Balancing Response Operations with Safety, the Environment and Commerce

Abstract

ABSTRACT On January 23, 2010, a double hull tank vessel spilled nearly 9,500 barrels of high sulfur crude oil into the Sabine-Neches River (SBR) in Port Arthur, Texas. An ensuing evacuation of surrounding areas, coupled with the potential environmental impact and closure of the Intracoastal Waterway, elevated public, political and environmental concerns. Through an effective multi-agency Incident Command, rapid call up of abundant response resources to properly implement pre-identified response protocols, and the development of innovative response tactics, response managers successfully balanced environmental, commercial and safety concerns to execute a highly effective spill response in one of the busiest shipping thoroughfares in the United States. Collectively, the support of a cohesive Unified Command to execute operational strategies, and the RP's diligence in ensuring all needed response resources were quickly made available, enabled the command post to be stood down and the majority of the cleanup ...