On January 25, the Transportation

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1 Phone: (703) Fax: (703) ISSN North Quincy Street, Suite 200, Arlington, Virginia VOLUME 64, NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2, 2007 HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE TWIC Rule Published...1 Ballast Water Public Meetings Planned...2 Setting A New Course...2 Complete Committee Assignments Announced for 110th Congress...4 CEMS: Ask the Pioneers...6 Responsible Carrier Program Updated and Available...7 CEMS Training Opportunities...7 Southern Region Holds 2007 Annual Meeting...8 Washington State Legislature Targets Maritime Commerce...9 It s Not Too Late to Register for the Pacific Region Annual Meeting...10 Atlantic Region Meeting Is Next Week..10 TWIC Rule Published; Coast Guard Issues Revised Proposal on Merchant Mariner Credentials On January 25, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard jointly published in the Federal Register a final rule establishing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, as previewed in the January 19 AWO Letter. The Coast Guard also issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) making minor changes to its May 2006 proposal to establish a consolidated Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). The MMC proposal would replace Coast Guard-issued licenses, merchant mariner s documents, certificates of registry and STCW endorsements with a new document called a Merchant Mariner Credential. While the TWIC would serve as a biometric identity and security card as required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, the MMC would carry a mariner s professional credentials. The Coast Guard proposes to initiate the MMC program in August 2008, to coordinate with the September 25, 2008 deadline for credentialed mariners to have TWICs. Under the Coast Guard proposal, mariners will no longer have to go to a Regional Examination Center to present identity documents and be fingerprinted; these security functions will be performed when the mariner applies for a TWIC. Unless the credential for which a mariner is applying requires an exam, the mariner will be able to apply for an MMC entirely by mail. While a mariner must apply for a TWIC before applying for an MMC, the two documents will be processed concurrently, as recommended by AWO and as required by the SAFE Port Act. (The Coast Guard will wait to issue the MMC until the mariner has received his or her TWIC, however.) The SNPRM also addresses the two other concerns raised by AWO in its comments on the NPRM. The Coast Guard has clarified that the proposed rule requires a demonstration of physical ability only if the examining medical professional questions the applicant s ability to meet the physical ability standards. The agency has clarified that this assessment can be performed in an office and does not require a medical professional to travel to the vessel. The Coast Guard has also clarified the hearing test requirements, stating that testing must only be performed if the examiner has (continued on page 2) American Salvage Association Arlington, VA (703) A trade association promoting professionalism and improving marine casualty response in American coastal and inland waters. This edition of the AWO Letter is sponsored by:

2 AGENCY ACTIONS/IN THE NEWS Ballast Water Public Meetings Planned AWO MEMBERS URGED TO ATTEND The U.S. Coast Guard will hold two public meetings to hear public comment on the need for revisions to the agency s ballast water reporting and recordkeeping requirements, part of a review process that could pave the way for a sunsetting or scaling back of the reporting requirements for certain vessel types. The meetings will be held in Chicago, IL, on March 13, and New Orleans, LA, on March 15. AWO members are encouraged to participate. Ballast water requirements for vessels operating exclusively within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have been in effect since November Since that time, AWO has urged the Coast Guard to consider the reporting requirements a means to an end the collection of information necessary to understand how vessel movements TWIC Rule Published (continued from page 1) doubts about the applicant s ability to hear normally. The Coast Guard will accept comments on the MMC proposal until April 25. For a copy of the SNPRM, click here. For a copy of the TWIC final rule, click here. For more information, please contact Jennifer Carpenter at (703) or via at jcarpenter@vesselalliance.com. and ballast water discharges correspond to invasive species flows and not a permanent requirement. AWO has asked the Coast Guard to sunset the reporting requirements for vessels operating exclusively within the EEZ and to make changes to the ballast water reporting forms and procedures to simplify the requirements for other vessels. On November 8, 2006, the Coast Guard issued a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on the need for such changes. The comment period closes March 16. The Coast Guard request for comments and the upcoming public meetings are an important opportunity for AWO members affected by the ballast water reporting requirements to discuss the impact of these requirements on towing vessel operations. Next week, AWO will provide further information to members by to assist them in drafting comments to the docket and preparing talking points for the public meetings. In the meantime, members are encouraged to make plans to attend whichever of the two meetings is most convenient to them. The Chicago meeting will be held at the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites, 160 East Huron Street ( ), on Tuesday, March 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The New Orleans meeting will be held at the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal Street ( ), on Thursday, March 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. AWO members planning to attend either meeting should Jennifer Carpenter at jcarpenter@vesselalliance.com. Setting A New Course The following commentary, written by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryland), new Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, appeared in the January 29 issue of the Waterways Journal. ************* I am deeply honored to have been selected by my colleagues to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. This position, together with my new assignment on the House Armed Services Committee, will give me the opportunity to represent the interests of my constituents and indeed of the entire nation regarding the whole range of critical threats that confront our homeland. As I begin my duties as Chairman, I will set a new course on the Subcommittee that will balance oversight of the Coast Guard with our responsibility to oversee and support our maritime industry. I believe that diligent oversight must be directed toward the implementation of the Coast Guard s $8.3 billion fiscal year 2007 budget. Of particular concern is the implementation of the Deepwater program, to which more than $1 billion has been appropriated in this fiscal year. Deepwater is a $24 billion procurement program intended to upgrade and modernize (continued on page 3) 2 February 2, 2007

3 IN THE NEWS Setting A New Course (continued from page 2) the Coast Guard s assets, including its cutters, smaller patrol boats, and aircraft. The Deepwater procurement is central not only to rehabilitating and modernizing the Coast Guard s fleet but to aligning these assets with the service s changing missions, including the significant new homeland security responsibilities it was given after September 11, The success of Deepwater will be critical to determining the mission readiness of the Coast Guard for decades to come. We will work to ensure that systems are in place going forward to effectively manage this procurement and guarantee that the equipment procured through this program will be reliable throughout its entire planned lifespan. Importantly, however, while we must ensure that the Coast Guard spends every federal dollar effectively and efficiently, we must also examine whether the Coast Guard has adequate resources to enable it to fulfill all of its responsibilities including critical non-homeland security missions such as drug interdiction and rescues at sea with the same level of focus and attention that is dedicated to its homeland security missions. The Subcommittee will also pursue an aggressive agenda to support the growth of maritime transportation. U.S. ports received nearly 62,000 port calls in 2005 and currently move more than $1.3 billion in goods on a daily basis. The U.S. Maritime Administration estimates that the total volume of trade handled by U.S. ports will double in the next 15 years. To prepare our nation to meet the challenges such cargo growth will bring, we will examine the steps that must be taken to fully integrate U.S. ports into our multi-modal transportation network. Further, we will closely examine the untapped potential that our ports and waterways offer for moving cargo within the United States and for getting trucks off our increasingly congested highways while ensuring the integrity of the Jones Act. At the same time, the security of our ports and the cargo transported through them will be a major priority for the Subcommittee. The House of Representatives has already passed H.R. 1, which not only implemented the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission but exceeded these recommendations by phasing in requirements that will lead to the scanning of all cargo bound for U.S. ports. Our Subcommittee will work closely with the Committee on Homeland Security to examine the gaps that remain in port security and to fill these gaps in ways that will protect our nation from emerging threats while being sensitive to the need to ensure that commerce through our ports is not unduly slowed. To that end, we will work to foster pragmatic dialogue between the members of the commercial maritime community and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that each group understands what the other needs to succeed in what should be their complementary pursuits. The Subcommittee will also bring a new focus to ensuring the safety of all those who work in the fast-moving maritime industry and to protecting the irreplaceable natural resources of the marine environment. Obviously, this is an ambitious agenda that will require diligent dedication throughout the entire 110th Congress. I look forward to working closely with our Committee Chairman Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-Minnesota), Ranking Member Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio), the members of our Subcommittee, and all members of the maritime community to understand their concerns and to hear their suggestions for improving this critical industry. My door will always be open. Important Dates and Reminders at a glance All contact persons can be reached by calling AWO s Arlington, VA office at (703) unless otherwise noted. February 7-8, 2007: Atlantic Region Annual Meeting, Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York, NY. For more information, contact Chris Coakley. February 14-15, 2007: Pacific Region Annual Meeting, Doubletree Hotel, Seattle Airport, Seattle, WA. For more information, contact Jason Lewis. March 28-29, 2007: Interregion Safety Committee Meeting, New Orleans, LA. For more information, contact Kathy Rehak. February 2,

4 LEGISLATIVE NEWS Complete Committee Assignments Announced for 110th Congress New to the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee are Democrats Thomas Carper (DE), freshman Claire McCaskill (MO), freshman Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Republican John Thune (SD). The full committee membership is as follows: Senate Majority Members Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (HI) John D. Rockefeller (WV) John F. Kerry (MA) Byron L. Dorgan (ND) Barbara Boxer (CA) Bill Nelson (FL) Maria Cantwell (WA) Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ) E. Benjamin Nelson (NE) Mark Pryor (AR) Thomas Carper (DE) Claire McCaskill (MO) Amy Klobuchar (MN) Senate Minority Members Co-Chairman Ted Stevens (AK) John McCain (AZ) Trent Lott (MS) Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) Olympia J. Snowe (ME) Gordon H. Smith (OR) John Ensign (NV) John E. Sununu (NH) Jim DeMint (SC) David Vitter (LA) John Thune (SD) Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee Senate Majority Member Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (WA) Senate Minority Member Olympia J. Snowe (ME), Ranking Member Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure Safety and Security Subcommittee Senate Majority Member Chairman Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ) Senate Minority Member Gordon H. Smith (OR), Ranking Member The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee has added four freshman Democratic members: Benjamin Cardin (MD), Amy Klobucher (MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Bernard Sanders (I-VT). The full committee membership is as follows: Senate Majority Members Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (CA) Joseph I. Lieberman (CT) Thomas R. Carper (DE) Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ) Benjamin L. Cardin (MD) Bernard Sanders (VT) Amy Klobuchar (MN) Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) Senate Minority Members James M. Inhofe (OK), Ranking Member Max Baucus(MT) John Warner (VA) George V. Voinovich (OH) Johnny Isakson (GA) David Vitter (LA) Lamar Alexander (TN) Larry E. Craig (ID) Jim DeMint (SC) Christopher S. Bond (MO) 4 February 2, 2007

5 LEGISLATIVE NEWS Committee Assignments Announced for 110th Congress The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has added several new members: House Majority Committee Members John Salazar (CO) Grace Napolitano (CA) Nick Lampson (TX) Daniel Lipinski (IL) Zachary Space (OH) Mazie Hirono (HI) Bruce Braley (IA) Jason Altmire (PA) Timothy Walz (MN) Heath Shuler (NC) Michael Arcuri (NY) Harry Mitchell (AZ) Christopher Carney (PA) John Hall (NY) Steve Kagen (WI) Steve Cohen (TN) Jerry McNerney (CA) House Minority Committee Members Jean Schmidt (OH) Candice Miller (MI) Thelma Drake (VA) Mary Fallin (OK) Vern Buchanan (FL) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Senate Majority Members Chairman Max Baucus (MT) Thomas R. Carper (DE) Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) Benjamin L. Cardin (MD) Bernard Sanders (VT) Senate Minority Members Johnny Isakson (GA) John Warner (VA) George V. Voinovich (OH) David Vitter (LA) Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality Subcommittee Senate Majority Members Chairman Frank Lautenberg (NJ) Benjamin L. Cardin (MD) Amy Klobuchar (MN) Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) Senate Minority Members David Vitter (LA), Ranking Member Christopher S. Bond (MO) George V. Voinovich (OH) Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation House Majority Members Chairman Elijah Cummings (MD) Gene Taylor (MS) Rick Larsen (WA) Corrine Brown (FL) Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA) Brian Higgins (NY) Brian Baird (WA) Timothy Bishop (NY) James Oberstar (MN) (ex-officio) House Minority Members Steve LaTourette (OH), Ranking Member Don Young (AK) Howard Coble (NC) Wayne T. Gilchrest (MD) Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ) Ted Poe (TX) John L. Mica (FL) (ex officio) If you receive a hard copy of the AWO Letter and need to know the exact Web addresses of the hyperlinks in any articles, please contact Mary McCarthy at (703) or via at mmccarthy@vesselalliance.com. February 2,

6 LEGISLATIVE NEWS/RESPONSIBLE CARRIER NEWS Committee Assignments Announced for 110th Congress Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment House Majority Members Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) Gene Taylor (MS) Brian Baird (WA) Doris Matsui (CA) Jerry Costello (IL) Timothy Bishop (NY) Brian Higgins (NY) Russ Carnahan (MO) John Salazar (CO) Mazie Hirono (HI) Heath Shuler (NC) Harry Mitchell (AZ) John Hall (NY) Steve Kagen (WI) Jerry McNerney (CA) Eleanor Holmes Norton (Washington, DC) Bob Filner (CA) Ellen Tauscher (CA) Michael Capuano (MA) Grace Napolitano (CA) Michael Arcuri (NY) James Oberstar (MN) (ex-officio) House Minority Members Richard H. Baker (LA), Ranking Member John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN) Wayne T. Gilchrest (MD) Vernon J. Ehlers, (MI) Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ) Gary G. Miller (CA) Robin Hayes (NC) Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC) Todd Russell Platts (PA) Bill Shuster (PA) John Boozman (AR) Connie Mack (FL) John R. Randy Kuhl, Jr. (NY) Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (LA) Jean Schmidt (OH) Candice S. Miller (MI) Thelma D. Drake (VA) John L. Mica, FL (ex officio) CEMS: Ask the Pioneers In a panel forum at the AWO 2006 Fall Convention, senior representatives from seven AWO member companies shared their experiences, successes and lessons learned from implementing Crew Endurance Management Systems (CEMS) in their organizations. To help AWO members learn from the pioneers, we have designed this series of articles highlighting specific questions about their CEMS experiences. How did you get started with CEMS? CEMS is really nothing more than trying to do the right thing for your employees and helping them to do the right thing for themselves. We started with physical changes - reducing noise, reducing vibration and improving lighting conditions. These physical changes were far easier to accomplish than dietary or lifestyle changes, and they provided tangible evidence that we were serious about CEMS. - Mark Knoy, MEMCO Barge Line Would you do anything different? Education, education, education! Education remains the key in implementing CEMS. Legislating the way someone lives and works has had very limited success. It s important to get the buy-in from a whole team of true believers to implement a change in human behavior that has been ingrained for decades. - Walter Blessey, Blessey Marine Service, Inc. Bring more Coaches on staff early. We had very limited resources because we are in a growth stage for our fleet. If we could have done anything differently, we would have had more educators in our fleet to promote early buy-in. - Fred Nyhuis, Marathon Petroleum Company LLC. NEXT QUESTIONS: What was the most challenging thing about implementing CEMS? What is the most effective element of CEMS? For further information, please contact Kathy Rehak at (703) or via at krehak@vesselalliance.com. 6 February 2, 2007

7 RESPONSIBLE CARRIER NEWS Responsible Carrier Program Updated and Available The Responsible Carrier Program (RCP), AWO s award-winning safety management system, has been revised and will be distributed to AWO members shortly. The Audit Checklist, which is the tool that is used to verify compliance with the RCP, has also been updated and will be distributed. The substantive changes to the RCP that are noted by bold, italicized text are in the area of Personnel Policies and Procedures (safe food handling and personal hygiene) and in Training (slip, trip and fall prevention training). All of the changes are effective as of January 1, These requirements were approved by the Board of Directors at its April 2006 meeting. The audit checklist reflects all of these changes, which are also highlighted in bold, italicized text. These changes are intended to make certain that AWO stays on track to meet its ambitious goal of ensuring that all AWO Carrier members are in compliance with all of the safety management system elements that will be required under the Coast Guard s new Subchapter M. In addition, changes have been made to the RCP Addenda. The Addenda contains policies, procedures and clarifications that govern the RCP, the RCP Accreditation Board and the RCP third-party audit. A notable addition includes provisions for RCP audits for companies whose AWO membership has lapsed and who wish to rejoin the association. Safety Pages AWO is proud of the evolution of the Responsible Carrier Program as a living document, reflecting industrygenerated initiatives that take the program and the association to increasing levels of safety and environmental protection. The RCP and audit checklists are available on AWO s Web site, under the heading Commitment to Safety. If you have questions regarding the Responsible Carrier Program, please contact Bob Clinton or Kathy Rehak at (703) CEMS The Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) is a system for managing risk factors in maritime work environments that can lead to human error and performance slumps. The Coast Guard and AWO have been working together to help companies implement the principles of CEMS. In this space, AWO will publish details of CEMS training opportunities around the country. For further information on CEMS training opportunities, please contact LCDR Vivianne Louie, U.S. Coast Guard, at (202) Training Opportunities DATE LOCATION CONTACT February March 1-2 March Coaches Training Inland Waterways Academy Huntington, WV Coaches Training Inland Waterways Academy Huntington, WV Coaches Training Vancouver, WA Jo Ann Salyers (Instructor) (504) salyers_solutions@hughes.net Capt. John Whiteley (Director) (304) Jo Ann Salyers (Instructor) (504) salyers_solutions@hughes.net Capt. John Whiteley (Director) (304) Jo Ann Salyers (Instructor) (504) salyers_solutions@hughes.net February 2,

8 REGIONAL REPORTS All Regions Southern Region Holds 2007 Annual Meeting Membership Meets in New Orleans to Discuss Issues, Establish Priorities, Elect Directors On January 25-26, the Southern Region membership held its 2007 Annual Meeting at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, LA. Southern Region Chairman Chuck King, Buffalo Marine Service, Inc., opened the meeting by reaffirming his commitment to ensure that the membership remains focused on the Southern Region priorities, particularly continuing the membership s momentum in the grassroots program, strengthening the AWO Political Action Committee (PAC) and strengthening AWO s relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. King also presented the 2007 slate of nominees from the Southern Region to serve two-year terms on AWO s Board of Directors. The Southern Region unanimously elected to the Board: Roger Harris, Magnolia Marine Transport Company; Bob Fry, Megafleet Towing Co., Inc.; Taylor DuChaine, Cenac Towing Company, Inc.; Jim Calhoun, Bisso Marine; Tommy Echols, Echo Marine Towing, Inc.; Matt Woodruff, Kirby Corporation; and, Walter Kristiansen, E.N. Bisso, Inc. The Southern Region also elected L.J. Trey Falgout, III to serve as the alternate. Mr. Harris and Mr. Fry were elected to serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the Southern Region. Mr. King continued by introducing AWO Chairman of the Board, Dale Sause, Sause Bros. Mr. Sause took the opportunity to reflect upon last year s events in the industry and discuss some of the challenges AWO will face in Specifically, Mr. Sause spoke to the membership about towing vessel inspection, describing it as a marathon, not a sprint, and asserted that the process is progressing on track. AWO s Chairman also provided his thoughts about preserving the integrity of the Jones Act, the challenges AWO will face in the 110th Congress, medical and physical evaluation guidelines for merchant mariner credentials, the vessel personnel shortage and internal administrative changes in AWO s staff. CAPT Timothy M. Close, Chief, Western Rivers Division, Eighth Coast Guard District, provided remarks on issues of importance in the Eighth District and his vision of the Coast Guard s relationship with industry. LCDR James A. Stewart, Assistant Chief, Inspections and Investigations Branch, Eighth Coast Guard District, provided an update on the status of the Regional Exam Centers in the Eighth District and on the transition of the mariner application process to the National Maritime Center in West Virginia. AWO President & CEO Tom Allegretti presented the Washington Report, including this year s major issue challenges and objectives. Matt Holzhalb, AWO Vice President - Southern Region, presented the Regional Report, during which the Southern Region membership approved its 2007 Southern Region Priorities. The meeting continued with a member discussion of the emerging work/travel time issue and potential changes to the Coast Guard policy on work and travel time. Jennifer Carpenter, AWO Senior Vice President - Government Affairs & Policy Analysis, and Mario Munoz, American Commercial Lines Inc., led the report and discussion on towing vessel inspection. Ms. Carpenter also led a discussion on the impacts of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the Coast Guard s draft medical and physical standards guidance on the vessel personnel shortage challenge. Boyd Hollingsworth, AWO Vice President - Legislative Affairs, provided the membership with a report on the impact of the changes in Congress on AWO s advocacy efforts and took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of AWO s PAC during the election cycle. Mr. Sause again took the podium to express his views on the value of the Responsible Carrier Program after Subchapter M, citing its importance as a branded safety management system, and a condition of membership, that will continue to position the association well in the courts of public, government and media opinion. Prior to adjourning, Mr. Holzhalb provided the grassroots report. The reception that preceded Friday s meeting was generously sponsored by Buffalo Marine Service, Inc. The continental breakfast for Friday s meeting was sponsored by Magnolia Marine Transport, and the beverage service was sponsored by Budwine & Associates, Inc. 8 February 2, 2007

9 REGIONAL REPORTS Pacific Region Washington State Legislature Targets Maritime Commerce The Washington State legislature is considering a series of new bills that focus on the marine industry as a source of new revenue for the state. One bill proposes to increase fees on containers in order to raise approximately three quarters of a billion dollars. Other bills propose the creation of a new state agency, a tax imposed on all oil transfers in the state, a possible tax on transfers for the improvement of highways, dedicated rescue tugs and potentially harmful ballast water requirements. Below is a summary of some of the bills currently being heard in the state house that are of concern to the tugboat, towboat and barge industry: HB 1374 & SB Creation of the Puget Sound Partnership A new state agency called the Puget Sound Partnership would be created with the goal of cleaning up and restoring Puget Sound by The partnership would have many different Welcome New Carrier Members! Pacific Workboat Co. P.O. Box Point Richmond, CA Rep: Mr. Ron Greger Owner TradeWinds Towing LLC 119 Washington Street St. Augustine, FL Rep: Ms. Rachel Smith Managing Director components ranging from the Action Agenda, which would state the goals and responsibilities of the Partnership; the Leadership Council, which would lead the Partnership; an Executive Director to administer the agency; the Implementation Advisory Board, consisting of stakeholders to advise the Leadership Council and the Executive Director; and the Puget Sound Science Advisory Council, consisting of technical and scientific representatives that would consult with the agency. HB 1488 & SB Enhancing the State's Oil Spill Response Program The Department of Ecology would be required to enter into contracts for a contingency tug program and a yearround tug in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The bill would also repeal the export credit for the Oil Spill Administration Tax and the Oil Spill Response Tax. In addition, it would eliminate the requirement to suspend collection of the Oil Spill Response Tax if the account has a balance greater than $9 million. There would be a new tax on the transfer of refined oil products from or to a vessel and the Oil Spill Prevention Account would be expanded so that the money could be used in more situations. HB 1738 & SB Ballast Water Management The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Ballast Water Work Group would collect data and maintain an inventory of nonindigenous plant and animal populations in Washington waters. The penalty for violations of the ballast water regulation would increase to $27,500 per day for a violation. There would also be a program developed to address and manage nonballast water ship vectors to control organisms from non-ballast water vessels. SB Container Tax/Fee A fee would be imposed on the processing of shipping containers in the ports of Washington State. The fee rate would be $50 per twenty foot equivalent unit (TEU). The Freight Congestion Relief Account would be created in the State Treasury to be used to provide freight-related congestion relief through improvements of freight rail infrastructure and highways. The initial cost of this legislation is $287 million during the biennium but would increase to $433 million during the biennium. SB Increasing Penalties for Oil Spills This proposal would increase oil spill penalties on any person who negligently discharges oil from $20,000 to $100,000. Penalties for anyone found intentionally causing an oil spill would increase from $100,000 to $500,000 for each violation and for every day the spill poses risks to the environment. February 2,

10 REGIONAL REPORTS Pacific Region It s Not Too Late to Register for the Pacific Region Annual Meeting The Pacific Regional Annual Meeting will be held February 15 at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport in Seattle, WA. The agenda will be packed with informative updates on both national and regional issues and will include the election of Board members and the adoption of regional priorities. The meeting will begin on Thursday morning, February 15 with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by a Call To Order at 8:00 a.m. Thursday s meeting will adjourn at noon. There will also be a dinner on February 14 in Seattle, time and location to be determined. Information on the meeting venue is as follows: Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport International Boulevard Seattle, WA (206) For more information, please contact Jason Lewis, Vice President - Pacific Region, at (206) or via at jlewis@vesselalliance.com. Atlantic Region Atlantic Region Meeting Is Next Week The Atlantic Region Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 8 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, NY. This meeting will provide an invaluable forum for member-staff interaction on important regional and national issues. The keynote speaker will be RADM Timothy S. Sullivan, Commander, First Coast Guard District. For more information, please contact Chris Coakley, Vice President - Atlantic Region, at (703) or via at ccoakley@vesselalliance.com AWO Letter Sponsorships Now Available Welcome New Affiliate Members! Bowen, Miclette & Britt of Louisiana, LLC 100 Poydras Street, Suite 1250 New Orleans, LA Rep: Mr. Richard L. Simmons, Jr. Account Executive Jeppesen Marine 1018 S. Jackson Street Greencastle, IN Rep: Mr. Terrence Moore Sales Manager Elliott Bay Design Group, Ltd Shilshole Avenue, N.W., Suite 100 Seattle, WA Rep: Mr. Michael Complita Project Manager AWO is now accepting sponsorship applications for the 2007 AWO Letter. Each great advertising opportunity costs $500, which includes a front-page sponsorship block featuring your company s name, location, logo and Web site address. If you are interested in securing a sponsorship, please contact Mary McCarthy at mmccarthy@vesselalliance.com. 10 February 2, 2007