2000 ANNUAL REPORT
ISSUES BY REGION

• WSPA Recognized For Clean Air Excellence
• Puget Sound Oil Spill Panel Works Toward Consensus

WSPA Recognized For Clean Air Excellence

WSPA members in Washington State along with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency received EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award in 2000. Washington refiners and marketers were nominated for the award by Dennis McLerran, the Director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, for voluntarily providing reduced vapor pressure gasoline to the Seattle marketplace for the second consecutive year. Reduced vapor pressure fuel reduces the amount of hydrocarbons that are emitted from vehicles, thereby decreasing a key component in ozone formulation. "We applaud these companies for taking this important voluntary measure," said McLerran. "We sit on the edge of violating the smog standard. This measure could reduce smog-forming emissions from gasoline on a hot day by 10 percent." The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program annually recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts that help make progress in achieving cleaner air.

Northwest Refiners, Clean Air Agency Receive National Award

Regional oil refiners and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency are being recognized by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for a creative and innovative partnership that delivered measurable results for citizens of the Puget Sound region. The prestigious Clean Air Excellence Award is being presented today in St. Paul, Minnesota, by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation for the partnership’s voluntary program to reduce summer smog in western Washington.

The award is being presented to the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), BP (ARCO), Chevron, Puget Sound Refining Company (Texaco and Shell), Tesoro Northwest Company, Tosco Refining Company (Union 76) and U.S. Oil & Refining Co. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency nominated the refiners and marketers for their Voluntary Lower Reid Vapor Pressure Program for the summer of 1999. Dan Riley, Northwest Regional Manager of WSPA, and Dennis McLerran, Executive Director of the Clean Air Agency, are accepting the award on behalf of the partners.

Smog-reducing gasoline, called low vapor pressure fuel, reduces tailpipe emissions and the evaporation of hydrocarbons from vehicle gas tanks, gas stations and fuel-transfer operations. At the request of the Clean Air Agency, the oil refiners agreed to change the formulation of their gasoline to help reduce summer smog, protecting public health and helping the region stay in compliance with federal smog regulations. The program was responsible for reducing smog-forming pollutants by about 10 percent during the summer of 1999. The refiners reinstated the voluntary program this past summer.

"This was an expensive proposition for the refiners, but they understood the importance to the region and to the health of 3.5 million people," said McLerran of the Clean Air Agency. "Their voluntary program made a difference in helping us to protect regional air quality, and they clearly deserve this recognition."

"These companies are trend setters in innovation and commitment to achieving cleaner air," said Bob Perciasepe, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "The accomplishments of these and the other recipients of our Clean Air Excellence Awards show it is possible to both grow the economy and improve the environment."

The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program annually recognizes and honors innovative efforts to make progress toward cleaner air across the country. This year, 117 entries were submitted to EPA for consideration, and only 16 awards were granted to organizations and individuals who were deemed pioneers in improving air quality. The awards were presented during a meeting of EPA’s Clean Air Act Advisory Committee in St. Paul.

It was the third award for western Washington’s oil refiners for this program. They also received environmental awards from the Association of Washington Business earlier this year and from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency after the first summer of the program. The program has also been nominated for a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence.

"We recognize that people can’t just quit driving altogether when smog levels rise, so we’re pleased to be partners in the Clean Air Agency’s summer smog program," WSPA’s Riley said. "Everyone benefits, not just business, if we can avoid violating the federal air quality standard."

The oil refiners and suppliers provide gasoline to BP, ARCO, Texaco, Shell, Union 76, Chevron, Exxon, Mobil and Tesoro stations.

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Puget Sound Oil Spill Panel Works Toward Consensus

In August of 1999, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the Governor of Washington established a long-term oil spill risk management panel, tasked with the development of a comprehensive, long-term oil spill risk management plan in the North Puget Sound. The panel was composed of stakeholders from the region representing fishing, transport, environmental, geographical and general public interests.

After 10 months of deliberations, the North Puget Sound Risk Management Panel concluded its work in July of 2000. WSPA helped move the process along by supporting the environmental community’s proposal to position a dedicated tug at the entrance of the Straights of Juan de Fuca provided all users of the waterway equitably fund it. The proposal failed to reach consensus by the panel due to the opposition of the Ports, Dry Cargo, Pilots and Fishing Associations. An alternate proposal by the Ports Association, which would require escorts for high risk vessels, and placing a tug in the Straights when winds exceed 40 miles per hour also did not reach consensus. The latter was opposed by WSPA due to its vague nature.

Widely Diverse Groups

The panel did agree on twenty-four recommendations that would encourage education and communication as well as support the Coast Guard’s proposal to reposition traffic lanes. However, the report did not reach consensus approval by the panel. The environmental community and local elected officials feared that endorsing the report would mask the fact that the tug was not recommended and would send the signal that no other additional measures were necessary. The environmental members of the panel have indicated they believe a dedicated tug is a better long term alternative to protecting the Northwest Straights from an oil spill. The panel was successful at bringing together a widely diverse group of stakeholders and establishing a constructive dialogue. While consensus was not reached, there was a universally shared commitment for maritime safety and environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest.

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