RISK ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTING CANADIAN OIL SANDS.

SEC. 722. RISK ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTING CANADIAN OIL SANDS.(a) In General.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall assess the increased vessel traffic in the Salish Sea (including Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, Haro Strait, Rosario Strait, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca), that may occur from the transport of Canadian oil sands oil.126 STAT. 1586(b) Scope.—The assessment required under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, consider—(1) the extent to which vessel (including barge, tanker, and supertanker) traffic may increase due to Canadian oil sands development;(2) whether the transport of oil from Canadian oil sands within the Salish Sea is likely to require navigation through United States territorial waters;(3) the rules or regulations that restrict supertanker traffic in United States waters, including an assessment of whether there are methods to bypass those rules or regulations in such waters and adjacent Canadian waters;(4) the rules or regulations that restrict the amount of oil transported in tankers or barges in United States waters, including an assessment of whether there are methods to bypass those rules or regulations in such waters and adjacent Canadian waters;(5) the spill response capability throughout the shared waters of the United States and Canada, including oil spill response planning requirements for vessels bound for one nation transiting through the waters of the other nation;(6) the vessel emergency response towing capability at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca;(7) the agreement between the United States and Canada that outlines requirements for laden tank vessels to be escorted by tug boats;(8) whether oil extracted from oil sands has different properties from other types of oil, including toxicity and other properties, that may require different maritime clean up technologies;(9) a risk assessment of the increasing supertanker, tanker, and barge traffic associated with Canadian oil sands development or expected to be associated with Canadian oil sands development; and(10) the potential costs and benefits to the United States public and the private sector of maritime transportation of oil sands products.(c) Consultation Requirement.—In conducting the assessment required under this section, the Commandant shall consult with the State of Washington, affected tribal governments, and industry, including vessel operators, oil sands producers, and spill response experts. The Commandant may consult with the Secretary of State.(d) Deadline for Submission.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit the assessment required under this section to the Committee on 126 STAT. 1587 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.