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EPA Region 7 Responders Conduct Boom Training in Nebraska
Release Date: 08/21/2008
Contact Information: Whitaker, (913) 551-7598, [email protected]
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Kansas City, Kan., August 21, 2008) - Federal on-scene coordinators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct boom deployment training for federal, state, and local agencies at the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust facility near Wood River, Neb., on August 26-27. The training will focus on shallow water response and recovery techniques along the Platte River.
The training builds capacity to respond to possible threats to inland waterways from a railroad, trucking or pipeline accident. Another objective of the training is to strengthen working relationships at the local, state and federal levels to respond to oil and hazardous material releases.
EPA Region 7 employees participating in the exercise include seven on-scene coordinators and one branch chief. These staff will provide hands-on training with collection booms, skimmers, and response boats to demonstrate several techniques for recovering oil and hazardous materials from shallow waterways. The course will provide responders with the skills and knowledge needed to protect water intakes, property and sensitive species from the damaging effects of oil and hazardous material spills.
Federal, state and local organizations that will participate in the training include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and fire departments and emergency agencies from the cities of Hastings, Kearney and Grand Island. Railroad and pipeline industry representatives will also attend the two-day training scheduled at the Platte River Trust. The Trust protects, restores, and maintains habitat for migratory birds in the 80-mile Big Bend reach of the Platte River between Overton and Chapman.
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