2017 Oil Spill Response Exercises Lessons Learned Alaska

2017 Oil Spill Response Exercises Lessons Learned Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Spill Prevention and Response October 12, 2018

Introduction ADEC is sharing selected significant lessons learned from oil spill response exercises in 2017 to encourage continual improvement 2 Aligns with feedback from stakeholders that participated in the Response Exercise Program Improvements Process Lessons learned provide considerations for improvement All exercises have lessons to be learned Lessons learned are more helpful when shared Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

2017 Exercises ADEC participated in 35 exercises in 2017 where lessons learned were gathered from ADEC after the exercise The lessons learned found in 2016 were also found to be recurring in 2017 2016 lessons learned continue to be important considerations This presentation provides additional considerations from 2017 Based on most common & broadly applicable lessons learned To encourage improvement in oil spill response 3 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Top 2017 Lessons Learned The following reoccurring themes were found in 2017: Exercise Planning NO ICS Forms REGRETS JUST Response Equipment LESSONS LEARNED ICS 201 Incident Briefing Form 4 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Exercise Planning There were many problems observed & lessons learned related to exercise planning ADEC has a new guidance that can help! Oil Spill Response Exercise Guidelines, A Manual For Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Exercises 5 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Starting Exercise Planning ¥ Notify & involve your ADEC plan reviewer in the exercise planning process from the very beginning ¥ ¥ ¥ 6 The best way to ensure your exercise meets 18 AAC 75. 485 This includes working with ADEC to determine the exercise: ¥ Scope ¥ Date ¥ Objectives ¥ Evaluation Criteria ¥ Simulations (if needed) ADEC has also learned lessons from 2017 exercises and intends to be more involved in exercise planning to guide plan holders towards meeting 18 AAC 75. 485 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Exercise Design Objectives and evaluation criteria should be specific to the ODPCP and scenario being exercised Consider exercising both Field & IMT together IMT exercises should have a robust Sim. Cell 7 Reduces effort needed to develop simulations Increases reality & allows players to react realistically Increases effectiveness of the exercise Provides the field and other inputs to mimic a real response Allow players to demonstrate their response capabilities Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Planning for IMT Exercises Lack of adequate simulation in IMT exercises was one of the most significant gaps in 2017 ¥ ¥ Design - did not include adequate development of simulation inputs & injects to be delivered to the IMT during the exercise by a knowledgeable team in Sim. Cell Conduct - Ops & other players tried to react without field & other external information – some IMT staff had to make up information to keep the exercise moving Evaluation - because simulation was inadequate and did not portray a realistic scenario, ADEC was not able to evaluate that the plan holder’s contingency plan was adequate in content and execution, a critical component to meeting 18 AAC 75. 485 Improvement planning -This same lesson learned is being repeated by the same plan holders ADEC’s Oil Spill Response Exercise Guidance can guide you toward planning effective and valuable exercises & improvement planning 8 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Response Equipment Fully setting up & deploying response equipment, including running pumps & skimmers is a good method to verify: • You have all necessary pieces and parts on site • The equipment is functional • Your responders are adequately trained 9 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

ICS Forms & Plans Generally, ICS documents were found to be inaccurate &/or missing key information • ICS staff should carefully review documents before submittal to agency staff for review • Some of the errors found include incorrect: • Dates • Times • Latitude and longitude • Some of the missing info included: • Critical information requirements • Air monitoring information • Task force locations Forms don’t have to be pretty, just legible, complete & accurate Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 10 2018

Helpful Idea Fixed facilities had ICS 201 Incident Briefing form template that included their facility diagram • Allowed initial responders to add incident specific information instead of redrawing the facility for each incident • Reduced the effort spent on completing the ICS 201 allowing initial responders to concentrate on other response tasks 11 Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, 2018

Recommendations Refer to ADEC’s Oil Spill Response Exercise Guidance for planning exercises Involve ADEC in exercise planning from the beginning Consider exercising field & IMT together Establish a robust Sim. Cell for IMT exercises Consider fully deploying & running response equipment Ensure ICS forms & plans are complete & accurate For fixed facilities, ICS 201 template can be Exercise Lessons Learned –October 12, modified to include the 2018 facility diagram 12

Questions? Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Prevention & Response Division Prevention Preparedness & Response Program Training & Exercises Group 907 269. 3051