Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team and OILS 911

The Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team (POSPET) evolved from the simple premise that small oil spills can add up to cause significant environmental and economic harm, and that they are a regional problem that can be remedied more effectively through collaborative projects drawing from existing talent and resources. For over a decade, POSPET has served as a forum for exchanging information and outreach ideas about prevention of oil spills and other boater best management practices while providing boat and marina operators with a consistent and accurate pollution prevention messages. POSPET members include representatives from state and federal agencies, industry associations, and nonprofit groups from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and nationwide. The POSPET team members also track the number of certified “Clean Marinas” and “Clean Harbors” within their jurisdictions, where these programs exist. Table 1 lists the current number of facilities certified in Alaska, British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington. These certification programs recognize marinas and harbors that educate boaters on spill and pollution prevention practices. Each certified facility must be re-certified every 1-3 years.

Total number of certified Clean Marinas or Clean Harbors as of February 2019

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Spills Aren’t Slick campaign

Another successful achievement of the POSPET team is the Spills Aren’t Slick campaign, which has done much to bring the impact of even small releases of oil on the environment. The team created a set of Spills Aren’t Slick signs and decals, which are widely distributed by POSPET members. These have been posted at boat ramps and marinas, among other highly visible locations.

PDF files for the Spills Aren’t Slick materials are avialable by clicking here.

Volunteer management programs for Washington and California

Washington and California have developed oil spill response volunteer coordination programs to allow citizens to participate in oil spill response efforts. Please see links below for each state’s program. Washington: www.oilspills101.wa.gov California: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/volunteer.aspx

1-800-OILS-911

As part of the Spills Aren’t Slick campaign, POSPET publicizes 1-800-OILS-911, a toll-free number for the general public to report oil spills. It’s an easy number to remember and can be used anywhere on the West Coast from British Columbia to California. When a boater calls this number it is automatically routed to the emergency office of the relevant jurisdiction.  In 2012, the calls by jurisdiction are summarized in Table 2 (Note: at present, Hawaii and Alaska are not participating in the program)

Interested in joining the POSPET listserv? Please click here.

Members of the Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team (POSPET)

Alaska Vacant	British Columbia Michelle Young Clean Marine BC Program Coordinator (250) 753-3459 cmbc@georgiastrait.org	California Steve Gonzales Public Information Officer CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response (916) 322-1683 Steve.Gonzalez@ wildlife.ca.gov
Hawaii David “DC” Carter Senior Response Manager, Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) 65 N. Nimitz Highway Pier 14 Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 (808) 792-1181 dc@penco.org	Oregon Vacant
Washington
Aaron Barnett Washington Sea Grant Boating Program Specialist (206) 616-8929 aaronb5@u.washington.edu	Shayne Cothern Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Specialist-Sediment Quality Unit (360) 902-1064 Shayne.cothern@dnr.wa.gov	Franji Mayes Washington State Department of Ecology Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator (360) 407-7211 fmay461@ECY.WA.GOV