Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 172.0

529US1

Unit: $U35

[09-26-01 09:32:43] PAGES PGT: OPIN

Cite as: 529 U. S. 89 (2000)

97

Opinion of the Court

Washington responded by enacting the state regulations
now in issue. The legislature created the Ofﬁce of Marine
Safety, which it directed to establish standards for spill pre-
vention plans to provide “the best achievable protection
[BAP] from damages caused by the discharge of oil.” Wash.
Rev. Code § 88.46.040(3) (1994). The Ofﬁce of Marine Safety
then promulgated the tanker design, equipment, reporting,
and operating requirements now subject to attack by pe-
titioners. Wash. Admin. Code (WAC) § 317–21–130 et seq.
(1999). A summary of the relevant regulations, as described
by the Court of Appeals, is set out in the Appendix, infra.
If a vessel fails to comply with the Washington rules,
possible sanctions include statutory penalties, restrictions of
the vessel’s operations in state waters, and a denial of entry
into state waters. Wash. Rev. Code §§ 88.46.070, 88.46.080,
88.46.090 (1994).

Petitioner International Association of Independent
Tanker Owners (Intertanko) is a trade association whose 305
members own or operate more than 2,000 tankers of both
United States and foreign registry. The organization repre-
sents approximately 80% of the world’s independently owned
tanker ﬂeet; and an estimated 60% of the oil imported into
the United States is carried on Intertanko vessels. The
association brought this suit seeking declaratory and injunc-
tive relief against state and local ofﬁcials responsible for
enforcing the BAP regulations. Groups interested in envi-
ronmental preservation intervened in defense of the laws.
Intertanko argued that Washington’s BAP standards in-
vaded areas long occupied by the Federal Government and
imposed unique requirements in an area where national uni-
formity was mandated.
Intertanko further contended that
if local political subdivisions of every maritime nation were
to impose differing regulatory regimes on tanker operations,
the goal of national governments to develop effective in-
ternational environmental and safety standards would be
defeated.