Chevron doesn’t get the drill, state says

OLYMPIA – Washington state has accused Chevron Shipping Co. of refusing to participate in an oil-spill drill on the Columbia River last week, but the oil shipping company insists it had safety concerns.

The state Department of Ecology said it asked the oil shipping company to deploy people, boats and a floating containment fence – known as a boom – to the area for a Dec. 8 practice scenario in which a Chevron tanker carrying millions of gallons of diesel was to have run aground west of Astoria, Ore.

The drill was to test Chevron’s ability to respond to an oil spill in the waters at the mouth of the Columbia, an area of concern for Washington because oil can move quickly along its waters and shorelines.

Ecology Director Jay Manning said Tuesday it was the first time an oil shipping company has refused a request by the agency to participate in an oil spill drill.

“Chevron transports millions of gallons of oil over Washington’s waters each year, and oil spill drills are critical tools to test readiness to respond to a spill,” Manning said. “An immediate response is absolutely necessary to minimize environmental damage once oil hits the water.”

In order to do business in the state, oil handlers must have state-approved contingency plans for oil spills. Part of the requirement is to submit to unannounced oil spill drills, which the state has conducted for five years.

All holders of Washington oil spill contingency plans were notified earlier this year that unannounced drills would be occurring, said preparedness manager Linda Pilkey-Jarvis.

Chevron spokesman Jeff Moore said his company was willing to participate in the drill, “provided that we first work together to ensure the drill would be conducted safely.”

“Our intention was to work with the Washington Department of Ecology to put these important safety values into practice during any drill activities – for the benefit of our employees and contractors as well as state employees,” he said.

The drills test how well companies coordinate a quick response from their nearest offices, as well as how well representatives would make proper notifications, coordinate a response through spill-response contractors, establish a command post, and how quickly they get teams to the spill site.

Pilkey-Jarvis said that although companies are given the option of not participating in a particular drill because of specific safety issues, such as employees not having proper rest, Chevron did not give one, citing only the “possibility” of safety issues, which she said wasn’t a good enough excuse.

Moore said San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron just wants to discuss general safety issues in advance of a drill.

“Let’s think about the safety measures we need to take ahead of time,” he said.

Ecology spokeswoman Sandy Howard said the state was open to discussing safety concerns with Chevron in the coming weeks but that Chevron will still be called upon for another unannounced drill within the next 30 days.