OSC 2007 Evaluation Report

2007 OSC Readiness Training Program Evaluation Report
Inland In Situ Burning for Oil Spills
Instructors: Harry L. Allen, III, EPA ERT
John Caffin, Department of Agriculture
Leigh DeHaven, EPA OEM
Amy Merten, NOAA
Ann Whelan, EPA Region 5
This new 4-hour advanced course introduced the scientific approach to inland ISB of oil spills. As an
alternative countermeasure for oil spill response, ISB is not the answer for all inland oil spills. This
course provided OSCs valuable resources that highlight educated decision making for IBS.
Topics in the course included:
• Oil burning characteristics.
• Favorable and unfavorable conditions to conduct ISB.
• Air quality and air monitoring issues.
• Area planning and ISB.
• Relationships of RRT and ISB.
• ICS and ISB.
• Relationships with local fire chiefs, U.S. Forest Service, and Fire Service.
• Communication chain, public relations, and public education.
Featured case studies included a post-Katrina in situ burn in an intermediate marsh in Empire, Louisiana;
an in situ burn in Cohasset, Minnesota; and remotely operated vehicle video footage of a water column
during an oil test burn off the coast of Newfoundland.
Number of Participants Who
Pre-registered
Participation and Average Grade
Number of Participants Who
Signed Course Roster
Number of Evaluation
Forms Submitted
Average
Grade
61 46 33 4*
* The grade displayed is the average of the grades provided on the evaluation forms, where
1 = Poor, 2 = Fair, 3 = Good, 4 = Very Good, and 5 = Excellent.
C-65 Comments about Individual Training Courses