Coast Guard conducts oil spill response test in Tampa

Coast Guard conducts oil spill response test in Tampa The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Florida Department of Environment Protection, conducted an unannounced exercise of the oil spill response plan and pollution response capabilities at the Murphy Oil terminal in Tampa on Tuesday.
   The Clean Water Act and the National Preparedness and Response Exercise Program guidelines require the Coast Guard to conduct random, periodic spot checks of port facilities.
   “It gives the Coast Guard an opportunity to observe industry partners exercising their response plans,” said Lt. Jason Franz, a member of the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg’s Planning Department, in a statement. “The Coast Guard then evaluates the outcome of the exercise and provides feedback that will improve upon the facility’s readiness.”
   Representatives from Murphy Oil and Southern Waste Services deployed the resources needed to respond efficiently to a simulated 2,100-gallon discharge of oil, the Coast Guard said.
   The Coast Guard will continue to randomly exercise oil spill response plans from various Tampa Bay port facilities throughout the year.

Representatives from Murphy Oil and Southern Waste Services demonstrate their oil spill response plan and pollution response capabilities during an unannounced exercise by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.