(1) The duties of the council include:

     (a) Selection and hiring of professional staff and expert consultants to support the work of the council;

     (b) Early consultation with government decision makers in relation to the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs, analyses, rule making, and related oil spill activities;

     (c) Providing independent advice, expertise, research, monitoring, and assessment for review of and necessary improvements to the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs, analyses, rule making, and other decisions, including those of the Northwest area committee, as well as the adequacy of funding for these programs;

     (d) Monitoring and providing information to the public as well as state and federal agencies regarding state of the art oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs;

     (e) Actively seeking public comments on and proposals for specific measures to improve the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response program, including measures to improve the effectiveness of the Northwest area committee;

     (f) Evaluating incident response reports and making recommendations to the department regarding improvements;

     (g) Consulting with the department on lessons learned and agency progress on necessary actions in response to lessons learned;

     (h) Promoting opportunities for the public to become involved in oil spill response activities and provide assistance to community groups with an interest in oil spill prevention and response, and coordinating with the department on the development and implementation of a citizens' involvement plan;

     (i) Serving as an advisory body to the department on matters relating to international, national, and regional issues concerning oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response, and providing a mechanism for stakeholder and public consideration of federal actions relating to oil spill preparedness, prevention, and response in or near the waters of the state with recommended changes or improvements in federal policies on these matters;

     (j) Accepting moneys from appropriations, gifts, grants, or donations for the purposes of this section; and

     (k) Any other activities necessary to maintain the state's vigilance in preventing oil spills.

     (2) The council shall establish a work plan for accomplishing the duties identified in subsection (1) of this section.

     (3) The council is not intended to address issues related to spills involving hazardous substances.

     (4) By September 15, 2006, the council shall recommend to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature, proposals for the long-term funding of the council's activities and for the long-term sustainable funding for oil spill preparedness, prevention, and response activities.

     (5) By September 1st of each year, the council shall make recommendations for the continuing improvement of the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response activities through a report to the governor, the director, and the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives.

[2005 c 304 § 3.]