Tribal Oil Spill Prevention and Chemical Emergency Preparedness Webinars

These webinars are a free resource for tribal partners interested in understanding the implementation of oil spill prevention and chemical emergency preparedness regulations on tribal lands. 

Environmental emergencies from oil discharges or chemical accidents may occur, so it is important for tribal communities to be prepared and implement necessary prevention measures. The goal of these webinars is to assist tribes in understanding their role in: 

• Preventing oil discharges under the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure regulation. In accordance with the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation at 40 CFR part 112, EPA requires certain facilities to prepare, amend, and implement Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure plans. The regulation is largely performance-based, which allows flexibility in meeting the rule requirements to prevent discharges of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.
• Preparing for chemical emergencies under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. This statute was created to help communities plan for chemical emergencies. It also requires industry to report on the storage, use and releases of hazardous substances to federal, state, tribal and local governments. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requires state, tribal and local governments to use this information to prepare for and protect their communities from potential risks.

EPA offers various webinars for tribal audiences. All registered participants that attend the webinars will receive an electronic EPA certificate documenting participation.

On this page: 

• Upcoming webinars
• Past webinar materials
• Receive notifications for upcoming webinars

Upcoming Webinars

Developing the Tribal Chemical Emergency Planning Framework

This one and half hour training will provide the foundational knowledge and resources needed for Tribes to develop their chemical emergency planning frameworks. This will include how to develop a Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC) or a Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (TEPC), and also to discuss the interactions between Tribes, States, regulated facilities, and locals. The training will include an overview provided by the EPA’s Jennifer Barre, and insights on the challenges and successes of Tribal implementation of EPCRA will be offered by Chuck Kmet, Emergency Manager for the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community.

This will only include a brief regulatory overview of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, which is also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title II). Please review the fundamental background information below.

Background Information: www.epa.gov/epcra (Except EPCRA 313 the Toxics Release Inventory program); 40 CFR 355 (Emergency Planning and Notification)

Lithium-ion Battery Challenges and Best Practices

This two hour webinar will present the current best practices, and primary challenges, for responding to lithium-ion battery fires. The course will cover the basics of Li-ion batteries and their unique hazards; types of incidents that may be encountered; and transportation and disposal challenges during remediation of a battery incident.

Overview of Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Webinar for Tribal Partners

Participants should only register for one of the two offerings below, as all sessions will cover the same material. 

This one and half hour, EPA-hosted session will provide a basic overview of the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure oil spill prevention program, regulatory requirements, program implementation, and federal oil spill reporting requirements. The session will also include a question-and-answer segment where participants can interact with the SPCC national program manager. The session is designed for those who want to learn “just the basics” of the SPCC rule and EPA Oil Program.  Managers, policymakers, facility operators, and other related tribal stakeholders may find this short and basic overview course useful. Participants attending the course who want more information should consider attending the four-hour Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure 101 Webinar for Tribal Partners. The target audience for this webinar includes:

• All tribes (including state-recognized) that have any petroleum production, above-ground storage, processing, or transportation (pipelines) within, through, or adjoining their tribal lands.
• Tribal owners/operators of regulated oil facilities.
• Alaska Native Corporations with regulated oil facilities.
• Tribal environmental management agencies.
• Tribal Emergency Response Commissions & Tribal Emergency Planning Committees.
• Tribal first responders.
• Tribal environmental non-profit organizations.

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure 101 Webinar for Tribal Partners

Participants should only register for one of the two offerings below, as all sessions will cover the same material. 

This four-hour course will provide tribal partners SPCC 101 – a “deeper dive” into the SPCC rules, their applicability, and requirements (e.g., containment, tank integrity, plan updates, etc.). The SPCC inspection process and enforcement will be discussed. An in-depth pictorial review of typical noncompliance found during EPA inspections will also be provided. The webinar will conclude with a question-and-answer session. The course is recommended as a practical accompaniment to Tank Talk: Advanced Topic AST 101 Webinar for Tribal Partners.

The target audience for this webinar includes:

• All tribes (including state-recognized) that have any petroleum production, above-ground storage, processing or transportation (pipelines) within, through, or adjoining their tribal lands.
• Tribal owners/operators of regulated oil facilities.
• Alaska Native Corporations with regulated oil facilities.
• Tribal environmental management agencies.
• Tribal Emergency Response Commissions & Tribal Emergency Planning Committees.
• Tribal first responders.
• Tribal environmental non-profit organizations.

Tank Talk: Aboveground Storage Tanks 101 Webinar for Tribal Partners

Participants should only register for one of the two offerings below, as all sessions will cover the same material. 

This four-hour advanced topic session will provide an in-depth overview of the Aboveground Storage Tanks design/construction, appurtenances, piping, inspections, and maintenance.

The objective of this course is to provide an in-depth overview of AST systems. This course will including content on AST:

• Design (shop built versus field erected)
• Components/Terminology
• Inspection procedures (visual and nondestructive tests)
• Specifications and standards
• Appurtenances
• Typical problem areas
• Inspection report review guidance
• Petroleum Oil Storage History

The course will be instructed by the EPA national AST/SPCC subject matter expert (SME). This Advanced Topic Webinar is part of the external Tank Talks series that EPA is offering to tribal partners and stakeholders. The objective of the course is to develop a core understanding of AST system design operation, maintenance, and inspection. The course is recommended as a practical accompaniment to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure 101 Webinar for Tribal Partners.

The target audience for this webinar includes:

• All tribes (including state-recognized) that have any petroleum production, above-ground storage, processing or transportation (pipelines) within, through, or adjoining their tribal lands.
• Tribal owners/operators of regulated oil facilities.
• Alaska Native Corporations with regulated oil facilities.
• Tribal environmental management agencies. Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs) & Tribal Emergency Planning Committees (TEPCs).
• Tribal first responders.
• Tribal environmental non-profit organizations.

Past Webinars

View a catalog of past webinars and materials.

Receive Notifications for Upcoming Webinars

Please use the form below to receive email notifications of upcoming EPA tribal oil spill prevention and chemical emergency preparedness webinars.