Marine Emergency Preparedness and Response. Canadian Coast Guard Presentation at the First Nations and Oil Pipeline Development Summit

Transcription

1 Marine Emergency Preparedness and Response Canadian Coast Guard Presentation at the First Nations and Oil Pipeline Development Summit October 27,

2 The Canadian Coast Guard The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is a Special Operating Agency within Fisheries and Oceans Canada with a leading role in ensuring safe and efficient navigation on Canadian waters to: Protect individuals navigating on Canadian waters Protect the environment from ship-source and other marine pollution incidents Support economic growth Ensure Canada s sovereignty and security by establishing a strong federal presence on the water On an average day, the CCG: Saves 15 lives Assists 52 people in Search and Rescues Manages 1,233 vessel movements Carries out 11 fisheries patrols Supports 8 scientific surveys & 3 hydrographic missions Deals with 3 reported pollution events Surveys 3.5 km of navigation channel bottom 2

3 Canadian Coast Guard Pollution Response CCG is the lead federal agency responsible for ensuring all shipsource pollution incidents, and spills of unknown origin in the marine environment, are appropriately addressed. This mandate applies equally to both oil and hazardous and noxious substances; and in all Canadian waters. CCG delivers on its responsibilities through its Environmental Response Program, as well as through its larger asset base and sea-going personnel. 3

4 Environmental Response Program Planning Maintains National and Regional Marine Spills Contingency Plans. Training and Exercising 75 specially-trained spill managers and responders. The Coast Guard College manages and delivers a suite of specialized training courses. Contingency plans are exercised with partners, including First Nations, federal partners (e.g. National Energy Board, Environment Canada, Transport Canada), Response Organizations, as well as international partners like the United States and Arctic nations. Authorities Administrative and legislative authorities to direct action, emergency contract up to $10M, and cost recover for response actions. Assets Maintains 80 caches of response equipment located strategically across the country, including 19 Arctic Community Response Packs, and relies on CCG shore-based assets and fleet operational readiness. Agreements Domestic and international mutual aid agreements (e.g. Transport Canada, Port Authorities, offshore petroleum boards, US, Denmark, Arctic agreement). 4

5 Canadian Coast Guard Response Role CCG investigates all reports of marine pollution, and takes immediate action to address and/or prevent further pollution when it is observed, including all cases where the polluter is unknown, unwilling or unable to respond to CCG s satisfaction. If the polluter (always the responsible party) has been identified and is willing and able to respond, CCG will advise the polluter of its responsibilities and, once satisfied with the polluter s intentions / plans, actively monitor the polluter s response and provide advice and guidance as required, while being prepared to direct and lead all response efforts if we think it would improve the response. In both instances, CCG takes charge of the remediation efforts. In cases where CCG is not the lead agency for an incident (e.g. a pipeline spill), CCG may provide human and/or material resources to a response operation conducted by another federal, provincial or municipal department. 5

6 National Response Capacity 6

7 Ongoing Enhancements to Canada s Marine Safety System Piloting Area Response Planning Forge partnerships with First Nations and others Ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place Ensure response capacity addresses risks Improve public outreach and communication Clarifying use of Alternative Response Measures; Implementing Incident Command System; Conducting a Governance Review. 7

8 Recent Enhancements CCG continually learns from operations and strives to implement improvement measures. Following M/V Marathassa, CCG committed to: Improving internal and external communications; Further implementation of the Incident Command System within CCG and exercising with all partners, including First Nations; Clarifying roles and responsibilities, internally, and with our federal and local pollution response partners Encouraging the use of the precautionary approach when assessing pollution incidents; Adding pollution response assets locally Developing a Greater Vancouver Integrated Pollution Response Plan; Reviewing Incident Command protocols (e.g. job aides, Emergency Operations Centres, coaches). 8