National Strike Force Responds to Gulf Facility Fire in Puerto Rico

On the night of 22 October, the AST received a call for assistance by Sector San Juan Incident Management Division and the EPA regarding a massive explosion and fuel fire located at a Gulf Fuel Facility just outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The team mobilized that evening and deployed via commercial air early the next morning with response gear in hand. As the team approached the San Juan International Airport they could see the fire still ablaze. Little did they know that the fire would continue to burn for another two days after they landed, and that the air monitoring equipment they brought with them would be used to establish public evacuation and safety zones below.











The AST continues to provide federal oversight of responsible party operations. Oversight is provided to ensure efficient use of resources, develop field/clean-up strategies and tactics, and determine the need for additional resources. Air monitoring units are deployed to locations where responders and contractors are working to ensure proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is also to ensure that ambient air levels remain safe for both responders and the surrounding neighborhoods.


Caribbean Petroleum (CPC) continues to perform mitigation and recovery operations. Approximately one hundred and twenty three (123) people have been hired to assist in the clean-up operations and have removed over one-hundred seventy thousand (170,000) gallons of product. The NSF continues to support EPA Region II response operations as needed as directed by the National Contingeny Plan.

Dispersant Classification in the RRI

The NSFCC, in cooperation with OSC Martinsburg, has released a new upgrade to the Response Resource Inventory (RRI). As of Monday, October 19 after 10 weeks of development, the NSFCC is able to classify OSROs for dispersant capabilities using the new web-based RRI. The CAPS rule was released at the end of August gives the OSROs 18 months to come into compliance with the new regulation. The finished dispersant classification project has resulted in the ability for the NSFCC to classify OSROs for inland, nearshore, and/or offshore operating areas. The OSRO will receive a Tier 1, 2, or 3 classifciation based upon response time and equipment. Coast Guard personnel can access the RRI through MISLE, Standard Reports, Response Resource Inventory.

Video of dispersants applied from most recent case off the coast of Galveston

HOUSTON - In this video released by the unified command responding to the tank ship Krymsk incident, a DC3 aircraft deploys dispersant to an oil sheen 40 miles off of Galveston Oct. 21, 2009, after an estimated 18,000 gallons of fuel oil were spilled from the Krymsk Oct. 20, 2009. The unified command decided to deploy dispersant after determining that on-water oil recovery methods would not work due to weather conditions. Dispersants are products that are applied to the water surface in order to break up surface oil slicks, a process called dispersion, and facilitate the movement of oil particles into the water column. U.S. Coast Guard video.

BM1 John Parker Featured in Recovery Site's Report

Gulf Strike Team's BM1 John Parker was featured in last week's Dredge Report, a newsletter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Recovery Site employees.

On December 22, 2008, retaining walls failed at the TVA Kingston fossil fuel plant, releasing approximately 5.4 million cubic yards of fly ash. Gulf Strike Team personnel have been assisting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in monitoring time-critical removal actions of fly ash from the Emory River and 250-300 acres of surrounding areas since May 2009. The Gulf Strike Team has four personnel and an 18' response boat on-scene to ensure the safety of the public and responders, assist with water sampling and monitoring, and assist with Incident Command System (ICS) management. BM1 Parker is the Response Supervisor for the case and has been deployed to Kingston for over 70 days.

The Dredge Report highlighted BM1 Parker's leadership at the site in "designat[ing] exclusion zones and oversee[ing] their monitoring and control" in addition to his "proactive approach for... cleaning the river." BM1 Parker was also commended for his outstanding coordination efforts with EPA, TVA, and Sector Ohio Valley to close approximately 1.5 miles of the Emory River and ensure safety as large dredges work in the closure area.

BM1 Parker and other members of the Gulf Strike Team and Pacific Strike Team have been instrumental in ensuring safety at the site. The Dredge Report summed up it's article with this statement: "There is no denying the importance of the... Strike Force's role here in the Kingston Ash Recovery Site. Hey, where can I get one of those cool blue jumpsuits?"

DOG visits NSF

Deployable Operations Group commander, Rear Adm. Dean Lee, and his deputy, Capt. Gail Kulisch, took questions from NSF Coordination Center members today before meeting with the Executive Steering Committee to discuss NSF operations. DOG Command Master Chief Darrell Odom, far right, also met with the crew. Questions focused on the DOG's role in the changing Coast Guard environment under modernization. Lee noted that he sees the NSF as a vital part of the DOG.

AST Hosts JROTC

Every year the Atlantic Strike Team hosts over 150 JROC cadets from local area schools near Ft. Dix, NJ. This year the cadets were given a tour of the unit and were provided opportuinities to participate in NSF response drills. Thanks to all those who helped make this year's JROTC event a successful one!!