[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OIL SPILL PROTECTION

                                 ______


                             HON. JACK REED

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, 
Representative Patrick Kennedy, in an effort to protect Rhode Island's 
precious coastline from the environmental devastation of oil spills.
  Tragically, on January 19, the tug boat Scandia caught fire in severe 
weather off the coast of my congressional district.
  The tug's crew could not control the fire and abandoned both the tug 
and the barge's cargo of 4 million gallons of oil to the high winds and 
seas.
  While the tug crew was swiftly pulled from the sea by brave members 
of the Coast Guard, the same cannot be said for the unmanned barge 
which spilled 1 million gallons of oil off the Rhode Island coast.
  The environmental and economic destruction of the spill is, at the 
present time, incalculable. Indeed, no one can estimate the damage to 
the fishery's long-term health, the wildlife, or my State's tourism 
industry.
  But what has become clear in articles from the Providence Journal and 
my own experience as a member of the now defunct Merchant Marine and 
Fisheries Committee, is that Congress must address the growing reliance 
of this Nation on towing vessels to transport hazardous materials like 
oil.
  It may surprise some of my colleagues that a tug boat which pulls 4 
million gallons of oil and has a crew of 6 is not required to be 
inspected by the Coast Guard.
  That's correct, the tug boat that pulled thousands of barrels of oil 
off the coast of my district and the estimated 2 to 4 barges that ply 
the waters of Narragansett Bay each day do not even get inspected once 
a year like an automobile.
  Moreover, even though the Scandia's pilot had a master's license, no 
license is actually required to pilot these vessels.
  And, perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that tug boats are not 
required to have some of the most basic navigational and safety 
equipment on board.
  This body has tried to address this situation in previous years, only 
to have efforts to improve tug safety sink in the other body.
  However, I would urge my colleagues, especially those from our 
Nation's coastal States, to consider joining me and Congressman Kennedy 
in supporting legislation that tries to prevent avoidable accidents in 
the future.
  The Towing Vessel Safety Act of 1996 takes a better safe than sorry 
approach to protecting our Nation's environment and the hard-working 
families who make their living on the water.
  This legislation will require tugs that pull hazardous materials to 
be inspected once a year, just like the cars of my constituents.
  It will also establish licensing standards for the pilot and crew of 
tug boats towing hazardous materials, just like truckers who have a 
license to carry these items.
  The bill would also ask the Coast Guard and Secretary of 
Transportation to ensure that tug boats carry basic navigational items 
like a radar system, a compass, and up-to-date charts as well as 
adequate fire fighting equipment, just as oil tankers must do.
  The legislation protects crew members who report safety violations 
from wrongful discharge, like other employees who handle volatile 
cargo.
  These common sense, preventative measures are a responsible first-
step in addressing the increase in oil barge traffic off our Nation's 
pristine beaches. Indeed, the National Transportation Safety Board has 
made similar recommendations in the past.
  At the same time, we need to take other steps to ensure that the 
barges pulled by these tugs are safe, and in the weeks to come we will 
be examining legislation to accomplish this aim.
  The Coast Guard recognizes that there is a need to improve tug and 
barge safety, and it has proposed some new safety measures. And, the 
towing industry plans to have a self-inspection regime ready in 2 
years.
  However, I believe we need to take direct, reasonable steps to 
prevent environmental and economic catastrophes like the spill off 
Rhode Island.
  Prevention is not without cost, but as the saying goes, an ounce of 
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
  At the present time, questions remain as to the cause of the accident 
and whether the accident could have been prevented, but concerns remain 
that this disaster was preventable. It is in this spirit that we are 
introducing the Towing Vessel Safety Act.
  Mr. Speaker, my State has seen the results of an oil spill once, and 
I hope this legislation can reduce the chances of it happening again.

                          ____________________