04/17/2007: "Additional $ For Tug Rescue On Hold"

Councilman Kevin Ranker was interviewed Friday on KPLU by Liam Moriarty, about the recent action by Sen. Harriet Spanel to remove portions of a bill that would place a state tax on crude oil, and instead substituted language calling for further studies on funding sources, and “request that federal agencies with jurisdiction seek to require or fund the stationing of a response tug at such location, and seek reimbursement for the funding provided by the state for this purpose commencing with the fiscal year 2008 costs to the state”.

The original bill simply taxed the providers and transporters of transport crude oil & petroleum products, and this change in the bill by Spanel worries Ranker that there is the danger that a funding source may be held up, as the “feds look to the State for the funding, and the State looks to the Feds for funding”.

Ranker stated In an email that “It is likely that US Senator Maria Cantwell will introduce legislation in Congress later this year to fully fund the Rescue Tug and other recommendations of the Washington State Oil Spill Advisory Council.” But as Ranker told KPLU : “in the meantime “we are in great risk” of a spill that will devastate our marine environment, and, our multi-million dollar tourism economy that is based on that environment”.

Currently there is some funding for a tug this year. If Cantwell is unsuccessful in obtaining money, it is expected the state will once again find a source to continue funding a tug.