The US Coast Guard and 50 other US federal, state and commercial organisations last week concluded a two-day triennial Spill of National Significance Exercise or SONS 2010 exercise in Portland, Maine.
SONS 2010 was a full-scale exercise designed to test response to a Spill of National Significance (SONS). A SONS is defined as a spill that due to its severity, size, location, complexity or impact requires extraordinary coordination of federal, state, local, and responsible party resources to contain and clean up.
This year's exercise simulated an 8.7 million-litre crude oil spill in the Gulf of Maine that had potential to impact an area of 800km in the coastal region along with other complications designed to challenge the joint response effort.
More than 600 participants from 50 agencies were asked to coordinate planning, communication, and resources to protect the New England coastline from the simulated oil spill. The drill was especially important for the city of Portland because Portland is the second largest oil port on the East Coast.
"The SONS exercise is the Super Bowl of response exercises," said Captain Jim McPherson, The Sector Northern New England commander. "An oil spill of this magnitude requires preparation, practice and synergy from all federal, state and local and private organisations. This exercise has been invaluable in terms of the benefits that all the participants received from the experience. Most importantly, the maritime community and ecosystem will benefit from our preparation."
The SONS exercise commenced on the 21st anniversary of the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill, which was the catalyst for the passing of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and is the primary law governing oil spill response efforts and places responsibility for dealing with an oil spill.
Exercises such as SONS are mandatory for federal, state and local agencies.
"This exercise was a tremendous learning opportunity," said Rick Berry, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Spill Response Coordinator. "The lessons learned and the relationships forged between the participants will greatly enhance our response capabilities."
SONS 2010 is a Coast Guard-sponsored Department of Homeland Security Tier II exercise on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Programme five-year calendar. This exercise involved more than 600 representatives from a variety of federal, state, local, tribal and private organisations.