Thu, November 14, 2019 • 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST
Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel & Conference Center
714 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229
In 2018, Washington State passed the Strengthening Oil Spill Transportation Act (E2SSB 6269) requiring the Department of Ecology (Ecology) Spills Program to take a variety of new steps to promote the safety of marine transportation and protect the greater Puget Sound from oil spills. One of the Act’s requirements is for Ecology to coordinate with British Columbia and Canada to establish the Salish Sea Shared Waters Forum.
The purpose of the Forum is to exchange information to enhance oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response measures to minimize the risk and impacts of spills in the Salish Sea. The Forum will serve as a platform for open dialogue for all levels of government from both sides of the border, including Transport Canada, the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, Tribes and First Nations, environmental groups, and industry. It will address issues such as navigational safety, data sharing, and the impacts of spills on the environment, Tribal and First Nation resources, the economy, and public health. This Forum will provide a platform to discuss and share ideas on these and other issues related to vessel traffic.
The goal is to advance our collective knowledge about current policies and practices, and potential safeguards to protect our shared waters and resources. The Forum will be a non-voting and non-decision-making entity.
The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, of which Washington and British Columbia are founding members, will work with Ecology and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to establish and hold the Forum.
This event will be free and open to the public. Please visit the Task Force website for additional information. www.oilspilltaskforce.org
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