VANCOUVER - The 2015 Clean Pacific Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada June 16-18, 2015 covered a wide range of prevention, preparedness and response topics, with a focus on the growth in crude transportation across the West. The conference provided a forum for responders, operators, regulators, equipment providers and environmental groups to openly discuss best practices and industry trends.
CLEAN PACIFIC is co-hosted by the member agencies of the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force and it incorporates the Task Force’s 2015 Annual Meeting.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) sponsored the 2015 Clean Pacific Networking Break in the exhibit hall at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Jason Langteau, Planning Analyst of the BSEE Oil Spill Preparedness Division, spoke about the BSEE Oil Spill Equipment Verification Program during the conference.
'I’m glad to share with the public, the regulated community, and other agencies some of the progress BSEE is making in the important topic of oil spill preparedness relating to the equipment verification process we now use. I hope that by explaining how thorough our process is we’ll raise the bar for other regulators as they develop or implement similar programs to verify preparedness equipment' Jason said.
Lori Medley, OSPD's Chief of the Response Research Branch, presented an overview of BSEE's Response Research program, introduced the branch's web-based tracking system for research, and provided an overview of seven ongoing projects.
The Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) hosted an on-water vessel and equipment display during the conference. Among the vessels participating in the display, a WCMRC Burrard Cleaner deployed a general purpose boom along with its companion M.J. Green skimming vessel, and US Coast Guard Cutter Henry Blake deployed an advancing oil skimming system in Vancouver Harbor as part of the display.
