No charge, sponsored by API

Instructors in this workshop will discuss the Spill Impact Mitigation Assessment (SIMA) process, which is intended to support Net Environmental Benefit Analyses (NEBA). Identified in the workshop will be key elements required to complete a SIMA which include environmental impacts, health and safety impacts to communities and response workers, as well as cultural and economic concerns associated in the trade-off decision making process associated with an oil spill response. It is hoped that attendees will gain a sense of how to practically apply this approach across a broad range of response scenarios, as these will be considered and evaluated as part of this interactive workshop.

This diverse and experienced panel of speakers will discuss the evolving regulations on the west coast and their effect on responders and spill management teams. Also included will be discussion around the repercussions of regulatory changes on NRDA, OPA 90, etc. 

This session will cover war stories, individual challenges, and lessons learned from significant spills that occurred during 2019. Case studies on a massive tank fire, a heavy fuel oil spill in pristine waters, and a train derailment will be covered.

With a significant number of Indigenous/Tribal Communities owning land or having traditional territory located on or adjacent to energy infrastructure, as well as an increase in marine tanker traffic, there has been a marked increase in Indigenous/Tribal interest in emergency response planning. Such communities can find themselves on the front lines of oil spill emergencies. Indigenous and non-Indigenous speakers will highlight initiatives and partnerships in the Canadian and US energy industry aimed at furthering response planning in collaboration with Indigenous Communities. Examples include enhancements to emergency management programs, combined field response exercises, ICS training, and geographic response planning.

This session will highlight emerging public health issues during oil spill response, including tools for community air monitoring, food safety authorities, tribal impacts, and connecting between a unified command and local emergency managers.

This session will provide participants insights into technological advancements in support of emergency response and preparedness. Speakers will examine use of canines in oil detection, use of drones in Shoreline Cleanup Assessments (SCAT), resources at risk and situational awareness, use of automated response equipment, and lastly, use of augmented reality.

As our dependency on technology increases, and the enviro-political landscape evolves, preparedness and response must adapt. This session will examine data management, how we might manage protesters, and be better prepared for natural disasters. 

This session will present recent salvage case studies and lessons learned, and the role of salvors in preventing and minimizing environmental impacts.

This session will highlight current issues and priorities within wildlife response in each of the geographic areas of the eastern Pacific, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Presentations will address resources at risk and the different ways each region has taken to meet the challenges of regional priorities.