Portland, ME-Joel Glass, DSO-MS, D1-NR listens intently to an overview of SONS 2010

Portland, ME – Representatives from Federal, State, and local governmental agencies along with Shell Oil Company representatives met in Portland on June 23 and 24 to begin planning the 2010 Spill of National Significance (SONS) exercise.  This exercise is scheduled for March 24 and 25 in Portland and Boston.

Auxiliarists representing National, District 1NR, and sector Northern New England participated in planning scenario development, logistics, response, public affairs, and Coast Guard video support.

A Spill of National Significance (SONS) is a rare catastrophic oil or hazardous substance spill event that captures national attention and requires the coordinated response of multiple Federal and State agencies over an extended period of time.

The USCG SONS exercise program increases awareness of USCG response protocols to respond to a catastrophic spill event.  Participants at the regional and national levels practice emergency interaction with Congress, the States, and industry in a nonemergency environment.

Major objectives include:

·         Increase national preparedness by engaging all levels of spill management in a coordinated response

·         Improve, through practice, the ability of the National Incident Commander (NIC) organization to manage a SONS incident

·         Maintain awareness by agency heads and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., of their role during a SONS response

A SONS exercise typically consists of field, regional, and headquarters components all connected by a common scenario.  The field-level exercise is a full-scale exercise that tests area contingency plans for one or more ports.

The National Incident Command (NIC)-level exercise tests a regional contingency plan and internal USCG policy directives and their ability (as they relate to the NIC) to effectively manage a SONS, and supports the field and headquarters components.

The headquarters-level exercise brings together senior agency officials and industry representatives to discuss interagency issues and responsibilities.  It tests the national contingency plan and appropriate USCG policy as they relate to a SONS response.

SONS exercises are conducted approximately every 2 to 3 years, alternating among East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast, and Great Lakes scenarios. 

~NGS