MARCH 18, 2016--A government-led exercise was held on March 14 through 16, simulating a spill of 240,000 gallons of fuel into the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. The exercise, which is part of the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program required under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, was held at the Port of Jacksonville.

The NOAA effort was organized by Brad Benggio, Scientific Support Coordinator (OR&R) to support the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) and the Unified Command at the exercise. NOAA provided training for about 50 exercise participants before the exercise to introduce OR&R information management concepts and response tools.

The OR&R Response Operations Supervisor/East Coast met with the Jacksonville Captain of the Port (U.S. Coast Guard) and members of his staff, Florida State responders, Oil Spill Response Organization representatives (OSROs), the City of Jacksonville Emergency Manager, the Commander of Navy Region Southeast, and the Commanding Officer of the Navy Supply Corps. This resulted in greater understanding by the Navy of NOAA's role in response and the expertise and capabilities the agency can contribute.

The NOAA team included a biologist, a National Marine Fisheries marine mammal resource manager, two National Weather Service forecasters and three OR&R information management specialists who provided the Common Operating Picture (COP) for the exercise with the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®), and enhanced information flow with OR&R’s Response Link.

Two staff members from the NOAA Public Affairs Office, the National Ocean Service Communications and Education Division Chief, and the OR&R Communications Coordinator were provided training on working in a Joint Information Center (JIC) of the Unified Command Center, and then practiced those skills over the next two days with other agency partners as the JIC staff. The team produced press releases, social media, and coordinated press briefings, while fielding media and public inquiries.

For further information, please contact Brad.Benggio@noaa.gov.

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