HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2009-033 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2009 — 266
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: CW 5/20/2009 5/26/2009 Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor:
•
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT:
Resolution supporting June 10 as National Pipeline Safety Day
ATTACHMENTS:
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.) .
Resolution expressing support for designating June 10 as National Pipeline Safety Day
COMMITTEE ACTION: . . COUNCIL ACTION:
5 / 26 / 2009 : Council Approved 7 -0
Res . 2009 - 033
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution
Number: Res . 2009 - 033
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County 's website at: www. co. whatcom. wa. us/council.
SPONSORED BY: CONSENT
PROPOSED BY: WEIMER
INTRODUCTION DATE : MAY 26, 2009
RESOLUTION NO. 2009 - 033
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATING JUNE 10
AS NATIONAL PIPELINE SAFETY DAY
WHEREAS, there are more than 2, 000, 000 miles of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in
this country operated by over 3000 companies ; and
WHEREAS, these pipelines play a vital role in the lives of people in the United States by
delivering the energy we need to heat our homes, drive our cars, cook our food and operate our
businesses ; and
WHEREAS, in the past decade significant new pipelines have been built to help move
N orth American sources of oil and gas to refineries and markets ; and
WHEREAS, on June 10, 1999 , a hazardous liquid pipeline ruptured and exploded in a park
in Bellingham , Washington , killing two 10-year- old boys and a young man , destroying a salmon
stream , and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and economic disruption ; and
WHEREAS, in response to this June 10th pipeline tragedy Congress passed significant new
pipeline safety regulations in the form of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 and the
Pipeline Inspection , Protection , Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 ; and
WHEREAS, in the past decade the U . S . Department of Transportation 's Pipelines and
H azardous Materials Safety Administration , with support from a diverse group of stakeholders,
has instituted a variety of important new rules and pipeline safety initiatives such as the Common
G round Alliance, pipeline emergency training with the National Association of State Fire Marshals,
and the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance ; and
WHEREAS, even with all these new pipeline safety improvements, in 2008 alone there
were still 274 significant pipeline incidents causing over $ 395 , 000 , 000 in property damage and
uncounted economic disruption ; and
WHEREAS, even though pipelines are the safest method to transport huge quantities of
fuel , pipeline incidents such as the 1994 pipeline explosion in Edison , New Jersey that left 100
people homeless , the 1996 butane pipeline explosion in Texas that left 2 teenagers dead , the
2000 pipeline explosion near Carlsbad , New Mexico, that killed 12 people in an extended family ,
the 2004 pipeline explosion in Walnut Creek, California , that killed 5 workers, and the 2007
propane pipeline explosion in Mississippi that killed a teenager and her grandmother are still
occurring ; and
WHEREAS, these millions of miles of pipelines are still out of sight and therefore out of
mind for the majority of individuals, local governments , and businesses, leading to pipeline
damage and general lack of oversight ; and
WHEREAS, greater awareness of pipelines and pipeline safety can improve public safety ;
and
WHEREAS, a " National Pipeline Safety Day " can provide a focal point for creating greater
pipeline safety awareness ; and
WHEREAS, June 10, 2009 , is the 10th anniversary of the Bellingham , Washington ,
pipeline tragedy that was the impetus for many of the above- mentioned safety improvements and
would be an appropriate day to designate as ` National Pipeline Safety Day"; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Rick Larsen has introduced a resolution into the U . S . House of
Representatives to designate June 10 as " National Pipeline Safety Day" :
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council :
( 1 ) supports the designation of June 10 as National Pipeline Safety Day ;
( 2) encourages all local governments to observe the day with appropriate activities that
promote pipeline safety ;
( 3 ) encourages all pipeline safety stakeholders to use this day to create greater public
awareness of all the advancements that can lead to even greater pipeline safety ; and
(4) encourages individuals across the County to become more aware of the pipelines that
run through our communities and do what they can to encourage safe practices and damage
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