oversee the various government agencies and departments involved in responding to oil spills.  The committee would be tasked with developing contingency plans, and for ensuring that emergency officials have the most up to date and effective equipment possible.  Recent cleanup efforts have been hampered by obsolete plans, many of which haven’t been updated in over a decade, and inadequate equipment.

“Protecting the beautiful coastlines of Marin and Sonoma counties is one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Woolsey.  “A future oil spill in the Bay Area wouldn’t just threaten our pristine environment, but also the thousands of tourism and commercial fishing jobs that depend on it.”