Inland Geographic Response Plan (GRP) for Complex, Variable, Limited Access River Settings

Abstract

ABSTRACT 2017-427 Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) are a key tool in response preparedness, but are limited in inland settings, especially in remote areas. Development of a GRP for 200 miles of the Feather River in California required consideration of highly variable seasonal flow conditions, extremely limited access, and numerous sensitive ecological and cultural resources. This setting required adjustments to the typical prioritization of GRP response strategies based on the sensitivity of potentially exposed resources at risk, and instead increased focus on access and infrastructure locations in relation to natural and man-made collection areas. With a highway on one side of the steep-walled canyon, and a state-designated “high-hazard area” for the railroad line on the other, the GRP also needed to consider a wide variety of potentially released material types and source points. The scoping and GRP development was led by a steering committee including the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, the U.S. EPA (Region 9), CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), ARCADIS, and numerous regional and local organizations as well as response contractors. The resulting GRP is a pragmatic document that provides critical response information to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the first 24 – 48 hours of incident response in this challenging environment. This paper discusses the challenges faced and the resultant strategic measures addressing limited access, fast-water booming, resource mapping, and other critical planning parameters to develop a pragmatic and effective GRP.