Last year a Kansas refiner had to pay $2M in fines and reimbursement costs for a 2007 oil spill. Per the EPA, the company discharged about 2,145 barrels of crude oil, diesel fuel, and oil water from it’s refinery into a nearby river during a flood on July 1, 2007.
The company will also have to complete the following projects…
- Completion and installation of river modeling and monitoring procedures
- Implementation of a Wet Weather Plan
- Flood training of refinery personnel to ensure proper emergency shutdown
This Oil Refinery Needed an Emergency Response Plan!
A Graduated Plan Based on the Scope of the Problem…
- Know when the response plan should be activated
- Know when a plan graduates to an area or regional plan
- Know when it’s time for a National Contingency Plan (NCP)
What Should Be in the Plan…
Criteria for the development and implementation of state, local, and regional oil removal contingency plans include defining the authorities, responsibilities, and duties of all persons, organizations, or agencies involved in planning or directing oil removal operations. Particular care must be made to clearly define the authorities, responsibilities, and duties to avoid unnecessary duplication of contingency planning activities and to minimize the potential for conflict and confusion that could be generated in an emergency situation as a result of any duplications.
Notification Procedures…
Response planning must include the establishment of notification procedures for early detection and timely notification of an oil discharge, including:
- The identification of critical water use areas to facilitate the reporting of and response to oil discharges
- A current list of names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the responsible persons and alternates on call to receive notification of an oil discharge as well as the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the organizations and agencies to be notified when an oil discharge is discovered
- Provisions for access to a reliable communications system for timely notification of an oil discharge and incorporation in the communications system of the capability for interconnection with the communications systems established under related oil removal contingency plans, particularly state and national plans
- An established, prearranged procedure for requesting assistance during a major disaster or when the situation exceeds the response capability of the state, local, or regional authority
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About Environmental Risk Management1-Source Turnkey Environmental & Safety Services
Since 1989, Environmental Risk Management has been providing responsive, client focused 1-source turnkey solutions for a wide variety of environmental safety challenges. With our experience and extensive network of diverse internal and external resources, our clients trust us to provide quality Environmental & Safety Services for their businesses. Our environmental compliance specialists recognize the need to consult with private industry and the business community and our goal is to ensurer our client’s are complying with complex environmental regulations and minimizing their environmental liabilities.
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