Oregon coast safety committee; subcommittees

(1) There is established a safety committee for the Oregon coast. A subcommittee shall be appointed for Coos Bay and Yaquina Bay. In addition, the Department of Environmental Quality also shall consult with the State of Washington to establish a joint regional safety committee for the Columbia River and may appoint a subcommittee for the Willamette River. The safety committee shall operate under the direction of the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority pursuant to ORS 285A.615. (2) Each committee shall consist of not more than 11 members, appointed by the administrator of the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority in consultation with the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. At a minimum, the following groups should be considered for representation on the committees: (a) Local port authorities; (b) Tank vessel operators; (c) Tug and barge operators; (d) Pilots’ organizations; (e) Cargo vessel operators; (f) Commercial fishermen; (g) Pleasure boat operators; (h) Environmental organizations; (i) Local planning authorities; and (j) The public at large. (3) The members shall be appointed to the safety committee for a term of four years. The administrator in consultation with the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall appoint the chairperson of each committee to serve a term of four years. (4) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (5) The duties of the safety committees shall include but are not limited to: (a) Planning for safe navigation and operation of covered vessels within each harbor; (b) Developing safety plans; (c) Reviewing and making recommendations to the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots, ports and the United States Coast Guard on the following: (A) Pilotage requirements for all single boiler or single engine and single screw tank vessels carrying oil in pilotage grounds; (B) Reducing deadweight tonnage specifications for pilotage service for vessels carrying oil; (C) Guidelines for tugs on tank vessels for tow cable size and material specifications, cable maintenance practices, cable handling equipment design and barge recovery plan preparation; (D) Establishing regional speed limits, based on escort vehicle limitations, for all tank vessels in inland navigable waters and critical approaches to inland navigable waters; (E) Requiring towing systems and plans on all tank vessels carrying oil; and (F) The feasibility of establishing a pilot program for a near-miss reporting system that is coordinated with vessel inspection information compiled as a result of inspections under ORS 468B.370 and 468B.375. (6) Members of the safety committees established under this section are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495. (7) The Department of Environmental Quality shall serve in an advisory capacity to the safety committees and review the safety plans. In addition, the United States Coast Guard shall be invited to also act in an advisory capacity to the safety committees and may participate in the review of safety plans.