Category E: Prevention and Preparedness

Drill and Exercise Design will aid OSCs in creating a counter terrorism exercise that will play out the role of EPA in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response. The workshop will be based on lessons learned from the design and development of a large scale WMD exercise being planned for EPA regions 3, 4, and 5.

Inland Oil Resources: Alternative Countermeasures for Oil Spills is designed to serve as an intermediate level course for OSCs. Over the last few years, alternative (non-mechanical) oil spill response methods have gained popularity and acceptance among industry, Federal responders, trustees, state agencies, members of Congress, and the entire oil spill response community. OSCs play a vital role in planning and using alternative countermeasures (ACM) through their participation on the Regional Response Team (RRT) and as responders to inland spills. Representatives of the RRT may be called to concur with in-situ burning (ISB), chemical, and biological countermeasures for marine and inland spills more often. The use of ISB, dispersants, surface washing agents (SWA), chemical sorbents, and other technologies have sparked controversy and confusion in all regions and areas. Many research efforts have helped to clear the air about toxicity, efficacy, and proper use of these tools, but conflicts and questions still arise.

OSCs, area planners, and representatives of the RRT will review case studies and learn about RRT efforts to expand the knowledge of OSCs beyond what is on the "Product Schedule." Efforts are underway to document how to use the products more appropriately. The course will include an expanded discussion of the "Selection Guide for Oil Spill Applied Technologies," as well as updates on ORD's support for NCP Subpart J rulemaking efforts and the Clean Waters and Estuaries Act of 2000. The course will profile several ISB events in the U.S. and dispersant operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The course also will provide an update on what ACM research EPA has conducted and plans for the future. All participants are encouraged to discuss their use of ACMs and lessons learned.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Oil Spills will provide OSCs with an understanding of the ESA-Oil Spills MOA and approaches to implementing the MOA. The purpose of the MOA is to increase cooperation among the agencies involved in compliance of the ESA related to oil spill planning and response. Recent implementation guidance recommends approaches for coordinating consultation requirements specified in ESA regulations with pollution response responsibilities outlined in the NCP. Recent experiences with implementation of the MOA in oil spill response will be discussed.

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Facility Response Plan (FRP): The New Rules will provide OSCs with information about the revisions to 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 112 which relate to SPCC plans and FRPs. On July 17, 2002, EPA issued a final rule amending the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation promulgated under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). This rule addresses requirements for SPCC plans, and some provisions also may affect FRPs. The EPA proposed revisions to the SPCC rule in 1991, 1993, and 1997. The new SPCC rule addresses these revisions and becomes effective on August 16, 2002.

The instructors will provide a thorough overview of revisions to 40 CFR part 112. This course serves as a refresher to OSCs who conduct SPCC and FRP inspections. Additional topics will include jurisdiction discussions, new policies and interpretations, unannounced drills, and the SPCC Expedited Enforcement Program (SEEP). Participants also are encouraged to discuss their personal experiences in the field.

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