Oil Transfer Requirements for Class 2 Facilities

Oil transfer requirements refer to the procedures and equipment standards necessary for safe oil transfers.

Requirements include:

	Pre-booming	Oil transfer equipment	Oil transfer operations
	Equivalent Compliance	Safe vessel access	Emergency shutdown
	Alternative Measures	Communications	Pre-transfer conference
	Advance notice of transfer	Preload or cargo transfer plan	Adverse weather and sea conditions during transfer

Note: Oil Transfer Rules Compliance Schedule

Class 2 Delivering Facility Transfer Checklist (pdf)

Alternative Measures Requirements
Q: What are Alternative Measures?
A: For Rate B transfers, they are actions to be taken when the facility elects not to pre-boom. The alternative measures to be taken for a Rate B transfer differ from those for a Rate A transfer.

Q: When must Alternative Measures be in place at Rate B oil transfer locations?
A: Unless pre-boomed, or operating under an approved “Equivalent Compliance Plan,” Class 2 facilities conducting Rate B transfers must have alternative measures in place by February 25, 2007.

Q: What specifically is required to implement the alternative measures during a Rate B transfer?
A: or Rate B transfers, a delivering class 1 facility must: Have access to boom long enough to surround the vessel(s) and dock area involved in the transfer, providing for maximum containment. Have personnel trained in the proper use and maintenance of boom and recovery equipment. Have recovery equipment available on site for a two-barrel spill (i.e. containers, shovels, absorbent materials, storage capacity, etc.). Within one hour of notification of a spill, be able to deploy 500 feet of boom for containment, protection and recovery. Within two hours of notification of a spill, have an additional 500 feet of boom available on scene for containment, protection and recovery. For additional alternative measures requirements see WAC 173-180-221 and 222. Q: What does “access to” enough boom to surround the vessel mean? Does it mean that I have to bring the boom to every location where I transfer? A: No. Simply put, it means that you either must own that amount of boom or have an agreement with a contractor who owns that much boom. This is an example of a planning standard. If a spill occurs, you must bring that boom to the spill location within the 1 and 2 hour timeframes.
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Equivalent Compliance Measures
Q: Can a Class 2 facility propose innovative or special measures to be taken in place of the “alternative measures” required?
A: Yes. An “Equivalent Compliance Plan” may be submitted 120 prior to planned use of the proposed equivalent measures. The plan must be reviewed and approved by Ecology before it can be used as a substitute for the alternative measures. To be approved, the Equivalent Compliance Plan should be site-specific and must provide protection that is equivalent or better than the alternative measures.