CHARLESTON, South Carolina –
Defense Logistics Agency Energy’s Defense Fuel Support Point Charleston, South Carolina successfully passed a recent government-initiated unannounced exercise involving a worst-case scenario hazardous material spill.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston officials conducted the exercise, arriving at the facility without prior notice Jan. 24 to inform DFSP Charleston staff of the exercise scenario: a 2,100-gallon oil spill. They were given four hours to complete their planned spill response.
Successful completion of the unplanned exercise began long before USCG personnel handed the exercise initiation letter to DFSP Charleston’s team.
“DLA Installation Support for Energy’s Environmental division, Compliance branch manages the spill prevention and response exercise contract,” said Carmela Spasojevich, DLA Installation Support for Energy environmental protection specialist. “The exercises are designed to prepare the sites to properly respond to spills and in turn it also prepares them for inspections. One of the core mission requirements of DS-FEE is to help reduce and manage operational risk to DLA Energy for environmental concerns. These exercises are a great opportunity to do just that in ensuring the appropriate staff are prepared and knowledgeable of the requirements."
DFSP Charleston is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility. DLA Energy operates the facility via a contractor and owns the product stored and issued there.
According to the USCG’s Marine Safety Bulletin, GIUEs are response exercises conducted in accordance with federal regulations and are intended to demonstrate a facility or vessel’s ability to responds to an average most-probable discharge [of oil] as stated in its facility/vessel response plan.
So why is successfully passing a GIUE important?
“Besides an actual catastrophic release, a GIUE is the ultimate test to demonstrate a site's preparedness for a significant release [of hazardous material],” said Laura Fleming, DLA Installation Support for Energy Environmental Division chief. “The GIUEs are not easy. The facility operators have to stop everything they are doing to accommodate the Coast Guard and they have go into action quickly in order to meet particular milestones within a certain amount of time so they pass. DFSP Charleston passed their GIUE with flying colors.”
Hazardous material/oil spills are categorized into three tiers, with a Tier I spill being the mildest and a Tier III spill the most significant and impactful.
Federally-mandated exercises take place during a three-year cycle, said DLA Energy Quality Assurance Representative Jerry Allen. As the on-site QAR at DFSP Charleston, Allen works with the contractor to ensure successful operations, including training and exercises.
“Tier I and II exercises are conducted throughout the cycle, with a Tier III exercise in the third year,” Allen said. “Tabletop exercises last 1-2 days and are conducted at the beginning of the first year, involving discussions on types of spills and procedures to follow. These are followed by moderate-level spill exercises, in which response teams go over spill prevention plans in more depth during the second year.”
During the third year, a multi-function exercise utilizes personnel and equipment in response to worst-case scenario - a significant spill involving the entire spectrum of response from responsible organizations, according to the individual facility response plan. This includes coordination meetings, spill drills and the deployment of spill response equipment, Allen said.
“An important part of that response is the deployment of oil spill response equipment to ensure the readiness of our personnel, which includes familiarization and training,” Allen said.
The result of that training? DFSP Charleston’s team took only one hour and 45 minutes to complete all requirements for the exercise.
“Our success in this spill exercise was due to the team at our facility and the facilities response plan training that goes on daily, monthly and yearly,” Allen said. “It contributes to our daily awareness of our facility and the surrounding areas and contributes to effective spill recovery and the safety of the environment, wildlife and personnel on-site.”
DFSP Charleston Terminal Superintendent Jason Houston received a letter from the Coast Guard Jan. 30, notifying him that DFSP Charleston had passed the exercise in accordance with its facility response plan and all applicable regulations. As a result, DFSP Charleston will not be subject to another GIUE for three years.
“It's a testament not only to the effectiveness of DLA Energy’s training contractor, but most importantly to the facility operators and QAR who have consistently participated in the annual training events and successfully put the training into action,” Fleming said.
“Carmela Spasojevich has done a tremendous job as program manager of this DLA Energy contract,” Fleming continued. “She's increased the program from 65 sites to 118 sites in the past four years in addition to expanding the scope of the program to ensure all DLA Energy government-owned, contractor-operated sites are provided an appropriate level of training.
“Contracting Officer Heather Adams and Contracting Specialist Rhoji Fernandez have provided excellent support for this fast-paced and very busy contract,” Fleming said. “We have a great team and it shows through such events as this successful GIUE.”