Drills

*** Temporary Changes to Drill Program***

Oil spill drills enable response personnel to become knowledgeable and proficient in the strengths and weaknesses of plans, equipment and procedures.  Oil spill drills are scheduled in advance on the area drill calendar. 

Ecology tracks drill progress over a three year cycle and has prepared a drill manual to assist in meeting the requirements of the drill program. In each of the three years, plan holders are required to have one tabletop exercise and two deployment exercises each year. In one of the three years each facility and vessel is required to hold a worst case drill.

Unannounced drills are also used to test readiness in Washington.  Lessons learned from drills and spills are incorporated back into the plans.

The goal of facility and vessel drills and exercises are to:

• Increases readiness in the event of an actual emergency.
• Provides a means to assess the effectiveness of response plans and response capabilities.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skill of the plan holders.
• Serve as a training tool for response personnel.
• Provide an opportunity to practice skills and improve individual performance in a non-threatening environment.
• Requires participants to network with each other and pre-plan decisions on resources.
• Provide a means to educate and involve the public, media and key community organizations in response planning.
• Validate existing policies and procedures.
• Identify planning conflicts.
• Identify resource needs.
• Clarifies roles and responsibilities of everyone involved.