# OFFICES OF THE GOVERNORS

_________________________________________________________________________________________ C HRISTINE O. G REGOIRE T HEODORE R. K ULONGOSKI

WASHINGTON OREGON

August 11, 2010

The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528

The Honorable Lisa Jackson, Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460

Dear Secretary Napolitano a nd Administrator Jackson:

We would like to express our strong support a nd deep appreciation for the work of the

U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Pr otection Agency in responding to the Deepwater

Horizon (Gulf Coast) oil spill. The tragedy is unp recedented and your work has been incredibly

difficult. On behalf of the citizens of our states, thank you for your tireless efforts.

Over the last couple of months, we have provided assistance by directing our state environmental agencies to assist in the Gulf Coast response. They have released to the gulf as many oil spill response resources as possible, consis tent with maintaining an appropriate level of oil spill readiness here in our region. We are more than wi lling to do our part, and we have already contributed much.

We are concerned that we are fast approach ing a preparedness threshold that we cannot pass. Indeed, we are aware that the Coast Gu ard and Environmental Protection Agency have adopted an emergency rule significantly reduci ng federal spill response standards nation-wide. We believe the new rule’s Average Most Probable Discharge standard is too low for the Pacific Northwest area, even as a temporary standard.

As additional resources are requested for deploym ent to the Gulf Coast spill, we ask that your organizations:

1) Formally consult with our state environmental ag encies prior to approving the deployment of additional equipment and personnel out of our re gion that would result in the loss of response capability below the federal Maximum Most Probable Discharge standards. We want to work closely with our federal partners ev en though Oregon and Washington have clear independent authority to maintain state promulgated standards.Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Jackson August 11, 2010 Page 2

2) Consider the distances and travel time from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast spill, especially for larger vessels. The West Coast is at a uni que disadvantage to easter n and gulf coast states since our large response vessels must travel th rough the Panama Canal to arrive at the spill site. These vessels would require a minimum 20 -day transit time if they were recalled to respond to a large spill here in the Northwest.

3) Develop a regional approach to moving equi pment from the West Coast utilizing the Northwest Area Regional Response Team.

Response organizations within Oregon a nd Washington are contributing, and will

continue to contribute, significant equipment and personnel to assist with the Gulf Coast spill response. At the same time, we are confiden t you understand that we have a legal and public trust obligation to ensure that we maintain a safe level of spill response capability to protect the Pacific Northwest’s environment and economy.

Thank you for your leadership and outsta nding efforts, and for considering our

recommendations.

Sincerely,

Christine O. Gregoire Theodore R. Kulongoski Governor of Washington Governor of Oregon

cc: Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard Carol Browner, Director, White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore, Commander, 13 th District U.S. Coast Guard Dennis McLerran, Administrator, EPA Region X Chris Field, Regional Response Team Co-Chair Captain Salvatore Palmeri, Regional Response Team Co-Chair Ted L. Sturdevant, Director, Washington State Department of Ecology Dick Pedersen, Director, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality