Other LanguagesNovember 18, 1996 - Washington's Chief Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Mix is pleased with today's U.S. District Court decision upholding the Washington law requiring oil tankers to follow state oil spill prevention regulations. The law requires oil tankers to employ the best achievable protections to safeguard Puget Sound.
"Judge Coughenour's ruling preserves the state's ability to impose additional prevention requirements beyond federal and international standards ," Mix said. "This will help ensure that there is not a catastrophic oil spill in Puget Sound. That's extremely good news for Washington's citizens."
Barbara Herman, Administrator for the Office of Marine Safety said, "Today's ruling is a victory for the people of the state of Washington. This state has taken the lead in oil spill prevention and Judge Coughenour's decision vindicates our efforts to preserve the environmental quality of Washington waters."
The Judge sustained Washington law against a challenge brought by the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko).
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9/10/99 Release: U. S. Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments in Intertanko Case
US Supreme Court Brief for State Respondents - Filed November 18, 1999. (Adobe PDF)