NORTH CAROLINA PREPAREDNESS FOR THE

DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT (DHI)

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PURPOSE OF BRIEF– Brief on Actions Taken To Date & Future Action Plan by the

State Emergency Response Team (SERT) concerning the Preparedness & Response to the Deepwater Horizon Incident (DHI).

– Ensure NC is fully prepared to address any Eventuality.

– Demonstrate the Collaboration & Team Building Efforts Underway.

– Get your Ideas & Recommendations.

– Answer all Questions.

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- State Agencies are NOT SITTING BACK waiting for the Oil Spill to come to us.

- The SERT Partners are and have been proactive early on in this incident.

- Intent is to BE INCLUSIVE, absorb the LESSONS LEARNED in the Gulf and maintain a SENSE OF URGENCY in ensuring NC has well-developed

Action Plans at all times.

- State has an Oil Spill Response Plan in place. In the normal rotation of plan updates, the Oil Spill

Plan was scheduled for UPDATE IN 2010.

- THAT SCHEDULE HAS BEEN EXPEDITED

and we will have an updated plan in place by no later than JUNE 21st.

- Learning process based on experiences in Gulf so document MUST BE AGILE, WELL THOUGHT-OUT, and tailored to this UNPRECEDENTED INCIDENT.

The Lead Agencies for this Response will be CCPS/NCEM and DENR:

- Emergency Management is responsible for the Coordination of State Efforts.

- DENR is the Lead Technical Agency.

- Have reached out to Subject Matter Experts from:

Local, State & Federal Agencies Private Sector

Universities

- ALREADY CONDUCTED CONFERENCE CALLS & subsequent MEETINGS on

6/3 & 6/7 to bring Agencies together.

- We have identified NC’s PRIORITIES AND A LIST OF ACTION ITEMS with

deadlines to complete those activities.

- USCG maintains an Area Contingency Plan (ACP) that addresses Response to Major Oil Spill out to 200 miles. - NEXT ACP MEETING IS JUNE 17, 2010 in Morehead City Federal, state, local agencies, as well as private & non-profit stakeholders.

The MAJOR PRIORITIES for the State of North Carolina are:

 1. Obtaining PRE-IMPACT SAMPLING to establish a

baseline of data for Air, Water, Marine Life, etc. 

2. Getting UPDATED INVENTORY of Response RESOURCES & CAPABILITIES available in the State NC as well as those available outside of our State.

3. Sharing of PUBLIC INFORMATION.

The PRIORITIES for the State of North Carolina are: 

4. MONITOR the situation closely as it continues to unfold in the Gulf – DAILY COMMUNICATION with

the USCG and Region IV EPA.

5. SHARING INFORMATION with other Southeastern States – those impacted & those preparing for potential impact. Proactively responding to

LESSONS LEARNED will be critical in the way ahead.

AGENDAGovernor’s Opening Comments……………..……..……………..Governor Bev Perdue

Welcoming Comments…………..……..…………….....Secretary Reuben Young, CCPS

Meeting Purpose & Agenda (5 Min)……Chief Deputy Secretary Rudy Rudisill, CCPS

Current Situation for DHI (10 Min)……….….Deputy Director Mike Sprayberry, NCEM

NC SERT Preparedness for DHI (15 Min)….Deputy Director Mike Sprayberry, NCEM

DENR as the SERT Tech Lead (5 Min)………………….Secretary Dee Freeman, DENR

DHI Planning for Effects on Commerce (5 Min)…Assistant Secretary Lynn Minges, NC Department of Commerce

Questions (10 Min)…….………..………..Chief Deputy Secretary Rudy Rudisill, CCPS

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Mike SprayberryDeputy Director

NC Division of Emergency Management

“CURRENT SITUATION”

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Area Contingency PlanSector North Carolina

ACP Purpose

• Establishes protocols for use of Incident Command System

• Describes normal and expected roles & responsibilities of various responders

• Identifies economically and environmentally sensitive areas

ACP Purpose

• Pre-identifies strategies for response including booming, dispersants, and burning

• Contains procedures for notification & resource lists

• Establishes purpose of the Area Committee

ACP Participating Agencies

Sample ICS Structure

-USCG-State of NC-Responsible Party

QUESTIONS?

Mike SprayberryDeputy Director

NC Division of Emergency Management

“NC SERT DHI PREPAREDNESS”

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FACTS– Currently, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) and the USCG predict a remote chance of DHI oil reaching NC.

– Oil continues to spill into the Gulf; volume of spill is unknown.

– The USCG is lead agency for Coastal Water Threats & maintains an Area Contingency Plan that addresses an oil spill response out to 200 miles. This plan is routinely exercised with federal, state and local partners.

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FACTS– The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the

lead agency for Inland Water Threats.

– Should NC conduct a DHI response, our actions would fall under the National Incident Command. The USCG would be the Incident Commander in a Unified Command.

– NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the Technical Lead for the SERT for a DHI Response.

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FACTS– NC has 320 miles of Ocean Beaches and over 8,000

miles of Estuarine Shoreline. Preparedness Plan must Incorporate the diversified Nature of NC Shores.

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ASSUMPTIONS– Oil from DHI could eventually reach NC.

– Response resources will be limited due to Priority in the Gulf.

– Special, “Just-in-Time” Training will be required for all DHI Responders.

– Pre-Impact Sampling of Natural Resources will be executed. There will be costs associated with the Sampling.

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SHORT TERM GOALS– Management of Public Information.

– Keep Government Informed at every Level.

– ID Response Resources, both Equipment & Personnel.

– Complete Update of NC Oil Spill Response Plan.

– Send SERT Personnel to Observe DHI Response Ops in Gulf.

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LONG TERM GOALS– Develop “Just-in-Time” Training for Clean-Up

Responders.

– Develop Clearinghouse for Pre-Impact Sampling of NC’s Coastal & Inland Waters to Ensure NC has Baseline Data on Normal Water Quality, Air Quality, etc. This will be Key to Validating Oil came from DHI & for Reimbursement of Costs incurred by NC.

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CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS– Available Response Strategies:

• In Situ Burning – Approving Authority DENR Air Quality Director

• Dispersants & Biological Agents – Approving Authority DENR Water Quality Director

• Booming and/or Skimming Operations

• Natural Attenuation

– .

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Response OrganizationGovernor Perdue

Secretary YoungCCPS

Unified Command

SERT LeaderDirector Hoell(State EOC)

State RepsDENR/EM

Fed Rep USCG

Inc Cdr

Local Rep

CountyBP

Operations Planning LogisticsFiscal Unit

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

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AVAILABLE RESOURCES– Personnel:

• Qualified Community Responder Program• Contractors• Volunteers (No Handling Oil Contaminated Materials) • Inmates• State & Federal Agencies

Coordination has begun with the Governor’s Office for Volunteerism & Community Service. NCEM is working with NCDOC and NCNG to determine how much Manpower they have available. Currently, States in the Gulf have only used 1500 Guardsmen (CBS News 6/7/10), preferring instead to hire Workers and charge British Petroleum.

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AVAILABLE RESOURCES– Equipment & Material:

• British Petroleum Clean-Up Contracts• USCG Clean-Up Equipment Contracts • EPA Clean-Up Contracts• NCDOT Clean-Up Contracts with Executive Order• NCDENR Watercraft & Crews

Limited Equipment is available in the State; majority of Equipment will be Contracted. It is Important to Note that NC would be in Competition with other States for the Equipment.

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DHI TECHNICAL SUPPORT– NCDENR has Identified State Agencies & Universities

to Provide Pre-Impact Sampling Information.

– NCDENR has Identified Subject Matter Experts from State Agencies, Private Sector and Universities.

– NCDENR will begin meeting with the Environmental Technical Advisory Group (ETAG) to provide Technical Advice to SERT for DHI Preparedness.

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Environmental Technical Advisory Group(ETAG)

• A group of environmental specialists comprised of representatives from the following agencies of State government:1. Division of Water Quality

2. Division of Air Quality

3. Division of Marine Fisheries

4. Division of Coastal Management

5. Wildlife Resources Commission

6. Division of Archives & History

7. Division of Environmental Health

8. Division of Waste Management

9. Division of Parks & Recreation

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DHI TECHNICAL SUPPORT– NCDENR & NCEM are in process of Development of

Clearinghouse for Pre-Impact Data for Natural Resources to Establish a Baseline.

– NCDENR & other SERT Partners are working on Professional Technical Predictions for possible effects of DHI Oil in NC.

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DHI INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

– State Agency Public Information Officers are Working Together in the DHI Joint Information System to Ensure DHI Information is Vetted/Approved prior to Release to Public.

– DHI Webpage has been Established on CCPS Website (www.nccrimecontrol.org/gulfoilspill).

– DHI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List is posted on CCPS Website.

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DHI INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

– Social Media is being Used to Share DHI Information (Facebook & Twitter).

– WebEOC is being Used to Share DHI Information between SERT Partners.

– NCEM is Publishing Bi-Weekly Situation Reports for SERT DHI Preparedness Actions.

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DHI RECOVERY PLANNING

– British Petroleum is officially designated the Responsible Party for the DHI and, as such, must Pay for Damages as the result of the DHI.

– NCEM Recovery Chief is Working with Gulf State Representatives and FEMA Region IV to Identify Federal Reimbursement Programs.

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TOP 3 DHI SERT ACTIONS

– Develop a Written DHI Pre-Impact Sampling Initiative Plan. DENR – 6/15/10 (initiated & ongoing)

– Complete Inventory of Resources (Personnel & Equipment). DENR & NCEM – 7/7/10 (initiated & ongoing)

– Develop or Obtain Training Curricula for Oil Spill Responders. DENR & DOL – 7/14/10 (initiated & ongoing)

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Dee FreemanSecretary

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources

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Lynn MingesAssistant Secretary for Tourism, Marketing and Global BrandingNC Department of Commerce

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QUESTIONS?

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