OIL SPILLS AND SAFETY - COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN OIL SPILL RESPONSE

Scott McCreery and Michael Myers Anita White BP Cherry Point Refinery White Ink Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 4519 Grandview Rd. 1319 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 200 Elaine, WA 98230 Bellingham, WA 98225

ABSTRACT: In the summer of 2001, an oil spill into the Strait refinery it was a wake-up call - there had been other small spills of Georgia occurred from a tank vessel docked at the BP Cherry over the years, but nothing that had raised health and safety Point Refinery. The resultant sheen impacted approximately three questions from our neighbors. miles of pristine beach. While the spill volume was relatively While the U.S. Coast Guard lauded the response to the spill, small, odors from the spill of mixed slop materials were strong there was significant frustration expressed by local residents enough to prompt several residents to evacuate their homes. In regarding what they perceived as lack of response by the response to this experience, the BP Cherry Point Refinery refinery2. This was due, in large part, to the minimal environ- developed a community outreach program focused on educating mental impact relative to the heightened perception of risk local residents about the nature of oil spills, including oil spill resulting from the strong odors emanating from the spill. While response and issues of public health and safety. Rooted in both Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team (SCAT) surveys performed research and past experience with risk communication, this by Unified Command (UC) representatives identified natural approach provides a model for engaging local communities in attenuation as the best response option, local residents saw such educational efforts to ensure public health and safety in the event ongoing assessment and re-assessment without active clean-up as of a spill, and for addressing public perceptions regarding a lack of response effort on the part of BP Cherry Point. This, too, response effectiveness. was a first - never before had Cherry Point's commitment to spill preparedness and response been questioned by our local community. Discussion In response to this experience, the BP Cherry Point Refinery developed a two-phase approach to community outreach based on It's the biggest risk facing any marine transfer facility - a spill various aspects of oil spills and spill response activities. The first to water. If it's "the big one," it's a catastrophic event that can phase of this effort has been completed and involved the change a company's operational paradigm and forever change the development of educational materials regarding what local relationship between a facility and the community in which it residents should know about oil spills and related safety issues. does business. Usually, however, it's not a "big" spill; it's a small The second phase of this effort has not yet been fully spill that, from the perspective of a seasoned responder, is implemented, but will involve meetings with local residents to sometimes considered a "non-event" - something that took few answer questions regarding spill response capabilities and resources to manage and even fewer to clean-up because it was community health risks associated with spills and spill response non-recoverable sheen that largely evaporated. Just another spill. activities. This approach closely mirrors prior actions taken by BP Cherry Point to address public exposure concerns in accordance with the Risk Management Program (RMP) standards Perception is reality of 40 CFR 68. In response to that regulatory requirement, the Cherry Point Refinery developed several brochures that discussed In the summer of 2001, an oil spill into the safety issues associated with the accidental release of RMP- occurred at the BP Cherry Point Refinery dock while a tank reportable chemicals. vessel was loading light refined product. The cause of the spill was determined to be slop oil from the tanker that leaked into a segregated ballast tank that was being simultaneously discharged Addressing public concern regarding oil spills as the vessel was loading. The ensuing slick, characterized as sheen, impacted approximately three miles of pristine beach and While awareness and concern regarding oil spills is generally eventually spread throughout an approximately 50 square mile high (Lowden, 1997), there are few people outside of regulated area before completely dissipating. While the spill volume was industries, the regulatory community or the spill response relatively small (on the order of one to ten gallons), odors from community who have direct experience with responses to spilled the mixed slop materials were strong enough to prompt several products. Lowden (1997) provides an interesting residents in the area to evacuate their homes1. To these residents, comparison of concerns regarding oil spills with other, more it wasn't "just another spill," it was an insult to the environment common hazards and summarizes earlier research regarding and was perceived as a potential danger to their health. To the public concerns over oil spills. Key aspects of that research

877 878 2003 INTERNATIONAL OIL SPILL CONFERENCE include findings that public concern over oils spills is heightened, Located on the southern Strait of Georgia in a rural area in part, due to: approximately 10-miles south of the U.S./Canada border, the • A poor understanding of refining and oil transportation nearby shoreline is characterized by high-energy, coarse-grained processes sand and cobble beaches backed by 60-foot bluffs of • A lack of recognition of the relationship between oil and unconsolidated glacio-marine sediments. This rural location and people's day-to-day activities steep topography means that there are few places where public • Media coverage that typically focuses on why an incident beach access is available; in many locations, the only beach occurred and who was responsible rather than the relative access for miles is via privately owned, narrow staircases down risks posed by an incident the steep bluff face. This scarcity of access results in a severe In the aftermath of the response to the described spill, the ΒÃ limitation on early and accurate assessment of shoreline impacts Cherry Point Incident Management Team (IMT) was struck by and has resulted in a need for strong relationships with local Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 the juxtaposition of the kudos received from regulators regarding landowners who can allow unfettered access to the beach for Cherry Point's response and concerns that local citizens felt the respite operations. response had been inadequate. After discussion with members of Our nunity, through acceptance of the refinery the IMT that had face-to-face contact with local residents, it within then midst, effectively issues the refinery's "license to became clear that the local community had little information operate." At Cherry Point, we feel that we earn this right to available to them regarding the fate and effects of spilled oil, the operate through community trust that is accomplished, in part, nature of spill response operations, or the relative health risks through ongoing communication and education. The focus of this posed by spilled petroleum products. communication is our demonstrated commitment to preventing spills and, when necessary, responding to them in a safe and environmentally appropriate manner that protects the Community outreach efforts community's natural resources and ensures the health and safety of responders and the local population. The first phase of the BP Cherry Point Refinery's community outreach and education program has been the development and distribution of educational materials. The contextual background Conclusions that the BP Cherry Point Emergency Response Coordinators used in developing the brochure is rooted largely in the works of Following Wilkerson & Lauder's (1997) principles for Lowden (1997), Wilkerson & Lauder (1997), and White (1997). effective risk communication - honest and open communications; The ensuing brochure was designed to provide background on the listen to your public; speak in clear, concise language; be differences between the types of petroleum products that can be proactive; build alliances - the BP Cherry Point Refinery has spilled - i.e., persistent versus non-persistent oils - and the developed and is in the process of implementing a proactive varying techniques used to assess and appropriately address the community outreach program to educate residents on what to clean-up of spilled oil. The brochure presents easy-to-understand expect during an oil spill. Previous spill response experience has explanations of basic response equipment and strategies. shown that lack of education regarding the techniques, limitations Likewise, it introduces the concept of net environmental benefit and realities of spill response has resulted in unrealistic and explains that in some situations clean-up activities can cause expectations on the part of local citizens regarding the spill more habitat damage than the spilled oil itself. Most importantly, response process and the effectiveness of oil recovery the brochure stresses personal safety and health impacts to local technologies. The BP Cherry Point Refinery's challenge has been residents and provides advice on how to minimize exposures, as to educate our neighbors on the relative health risks associated well as providing contact information for refinery and local fire with spilled oil and refined products and the processes used to and emergency response personnel. appropriately assess and respond to a spill. Our goal has been to Following the graphical format used in the risk communication improve awareness and understanding. That has also meant pamphlets developed as part of the refinery's RMP, the Oil Spills sharing the somewhat disappointing realities of the effectiveness & Safety brochure uses plain language and clearly understood of spill response efforts at recovering spilled oil, while graphics to highlight key aspects of our message. A local artist simultaneously reinforcing local confidence in Cherry Point's was commissioned to render images of response equipment and commitment to the highest possible standards of spill response typical habitat impacts to clarify textual explanations and provide preparedness. context for the information provided. These original oil paintings Preliminary feedback from local citizens indicates that our were digitally scanned and incorporated into the brochure layout. community outreach and education efforts surrounding spill The resulting brochure was printed as a self-contained tri-fold response issues have been well received and have raised brochure that was bulk-mailed to local residents. Contents of the awareness of both the complexity of response decision-making Oil Spills & Safety brochure (minus front and back cover) are and BP Cherry Point's commitment to excellence in this area of represented as Figures 1 through 4. environmental protection and public health and safety. These The second phase of our community outreach and education preliminary results support the findings of Wilkerson & Lauder effort involves meeting with our neighbors and continued public (1997), which identified education as a key component of an meetings regarding general spill response issues, BP Cherry effective risk communication program and highlighted proactive, Point's spill response capabilities, concerns regarding past honest and open communication as a guiding principle for response efforts, and the further development of strong implementing such a program. relationships with these neighbors. The necessity for developing Whether it is a small spill with no quantitative or qualitative and maintaining strong relationships with local landowners is environmental impact or the proverbial "big one," the success of predicated in part by the refinery's setting. PREPARATION AND PLANNING II 879

the response will depend, in large part, on community perceptions no harm to people, no damage to the environment - is known of the commitment and capability of the responders. The BP throughout the community and is recognized as more than mere Cherry Point Refinery is taking steps to ensure that our words. commitment to health, safety and the environment - no accidents,

At the BP Cherry Point Refinery we work Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 with crude oil and refined products every day We take pride in our safety systems and performance record. Rest assured, we want to go home healthy and we alco want our friends and neighbors to be protected. The world we live in today ic an industrial onc. All around IS pmple make, move and Examples of our safety controls include teak use marerials created from oil products. kc a detectors, warning alarms and automatic result, there is a remote poaibility that a system shutdowns. hamrdou? or flammable chemical could be In the unlikely event that an accidental spilled during a train derailment, a &my release should occur, BP employees are trained accident or a manufamiring incident. and prepared to rcduce its impact. At HP Cherry Point we have emergencv Furthermore, thoroughly investigating all plan.;, safety systems and conduct training to incidents, even small drips or leaks, ensures handle emergencies. Some of these are that we improve our procedures and prevent rpquired by federal and ctate laws, other similar occurrences. Regular equipment prevention and protection measures we use in.ipections and mainrenance aho cnsure exceed rrgulatory requircmentl; to ensure proper operation of our reiinery. protection of ourselvec and others. Both BP and outside regulatory agencies Br BP we insist on the use ofsafery routinely audit our processes and our equipment and implement ctrict operating procedure to ensure safety. procedures focused on preventing rclases.

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Figure 1. Page 1 of Oil Spills & Safety brochure. 880 2003 INTERNATIONAL OIL SPILL CONFERENCE

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'No matter whose pill is in the water, BP Cheny Point willalways respond witb tobatever it takes to minimize environmentat damage and protect the K'>s '.vi health and safity of owneighbor,. *' Rick Porter, BD Cherry Point Refinery i~.-rager I Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 83'... 4.2 an r

The initial assesrmenr is one nfthe most important elements of a response. In srmc .I , more damase anbe done to environment by thLuesptfffse r)-- -1 .JI by the spii itself. In responding ro a spill, RP Cherry Point makes every effort LO minimize the erivironmental damage by taking into consideration the nature of the affected habitat and the type of product spilled. In developing a response strategy the focus is on minimizing environmenml damage as well as ensuring the safety of ¿^vq the public and responders.

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In the event of an incident, there is some unusual equipment you might see on the water and along the shore. Containment boom is the primary tool used for shoreline protection and oil collection and diversion. Rooms are stored at several locations throughout our local area to protect environmental resources and public and private property. Once oil has been contained, a skimmer can be used to remove oil from the surface of the water. From a spill re$ponse perspective, there are two classifications for petroleum ptoducts: non- penistent oilz and penistent oilr. Persistent oilr are composed of a mixture of light to heavy-weight components. Examples are crude oil and some refined products. Clean-up operations or weathering may not completely remove rhese type': of from an affected area. Non-persistent oils are refined products composed of Ii3ht-weight components such as gasoline, jet he1 and diencl fuel, which will bc dmpletely removed fi-om the affected environment through natural weathering. Only short-term impacts are typid from these refined products.

Figure 2. Page 2 of Oil Spills & Safety brochure. PREPARATION AND PLANNING II 881

Shoreline Scenarios

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 Wxhington State Department of F~oLog rqulations require regulated facilties, such as refineries, to conduct two equipment deployment exercises annualIy and hold one mblctop exercise annually. Thc BP Cherry Point Rcl.iner). holds four equipment deployment exerciscs each year and ^productsmtnpose$ofltmt<°**:/\ \: //. conducts an annual exercise designed to .tim^tmmppnmàsumm^ l . .** continue and extend the training of our ; gasolim,fβ:fitβp^ Spill Management Tam. ^: wh$S mah¿cffmpkteiy · ^//; *' lherc arc are a number ofdiffcrent statc ,wmmedfiom the affixed r ;. and fcdcml prcparcciness and responsc {mpitmmem through mmral^ '.' criteria which are required to be addressed fathering* 7hese mkwill V * * . in rhese exercises. Each of these has to be met once cach three years - as such, any Contingency Plan holder is on a triennial cycle for completing all of these requirements. Once during each triennial cyclc, the annual tabletop exercise must bc based on a “worst cise discharge” scenario that tcsts the full capabilities of the Plan Holder’s in-house and contracted response apabilties.

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If you want to learn more abut tliesc . persistent oils — composed of a accident scenarios or about our planning *' mixture of light m heavy-weight and prevention activities, please contact * components, Exatnpks are cmde s Hafcr·**^ vi \ I’ublic-Vs4: Affairs: · ~ V^t^Ï at the BPP CIicrty Í'^Í>Í^À^r#V4£f Point c* oil as well as some refined Refinery by calling (360)371-1 500 or visit products« Clean-up üperadons or our web qitew at wvruf.bpcherrypoint.com. weathering may not completely ^€© remove these types of oik from an affectedarea. Shown ahum as a .* mthtuh ring** around a rock at the high tide line* V ^ \*< i^L Figure 3. Page 3 of Oil Spills & Safety brochure. 882 2003 INTERNATIONAL OIL SPILL CONFERENCE

Our watchwords: no accidents,

no harm to people,C no damage to the environment. Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021

Health and Safety in the During my emergency it is important to stay off the phone once any initial emergency Event of an Oil Spill call arc made. Accidental releases arc unlikely, but they can Do not tie up regular or cellular phone happen. They an also occur quickly. It's what lines needed by the fire, police or sheri" you do in the first few minutes of any department. emergency that will do the most to protect 1 -:: Only call 91 1 if there is an injury or other and your family. Be aware and prepare. immediate emergency. Do not call 31 1 for If you see oil on the water or notice an information on the status of the emergency. unusual smell ot something that smells like gasoline or diere! fuel call the RP Cherry Point Refincry at (360) 371-1 500 during the day, or For Information During (360)371-1301 after hours and on weekends, an Accidental Release or dial 1-800-362-6742. Only cd13I I if there is an injury or other immediate emergency. If you are aware of an oil spilI in the Most spills present no direct health risk to vicinity of Cherry Point, ~id1the BP Cherry local residcnts. Leaving the area is always a Point Refinery at (360) 371-1500 during the good way to climinatc any risk of exxyasurc day, or (360) 371-1301 after hours and on from an oil spill. weekends, or diaI 1-800-362-6742. During some spill sccnarios however, it may Only call 91 1 if there is an injury or other be necessary to go inside and stay there. This immediate emergency. procedure is called Shelter in Place. You can In the event of a major incident, tune to a use your entire house or only P few rooms. local radio or TI' station for information or Make sure you choose an atea that has a innructions as the spill is monitored by local telephonc, water, a toilet and someplace you offtcials. can seal offcasily. A bedroom is an exccllcnr In the highly unlikely event that an choicc. evacuation is necessary, BP personnel or your in rhc highly unlikcly event that an local firc dcpartmcnt or law enforccmenr evacuation is necessary. BP personnel or your agency will contact you with complete local fire department or law enforcement instructions about what to do. agency will contact you with complete instructions about what to do.

Figure 4. Page 4 of Oil Spills & Safety brochure. PREPARATION AND PLANNING II 883

Biographies References

Scott McCreery is Senior Environmental Engineer and 1. Lowden, George. 1997. Identifying the Factors that Assistant Emergency Response Coordinator for the BP Cherry Heighten Public Concern Over Oil Spills. Proceedings of Point Refinery in Blaine, . He has an M.S. in the 1997 International Oil Spill Conference: pp. 747-751. Environmental Policy & Law from Michigan State University 2. White, Carolyn M. 1997. Public Affairs: Balancing on the and has consulted with industry and regulatory agencies Tightrope Between Full Disclosure and Avoiding Further internationally on a variety of environmental emergency Risk. Proceedings of the 1997 International Oil Spill response, crisis management and vessel traffic safety issues. Conference: pp. 335-338. Mike Myers is the Emergency Response Coordinator for the 3. Wilkerson, Bob and Terry Lauder. 1997. Communicating BP Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine, Washington. Mike has over the Risks of an Oil Spill: Why, When, and How? 30 years of experience in all aspects of refinery safety and Proceedings of the 1997 International Oil Spill Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 emergency response and is credited with developing one of the Conference: pp. 339-342. premier emergency response organizations in Washington. Anita White is owner of White Ink, a writing, editing and design firm based in Bellingham, Washington. Anita has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Western Washington University with minors in Journalism and Art.

1 The persistence of this small spill volume and strong odor was attributed to the mixture of unknown products that composed the slop oil. 2 The BP Cherry Point Refinery was not the Responsible Party (RP) and relinquished Incident Command to the RP once they were on-site and up-to-speed. BP, however, remained the lead responder in the eyes of local citizens. Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/2003/1/877/2350040/2169-3358-2003-1-877.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021