Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP)

1. Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) GIUEs and Notifications

2. References • Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) • Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) • National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines (August, 2002)

3. PREP • National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) • Established by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 • Participation in PREP is voluntary for plan holders • All plan holders are subject to unannounced exercises, as mandated by OPA 90

4. GIUEs • Government-Initiated Unannounced Exercises: • Randomly evaluate preparedness of regulated vessels and facilities • Limited to four per area per year • Plan holders are required to participate as directed unless specific safety hazards exist

5. GIUE Scope • Average Most Probable Discharge (AMPD) • Limited to 4 hours duration • Objectives: • Timeliness – ~1hr containment, ~2hr recovery • Equipment Adequacy • Proper Conduct

6. GIUE Outcomes • Successful Completion: • Not required to participate in another GIUE for 36 months • Plan holders may take credit for notification and equipment deployment exercises • Unsuccessful Completion: • Revising Response Plan • Follow-up exercises • Civil Penalties

7. PREP Notification • Area Notification Exercises: • Scheduled assessments of communications between On-Scene Coordinator and key elements of unified command. • Conducted on a quarterly basis • Can be conducted in conjunction with other exercises • Credit can be taken for actual incidents

8. PREP Notification Scope • Ensure contact by telephone, radio, message or fax and confirmation is made between FOSC and unified command. • National Response Center (NRC) • Alert & Warning System 2.0 • Incident Notification System (INS)

9. Sprague, New Bedford GIUE • November 16th, 2011 • Scenario: • Hose-line rupture during barge transfer resulting in 1200 gals of low-sulfur diesel spilled into New Bedford Harbor.

10. Location

11. Sprague, New Bedford GIUE • Activated Facility Response Plan (FRP) • Conducted notifications • National Response Center • Sector SENE commenced notification exercise • Contracted OSRO (Frank Corp) for response: • 1,000ft of boom deployed • Vacuum Truck

12. Sector SENE, PREP Notification • Upon notification by Sprague, NB: • Incident Notification System (Internal Alert) • Alert & Warning System (Stakeholder Notification) • Possibly Critical Incident Communications (National Significance) • Mobilization

13. Q4 PREP Notification/GIUE • “Targeted” means the number of contacts the message was distributed to. • “Received” means the AWS message got through to the recipient (i.e. they answered the phone) • “Responded” means the member listened to the entire AWS message and followed the instructions to acknowledge (press 1). Note: The system left a message on the voicemail for the 01 member who did not respond to the alert.

14. Response Actions Information Notification Mobilization SCC watch SCC watch + surge Direct Initial Actions Information Management Resource Management SCC watch Incident Command Coordinate interagency response Return to normal ops Support the Incident Command