OLYMPIA — State regulators are working on new rules that will guide the transportation of crude oil across Washington state.
The Department of Ecology is developing a rule that will require facilities to give the state advance weekly notice about crude oil shipments they receive. Pipelines would be required to provide biannual notice.
The agency is also figuring out what type of information the state will disclose to emergency responders, local and tribal governments and the public. And it’s also establishing requirements for railroad operators that haul crude oil to have oil-spill response and drill plans.
The rules are part of an oil safety transportation measure state lawmakers passed earlier this year.
The department plans to seek public input before finalizing requirements.
As many as 19 mile-long trains carrying crude oil roll through the state each week.
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