New Dawn Barge Grounding Hood River, OR

1
New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR

• Regional Response Team
• Northwest Area Committee Meeting
• Portland, OR
• October 14-15, 2009

2
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 9

• No notification to EPA by NRC. EPA notified by
  Tidewater at 650 AM
• EPA FOSC dispatched to scene with START
  contractor
• EPA made notifications internally and to other
  agencies - DOI, Tribes, NOAA NMFS, states, etc.
• FOSC arrived SDS Lumber at White Salmon
  (temporary CP), met up briefed with OR, WA SOSCs

3
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 9

• Early attempts to free barge failed
• Attempt to raise river pool elevation thru US ACE
  dams and pull barge free unsuccessful
• Discussion on bringing in another barge and
  lighter New Dawn

4
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 9

• Questions on approach salvage vs response slowed
  jelling of Unified Command
• With location / visibility of barge, potential
  from spill, need for lightering, media interest -
  became clear that response is ramping up
• EPA requested another on-site OSC and PIO

5
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 9

• Unified Command (UC) established and transitioned
  to Tidewater Office in Vancouver
• EPA FOSC, WA OR SOSCs
• Tidewater staffed most positions in UC Ops,
  Liaison, Logs, Finance
• EPA lead PIO, excellent coord with Tidewater, OR
  WA PIOs
• Media releases by USCG quick, accurate, UC then
  took on media lead
• 3 media releases, TV interviews
• Need for PIO at site

6
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingUnified
Command (continued)

• Unified Command
• Developed River Security Plan
• Security around vessel (County Sheriffs, USCG
  Auxiliary)
• Use of GRPs Protection of downriver resources
  at risk
• Downriver staging of Clean Rivers Coop and NRCS
  personnel equipment, boats, boom
• NOAA help in spill modeling
• Developed Lightering Plan
• Operations, timing, volumes, etc.

7
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 10

• Fuel lightered to another barge safely and
  successfully with no spills
• 500,000 gallons transferred
• USCG state oversight
• Barge freed late on July 10. moved to nearby
  (SDS) dock
• Re-inspected by USCG and Tidewater marine
  chemist, no damage. Underway to destination

8
Tidewater New Dawn Barge GroundingHood River, OR
July 10

• Several Hotwashes by Agencies, Tidewater
• Lessons Learned (many), highlights
• Response and salvage successful no spills
• Previous NPREP oil spill drills by Tidewater very
  helpful
• UC successful
• Salvage vs Response approach created stalled
  early jelling of UC - needs vetting by agencies
• Media need covered well. Media releases
  consistent. Need for Public Information Officer
  (PIO) at UC earlier, also at site
• Need secondary / forward Command Post near actual
  site
• Communications and jurisdictional improvements
  and understandings needed between agencies
• GRPs need updating