Until a new state Office of Pipeline Safety can be set up, Locke was asked to designate one state agency to take the lead in sorting through team recommendations to strengthen regulations. Those proposed recommendations would be the basis for determining the amount of the increased fees. The agency also would study setting up a funded citizen oversight advisory committee of the pipeline industry in the state. The team made more than three dozen recommendations in response to a June 10 Olympic Pipe Line Co. gas pipe explosion in Bellingham that killed three young people. Other recommendations are designed to beef up emergency response, training and coordination among agencies for pipeline incidents.
Nothing can make up for what's happened.
But many serious people have worked very hard to accomplish the goal that this will never happen again. Gov. Gary Locke will meet informally Monday with the task force and another one set up by cities to announce what he plans to do with the recommendations. At least two bills are planned in the Legislature, based in part on the committee's work. Locke established the team after the incident and charged it with making recommendations this month, before the legislative session begins Jan. 10. The team reached agreement on its recommendations by consensus.