Environmental Unit Workshop – 2022
In May of 2022, the Northwest Area Committees hosted a two-day workshop, with the objective of providing training focused on topics that an Environmental Unit would be faced with in an ICS-organized incident response.
The presentations below are organized by the day and agenda order in which they were presented.
Workshop Agenda
Workshop Day 1 |
Workshop Day 2 |
| Scientific Support Coordinator
Faith Knighton, NOAA |
Wildlife Issues
Don Noviello, WDFW |
| Oils 101
Chris Barker, NOAA |
Intro to Important Plans
Don Pettit, DEQ; Matt Bissell, Ecology; Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, Ecology; Laura Hayes, Ecology |
| Northwest Area Contingency Plan (NWACP)
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, Ecology |
Response Technologies
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, Ecology |
| Geographic Response Plans (GRPs)
Don Pettit, DEQ; Sarah Behrman, DEQ; David Prater, Ecology Matt Bissell, Ecology |
Intro to Permits
Matt Bissell, Ecology |
| ESA Compliance
Allison O’Brien Hall, DOI; Valerie Chu, USFWS; Faith Knighton, NOAA |
EU Role in Tactics
Cheryl Surface, Incident Response Consultants |
| ICS 232 Resources at Risk
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, Ecology; Don Noviello, WDFW |
EU and Operations Section
Cheryl Surface, Incident Response Consultants |
Additional Related Resources:
List of available recordings or resources for preparation or additional information (provided to workshop participants prior to the event):
- Overview of Spill Exercise and Response – https://www.oilspills101.wa.gov/oil-spill-exercise-and-preparedness-training-videos/
- Anatomy of Oil Spill Exercise and Response – https://www.oilspills101.wa.gov/oil-spill-exercise-and-preparedness-training-videos/
- Non-floating Oils – NFO Workshop 2021 – Maritime Fire & SafetyAssociation (mfsa.com)
- Wildlife Response – https://www.oilspills101.wa.gov/marine-mammal- management-response/
- NOAA Office of Response & Restoration – Job Aids for Spill Response – https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and- chemical-spills/oil-spills/resources/job-aids-spill- response.html
- NOAA Office of Response & Restoration – Upcoming Training – https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/resources/training
Presentation Recordings
Scientific Support Coordinator and Intro to NOAA Tools
Faith Knighton, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Commander Faith Knighton from NOAA explains the role of the scientific support coordinator during an oil spill response. Also highlighted are the different NOAA tools available.
Oil Transport and Fate (Oils 101 pts 1 & 2)
Chris Barker, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Christopher Barker of NOAA’s Emergency Response Division presents on the different types of oil, how they react in the environment, and response measures.
NW Regional Contingency Plan
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Linda Pilkey Jarvis of the Washington Department of Ecology goes over the Northwest Region Contingency Plan.
Geographic Response Plans (NW GRPs pts 1 & 2)
Don Pettit, OR Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
David Prater, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Sarah Behrman, OR Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Matt Bissell, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Don Pettit of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and David Prater of the Washington Department of Ecology present on Geographic Response Plans.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Compliance
Allison O’Brien Hall, US Dept. of Interior (DOI)
Valerie Chu, US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS)
Faith Knighton, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Resources at Risk & ICS Form 232
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Don Noviello, WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (DFW)
Don Noviello of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife presents on the ICS 232 form detailing Resources at Risk. Following the presentation is a group activity and Q&A.
Wildlife Response
Don Noviello, WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (DFW)
Don Noviello of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provides and overview of the Wildlife Branch duties during an oil spill response. Also detailed are how oil affects different animals, and processes and tools used by wildlife staff during a response.
Introduction to Important Plans
Don Pettit, OR Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Matt Bissell, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Laura Hayes, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Don Pettit introduces the different plans used in an environmental response, Matt Bissell presents on the components of the non-floating oil plan, Linda Pilkey-Jarvis provides a brief overview of the decanting plan, Laura Hayes presents on air quality monitoring, and Matt Bissell then gives an overview of the inadvertent discovery plan.
Response Technologies
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Washington Department of Ecology’s Linda Pilkey-Jarvis explains different response tactics and tools used during a spill.
Permits 101
Matt Bissell, WA Dept. of Ecology (ECY)
Washington Department of Ecology’s Matt Bissell goes over the many different permits used in oil spill response work.
Environmental Unit (EU) Role in Tactics Planning
Cheryl Surface, Incident Response Consultants
Cheryl Surface of Incident Response Consultants explains the role of the Environmental Unit before and during the Tactics Meeting.
Environmental Unit (EU) and Operations Coordination
Cheryl Surface, Incident Response Consultants
Cheryl Surface of Incident Response Consultants presents on the functions of the Operations Section and how it works with the Environmental Unit.