The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is asking for public comments on the Maritime Fire & Safety Association’s proposed revision of its oil spill and emergency response plan.

The contingency plan outlines how the association would provide emergency response to commercial vessels that cause oil spills in navigable waters, including coastal waters.

Vessel owners/operators pay an annual fee to the Portland-based nonprofit association in exchange for free emergency response coverage for the first 24 hours in the event of an oil spill. The fee provides for firefighting equipment and other accessories needed by the association’s participating firefighting and emergency response agencies that assist in spill response and cleanup efforts along with DEQ and other federal, state and local agencies.

DEQ is required by state law to review spill response contingency plans from oil companies, ports and other entities involved in Oregon’s shipping industry every five years, and is in the process of reviewing the association’s fully updated vessel response plan. DEQ is responsible for monitoring the plans and making sure that all plan components, including emergency response training and environmental protection procedures, are followed.

People who want to read the proposed plan should call Garrett Wickham of DEQ’s Emergency Response Program at (503) 229-5716 or (800) 452-4011, ext. 5716 to schedule an appointment to review the document at DEQ’s Headquarters office, 811 SW Sixth Ave., Portland. The proposed plan is available in hard copy only.

Comments on the plan should be sent by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31 to Garrett Wickham, Emergency Response Program, Oregon DEQ, 811 SW Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97204. Comments may also be faxed to Wickham at (503) 229-6954 or e-mailed to wickham.garrett@deq.state.or.us.