WAC 173-184-115   Rate A prebooming and Rate A alternative measures requirements.  (1) The Rate A deliverer must preboom oil transfers when it is safe and effective to do so. When prebooming is not safe and effective, the deliverer must meet the alternative measure requirements found in subsection (7) of this section.

     (2) The determination of safe and effective must be made prior to starting a transfer, or if conditions change, during a transfer. This safe and effective determination must use the following threshold values:

     (a) Transfers at a class 1 facility must use the class 1 facility's values found in the facility's operations manual - see WAC 173-180-420.

     (b) Transfers that do not occur at class 1 facilities must use the values found in the vessel's approved report submitted in accordance with WAC 173-184-130, the Safe and effective threshold determination report.

     (3) When it is not safe and effective or when conditions develop during a preboomed transfer which requires removal of the boom, the Rate A deliverer must report this finding to ecology and meet the alternative measures found in subsection (7) of this section. The Ecology Boom Reporting form must be used for this purpose, and submitted by e-mail or facsimile prior to the transfer and/or immediately when conditions have changed.

     (4) If multiple oil transfers are occurring simultaneously with a single vessel and one product transferred is not appropriate to preboom, then that portion of the transfer where it is unsuitable to preboom must meet the alternative measures found in subsection (7) of this section.

     (5) For the purposes of this section, the deliverer must be able to quickly disconnect all boom in the event of an emergency.

     (6) Rate A prebooming requirements.

     (a) In order to preboom transfers, the deliverer must have access to boom four times the length of the largest vessel involved in the transfer or two thousand feet, whichever is less. The deliverer must deploy the boom such that it completely surrounds the vessel(s) and facility/terminal dock area directly involved in the oil transfer operation, or the portion of the vessel and transfer area that provides for maximum containment of any oil spilled.

     (i) The boom must be deployed with a minimum stand-off of five feet away from the sides of a vessel measured at the waterline. This stand-off may be modified for short durations needed to meet a facility or ship's operational needs.

     (ii) The deliverer must check the boom positioning periodically and adjust the boom as necessary throughout the duration of the transfer and specifically during tidal changes and significant wind or wave events.

     (b) In addition to prebooming, the deliverer must have the following recovery equipment available on-site:

     (i) Containers suitable for holding the recovered oil and oily water;

     (ii) Nonsparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets; and

     (iii) Enough sorbent materials and storage capacity for a seven barrel oil spill appropriate for use on water or land.

     (c) For preboomed transfers: Within one hour of being made aware of a spill the deliverer must be able to complete deployment of the remaining boom should it be necessary for containment, protection, or recovery purposes.

     (7) Rate A alternative measures. Rate A deliverers must use these alternative measures when it is not safe and effective to meet the prebooming requirements:

     (a) To meet the alternative measures requirements the deliverer must have access to boom four times the length of the largest vessel involved in the transfer or two thousand feet, whichever is less.

     (b) In addition to the boom, the deliverer must have the following recovery equipment available on-site:

     (i) Containers suitable for holding the recovered oil and oily water;

     (ii) Nonsparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets; and

     (iii) Enough sorbent materials and storage capacity for a seven barrel oil spill appropriate for use on water or land.

     (c) The deliverer must have the ability to safely track an oil spill in low visibility conditions. The tracking system must be on-scene within thirty minutes of being made aware of the spill.

     (d) For alternative measures: Within one hour of being made aware of a spill the deliverer must be able to completely surround the vessel(s) and facility/terminal dock area directly involved in the oil transfer operation or the portion of the vessel and transfer area that provides for maximum containment of any oil spilled.

     (e) For alternative measures: Within two hours of being made aware of a spill, the deliverer must have the following:

     (i) Additional boom four times the length of the largest vessel involved in the transfer or two thousand feet, whichever is less, available for containment, protection, or recovery; and

     (ii) A skimming system must be on-site. The skimming system must be in stand-by status and be capable of fifty barrels recovery and one hundred barrels of storage.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 88.46.160, 88.46.165, and chapter 90.56 RCW. 06-20-034 (Order 06-02), § 173-184-115, filed 9/25/06, effective 10/26/06.]