AREA III ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE UNIT Annual Spill EXERCISE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 GULL LAKE
AREA III EMERGENCY EXERCISE As stated in their constitution The Area III Emergency Response Unit held its annual training exercise, on September 17, 2014 at CP#11 North Gull Lake. Cassius Hancock was contracted to coordinate the exercise under the following criteria: a) Act as the coordinator for the exercise. b) Identify and arrange for any props related to the exercise. c) Write a final report on the exercise to include the following: Were objectives met? Details of the exercise? Identify any gaps in the exercise? Make recommendations based on the observations of the exercise? The host company for the exercise this year was Tervita. A special thanks to Brian Potter of Tervita and Stacey Wiens of Matrix Solutions Inc. for their assistance in organizing the exercise. This year the training exercise was held at the CP#11 North Gull Lake. The weather conditions for the exercise was ideal with minimal wind and warm temperatures, however in the morning mosquitos were plentiful. The exercise was divided into a morning and afternoon session with both groups having lunch and attending the meeting portion of the exercise. This report is based on the information obtained in the planning, observations and events of the exercise. It is not intended to criticize individuals or member companies in any way, but to point out the facts of the exercise as they occurred. Recommendations in this report are based on the observations and findings of the exercise.
EXERCISE OBJECTIVES: 1. Provide an opportunity for member company s personnel to practice in the proper procedures and in the use of the Area III oil spill equipment in an oil spill emergency. SCENERIO: 2. To simulate an oil spill at Control Point #11 on the reservoir northwest of Gull Lake Sask. 3. To contain and recover a simulated oil spill on water. 4. To identify any equipment deficiencies. A simulated oil spill, using peat moss, to be deployed on the Gull Lake Reservoir. Teams will use the Area III Spill Equipment to contain and recover the simulated spill, as directed by the exercise coordinator. TIME: 9:30am (1st session) 1:00pm (2nd session) LOCATION: Control Point # 11 located northwest of Gull Lake.
DETAILS OF EXERCISE: The following teams were assembled: Safety Team Boom Team Pumps & Skimmer Team Tank & Pipeline Team Boat Team TEAMS Each team was taken aside and assigned a team leader and briefed on what was expected of that specific team. The team then picked a spot at the site and held a meeting to prepare for the exercise. The Exercise Coordinator reviewed the criteria for the exercise based on the following procedures outlined for the exercise: Problem: A simulated crude oil leak on the Gull Lake Reservoir. Objective: Discussion before the equipment deployment. 1. Control and contain Oil that leaked into the Gull lake Reservoir. 2. Discuss potential hazards that can pose a threat. 3. Identify what those hazards maybe and the level of risk. 4. Ensure Safety of 3 key areas- #1People and the Public, the teams involved and the public in the immediate area #2 The surrounding equipment and property and ensure no other hazards arise #3 The environment and ensure the wildlife and surrounding area are no further at risk.
Tactical: Each team was assigned duties and asked to set up their equipment in the warm zone, meetings took place in the Cold Zone and equipment was deployed in the hot Zone. Well owner was contacted to stop leak. Boat & Boom Teams to deploy boom on the Gull Lake Reservoir at Control point 11. Pumps/ Skimmer and Pipeline Teams to recover the simulated oil. Each team was expected to remove their equipment from the trailer and assemble the equipment in the Warm Zone. o This year Tervita had Lonestar on site, a Vac Truck as the substitute for the trash pump. The pumps and skimmer crew worked with the Vac truck. Tank and pipeline team was not needed due to vac truck being on site but still performed duties to ensure all equipment was intact and ready for use. It also was required as part of the exercise to utilize all equipment. The safety team was briefed on their expectations, oversee the exercise and identify any immediate safety hazards, communicate with team leads and coordinator to maintain proper communication.
OBSERVATIONS: The following points were observed: 1. There were two sessions held. The 9:30am session had 51 people in attendance. The 1:00 pm session had 22 people in attendance. This was 26 people less than 2013. 2. Control Point 11 was an excellent location for the exercise. The water level in the Reservoir allowed for the use of the boat, for tactical deployment of the booms to capture the simulated crude oil. 3. The new Equipment Trailer was used for the 2014 exercise. The trailer continues to be a work in progress. 4. There are still some deficiencies that have yet to be completed in the trailer and to the equipment. 5. The assigning of team leads and having the teams perform their own meetings and maintaining a chain of command. 6. Identification of teams and team leads by wearing high vest worked well. AREA III MEETING AGENDA: Time: 12:30 pm Agenda: Stacey Wiens of Matrix and Chairperson of Area III Environmental Response Unit welcomed everyone for attending and asked for a safety moment. Gilbert Cadrain with Husky provided the safety moment. Door prizes were distributed.
WERE OBJECTIVES MET? 1. To train Member Company s personnel in the proper procedures and use of the Area III oil spill equipment, in an oil spill emergency. There were 73 people attending the two sessions. There were 26 companies represented. 2. To simulate an oil spill at Control Point #11 on the Reservoir northwest of Gull Lake, Sask. The large water body, created very realistic scenario using peat moss. 3. To contain and recover a simulated oil spill on flowing water. As shown in the following pictures, personnel in attendance did an excellent job in the containment and recovery of the peat moss. The majority of the crew have been involved in the previous exercises and they performed their roles very well and working with new attendants to provide info. 4. To identify any equipment deficiencies. These deficiencies are identified in the coordinators recommendations.
Briefing of teams in the Cold Zone Assigning teams roles, team leads, and expectations of the exercise.
Tank and pipeline team setting up containment. Boat Team prepping boat for deployment.
Peat Moss being dropped into the water. Boom is being deployed to trap simulated oil (peat moss). This year the boom was attached to the front of the boat which offers better control.
Peat Moss is being contained, boom crew and skimmer crew are waiting to assist at shoreline. Peat Moss is being contained ready for skimmer.
Skimmer being set up ready to remove the contaminants from the water. Skimmer was taken away and final clean-up was done with vac hose, another benefit to the vac truck maintain suction.
Boom was cleaned and put back into trailer Boat was cleaned and put back into trailer.
Other photos of the exercise.
EXERCISE COORDINATOR RECOMMENDATIONS: The following recommendations are based on the event which occurred and the exercise. Coordinator s observations. 1. The new Equipment Trailer was used for the exercises. The trailer is a work in progress. However to complete the modifications on the trailer, a member of the Area III Steering Committee should be assigned to facilitate the equipment and trailer recommendations. 2. The following equipment deficiencies were observed: Make up a boat safety kit (air horn, rope, and whistle) Better carabineers or Hooks to allow personnel to remove boom from trailer easier. Weld 4 eye brackets on the outside corners of the skimmer Make up a proper tool box including pipe wrenches Have a variety of fittings Install roll bars for the lifelines Inspect all lifelines and ensure all snap hooks are working properly Mount fire extinguisher brackets Install a bar on each side of skimmer to allow boom to be attached without complication. Install eye hooks on shelving for better securement. Cork board installed to have an area to post documentation, i.e.: ERP s. Replace trailer hitch for better operation. Install holder for windsock. Purchase container to keep admin supplies, ea.; pens/pencils, writing pads, felt markers, dry eraser markers, and any other supplies that might be useful Container to keep radio s Container to keep flag ribbon, caution tape 3. Have two metal signs for each of the Zones (Cold, Warm, Hot) made and put on metal poles, along with 4 small No Parking signs 4. Modifications to the trailer for the generator, hoses, steel posts, roller bar and zone signs. 5. Get at least two Exercise in Progress signs, and Report to on Scene Commander.
EXERCISE COORDINATOR S COMMENTS: This report is prepared for the member companies of Area III Environmental Response Unit and is based on the events, communication and observations which occurred during the exercise. The two sessions continues to work well with the informative meeting and lunch in between sessions. Special thanks to Brian Potter of Tervita for hosting the 2013 exercise. Thanks to Stacey Wiens and Theresa Busse and other members of the steering committee who assisted in the exercise. The exercise has been improving every year but also continues to need improvement but mostly regarding equipment. The improvements are small but are necessary to have a quality spill response unit. The identification of team leads and having them communicate with each proved to work very well. The exercise this year was executed very well, everyone understood the goal and performed their duties impeccably. This year utilizing the vac truck was a great idea it makes sense if that resource is available. At the end of the exercise team leads were asked to debrief with their teams and bring the concerns to the cold Zone for debriefing of the exercise. The On Scene Commander at the end then asked each team what their concerns were. Thanks to everyone for being a part of the exercise this year. It was great to see everyone. Cassius Hancock, Hancock Safety Training Ltd. Exercise Coordinator ATTACHED ITEMS: Attendance sign in sheets Morning Attendance List.pdf Afternoon Attendance List.pdf