OFFICES OF THE GOVERNORS _________________________________________________________________________________________ 

CHRISTINE O. GREGOIRE THEODORE R. KULONGOSKI

 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 and Administrator Jackson: 

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

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

Horizon (Gulf Coast) oil spill. The tragedy is unprecedented 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, consistent with maintaining an appropriate level of 

oil spill readiness here in our region. We are more than willing to do our part, and we have 

already contributed much. 

We are concerned that we are fast approaching a preparedness threshold that we cannot 

pass. Indeed, we are aware that the Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency have 

adopted an emergency rule significantly reducing 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 deployment to the Gulf Coast spill, we ask that 

your organizations: 

1) Formally consult with our state environmental agencies prior to approving the deployment of 

additional equipment and personnel out of our region 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 even 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 unique disadvantage to eastern and gulf coast states 

since our large response vessels must travel through 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 equipment from the West Coast utilizing the 

Northwest Area Regional Response Team. 

Response organizations within Oregon and 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 confident 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 outstanding 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, 13th 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