The drill simulated a tank barge carrying 2.8 million gallons of diesel fuel running aground on Larsen’s Reef and releasing 1000 bbls of diesel fuel into the water. 

The Incident Command Post and Joint Information Center were established at Sturgeon Bay City Hall and a staging area at George K. Pinney County Park. The event was part of a yearly effort called the Preparedness for Response Exercise Program designed to meet training requirements outlined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

This exercise featured a diverse group of participants in the Environmental Unit and trustees representing the Natural Resource and Damage Assessment process. Annie Gibbs represented NOAA and led the NRDA team for the exercise. She coordinated with other federal and state trustee agencies in attendance including the U.S. Department of the Interior (represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Rescources. The trustees worked cooperatively with the PRP for the exercise, U.S. Venture, to develop a surface water sampling plan and discussed an approach for a shoreline sampling plan.

Sixteen public and private partners took part in the drill including representatives from the City of Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Green Bay Metropolitan Fire Department, State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Venture Inc., T&T Marine Salvage, National Response Corporation, and Gallagher Marine Systems among others.

For further information, contact Michael.E.Doig@noaa.gov.

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