| "What we are trying to do is set up a mechanism ahead of time which identifies local people who can help respond to a spill if they are needed." | |
| Ed Collazzi, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation |
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On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez went aground in Alaska causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history. A January 1990 report by the Alaska Oil Spill Commission on the wreck called for communities to be given a "substantive" role in the state's spill response system because "local interests, local knowledge and experience ... often make the community-based work force the most efficient available."
Ed Collazzi, acting manager of the Prevention and Emergency Response Program of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), says the report spurred the department to implement the Community Spill Response program. "It's a grass roots approach. What we are trying to do is set up a mechanism ahead of time which identifies local people who can help respond to a spill if they are needed."
Under the program, over 20 local governments have signed an agreement that allows the DEC to request local assistance based on the needs of a particular incident, and grants the state the authority to reimburse the community for it's expenses, Collazzi says.
Some areas with limited resources have been provided with a "cache of spill response equipment," Collazzi explains. "We've procured over 20 steel shipping containers that ale outfitted with containment booms; skimmers; and personal protection gear, such as raincoats and boots - anything you need to deal with an oil spill."
When a community receives equipment, the DEC holds a training session to show how the equipment is used. Collazzi says they also tap into regularly scheduled state drills to ensure ongoing training. "After a spill or drill we go through a lessons learned exercise as a follow up to figure out what worked and try to fix anything that didn't."
And the program has worked. According to Collazzi, the state receives an average of 2,000 to 2,500 reports of spills a year. "Of those a couple hundred are significant spills. We've had several situations where we have called out the local responders. It's been very successful. We've been ilappy with them."
He adds, "We're continuing to develop an integrated network in Alaska, not only with the communities, but with industry and private enterprise The communities are all important part of the puzzle, particularly in remote locations where we need a first line of defense. This program allows local people the mobility to protect their resources instead of sitting there waiting for someone who may be far away. It helps the community and it helps us do our job."
For more information on Alaska's Community Spill Response program, contact Ed Collazzi at (907) 465-5229, or e-mail ecollazz@envircon.state.ak.us.
