SOLDOTNA, Alaska - Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) staff attended the Alaska Regional Response Team meeting in Soldotna, Alaska September 24 to update attendees on BSEE’s regulatory activities during this year's Arctic drilling season.
BSEE Alaska Deputy Regional Director, Kevin Pendergast, briefed response team members and public attendees on BSEE’s inspection program, regulatory standards and oil spill preparedness activities in Alaska. Additional topics discussed at the meeting included oil spill exercise updates, wildlife protection, spill prevention and response and food safety.
The Regional Response Teams are a component of the National Response System, and their mission is to plan, prepare, and respond to oil spills and releases of hazardous substances within their area of responsibility. Each team maintains a Regional Contingency Plan and acts as an advisory board to the on-scene coordinator during a response.
The team meeting is Co-chaired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and State of Alaska, and attendees included representatives from state emergency response agencies, NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
