PACIFIC STATES/BRITISH COLUMBIA OIL SPILL TASK FORCE and Places of Refuge

1. PACIFIC STATES/BRITISH COLUMBIA OIL SPILL TASK FORCE and Places of Refuge BRIEFING FOR THE CANUSLANT EXERCISE June 13-16, 2005 Jean Cameron, Executive Coordinator Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task Force

2. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceBriefing Agenda • Task Force Overview: • Mission, history and structure • Past accomplishments & future plans • Places of Refuge Area Plan Annex

3. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceMission Statement The mission of the Oil Spill Task Force is to strengthen state and Provincial abilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills.

4. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceOverview • 1989 Memorandum of Cooperation; The Governors and Premier appointed the directors of their regulatory agencies with oil spill authorities to serve as Task Force Members • 2001 Revised MOC: Includes Hawaii and reconfirms Task Force’s role and mission

5. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceTask Force Members The Task Force Members meet annually to: • Review the status of projects and • Adopt an Annual Work Plan that sets direction for the coming year • Interact with key stakeholders in public meetings, rotated among member jurisdictions 2005 Annual Meeting is July 27th, hosted by Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation

6. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceCoordinating Committee The Task Force Coordinating Committee • Spill program managers or designees • Meet with the Executive Coordinator quarterly to review implementation of Annual Workplan and address administrative issues; this meeting also rotates among member jurisdictions

7. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceStakeholder Involvement Target Constituencies: • US & Canadian federal agencies • Oil and spill response industries • Professional organizations • Public interest groups • Local governments, tribes, Regional Citizen Advisory Councils, Harbor Safety Committees

8. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceStakeholder Involvement • Annual Meetings • Topic-specific roundtables • Newsletters & Annual Report • Web site: www.oilspilltaskforce.org • Legacy Awards • Project Workgroups • Seeking partnership opportunities with other agencies • Information requests, invited presentations, participation in drills/exercises

9. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceAccomplishments: A sampler • 1990 Report & Recommendations • Improving the Safety of Pilotage • Regional Database • Investigator Training • Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team • 1-800-OILS-911

10. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForceAccomplishments: A sampler • West Coast Offshore Vessel Traffic Risk Management Project • Mutual Aid Agreements • Integrated Tank Vessel Response Plan Guidelines • Oiled wildlife care protocols & facility review • Non-tank vessel contingency plans • Places of Refuge Area Plan Annex

11. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task ForcePlans for the Future • Task Force Members adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2004-2009 • 2004-2005 Annual Work Plan was the first to implement new Strategic Plan • 2005-2006 Annual Work Plan in development; to be adopted July 27 • Available at www.oilspilltaskforce.org

12. Places of Refuge AnnexProject Workgroup • Pacific States and the Province • USCG Pacific Area, Districts and the Office of Response • The Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, Environment Canada, the Vancouver Port Authority • Industry including tank vessel, tug and barge, and dry cargo operators’ associations • Both AK RCACs and the David Suzuki Foundation

13. Places of Refuge AnnexPurpose • Operationalizes IMO’s Guidelines… • Provides Decision Making Checklist • Templates for inventorying information on possible sites & key stakeholders • Provides for consistent US/CN transboundary approach

14. Places of Refuge AnnexFormat Annex divided into 3 sections: • Introductory statements • Decision-making checklist to use during event • Pre-planning templates as appendices

15. Places of Refuge AnnexIntroduction Section • No single POR for all; each decision is case-specific, even though potential places of refuge may be pre-identified • Cross-border incidents would activate existing protocols • The annex commits to use of Unified Command and ICS (NRP) • Acknowledges role of ship’s master in the process, but primary focus is on IMO guidelines as they relate to decision-making by authorities

16. Places of Refuge AnnexDefinitions Section Incorporates definitions from the IMO guidelines and adds: • Definition of a ship • Statement on the types of places of refuge • Note regarding MAS in US and Canada • Guidelines only

17. Places of Refuge AnnexJurisdiction Section Defines roles of: • Federal authorities • State/Provincial authorities • Local Authorities • Tribes • Resource Agencies • Ship’s master

18. Places of Refuge AnnexManagement Structure Statements • COTP (or Canadian equivalent) has authority to make decision, but activates Unified Command if time allows; if not, will make necessary notifications ASAP • Unified Command is vehicle for Federal, State, Provincial & responsible party involvement in the decision-making process – other stakeholders are involved as appropriate through ICS

19. Places of Refuge Annex Decision-making Guidelines The steps provide for an analytical approach to decision-making: • first weigh if a ship should be brought into a place of refuge • then weigh which place would be best That Process begins when the ship’s master makes a request for refuge.   

20. Places of Refuge Annex Step by Step • Step 1 outlines the information the master is expected to provide • Step 2 notes that the COTP will activate Unified Command IF TIME ALLOWS

21. Places of Refuge Annex Step by Step, continued: For Step 3: • Initial steps: • Contract for salvage/spill response • Establish Command Post • Notifications • Project drift Trajectory • Inspection/evaluation • Then: Five Options, Five Factors

22. Options: Remain in Position Continue Voyage Taken out to Sea Intentionally Scuttled Directed to a Place of Refuge Factors: Human Health & Safety Environment Ship Status and Risk Response & Salvage Resources Other Command Management Factors Places of Refuge Annex Step 3, continued:

23. Places of Refuge Annex Step by Step, continued: IF POR is right call, then additional factors are considered under Step 4: • Human Health and Safety • Environment • Port or Anchorage Area Criteria • Beaching Site • Economy • Response, Salvage and Repair Resources • Other Command Management Factors

24. Places of Refuge Annex Step by Step, continued: • Step 5 lists resource protection factors to be considered in both Steps 3 and 4 • Step 6 directs decision-makers to document decisions and notifications

25. Places of Refuge Annex Appendix I Agency and stakeholder contacts for which 24/7 information must be kept current

26. Places of Refuge Annex Appendix II Template for pre-identifying information on potential PORs • Supports expedited decision-making during incident • Collecting advance info DOES NOT MEAN that inventoried sites are pre-ordained • Advises Area Committee to use local knowledge

27. Places of Refuge Annex Development/Implementation • Public comments incorporated • Referred by USCG Pacific Area in February; copied to USCG HQ and LantArea • BC has adapted the Annex into operational guidelines as part of their Marine Oil Spill Response Plan • Transport Canada has drafted a National Contingency Plan for Places of Refuge; Western Region begun mapping

28. Pacific States/BC Oil Spill Task Force Contact Information Jean Cameron, Executive Coordinator Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force PO Box 1032 (mailing address) Neskowin, OR  97149-1032 503-392-5860 (phone/fax) JeanRCameron@oregoncoast.com http://www.oilspilltaskforce.org