§ 71. Petroleum-bearing vessel advisory commission. 1. Creation of the petroleum-bearing vessel advisory commission. The commissioner of environmental conservation shall establish a petroleum-bearing vessel advisory commission to make recommendations on plans, policies and programs affecting petroleum-bearing vessels. Such advisory commission shall be composed of nine members to be appointed by the commissioner. The chairperson shall be designated by the commissioner of environmental conservation. All members of the commission shall have knowledge of and experience in the pilotage of commercial vessels. At least three members shall be licensed pilots by the state of New York, and at least two members shall be pilots licensed by states contiguous to New York or by Canada and at least two members shall be experienced in the navigation and pilotage of tug boats and petroleum-bearing barges. Appointments to the advisory commission shall be made no later than the first day of January next succeeding the date on which this section will have become a law. 2. Meetings of the advisory commission. The advisory commission shall meet at least annually. 3. Duties of the advisory commission. The advisory commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) to advise the commissioner of environmental conservation in establishing minimum conditions for petroleum-bearing vessels in certain waters, pursuant to section seventy of this article.

(b) to advise the commissioner of environmental conservation in establishing tanker-avoidance zones, pursuant to section seventy of this article. 4. Term of appointment. All members of the advisory commission shall serve terms of three years. 5. State assistance. The commissioner of environmental conservation and all state agencies shall make any and all documents readily available to the advisory commission which are needed to properly and thoroughly carry out its responsibilities. The commissioner of environmental conservation shall also make available to the advisory commission such staff assistance reasonably necessary to allow the advisory commission to carry out its duties and responsibilities.