OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington approved the first oil spill response plan Thursday for the state’s largest freight railroad company, BNSF.
The Department of Ecology says under the new plan, BNSF meets the more protective requirements for moving billions of gallons of crude oil around the state, including Ferndale’s refineries.
Contingency plans will now be mandatory.
Washington joins California as the second west coast state to require oil spill contingency plans.