As part of our emergency response program, Trans Mountain conducts exercises throughout the year to ensure employees and contractors receive the necessary training to protect themselves, the public, local communities and the environment in the rare event of an incident. Local first responders also participate, giving us the opportunity to share knowledge, train together and work to improve current procedures.
This spring, we conducted three spill response deployment exercises in Puget Sound, Little Fort and Merritt. Each exercise was held for two days, including an equipment training day that provides an overview of safe practices and procedures, followed by the deployment day using response equipment.
Puget Sound, WA
In April, we conducted a spill response deployment drill within our Puget Sound District, testing our response efforts to a simulated release impacting the Nooksack River. During the two-day event, participants deployed containment and recovery equipment that included the Laurel Station Oil Spill Containment and Recovery (OSCAR) and Decontamination Response trailers. Deployment activity took place along the Nooksack River at the DeGroot Boat Launch near Lynden, Washington.
The exercise was attended by representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE). Supporting Trans Mountain responders were contractors from US Ecology, SWAT Consulting and JTI Commercial Services.