Conference Schedule

Registration Fee: $195

This course is designed to aid aerial observers in preparing for an aerial survey, identifying and describing oil slicks, standardizing documentation procedures, and reporting such information in a clear and consistent format. Attendees should already have a basic understanding of oil fate and behavior and open-water response techniques, as these topics will serve as the foundation for developing sound aerial observation and spotting techniques.

Discussions will include basic surveillance aircraft and tools (GPS, digital video/photography, clinometers, radios, computer tracking systems, etc.); however, an emphasis will be put on skills needed by an effective observer to see, interpret, and document the location and nature of floating oil. In addition, classroom discussions and case examples will be used to help develop the skills necessary to spot  (i.e. guide, evaluate, and assist as necessary) with aerial and/or surface operations involving the booming, skimming, burning, or dispersing of oil at sea. The instructor will draw on 40 years of experience as an aerial observer who has worked on hundreds of oil spills worldwide under tropical, temperate, and arctic conditions.

THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

During a spill event, information is key to making good decisions on how to respond. Field observations, trajectory predictions, and weather forecasts need to be put together to make a coherent picture of the situation. This course provides an overview of a variety of spill case histories with discussion of the science that governs how spills behave. Observations discussed include overflight maps, beach surveys and simple oceanographic sampling. Different types of trajectory modeling will be demonstrated, including working with multiple (stochastic) trajectory simulations. Students will learn the basics of how to put together a spill timeline from the past to the present and into the future using field information and predictions, and how to integrate results with GIS applications such as ArcView® and Google Earth.

No prior experience required, as this course contains both rules of thumb  and sophisticated analysis techniques.

You've been awakened by the phone call - OIL HAS SPILLED INTO THE BAY - maybe a lot of oil, maybe it's still spilling; now you've got to wake up and respond. This session will explore the dynamics of managing a successful response. How do you keep your organization agile and effective, yet remain comprehensive and inclusive. After initial presentations, panel members will share their insights and experience and offer answers to your questions.

Hear what you need to know to conduct business in the Pacific States and the Province of British Columbia directly from the regulators who are responsible for implementation and enforcement. An informative presentation on the West Coast Governors' Agreement of Ocean Health will be followed by updates by the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force and new initiatives from the Canadian and U.S. federal agencies. This fast-paced and informative Super Session will address current changes in the way you do business.

Marking the 20th Anniversary of both the Exxon Valdez spill and the formation of the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, this session will review key lessons learned from milestone oil spill events over the past twenty years, the regulations and policies that grew out of those events, and what challenges remain to be addressed. Speakers will represent federal, state, and provincial regulators, response organizations, the regulated industry, citizen committees, and advocacy groups. This Super Session will combine presentations and a panel discussion.