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TODAY'S CONFERENCE IS BEING RECORDED. I KNOW TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR WATSON. YOU MAY BEGIN.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND BY. WE WILL BEGIN SHORTLY. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND BY. THEY
WILL BEGIN SHORTLY, SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND BY. . .
WE ARE STARTING IN JUST A MINUTE. WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE WEB STREAM TO KICK UP. . .
THANKS FOR COMING. A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS AND THEN WE HAVE A SAFETY BRIEFING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE RECORDED ON LIVE STREAM LIVE ON THE INTERNET. WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE
TUNING INTO THE WEB STREAM. THIS WILL ALSO BE RECORDED AND PUSH ON THE INTERNET. WHEN
IT IS TIME FOR THE Q&A PRESENT -- THE Q&A SESSION, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONES
HE COUSIN NEEDS TO CATCH THE AUDIO FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. WE WILL START WITH A SAFETY BRIEFING.
PROCEED IN AN ORDERLY FASHION TO THE NEAREST EXITS. [IN DISCERNIBLE]
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JIM WATSON, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENFORCEMENT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. IT IS GREAT PLEASURE THAT I WILL YOU TO THE
FIRST OFFSHORE ENERGY PER PARADISE -- HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR HIM. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
AND PARTICIPATING IN OUR WEBCAST. THIS FOR HIM IS PART OF BS EE -- OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY
IS THE SAFETY AT ALL LEVELS AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS NOT JUST A SLOGAN FOR US TO PUT ON
BUMPER STICKERS, THIS IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE TO DRIVE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE. SAFETY MUST
COME FIRST AND MUST BE PRIORITIZED ABOVE ALL ELSE. PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO HURRICANES
IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF OUR GOAL OF VENTING ACCIDENTS AND SPILLS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF. LAST MONTH PRESIDENT OBAMA ISSUED A PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION IN WHICH HE CALLED
UPON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND RESIDENTS OF COASTAL STATES TO SHARE INFORMATION
ABOUT HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO HELP SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES.
IN HIS PROCLAMATION, THE PRESENT REFLECTED TO THE -- ON THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANES
SANDY -- THESE PLUNGED CITIES INTO DARKNESS AND TORE FAMILIES APART WITH LOSS OF LIFE.
WE MUST REFLECT ON THE 2005 HURRICANE SEASON, ONE OF THE WORST ON RECORD. IN 2000 FIVE,
PLATFORMS TOPPLES, PIPELINES WERE RIPPED FROM THE SEAFLOOR. THE DAMAGE FROM THE STORM HALTED
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN THE GULF FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. WE ARE GATHERED TO ENSURE
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. NOAH IS PREDICTING AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON. THIS FOR HIM IS
OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE WE ARE PREPARED AND READY TO RESPOND. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM
REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ALMOND OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND
THE GULF STATES, MOSTLY WHO ARE ON THE LINE VIA TELEPHONE CALL. WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANE
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, WE ARE ONE TEAM AND WE MUST WORK TOGETHER. WORKING TOGETHER
IS THE BEST WAY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF STORMS ON THE SUPPLY OF ENERGY FROM THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF. THIS IS THE FIRST BIG EFFORT TO GET ALL OF OUR INTERESTS IN THE SAME ROOM,
AND WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE HERE. FIRST WE ARE GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT THE 2013 HURRICANE FORECAST FROM NOAH. THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM INDUSTRY AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ON PREPAREDNESS AND ACTIVITIES. THEN WE WILL LEARN ABOUT RESPONSE PLANS ON
THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF. LASTLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE GULF STATES REPRESENTATIVES.
ONCE ALL THE PRESENTATIONS ARE COMPLETE, I WILL LEAD A 45 MINUTE PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUM.
THE Q&A SESSION WILL BE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM
BUT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DISSIPATING IN OUR WEBCAST. WE HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A CONFERENCE
OF GATHERING OF PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF. THE FORUM IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO DIALOGUE AMONGST OURSELVES AND WITH THE
COMMUNITY. ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM AND WATCHING ON THE WEB HAVE THE SAME GOAL COME UP TO MINIMIZE
THE IMPACT OF HURRICANES AND OFFSHORE ENERGY SUPPLY. WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, WE CONNECT
COBBLERS THAT GOAL. I AM EXCITED TO GET STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATIONS -- WE CAN COMPLEMENT
THAT GOAL. CATHERINE SULLIVAN, UNDER SECRETARY OF CONGRESS -- OF COMMERCE -- THANK YOU. CATHERINE?
THANK YOU, JIM, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AT BSEE FOR BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER TODAY FOR THIS
FORUM. NOAH COME AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, CONSIST ORGANIZATIONALLY OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE,
THE NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE, NOAA RESEARCH, NOAA SATELLITE. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK
AT THAT ORGANIZATION IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND SHOW YOU, GO THROUGH THE LENS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
INTELLIGENCE AND UNPACK A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES, HOW WE LINK TO STATE
AND FEDERAL PARTNERS WHEN WE HAVE HURRICANES BEARING DOWN ON OUR SHORES. THE ESSENCE OF
NO AA IS TO TRANSFORM A TRANSDISCIPLINARY UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE, WEATHER, OCEANS,
AND COASTS INTO WHAT I CALL CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE. TIMELY, ACTIONABLE, RELIABLE
INFORMATION THAT GIVES US FORESIGHT ABOUT FUTURE CONDITIONS, THAT CAN INFORM THE DECISIONS
JUST LIKE THOSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND JUST LIKE INTELLIGENCE IN A NATIONAL SECURITY
SENSE, ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE REQUIRES A COMMENDATION OF DATA, ANALYSIS, AND ASSESSMENT.
TODAY I WILL TOUCH ON THE WAYS NOAA'S CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE PROVIDES THIS CRITICAL
FORESIGHT FOR THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY, THE INFORMATION THAT WE ALL NEED TO ANTICIPATE THE WIND, WAVES,
AND SURGE DYNAMICS THAT CAN SOMETIMES FORCE THE EVACUATION OF SHIPS, PLANES, AND PERSONNEL,
AND THAT CAN, SUBSEQUENT TO LANDFALL, AFFECT PORT REFINERY OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORT. OUR
LONG-TERM LOOK -- SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S, THE NUMBERS OF ATLANTIC HURRICANES HAVE INCREASED
-- SORRY, THERE WE GO. HAVE INCREASED, AS HAVE MAJOR HURRICANES WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD.
MUCH OF THIS RECENT INCREASE BEGAN IN 1995. IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. WHEN AN OSCILLATION
CALLED THE AMO BECAME ACTIVE. THIS CONDITION ENHANCES THE WEST AFRICAN MONSOON AND CREATE
CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT ARE FAVORABLE TO THE FORMATION OF STORMS AND TO ENERGIZING
THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVED WESTWARD FROM AFRICA. THE ATLANTIC BASIN IS SET UP TO HAVE AN ACTIVE
SEASON. LOOKING YEARS TO DECADES AHEAD -- ON THE NOT SO CORRECT SLIDE -- LOOKING YEARS
TO DECADES AHEAD, THE 21ST CENTURY CLIMATE PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT THERE MAY BE A DECREASE
IN THE NUMBERS OF GLOBAL TROPICAL STORMS DECADES FROM NOW, BUT THE INTENSITY MIGHT ALSO INCREASE.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM IN HOPES OF SHARPENING THAT OUTLOOK. THE ATLANTIC
HURRICANE OUTLOOK IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE PROBLEMS
THAT WE PUT OUT THAT NOAA. THIS MONTH -- THIS YEAR'S SIX- MONTH HURRICANE SITUATION IN THE
BASIN IS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE EXTREMELY ACTIVE. 13 TO 20 NAMED STORMS WITH TOP WINDS OF AT
LEAST 39 MILES PER HOUR. OF THOSE, SIX TO 11 WE PROJECT WILL BECOME HURRICANES
TOP WINDS 74 MILES PER HOUR, AND THREE TO SIX OF THOSE HURRICANES ARE PROJECTED TO POSSIBLY
RANK CATEGORY 3, 4, OR FIVE, HAVING WINDOWS GREATER THAN 100 MILES PER HOUR. THIS OUTLOOK
DOES NOT AND CANNOT PREDICT HOW MANY WILL MAKE LANDFALL, OR WHERE THEY WILL MAKE LANDFALL.
ANY STORM CAN HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT IF IT HITS OUR SHORES. THE REAL MESSAGE IS IT IS
TIME FOR READINESS FOR HURRICANES IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SINCE KATRINA HIT THE GULF COAST IN
2005, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT IN HURRICANE FORECASTING, FACE TO CONTINUED AND
SUSTAINED INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH. COMPARED TO 2005, THE AVERAGE TRACK FORECAST AREA FROM
NOAA'S NATURAL -- NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS DECREASED FROM 30% TO 40%, SO WE ARE ALMOST
TWICE AS GOOD AT TRACKING THE STORM, WHERE IT WILL BE. THE AVERAGE LEADTIME HAS BEEN
EXTENDED BY 12 HOURS SINCE 2010. OUR -- WE NOW INCLUDE FORMATION PROBABILITIES AS PART
OF OUR TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK. THESE CAME ONLINE FOUR YEARS AGO AND THEY GIVE YOU 10%
TO 20% POP ABILITY -- PROBABILITY OF WHETHER IT WILL LIKELY BE A TROPICAL HURRICANE -- A
HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM. THE STREAM OF DATA THAT COME TO YOU FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER IN OUR WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES. OUTLOOKS, WATCHES, WARNINGS FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES, ALL
OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE PUT OUT THROUGH THE NOAA NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI. LET
ME DIG MORE DEEPLY INTO HOW THIS WORKS. YOU SEE ON THE LAST PANEL, OUR TROPICAL WEATHER
OUTLOOK SHOWING AREAS OF POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION WILL STOP THIS IS BACK FROM
2012. YOU WILL SEE ONE NAMED STORM IN THE MIDDLE, THAT RED STORM SYMBOL, AND BRIGHT
MAGENTA AND YELLOW CIRCLE OFF TO THE LOWER RIGHT. THAT SHOWS YOU AN AREA OF INTEREST
THAT MAY BECOME A TROPICAL STORM. THE ISSUE THESE EVERY SIX HOURS FROM OUR INTER-STATION
VERY SATELLITE PRODUCT. THE WAVES THAT BECAME ISAAC IS SHOWN IN THAT PINK CIRCLE. THE RECONNAISSANCE
THAT GIVES US THE EARLY ADVANCED WARNING OF WHAT WE MAY HAVE COME AT US DAYS DOWN THE
ROAD. ONCE A TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMS, BECOMES A DEPRESSION, THE HURRICANE CENTER SHOWS A
COMPLETE ADVISORY PACKAGE EVERY SIX HOURS. THIS INCLUDES A FIVE DAY FORECAST , A THREE
DAY OUT FORECAST OF THE RADIUS OF WINDOW DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND THE PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
FORCE SUSTAINED WINDS OR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS. LOOKING AT HOW THAT
PLAYED OUT FOR HURRICANE ISAAC, AT 5:00 A.M. ON AUGUST 26 LAST YEAR, THE HURRICANE CENTER
ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE MOUTH OF MISSISSIPPI TO INDIAN PASS, FLORIDA. A WATCH
MEANS HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE IN THE WATCH AREA, AND OUR PRACTICE IS TO
ISSUE THESE 48 HOURS BEFORE TROPICAL STORM FORCE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN. 12
HOURS LATER, THE HURRICANE CENTER ISSUED A HURRICANE WARNING FROM EAST OF MORGAN CITY,
LOUISIANA, TO FLORIDA, INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED -- NOT POSSIBLE, BUT NOW EXPECTED -- SOMEWHERE IN THE WARNING AREA. ISSUE 36
HOURS BEFORE THE AREA MAY EXPERIENCE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS. OUT AT SEA, SAFETY ON RIGGS,
PLATFORMS, AND SHIPS IS INFORMED BY THE TROPICAL STORM FORECAST BRANCH, OPERATING 365 DAYS
PER YEAR WHETHER IN HURRICANE SEASON OR NOT. WHEN A DEPRESSION IS DETECTED, THE SEA STATE
ANALYSIS SHOWS UP AS PART OF THE FORECAST ADVISORY PACKAGE. TOLD FOOT SEAS, WHICH ARE
A CRITICAL THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR MARITIME DECISION-MAKING, ARE INDICATED IN THE HURRICANE
ADVISORY PACKAGE. HIGH SEAS FORECAST FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO ARE UPDATED EVERY SIX HOURS
AFTER THE FORMATION OF A DEPRESSION. THE FORECAST INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF WIND AND WAVES FOR
THE CURRENT TIME, THEY NOW CAST, WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW. IN THIS PRODUCT, A 20-NOT THRESHOLD IS
USED FOR WIND AND A EIGHT-FOOT THRESHOLD FOR SEAS, AND FOR POSITION AND INTENSITY GIVEN
FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES OUT TO THE 120-OUR FORECAST. WE ALSO PRODUCE OFFSHORE WORKERS FORECAST
-- OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST THAT PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE LARGE-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL
MARINE CONDITIONS -- WIND, SEAS, MAJOR WEATHER IMPACT, OUT TO FIVE DAYS. GREEN MORNING SUCH
AS GALE WARNINGS ARE HEADLINED FOR YOU EACH A AFFECTED ZONE IN THE BROAD AREA THROUGH
THE FIRST 36 HOURS. ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN GRAPHICAL AND TEXT FORMATS,
AND MANY OF THE PRODUCTS CAN BE AT SEX ACCESSED THROUGH THE HIGH-SPEED BANDS. LET ME TELL
YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING DURING THIS CRITICAL PHASE BECAUSE THIS IS
WHERE, AS WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE COMING DOWN TO THE HALL, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE PLANS
AND IT IS GOOD TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE PRINTED ON PAPER. RICH TWO-WAY TO MEDICATION IS JUST
AS CRITICAL DURING THESE EVOLUTIONS. I NEED TO NOT ONLY KNOW AS NOAA THAT YOU GOT OR READ
WHAT IS IN OUR FORECAST, BUT I WANT TO PREVENT CASUALTY AND HARM, SO I ALSO WANT TO KNOW
YOU UNDERSTOOD IT, YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN, AND YOU CAN CORRECT THAT UNDERSTANDING OR
REFINE IT AS YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO SO. DURING THESE HIGH-IMPACT SITUATIONS, OUR LOCAL FORECAST
OFFICE POSTS DAILY WEATHER CALLS FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND STATE PARTNERS. THESE ACTIONS
INCLUDE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDUSTRY'S NEEDS, AND THE OVERALL IMPACT OF OUR WATCHES
AND WARNINGS. WE ADAPT ON-THE-FLY WHEN WE GET FEEDBACK FROM THESE CONVERSATIONS. WHEN
A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED, AGAIN WARNING MEANS HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN
THE AREA. THEN THE LOCAL FORECAST OFFICE UPS THE ANTE AND BEGINS TO ISSUE A HURRICANE LOCAL
STATUS. THIS PROVIDES DETAILED LOCAL IMPACT OF THE STORM TO WARNING AREAS ALONG WITH WAVE
HEIGHT AND WIND IN THE MARINE ZONE. THE EMERGENCY MANAGER PARTNER CALLS CONTINUE, AND THE NEW
ORLEANS -- THE WEATHER SERVICE'S NEW ORLEANS OFFICE PROJECT ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE SPECIALISTS
KICKS INTO GEAR WITH THEIR CATALOG OF IMPACTS THRESHOLDS DEFINED BY THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH
THE INDUSTRY. I THINK WE HAVE TOUCHED THAT. LET ME TALK ABOUT STORM SURGE AND OFFSHORE
CONDITIONS. WHEN WE HAVE STEPPED INTO TROPICAL STORM WARNING, ANOTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION
BEFORE -- THE OCEAN SERVICE'S STORM QUICK LOOK PRODUCT. THIS COMES ONLINE AND CONTAINS
G GIS READY INFORMATION UPDATED FOUR TIMES EACH DAY, FUSING MARINE, WIND, WAVE, AND SURGE
INFORMATION INTO ONE CONVENIENT POINT AND GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE
CONDITIONS ARE AT THE CENTINELA SITES THAT WE HAVE ALONG THE COASTS. YOU SEE THOSE CENTINELA
SITES -- THESE -- THOSE SENTINEL SITES, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OUT AT SEA. WHENEVER WE HAVE
A HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF OR EAST COAST, WE ALSO BEGIN TO PRODUCE
HOW BALLISTIC STORM SURGE PRODUCTS. THIS SHOWS PROBABILITY OF A STORM SURGE OF DIFFERENT
HEIGHTS, IN VARIOUS COLORS. IT IS A TECHNICALLY RICH PRODUCT. WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE YEARS
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY OPERATORS AND DECISION-MAKING PARTNERS TO UNDERSTAND, SO WE ARE MOVING OVER
THE NEXT FEW HURRICANE SEASONS TO A GRAPHICAL INUNDATION PRODUCT MORE LIKE THIS ONE. THIS
IS NOAA'S SEA LEVEL RISE AND COASTAL FLOODING VIEWER. ON THE LEFT YOU WILL SEE A HORIZONTAL
BAR WITH A TRIANGLE IN IT. THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE TOOL THAT LETS YOU THE USER SWIPE BACK AND
FORTH AND EVALUATE FOR ANY LOCATION THAT IS PERTINENT TO YOU, WHAT A SURGE OR FLOOD LEVEL
AT SOME MAGNITUDE MIGHT BE -- HOW MUCH WATER, HOW THAT MIGHT TRANSLATE INTO AN IMPACT THAT
YOU NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR. A FUNKY CLICKER HERE. OUR WORK IN STORMS I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
AS I CLOSE. IT GOES BEYOND THE WIND, WAVE, WATER, TIED, SURGE FORECAST PRIOR TO LANDFALL.
NOAA IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LEAD RESPONSE ENTITY FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE PROVIDES -- FOR THE PRECISE GEO- DATA INFORMATION FOR SHORELINES. ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS
SWING INTO GEAR IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER STORM PASSAGE. OUR NAVIGATIONAL RESPONSE TEAMS KICK
INTO GEAR IN PORTS AND HARBORS , ENSURING THAT PORTS AND HARBORS CAN OPEN AS RAPIDLY
AS POSSIBLE, MARITIME COMMERCE, FUEL SUPPLIES CAN COMMENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OUR AIRCRAFT,
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEYS OVER COASTAL AREAS, THESE ARE FED DIRECTLY ONLINE TO OUR NATIONAL
RESPONSE PARTNERS SUCH AS FEMA, AND WE SAW A TREMENDOUS UPTAKE OF THIS IN THE WAKE OF
HURRICANE SANDY, WHEN BOTH FIRST RESPONDERS AND CITIZENS WERE ABLE TO PULL UP IMAGES WITHIN
HOURS AFTER THE STORM PASSED OF THE AFFECTED COASTLINE AND BEGIN TO DETERMINE, TO TRIAGE
WHERE TO PUT EFFORTS, WHERE TWO-STAGE GEAR, AND FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS, PROCESS
WHAT CONDITION THEY WOULD RETURN TO WHEN THEY WERE LET BACK INTO THE AREA. YES, NOAA IS
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, AND THAT IS OUR BIGGEST FACE AND WE ARE TALKING HURRICANE
CONDITIONS, BUT WE REMAIN ON THE TEAM AND WORKING RIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR OTHER FEDERAL
PARTNERS AT THE TABLE, ALSO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM, FOR MANY DAYS AND WEEKS ONCE
THE STORM IS THROUGH. SO FROM THE ANNUAL OUTLOOK TO THE SEA STATE AND STORM SURGE FORECASTS,
WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT AND WHAT WE AIM TO DO IS PROVIDE THIS CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE.
WE AIM TO MAKE SURE IT IS TECHNICALLY SOUND, SCIENTIFICALLY VALID AND RELIABLE, BUT MORE
THAN THAT, IT IS MOST CRITICAL WE ARE MAKING IT TIMELY, ACTIONABLE, RELIABLE. IT NEEDS
TO BE INFORMATION THAT HELPS YOU BUILD ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, NOT JUST INFORMATION THAT
WE HAVE AT HAND. WE WELCOME THIS DIALOGUE, AND, JIM, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONVENING
ITS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE REST OF OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS ABOUT
ANYTHING MORE WE CAN DO TO HELP US ALL BE READY FOR THIS AND FUTURE HURRICANE SEASONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KATHY. I WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KNOW ALL THE PLANNING
AND HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT NOAA IS ON OUR TEAM AND PROVIDING THAT ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY, WILLIAM BRYAN, THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SECURITY, AND
ENERGY RESTORATION. BILL?
THANKS, JIM, AND THANKS FOR HOSTING, THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT. AND MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE TABLE, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIM ALL OF YOU AND
TAKING QUESTIONS LATER ON. I OFTEN TELL MY STAFF, IF YOU CANNOT PUT OUT THE FIRE, WE
HAVE TO SHAPE THE FOREST. WE CANNOT TROLL THE EVENTS, -- WE CANNOT CONTROL THE EVENTS
BUT WE HAVE TO SHAPE THE EVENTS AND BE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT STOP THEM. IN 2005, WITH
RITA AND KATRINA, WE LOST 100% OF OUR ABILITY TO DRILL OFFSHORE, 80% OF OUR REFINING CAPACITY
IN THE SOUTHEAST. THAT WAS ENORMOUS. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FROM THE ENERGY SIDE, FOUR MONTHS
TO RECOVER FROM THAT EVENT. FOUR MONTHS. BUT INDUSTRY STEPPED UP. INDUSTRY TOOK SOME STEPS
AND INITIATIVE -- AND INITIATIVES, AND I CAN SAY THERE WAS A SIMILAR IMPACT THREE YEARS
LATER BUT IT TOOK HALF THE TIME TO RECOVER. TWO MONTHS. SO I SALUTE INDUSTRY AND FRANKLY
THE GULF COAST STATES. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS ONCE OR TWICE, AND FROM THE ENERGY PERSPECTIVE,
THEY ARE EQUIPPED. HOWEVER, IN EVERY ONE OF THESE EVENTS, WE LEARN LESSONS. WE LEARNED
A LOT OF LESSONS WITH SANDY. THEY WILL BE BETTER PREPARED IN THE NORTHEAST SHOULD SOMETHING
LIKE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT A LOT OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED FRANKLY ARE GROUPED IN CATEGORIES
AS SUCH THAT WE CAN ALMOST ANTICIPATE AND EXPECT WHAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ARE GOING
TO BE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES DURING EVERY EVENT BECAUSE
NOT ALL STATE LAWS LINEUP JUST PERFECTLY FOR A GOOD RESPONSE. AT LEAST FROM AN AN ENERGY
PERSPECTIVE. SOME LAWS PROHIBIT RICK RESTORATION. SOME -- PROHIBIT QUICK RESTORATION. SOME ALLOW
IT, FASTER RESTORATION, BUT THESE ARE ISSUES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH EACH AND EVERY TIME THERE
IS AN EVENT. THERE ARE ALSO POLICY AND PROCESS ISSUES TO DEAL WITH, THE HANDLING OF MUTUAL
ASSISTANCE TEAMS, COMMUNICATION OF RESTORATION TIMELINES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SEE THE OUTAGE NUMBERS AS THEY COME IN, AND WE CAN SEE THE MOVEMENT
AND AVAILABILITY OF FUEL AND ELECTRICITY, AND WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH PARTNERING
WITH THE UTILITY INDUSTRY. BUT THERE IS A COMMUNICATION FLOW THAT HAS TO OCCUR BETWEEN
THE INDUSTRY AND THE CUSTOMERS. INDUSTRY HAS GOTTEN THIS MESSAGE, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE
ELECTRIC INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR IS WORKING CLOSE NOW TO MAKE SURE THEY COMMUNICATE THAT
MESSAGE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR A MAYOR TO KNOW THAT IF THE ELECTRICITY
IS GOING TO COME BACK ON AT A CERTAIN SUBSTATION, WHAT THAT ENERGIZES. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY
TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNICATION PATH IS OPEN, THAT COMMUNITY LEADERS REALIZE HOW QUICKLY
THEY WILL RECEIVE ELECTRICITY SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THEIR
CITIZENS. WE ALSO REALIZED IN EVERY EVENT THAT MANY COMMUNITIES DO NOT OFTEN PREPARE
BY IDENTIFYING WHAT IS CRITICAL TO THEM. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY, THAT COMMUNITIES
NEED TO REPAIR NOW TO IDENTIFY THOSE CRITICAL ASSETS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT
TO THEM. A LOT OF WORK CAN BE DONE, AND WE ARE DOING WORK RIGHT NOW WITH UTILITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IDENTIFYING WHAT IS CRITICAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AS FAR AS ACCESS TO RESOURCES,
HOSPITALS, WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES. THESE UTILITIES ARE WORKING CLOSER WITH HUMIDITIES
NOW -- WITH COMMUNITIES NOW. THIS IS ACTIVITY THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE GULF COAST REGION,
AND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I WILL MAKE A TRIP OUT THERE TO TALK WITH UTILITIES
TO TALK ABOUT THE HURRICANE SEASON WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THOSE ACTIVITIES
ARE ONGOING. I MENTIONED MUTUAL ASSISTANCE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, ALL UTILITY COMPANIES
HAVE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS TO OTHER UTILITY COMPANIES IN OTHER STATES. THEY CAN
BRING THESE RESOURCES IN FROM OUT-OF-STATE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM. THE LAST HURRICANE
THAT HIT THE GULF COAST THOMAS ISAAC, IF I HAVE GOT THAT RIGHT, WAS A VERY QUICK RESPONSE.
IN THAT TIME FOR THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT, I WANT TO SAY 17,000 MUTUAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS ROLLED
INTO LOUISIANA, ONE OF THE FASTEST RESPONSES WE HAVE SEEN AS FAR AS GETTING ELECTRICITY
RESTORED. 90% WAS RESTORED IN THREE DAYS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE NUMBERS. ALL
DUE TO COMMUNICATIONS THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS IN PREPARING FOR THESE KIND OF EVENTS. IN
ADDITION TO THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY AND POLICY AND PROCESS ISSUES, THERE IS ALSO
THE NEED TO HEART AND EQUIPMENT. TAKING A LOT OF STEPS IN THE GULF COAST REGION TO BE
PREPARED FOR THESE EVENTS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE I ENGAGING IN A LOT OF HARDENING
ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS CHANGES IN THEIR OWN PROCEDURES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO RESTORE
THE OIL, GAS, AND ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS MUCH MORE QUICKLY. SO WITH ALL THIS GOING ON, WHAT
INDUSTRY IS DOING, WHAT ARE WE DOING? THE INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN -- THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY
HAS -- OF ENERGY HAS TAKEN THIS ON US FOR A LONG TIME. ONCE PEOPLE ARE TAKING CARE OF,
AND THE CITIZENS ARE HOUSED AND FED, THEY ARE BEING SHELTERED, A LOT OF ATTENTION IS
GIVEN TO THE ENERGY SIDE. HOW QUICKLY CAN WE RESTORE? HOW LONG WILL WE BE WITHOUT GASOLINE?
WHO WILL START RUNNING OUT FIRST? THESE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS COMING OUR WAY, AND FRANKLY
IT TAKES A LOT OF RESOURCES TO DO THAT. I HAVE A TEAM OF ABOUT 80 VOLUNTEERS STRETCHED
ACROSS THE DOE COMPLEX THAT I USED TO MAN AND STAFF THE REGIONAL COORDINATING CENTERS
OUT IN THE FIELD. FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON, WE ARE ESTABLISHING AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN
ENERGY RESPONSE CENTER. IT HAS BEEN MUCH SMALLER. WE ARE EXPANDING THAT. CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET
WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER TO BUILD A STATE- OF-THE-ART OPERATIONS CENTER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY CALLED THE ENERGY RESILIENCY AND OPERATIONS CENTER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE
TO DO THAT HOPEFULLY FOR NEXT HURRICANE SEASON. THIS SEASON WE ARE HOPING TO SECURE EXTRA
SPACE LARGELY TO HOUSE A LOT OF EXTRA PARTNERS THAT PREVIOUSLY WE DID NOT BRING INTO THE
OPERATIONS CENTER. SOME OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED ESPECIALLY FROM SANDY IS THERE WAS
A LOT OF SENIOR-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT. SENIOR-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT IS GOOD, BUT IT HAS TO BE THE
APPROPRIATE SENIOR-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT AND IT HAS TO FEED INTO THE NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK
AND INSTANT COMMAND SYSTEM THAT IS STRUCTURED AND IN PLACE SO ALL PARTIES HAVE ACCESS TO
THE INFORMATION BEING SHARED AND THE DIRECTIONS BEING GIVEN OUT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
RECOGNIZED, AND WE ARE TAKING A LOT OF STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION AND THOSE DECISIONS
GET PUT INTO THE AND GET COMMUNICATED TO THE REST OF THE INTERAGENCY. ANOTHER THING THAT
JUMPED OUT AFTER SANDY WAS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATION IN OUR OPERATIONS
CENTER. WE HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE AT THIS POINT TO REACH OUT WITH PHONE CALLS AND HAD THAT
INTERACTION, BUT DURING SANDY,, AT LEAST A LECTURE TO UTILITIES WORK REPRESENTED IN THE
ENERGY TASK FORCE AT FEMA, AND THAT PROVED VERY VALUABLE. THE UTILITIES WERE ABLE TO
GET RESOURCES QUICKLY TO GET RESTORATION GOING MUCH FASTER. THAT WAS DUE TO THAT TEAM. WE
ARE ACTUALLY HAVING AN ENERGY RETURN ON STEAM ESTABLISHED. I WAS GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AT FEMA HEADQUARTERS, AND WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE ELECTRICITY,
OIL, AND GAS SECTORS AND THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION IN THAT OPS CENTER
FOR WHATEVER TIME WE NEED THEM. OUR PLAN IS TO RUN THE CENTER 24/SEVEN. IN ADDITION TO
HAVING THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFERS FROM THE INTERAGENCY TO BE
PART OF THAT. TO REACH OUT TO OUR INTERAGENCY PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY KEY PARTNERS THAT WE
HAVE A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH AND MAKE THEM A PART OF THAT TEAM AS WELL. THE REQUESTS
FOR INFORMATION AND DATA AND TACTICAL ANALYSIS IS EXCEEDED DRASTICALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO WITH THE HELP OF INDUSTRY, WITH OUR INTERAGENCY PARTNERS AND WITH OUR CORE CAPABILITY WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND MUCH QUICKER AND TACTICAL TECHNICAL
ANALYSIS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE VISITING MAKERS -- DECISION-MAKERS THE DECISION MAKING
POWER THEY WILL NEED TO MAKE. THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE DISASTERS THAT ARE PENDING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE LESS
CHANCE. I ALSO TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR OUR PARTNERS
TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND WALK SIDE BY SIDE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SEASON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, BILL, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FOCUS ON THE DOWNSTREAM AND CUSTOMERS,
THE END-USERS OF ENERGY, THE SUPPLY CHAIN. I KNOW THE PRESIDENT AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE FOCUSED ON YOUR LEADERSHIP ABILITIES IN THESE DISASTERS, SO WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO
HAVE YOU HERE. YOU MADE A VERY STRONG PITCH FOR THE SUPPORT NEEDED FROM THE INDUSTRY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE. MS. HOLLY HOPKINS IS FROM UPSTREAM
AND INDUSTRY OPERATIONS. HOLLY?
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WATSON, FOR HAVING US. WE THANK YOU FOR INVITING US
TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. AMERICA'S NATURAL GAS AND OIL INDUSTRIES COMMITTED TO
REJECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTING OUR RESPONSE PLANS. OUR PRODUCTS SUPPORT THE AMERICAN
POPULACE INDUSTRY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE. AS SUCH, ANY CRISIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY OUR
MEMBERS BECAUSE WE KNOW IF THERE IS ANY DELAY IN GETTING BACK UP AND RUNNING, LIVES COULD
BE AT RISK. WE TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. API TAKES SEVERAL ROLES. WE HELP THE INDUSTRY
GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN AND AROUND THE GULF OF MEXICO
OR A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM ACTIVITY, AND ASSIST INDUSTRY IN USING THAT KNOWLEDGE
TO MAKE OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE FACILITIES LESS VULNERABLE. SECOND, API COLLABORATES WITH
MEMBER COMPANIES, INDUSTRIES, AND FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RETURN TO
NORMAL OPERATIONS AND PREPARE FOR HURRICANES. THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BUILD UPON CRITICAL
LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST STORMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SUCH AS IKE IN 2008, TO TRAIN IT
AND RITA IN 2005, ASH CATCHER IN AND RITA IN 2005. -- KATRINA AND RITA IN 2005. THIS
EFFORT LED TO THE PUBLICATION IN 2008 OF AN UPDATE TO P RP2SK. ADDITIONALLY, AN UPDATE OF API RP 95 J
WHICH RECOMMENDS LOCATING RIGS ON MORE STABLE AREAS ON THE SEAFLOOR AND POSITIONING PLATFORM
DECKS HIGHER OFF THE SEA SURFACE. A NUMBER OF BULLETINS TO BETTER PREPARE FOR AND BRING
REDUCTION BACK ONLINE. THESE INCLUDE BULLETS INTO D -- BULLETIN 2D, A BULLETIN PROVIDING
AN UPDATE FOR DATA BEFORE REGIONS OF THE GULF INCLUDING WIND VELOCITY, DEEP WATER WAVE CONDITIONS,
OCEAN CURRENT INFORMATION, AND SURGE AND TITLE -- SURGE AND TIDAL DATA. BULLETIN 2EX, AND
GUIDANCE ON DETERMINING STRUCTURAL SUSTAINED DAMAGE THAT AFFECTS SAFETY OF PERSONNEL. TO
PERFORM THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. IN ADDITION TO THESE STANDARDS, INDUSTRY WORKS
TO IMPROVE PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANES. THEY HAVE REVIEWED AND UPDATED EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLANS, ESTABLISHED REDUNDANT COMMUNICATION PLANS, AND MADE PRE-ARRANGEMENTS WITH SUPPLIERS
TO HELP ENSURE THEY HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES DURING AN EMERGENCY. WHEN WE KNOW A STORM
IS COMING, ARE PRIMARY GOAL IS SAFETY OF OUR WORKERS. WE ALERT OUR OPERATORS TO A POTENTIAL
PATH OF THE STORM AND POTENTIAL IMPACT. ONCE IDENTIFICATION IS RECEIVED, COMPANIES HAVE
ESTABLISHED TESTED PLANS TO SHUT IN OR SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS AND REMOVE WORKERS FROM HARM'S
WAY. DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE MOVING TOWARD OR NEAR THEIR PRODUCTION
OPERATIONS, COMPANIES WILL EVACUATE ALL NONESSENTIAL PERSONNEL AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF SHUTTING
DOWN PRODUCTION. AS THE STORM GETS CLOSER, ALL PERSONNEL WILL BE EVACUATED FROM THE DRILLING
RIGS AND PLATFORMS, AND PRODUCTION IS SHUT DOWN. THEY BE ROAD LAKE KATE -- THEY MAY RELOCATE
TO A SAFE LOCATION. STORMS CAN CHANGE DIRECTION WITH LITTLE NOTICE. AFTER ANY HURRICANE OR
TROPICAL STORM, THE GOAL IS TO RETURN TO FULL OPERATIONS AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.
AFTER A STORM HAS PASSED AND IT IS SAFE TO FLY, OPERATORS WILL INITIATE FLAPPERS -- WILL
INITIATE FLYOVERS OF OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE FACILITIES. LOOKING FOR DAMAGED RIGS, PLATFORM
DAMAGE, AND PIPELINE DAMAGE. MANY RIGS ARE EQUIPPED WITH GPS LOCATOR SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW
FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND CONTRACTORS TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS BEFORE OR AFTER A HURRICANE.
IF ONE IS PULLED OFF SITE, IT WILL BE RECOVERED AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. ONCE SAFETY
CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED, OPERATORS WILL SEND CREWS TO OFFSHORE FACILITIES TO ASSESS THE
DAMAGE. IF FACILITIES ARE UNDAMAGED AND ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES LIKE PIPELINES ARE
UNDAMAGED, DRILLING RIGS WILL COMMENCE OPERATIONS. POST SANDY, WE REALIZE WE NEED TO CREATE THE
SUPPLY CHANGE IN ORDER -- THE COMPLEX THE SUPPLY CHAIN. OVERALL THE OIL SUPPLY CHAIN
IS RESILIENT WITH MANY REDUNDANCIES. THERE ARE TRIP POINTS IN THE SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND
THIS CAN HAVE A GREATER OVERALL EFFECT ON THE U.S. OIL SUPPLY. ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE
SUPPLY CHAIN CAN IMPACT DELIVERY OF FUEL, SO WHETHER IT IS PRODUCTION ITSELF, STORAGE,
REFINING CAPACITY, PIPELINE, TERMINALS, ETC. -- ELECTRICITY -- ALL OF THESE HAVE AN EFFECT
ON OUR FUEL SUPPLY. SO DURING A CRISIS LIKE HURRICANE SANDY OR KATRINA AND RITA, INDUSTRY
OPERATIONS CAN BE INTERRUPTED. THE SUPPLY CHAIN CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE OF
A PROBLEM AND WHAT DOWNSTREAM IS IMPACTED, WHETHER THAT IS PIPE REDUCTION, OUTLINE, OR
-- PIPES, PRODUCTION, OUTLINES, OR REFINERIES. WE ALSO COME AS YOU HAVE SEEN TODAY, MANY
AGENCIES ACROSS THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ROLES TO PLAY IN THE SAFE
AND RELIABLE DELIVERY OF FUEL. THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT COORDINATION BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS WELL AS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE
INFORMATION FLOWS TIMELY, ACCURATE, AND IS RELIABLE. BOTH BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ANY
EVENT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, DOE, AND OTHER AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY
HOW CRITICAL INFORMATION IS CORRECTED AND WHAT MAY BE NEEDED BY DECISION-MAKERS. ALSO
IDENTIFIED A LIST OF GOVERNMENT AND OIL INDUSTRY RESPONSE ACTIONS. WE HAVE DEVELOPED EMERGENCY
SUPPORT FUNCTION TRIAL FOR GOVERNMENT -- AND IDENTIFIED -- AS DOE MENTIONED, THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF REGULATORY ACTIONS THAT CAN HELP, THAT CAN BE WAIVED AFTER AN EVENT TO GET BACK
ONTO PRODUCTION AND INTO FUEL DELIVERY MORE EFFICIENTLY. IN SHORT, API IS HERE TO BE A
CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNER. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SAFE, ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS ONSHORE AND OFF, AND TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT
TO MAKE SURE U.S. ACCESS TO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR AMERICAN JOBS AND AMERICAN'S DAILY LIVES.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, HOLLY. YOU GAVE A GREAT PRESENTATION ON THE PARTNERSHIP
THAT WE HAVE WITH THE INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU ARE PREPARING FOR A POTENTIAL HURRICANE EVENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. LARS HERBST. HE IS OUR GULF REGION DIRECTOR. LARS, TAKE IT AWAY.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WATSON. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH THE OTHER HANDLE
MEMBERS. SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, HURRICANE PREPARATION AND RESPONSE. THAT IS WHERE I
WILL TRY TO AIM MY COMMENTS THIS MORNING. AS BILL MENTIONED EARLIER, THE NATURAL DISASTERS
WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR, BUT IS HOW -- BUT IT IS HOW WE LEARN AND MITIGATE FROM PAST
EXPERIENCES, WE CAN MITIGATE SOME OF THAT DAMAGE THROUGH BOTH DESIGN AND RESPONSE. WHAT
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR HURRICANE RESPONSE TEAM AND OUR POST HURRICANE RESPONSE
EFFORTS, AS WELL AS LOOKING BACK REALLY AT THE HISTORICAL VIEW WITH LESSONS LEARNED.
FIRST, ON HURRICANE RESPONSE TEAM, WE ESTABLISHED A HURRICANE RESPONSE TEAM MANY YEARS AGO IN
RESPONSE TO HURRICANES APPROACHING THE FEDERAL OCS AND THE GULF OF MEXICO. THEY HURRICANE
RESPONSE TEAM IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING DATA RELATED TO PRODUCTION CURTAILMENT
AND EVACUATION STATISTICS. BUT THEY ALSO TRACK DAMAGE FROM THE STORMS AFTER THEY MOVE THROUGH.
WE ALSO REQUIRE THAT TEAM TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION WITH INDUSTRY AND OTHER REGULATORY BODIES
AND PREPARE INFORMATION AND SHARE THAT IN BRIEFINGS AS REQUIRED. THIS SLIDE IS A LITTLE
OUTDATED BECAUSE INDUSTRY HAS MOVED FURTHER OFFSHORE, SO THE PREPARATION HAS MOVED MUCH
FARTHER IN ADVANCE OF WHAT IS SHOWN HERE. BUT AS THE HURRICANE APPROACHES, WE STAND
UP, THE TWO TEAMS, THE MAIN TEAM IN OUR NEW ORLEANS REGIONAL OFFICE, AND WE MIRROR THAT
TEAM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- AS THE STORM APPROACHES EITHER ONE OF THOSE TEAM LOCATIONS
ARE THREATENED, WE SHIFT TO THE OTHER. AGAIN, BY REGULATION, THE INDUSTRY HAS SEVERAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY MUST REPORT TO US. THEY MUST REPORT IT EVACUATION AGAIN, AND
ALSO THE SHUT IN, DAMAGE TO FACILITIES. THEY ALSO MUST REPORT POLLUTION IF THERE IS ANY
POLLUTION THAT OCCURS. I SHOULD MENTION THE SHUT IN OF PRODUCTION THAT OCCURS AT THE SUBSURFACE
SAFETY VALVE, WE HAD MANY PLATFORMS AND FACILITIES THAT WERE TOPPLED IN THE 2005 AND 2008 HURRICANE
SEASONS, BUT THOSE SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVES ARE THE THINGS THAT EVENT OIL FROM SPILLING
TO THE SURFACE WATERS OF THE GULF, AND THE INDUSTRY IS TESTING THOSE VALVES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, AND THAT ENSURES THAT THEY WILL WORK WHEN CALLED UPON. AS THIS TEAM WORKS,
AS THE HURRICANE APPROACHES, WE GATHER THE INFORMATION AND WE DO RELEASE THE DATA PUBLICLY.
WE RELEASE IT ON OUR WEBSITE AT 2:00 P.M. EASTERN EVERYDAY, SO THIS WILL BE INFORMATION
RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF PLATFORMS EVACUATED, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PLATFORMS REPRESENTING
THE TOTAL MAN FACILITIES IN THE GULF. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF ESTIMATED DAILY
OIL AND GAS REDUCTION THAT IS SHUT IN AND THE OVERALL AMOUNT IN THE GULF THAT IS SHUT
IN AND THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY REPORTING. A LITTLE BIT ON POST HURRICANE
RESPONSE. THE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US TO DO IS IDENTIFY IMPACTED AREAS. THEN WE LOOK AT
THE STATUS OF THE AFFECTED AREA, AND THEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THE INSPECTIONS THAT
ARE REQUIRED, BOTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT SIDE AND THE INDUSTRY SIDE. IDENTIFYING THE IMPACTED
AREA , FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE STORM, WE USE ONE OF THE PANEL MEMBERS THIS MORNING
-- ONE OF THE PANEL MEMBERS THIS MORNING WAS TALKING, NOAA, SO WE LOOK AT THEIR PRODUCTS
AS THE STORM MOVES THROUGH THE GULF. WE LOOK AT HURRICANE FORCE WIND AS WHAT WAS AFFECTED
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, BUT WE CAN EXPAND THAT OUT ON DATA ANALYSIS THAT WE SEE FROM WAVE
HEIGHT, WAVE INDEX, AND STRUCTURES OFFSHORE. THEN WE USE THAT INFORMATION AND SEND THAT
OUT TO THE OPERATORS, A NOTICE TO LESSEE IS THAT INSTRUCTS THEM ABOUT THE INSPECTIONS
THEY WILL NEED TO CONDUCT BEFORE RESUMING PRODUCTION. RELATED TO STATUS OF THE AFFECTED
AREA -- I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER ON THE HURRICANE RESPONSE TEAM, WE HAVE AT LEAST
ONE U.S. COAST GUARD MEMBER EMBEDDED IN OUR HURRICANE RESPONSE TEAM, SO THERE IS A LOT
OF COLLABORATION COORDINATION THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. BUT AFTER THE HURRICANE, LOOKING
AT THE AFFECTED AREA, WE OFTEN COORDINATE WITH THE COAST GUARD. THEY CAN GET SIX-WING
AIRCRAFT ON LOCATION QUICKER THAN WE CAN GET OUR HELICOPTERS ON LOCATION, SO WE OFTEN COORDINATE
WITH THEM ON THAT. AGAIN, LOOKING FOR DAMAGE. LOOKING AT FLIGHTS ON HELICOPTER, MORE VISUAL
DOCUMENTATION, AND THEN ANOTHER PILOT PROJECT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. THE USE OF SATELLITE
IMAGERY. SO WE HAVE A BASELINE SATELLITE IMAGE OF ALL FACILITIES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND
YOU CAN DO GROSS ASSESSMENTS FROM THAT IF A FACILITY IS LOST OR TOPPLED. YOU CAN PICK
THAT UP QUICKLY, BUT FROM A GROSS ASSESSMENT LEVEL. SO AGAIN, THE INSPECTIONS REQUIRED.
WE HAVE A NOTICE TO LESSEES THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY THAT TELLS US WHAT THOSE INSPECTIONS
WILL REQUIRE . FOR FIXED PLATFORMS, FLOATING PLATFORMS, PIPELINES, RISERS, AND SURFACE
SAFETY SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN WORKING ORDER PRIOR TO COMING BACK ON
PRODUCTION. MORE ON POST HURRICANE OPERATIONS. AFTER THE SAFETY CHECKS ARE PERFORMED, PRODUCTION
CAN RESUME. IN SOME INSTANCES WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN QUITE A BIT. IT IS NOT THE DAMAGE
OFFSHORE, BUT THE DAMAGE ONSHORE TO PRODUCTION, HANDLING FACILITIES ONSHORE THAT MAY KEEP
PRODUCTION SHUT IN LONGER. OPERATORS OFTEN REQUEST FROM US ALTERNATE MEANS OF GETTING
PRODUCTS TO THESE FACILITIES ONSHORE FOR THE CASE WHERE THE OIL TRANSMISSION LINE MAY BE
DAMAGED, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO USE BARGING TO GET THE OIL ONSHORE, WHERE THE GAS TRANSMISSION
LINE IS DOWN, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOME FLARING AND THAT WOULD BE TEMPORARY FLARING,
BUT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT LONG-TERM FLARING AS A SOLUTION. THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SEE
BUT THIS IS A GRAPH JUST SHOWING, FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE 2005-2008 HURRICANE SEASONS. WE'VE SHOWED
BOTH THE OIL AND THE GAS, THE TIME IT TAKES TO RESUME PRODUCTION. REAL QUICKLY, IN SOME
CASES THAT YOU SEE HERE, EVEN AFTER 30 DAYS, 50% OF THE PRODUCTION COULD STILL BE SHUT
IN. WRITE OUT THE GULF OF MEXICO PRODUCTION REPRESENTS 20% OF THE NATION'S -- RIGHT NOW
THE GULF OF MEXICO PRODUCTION REP AS OF 20% THE NATION'S DOMESTIC PRODUCTION. FOR LESSONS
LEARNED, AGAIN , THESE ARE JUST THE MAJOR STORMS THAT HAVE HIT US IN RECENT YEARS. THERE
ARE LESSONS LEARNED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE DONE . API
WENT OVER MUCH OF THIS MATERIAL BUT WE HAVE COMMITTED -- COORDINATED WITH INDUSTRY ON
LESSONS LEARNED, BUT WE HAVE CLEAR REPORTING GUIDELINES WITHIN OUR REGULATIONS. THE OCEAN
DATA WAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED AND THAT IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT NOAA HAS PROVIDED
AFTER THESE HURRICANE SEASONS. ALL OF THAT DATA GOES INTO THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR PRODUCTION
FACILITIES, FOR RIGGS -- RIGS ON PRODUCTION FACILITIES. THE OTHER THING THAT WE ADDED
AS A NOTE TO THE SEAS -- LESSEES IS TRACKING OF MOBILE UNITS. THIS IS A KEY THING THAT
WE ARE DOING NOW, LOOKING AT THAT AS PART OF THE RISK ASSESSMENT FOR PROBABILITY OF
FAILURE, LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE. JUST AS IS -- JUST AS EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE
RESULT OF OREGANO WAS LOST DURING HURRICANE IKE. IT WAS LOST, SUNK, BUT IT TRAVELED QUITE
A DISTANCE BEFORE IT SUNK TO THE SEAFLOOR. THIS IS A DOUBLE HULL TANKER THAT I BELIEVE
WAS GOING TO GALVESTON, WHEN IT RAN UP ON TOP OF THAT CALL. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DAMAGE
IS QUITE EXTENSIVE THERE. BUT IT WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, DIDN'T PIERCE THE INNER HULL THERE.
IT DOES POINT OUT THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THESE THINGS ARE AND WE HAVE INCREASED OVERSIGHT.
AGAIN, WE HAVE INSURED THAT INDUSTRY HAS STEPPED UP THE MOORING CAPABILITY ON THOSE RIGS AS
WELL, SO NOT ALL STORMS ARE EQUAL, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PERFORMANCE HAS IMPROVED AFTER
WE IMPLEMENT AT SOME OF THESE THINGS AFTER THE 2005 KATRINA AND RITA HURRICANES. THE
PERFORMANCE OF THOSE MODUS BEING ABLE TO STAY ON STATION AND NOT DRIFT OFF WAS A KEY THE
GPS TRACKING, WE ARE DOING THIS THROUGH WEBSITES, WE HAVE REAL- TIME DATA MONITORING ON EVERY
MODU THAT IS OUT THERE, AND AGAIN, THE DRILLSHIPS ARE ABLE TO GET SAFETY -- SAFELY OUT-OF- THE-WAY,
BUT WE MONITOR THIS REAL-TIME AND WE KNOW THAT IF ONE OF IF ONE OF THEM LEAVES THE LOCATION
AND CAN START LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAY BE IMPACTED, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE QUICKLY
RIGHT AFTER THE STORM. AGAIN, THE HURRICANE SEASON, JUNE 1 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, AS DIRECTOR
WATSON MENTIONED, SAFETY AT ALL LEVELS AT ALL TIMES, AND WE THINK THAT PREPARATION AND
MITIGATION FOR HURRICANES IS ALL LEVELS AT ALL TIMES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTINENTAL SHELF
AS SAFETY AT ALL LEVELS AT ALL TIMES. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT LARS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK
DIRECTLY FOR HIM ARE DOING ALL THIS WHILE LOCATED IN THE SAME AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT
IS BEING AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS, SO QUITE OFTEN, ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT HE DESCRIBED,
HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE TO DO IN A REMOTE LOCATION FROM THEIR NORMAL WORKPLACE, AND OFTENTIMES
THEIR FAMILIES ARE ALSO HAVING TO BE EVACUATED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING DOWN THERE,
LARS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. CYNTHIA QUARTERMAN, DIRECTOR OF THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
SAFETY AND MINISTRATION WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS REGULATED
PARTLY BY THE BUREAU OF SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT, THAT WOULD BE FOR THE PLATFORMS
AND THE PIPELINES IMMEDIATELY IN THE VICINITY OF PLATFORMS. BUT THE TRANSPORTATION PIPELINES,
THE LONG-DISTANCE PIPELINES, ARE REGULATED BY -- [INDISCERNIBLE] CYNTHIA.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE , AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BETSY FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT AND FOR INVITING US
TO THIS PANEL, AS SPECIAL THANKS -- AND A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO DIRECTOR WATSON
FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO HURRICANE REPAIRED IN THIS AND RESPONSE. -- HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
AND RESPONSE. ENERGY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN LIFE. IT KEEPS BUSINESSES, INDUSTRIES,
AND HOMES RUNNING. MOST OF US KNOW THAT DOMESTIC OIL AND NATURAL GAS ACTION HAS BEEN INCREASING
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. HOUSED WITHIN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE PIPELINE
AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, OR PHMSA, HAS THE RESPONSE ABILITY TO PROTECT
THE MARK IN PUBLIC FROM -- PROTECT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. ALTHOUGH NATURAL GAS AND OIL ARE ESSENTIAL
TO OUR DAILY LIVES, THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. PHMSA ENFORCES SAFETY
REVELATIONS FOR 2.6 MILLION MILES AROUND THIS COUNTRY. IN TERMS OF OFFSHORE PIPELINE FACILITIES,
AS THE DIRECTOR HAS MENTIONED, PHMSA HAS JURISDICTION OVER OFFSHORE PIPELINES THAT ARE TRANSPORTATION,
WHEREAS OTHERS HAVE JURISDICTION OF PIPELINES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTION FACILITIES.
PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION AM A THANKFULLY, HAS HAD AN OVERALL SOLID SAFETY RECORD. OVER THE
PAST 25 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF MAJOR PIPELINE INCIDENTS HAS CONTINUED TO DECREASE EVERY
-- 10% EVERY THREE YEARS. WITH RESPECT TO HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES, THAT NUMBER HAS
DECREASED OVER THE PAST DECADE AND AVERAGE OF FIVE PERCENT EVERY YEAR. WE AT PHMSA ARE
EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE RECORD AND ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THOSE LONG-TERM TRENDS, AND WHILE
MAJOR PIPELINE INCIDENTS ARE RARE, THEY ARE LOW PROBABILITY, HIGH CONSEQUENCE EVENTS,
AND WHEN THEY DO OCCUR, THEY CAN HAVE DEVASTATING RESULTS. OUR GOAL AT PHMSA IS ZERO PIPELINE
INCIDENTS. OUR PRIMARY METHOD TO REACH THAT GOAL IS THROUGH PREVENTION . HOWEVER, PUBLIC
AWARENESS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO US. WE ARE ALWAYS
WORKING TO SAFEGUARD THE NATION'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT BECOMES ESPECIALLY CRITICAL DURING
A NATIONAL DISASTER SUCH AS A HURRICANE. WHEN WE THINK OF HURRICANES, THE PUBLIC'S MIND
OFTEN HARKENS BACK TO HURRICANE KATRINA, AND ALTHOUGH THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN THE BIGGEST
IN TERMS OF OFFSHORE EFFECTS, IT DID HAVE QUITE SIGNIFICANT OFFSHORE EFFECTS, AND I
THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE LESSONS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED AT THE PIPELINE
AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY AND MINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO HURRICANES. AS WE ALL SAW
IN THE DAYS AND MONTHS AFTER KATRINA, HURRICANES CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO OFFSHORE PIPELINE
FACILITIES, AND IT CAN NEARLY HALT ESSENTIAL ENERGY PRODUCTION. THE DAY THAT KATRINA MADE
LANDFALL, AUGUST 29, 2005, CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION IN THE GULF REGION HAD DROPPED BY NEARLY 92%,
AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION HAD DROPPED BY 83%. THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
FOR THOSE -- THAT INFORMATION. SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED AT PHMSA FROM THAT
PARTICULAR HURRICANE IS THAT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT OUR
STAFF AND REGIONAL OFFICES ARE OK , BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE ON THE GROUND INFORMATION THAT
WE ALL NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS AND TO TAKE ACTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SECOND,
WE NOW KNOW OF THE GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT PIPELINE OPERATORS HAVE WITH RESPECT TO BACK UP GENERATORS,
AND THE NEED THERE IS VERY LARGE , WHEN HURRICANE LANDFALL'S HAPPENED. WE ALSO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE
OF OUR FRIENDS WITH SHIPS, MANY OF WHOM ARE AT THIS TABLE, THAT CAN PROVIDE LONG-TERM
NEED OF LODGING FOR REPAIR CREWS. PHMSA REGULARLY ISSUES A SAFETY ADVISORY IN ADVANCE OF HURRICANE
SEASON TO REMIND OPERATORS , PIPELINE OPERATORS, OF WHAT TO DO IN PREPARATION FOR HURRICANES
. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA, WE ALSO ISSUED A SERIES OF ADDITIONAL SAFETY
ADVISORIES REMINDING OPERATORS TO DO SOME ESSENTIAL THINGS LIKE CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL
LEAK DETECTION SURVEYS, AND INSPECTING ABOVEGROUND EQUIPMENT TO DETECT DAMAGE. CHECKING FOR DAMAGE
TO PIPING, VALVES, EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN SYSTEMS, RISERS, FOR EQUIPMENT THAT HAS TO BE SHUT
IN, TO CHECK FOR WATER THAT MAY HAVE LEAKED INTO THE PRESSURE SYSTEMS, TO IDENTIFY SHALLOW
WATER COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, SHRIMPERS, AND OTHER MARINE VESSEL OPERATORS AND CAUTIONED
THEM THAT UNDERWATER OFFSHORE PIPELINES MAY HAVE BECOME UNPROTECTED DURING THE STORM , TO
CAUTIONED OPERATORS AND SHIPPING LANES AND OTHER OFFSHORE AREAS WHERE THE HURRICANE MAY
HAVE AFFECTED THE PIPELINE THAT THE PLAYING FISHING NETS AND ANCHORS AND DREDGING OPERATIONS
MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE PIPELINE OR VESSELS AND ENDANGER THEIR CREWS. WE ADVISE THEM TO CONDUCT
AERIAL INSPECTIONS OF PIPELINE ROUTES FOR LEAKS IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE FLOATING AND
JACK UP RIG THAT MAY HAVE MOVED AND THERE PATH COULD'VE BEEN OVER A PIPELINE, WE REVIEWED
POSSIBLE ROUTES AND CHECK THE PIPELINES FOR DAMAGE WHERE REQUIRED. FOR US, IT IS MISSION-CRITICAL
TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, NOT JUST WHEN A HURRICANE HITS,
BUT ALSO ON A REGULAR ASIS, BEFORE ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS. GOOD PERFORATION STARTS WITH
CONSISTENT -- GOOD PREPARATION STARTS WITH CONSISTENT MEDICATION ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
OUR HEADQUARTERS ARE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT OUR REGIONAL OFFICES ALSO DO THE SAME.
THEY REACH OUT AND DO CRITICAL CONTENT -- CONTACTS BEFORE A HURRICANE OCCURS, WELL BEFORE LANDFALL,
PHMSA'S REGIONAL OFFICES DESIGNATED A LIAISON FOR OPERATORS SO THEY KNOW WHO TO CALL TO
INFORM THEM OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THEIR FACILITY. ALTHOUGH WE REGULATE PIPELINES,
WE DO NOT OPERATE PIPELINES. PIPELINE OPERATORS ARE THE FIRST DEFENSE, AND THE FIRST SOURCE
OF INFORMATION, AND IT IS THEY WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTION, BECAUSE THEY OWN AND OPERATE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE. NOT ONLY DO WE COORDINATE WITH PIPELINE OPERATORS, BUT AS I MENTIONED,
WE COORDINATE AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. BEFORE THE HURRICANE HITS, PHMSA'S
REGIONAL STAFF STARTS PREPARING TO REVIEW EMERGENCY WAIVER REQUESTS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT INTO A MORE SYSTEMATIC DATABASE. IF GRANTED, AND EMERGENCY WAIVER
AUTHORIZES A PARTY TO PERFORM A FUNCTION THAT ISN'T NORMALLY AUTHORIZED UNDER FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
THESE WAIVERS ARE CALLED EMERGENCY SPECIAL PERMITS. THOSE SPECIAL PERMITS STILL HAVE
TO FACILITATE -- THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET OUR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS BUT THEY CAN FACILITATE
SAFE, QUICK, AND EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF ENERGY PRODUCTS TO DISASTER AREAS, OR THEY CAN PERMIT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TO BE DISPOSED OF QUICKLY. EMERGENCY WAIVERS INCLUDE SAFETY-SPECIFIC
INSTRUCTIONS FROM US, BECAUSE SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR TOP PRIORITY. IF AN EMERGENCY WAIVER DOESN'T
PROTECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE REQUEST OF STAFF OR ITS OWN STAFF, WE WILL NOT GRANT
IT. WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE WITH EMERGENCY WAIVERS VERY RECENTLY WITH RESPECT
TO HURRICANE AND THEN SUPERSTRONG SANDY, WHICH AFFECTED THE NORTHEAST -- AND THEN SUPERSTORM
SANDY, WHICH AFFECTED THE NORTHEAST. IT AFFECTED POST-SANDY RELIEF EFFORTS. ASKED YEAR WE ISSUED
TEMPORARY EMERGENCY WAIVERS THAT ENABLED QUICKER AND SAFER METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING FUELS THAT
PEOPLE NEEDED IN DISASTER AREAS SUCH AS NEW JERSEY. ONE EMERGENCY PERMIT ALLOWED THE USE
OF MORE STAFF AT ITS -- AT A CERTAIN FACILITY TO PROVIDE ENERGY ENERGY THAT PEOPLE NEEDED.
ANOTHER PERMIT ALLOTTED FOR QUICKER UPLOADING PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE FUEL AND GASOLINE TO
STATIONS IN DISASTER AREAS. WE WERE MEETING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY.
EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T AFFECTED D.C., IT AFFECTED THE REST OF THE NORTHEAST, AND WE WERE MEETING
MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S CRISIS
MANAGEMENT CENTER. IT IS THROUGH THAT CENTER THAT THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATES WITH ALL THE
OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT, AND WE HAVE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ENERGY,
FDMA -- FEMA, WITH EVERYONE DURING THAT PERIOD. WE ARE A BIG PROPONENT OF INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION.
IT IS NOT JUST AN EARMARK FOR US, IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION. AS THE FEDERAL REGULATE OR
FOR THE NATION'S TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE TIMELY,
ACCURATE STATUS UPDATES FROM THE AFFECTED REGION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FACILITATE A MORE
STREAMLINED PROCESS AS WE GO FORWARD AND AS WE LEARN MORE. IN THE PAST, PHMSA HAS SENT
STAFF TO BETSY DURING HURRICANES AND WE PARTICIPATE IN INTERAGENCY MEETINGS AT DOI AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER. OUR USERNAME IS @PHMSADOT,
AND YOU CAN FIND US ON THE WEB AT PHMSA.GOV. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BETSY FOR ORGANIZING
THIS EVENT AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE END. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, CYNTHIA, AND I THINK YOU MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE
IN THE COUNTRY IS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE FOCUS YOU
HAVE ON PROTECTION OF THAT UNDER ALL THESE CONDITIONS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM THE U.S.
COAST GUARD, REAR ADMIRAL PETER BROWN, THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR RESPONSE POLICY.
HE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, I'M SURE, THE RESPONSE SIDE OF HURRICANES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WATSON, AND TO BETSY AND ALL THE PARTNERS HERE FOR PUTTING THIS FORM
TOGETHER, IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO JOIN IN THIS. ALTHOUGH I AM THE DIRECTOR OF RESPONSE
POLICY, I WOULD RATHER NOT RESPOND. I WOULD RATHER TALK MORE ABOUT PLANNING PREPAREDNESS,
AND IT WAS MENTIONED BY DR. SULLIVAN EARLIER THAT PLANNING IS VITAL, BUT IT IS NOT THE
PLAN ITSELF THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. IT IS THE MEDICATION AND COLLABORATION THAT GOES INTO
THE PLANNING PROCESS THAT HELPS US TO WORK TOGETHER -- IT IS THE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
THAT GOES INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS THAT HELPS US TO WORK TOGETHER. I WONDER WHEN OUT THAT
THE COAST GUARD AND THAT CF WORK TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO IMPROVE THE -- THE
COAST GUARD AND BETSY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY
PREPARE OURSELVES BUT OTHERS FOR OPERATIONS, FOCUSING ON LIFE AND SAFETY OF PROPERTY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO THE RESTORATION OF THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND INDUSTRY,
THE FULL OPERATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS
DIALOGUE AND OPENLY COMMUNICATE WITH INDUSTRY AND OTHERS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT IN ADDITION TO FOLKS IN WASHINGTON, THE INDUSTRY AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE A GREAT REGIONAL
PARTNER IN REAR ADMIRAL KEVIN COOK, HEADQUARTERED IN NEW ORLEANS. HE HAS GREAT EXPERIENCE IN
PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS MINDSET AND A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY AND INTERAGENCY
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INTO IT -- WE ARE PREPARED
FOR THE IMPACT OF SEVERE WEATHER AND RESTORE OUR WATERWAYS AND FACILITIES QUICKLY AFTERWARDS.
SPECIFICALLY, WE WORK WITH BSEE, INDUSTRY, AND WITH THE HURRICANE FORECASTERS TO ORDINATE
THE TIMING OF SHUT-INS AND FACILITY EVACUATIONS TO BOTH MAINTAIN OUR PRODUCTION AS LONG AS
IT IS SAFE TO DO SO AND THEN TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF HARMS WAY AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND
THEN BE READY TO RESTORE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. WE ALSO HELP TO ENSURE THE ACCOUNTABILITY
OF PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND AND WE DO THAT IN EVER I DO HAVE WAYS,
INCLUDING DOING -- WE DO THAT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING DOING CALLOUTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MARINERS WHO ARE IN THE PATH OF AN APPROACHING HURRICANE ARE
AWARE OF AND READY TO RESPOND. WE ALSO MOVE COAST GUARD ASSETS, FLOATING ASSETS AND AVIATION
ASSETS, OUT OF THE STORM'S PATH, BUT STAYING AS CLOSE BY AS IS SAFELY POSSIBLE TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE READY TO RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AFTER STORM PASSAGE BUT FROM A SEARCH
AND RESCUE STANDPOINT AND TO BEGIN THE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION PROCESS OF THE INDUSTRY. WE
WORK WITH BSEE AND INDUSTRY ON MONITORING THE SAFE MOVEMENT OF MOBILE PLATFORMS TO PLACES
OF REFUGE, AND WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE GPS MONITORING WE PARTICIPATE IN TWO HELP
MAKE SURE THAT SITUATIONS LIKE WE SAW BEFORE AREN'T REPEATED IN THE FUTURE. WE TRY TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR PERSONNEL ARE AS READY AS POSSIBLE TO RESPOND, AND IN DOING THAT WE RECOGNIZE
THAT IN SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS, KATRINA AND SANDY IN PARTICULAR, COAST GUARD RESPONDERS
WERE ALSO PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY THE STORM. WITH THAT IN MIND, THE COAST GUARD IS STANDING
UP AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT WILL BE PREPARED TO DEPLOY TO THE STORM LOCATION
OR RESPONSE LOCATION SO THAT IF OUR RESPONSE PERSONNEL WOULD NORMALLY RESPOND WHERE IMPACTED,
WE HAVE ANOTHER TEAM OF HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO GO IN AND ASSIST IN THAT INITIAL RESPONSE.
NOW MOVING TO THAT POST STORM RECOVERY, I MENTIONED THAT THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
AM ACTUALLY VITAL NOT ONLY TO THE FLOW OF COMMERCE BUT TO THE FLOW OF PEOPLE WHO'LL
RESTORE THE OFFSHORE FACILITIES, WHETHER THOSE ARE PIPELINES OR FACILITIES, RIGS AND PLATFORMS,
TO THEIR NORMAL OPERATING CAPACITY. OUR FOCUS IS ON GETTING THE PORTS REOPENED, AND WE LEARNED
A VITAL LESSON IN HURRICANE SANDY, AND THAT IS THAT WE OFTEN FROM A STATE -- FROM A SAFETY
STANDPOINT CONSIDER AIRPORT CLOSED WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS. WE NOW REALIZE WE HAVE TO MOVE
MUCH MORE QUICKLY TO THE STATUS OF OPEN WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS SO THAT THE DEFAULT POSITION
IS THAT VESSELS OF A CERTAIN DRAFT OR WITHIN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES ARE ABLE TO OPERATE JUST
AS QUICKLY AS IS SAFELY POSSIBLE. A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR OTHER AGENCY PARTNERS, NOT ONLY INCLUDING
BSEE, BUT OTHERS, REALLY DON'T THINK WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL A LASTING FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP
TO IMPROVE -- REALLY BUILDING WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL A LASTING FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE
THE OFFSHORE ENVIRONMENT. WE REALIZE THAT BSEE AND THE COAST GUARD HAVE A VARIETY OF
AUTHORITIES AND CAPABILITIES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE COOPERATIVE, COORDINATED,
CONSISTENT, AND NON-REDUNDANT, SO THAT INDUSTRY CAN GET BACK INTO BUSINESS JUST AS QUICKLY
AS SAFELY POSSIBLE WHILE STILL PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK
THE INDUSTRY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR THEIR EFFORT OVER THE PAST YEARS IN PREPARING
FOR THIS, PARTICULARLY IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS FOR RUM. -- FORUM. WE WANT TO KEEP PACE
WITH OFFSHORE PLATFORMS, THE IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN NARROW THE RANGE OF
THE INJURY AS FORECASTING IMPROVES, AND WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE WATERWAYS AND THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENT SAFE. I WANT TO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WATSON, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PERIOD. [APPLAUSE]
THANKS, PETE, AND I'M SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK OFFSHORE, PARTICULARLY INDEBTED
TO THE SERVICES OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS
IS A MULTI-MISSION ORGANIZATION THAT ALSO IS FOCUSED ON RESTORATION OF THE ENERGY SUPPLY
AND THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM POST HURRICANE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. SHE IS FROM THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AND WORKED FOR A LONG TIME -- I WORK FOR A LONG TIME WITH DANA AND I AM GLAD
SHE IS HERE TO GIVE US REMARKS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PERSPECTIVE.
HI, EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE REEF. I KNOW YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE
HEARING FROM THIS MORNING. IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU IN WHATEVER VENUE WE WORK TOGETHER. WE
WORKED ON THE HORIZON RESPONSE AND I THINK WE ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT. EPA HAS
MANY ROLES . MOST OF YOU KNOW OUR ROLE AS PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS WHAT
WE DO ON A DAY-TO- DAY BASIS, BUT AS WELL AS THE -- PREPAREDNESS AS WELL AS RESPONSE.
WE SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM ALONG WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD, WHICH
IS THE VICE CHAIR, WORKING CLOSELY WITH 15 AGENCIES, BASICALLY PREPARING ON A DAY-TO-
DAY BASIS AND RESPONDING TOGETHER AS WELL. WE CONDUCT EXERCISES FREQUENTLY COULD -- WE
CONDUCT EXERCISES FREQUENTLY WORKING TOGETHER IN TANDEM. WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE PRIOR RESPONSES AND WORKING TO APPLY THOSE TO IMPROVE THE WAY WE RESPOND
AND OUR FUTURE RESPONSES. EPA IS THE IN LAND LEAD, AND THE COAST GUARD, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT,
IS THE COASTAL LEAD FOR RESPONSES. BUT THAT LINE ISN'T A VERY, VERY HARD LINE. IT CAN
BE A DOTTED LINE. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE, AS WE RESPOND TOGETHER
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE BEST FOR PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING TOGETHER IN A
PARTNERSHIP. EPA OFTEN CONDUCTS ANALYSES , A LOT OF ANALYSES, WHERE WE ARE RESPONDING TO
SOME SORT OF RESPONSE. FOR THE KATRINA RESPONSE, WE CONDUCTED 450,000 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES
FOR THE SOIL, SEDIMENT, THE AIR. WE ARE CONSTANTLY OUT THERE SHOWING THE PUBLIC -- ENTERING THE
PUBLIC -- ASSURING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. WE ARE MONITORING THE ENVIRONMENT
BEFORE AND AFTER THOSE RESPONSES. WE REMOVED HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS, WE RESPOND TO RELEASES,
WE ISSUE PERMITS, WE ISSUED FUEL WAIVERS , AS WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES WHERE YOU HAVE THESE
RESPONSES AND YOU NEED TO GET INTO THE AREA AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FUEL IS THERE.
WE HAVE MONITORING THAT WE CAN DO WITH THE AIRPLANE THAT IS KNOWN FOR ASPECT, BECAUSE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE -- WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS, THE NATURAL DISASTER IS, WE ARE ABLE TO FLY
OVERHEAD AND BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAY AS WELL. ALTHOUGH WE ARE THE LEAD
FOR THE FUNCTION FOR FEMA, WE DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED. WE DO SAMPLING BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING,
AND IT IS 800 PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES NEED TO BE SAVED, AND OUR BOATS WERE OUT THERE. WE GOT
OUT THERE AND RESCUE THOSE FOLKS AND THEIR HOUSES THAT WERE FLOODED. I THINK THAT IS
HOW WE ALL WORK. WE HAVE TO CONDIMENT AND WORK TOGETHER WHETHER IT IS WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS, STATE AND LOCAL. WE ARE TRYING TO SUE YOU OUT -- WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON RECOVERING FROM THAT AND IMPLEMENT LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THAT. EPA FACE A VERY LARGE ROLE IN THE USE OF DISPERSANTS, AND WE ARE WORKING
ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR MEMBERS, THE U.S. COAST GUARD,
NOAA, ON GUIDANCE WE WORK WITH INNER AGENCY ON IMPROVING MONITORING AND LOOKING AT TOXICITY
AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DISPERSANTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE USING AS LITTLE AS WE CAN.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO USE IT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND TAKE CARE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT. WE WORK TOGETHER ON THAT PROCESS AS WELL. AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM JUST ABOUT
EVERYBODY HERE, IT IS ALL ABOUT PREPAREDNESS. WE DON'T LIKE TO RESPOND, BUT WE HAVE TO RESPOND
TO HIM AND WE TRY TO USE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALWAYS LEARN FOR THE NEXT RESPONSE. WE
WORK VERY CLOSELY AS PARTNERS AND WE WORK CLOSELY TO LEVERAGE EACH OTHER'S RESOURCES.
WITHIN OUR OWN AGENCY, I HAVE A GROUP OF A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE WE WORK WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY
BASIS AND IF THERE IS A RESPONSE, WE HAVE 3000 PEOPLE OR VOLUNTEERS WITHIN OUR AGENCY
THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO. WE CALL IT OUR RESPONSE SUPPORT CARD. WE ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING OUR
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FORWARD, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT NEW I.T. SYSTEMS AND
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO INTEGRATE OUR DATA WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES SO THAT AS WE ARE SAMPLING
WE CAN BE LEARNING AND WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE NEXT STEPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH SUPER STORM SANDY, PROTECTION AND RESILIENCY FOR WATER PLANTS AND WASTE
TREATMENT PLANTS, WE ARE WORKING ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY. THE STORMS
ARE GETTING BIGGER AND AREAS LIKE NEW YORK CITY ARE MORE FORTUNATE THAN I HAVE IN THE
PAST. WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN THE WAY WE DEVELOP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVE
IT. WE ALSO WORK ON PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORIES WHEN THERE IS SOME SORT OF STORM OR RELIEF
-- RELEASE COMING, WHETHER IT IS A HURRICANE, TORNADO, WHATEVER IT IS, TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT IF YOU SEE FLOODING, KEEPAWAY, AND IF YOU HAVE FLOODED AREAS WE HAVE GUIDANCE IS
AND CAUTION FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL. WE PLAY A VERY BIG ROLE IN RELEASING DATA AND MONITORING
AND WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC ON A REGULAR AND ROUTINE BASIS. IT IS PART OF THE HEART OF
THIS -- PART OF THE HEART AND SOUL OF WHO WE ARE AS AN AGENCY TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT
ALL THE DATA WE'RE COLLECTING BUT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD QUALITY CONTROL AND SCIENTIFIC
RIGOR BEFORE WE RELEASE IT AND HAVE AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHERE
WE ARE GOING FORWARD. WHAT DO WE DO? WE WORK WITH YOU ALL AND THE STATES AND AND FEDERAL
AGENCIES TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE BEST PREPARED US AND TO ALSO ENSURE THAT WE CAN RESPOND
TOGETHER THE BEST WAY WE CAN. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, DANA . NO ONE COULD AGREE WITH YOU MORE ABOUT NOT WANTING TO RESPOND BUT
BEING READY TO IN CASE WE HAVE TO, AND I THINK YOUR AGENCY IS OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FOCUS
ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY , ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, OF COURSE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION. REAR ADMIRAL JOE NIMMICH IS THE ASSOCIATE
ADMINISTERED OR FOR THE OFFICE OF RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BSEE AND THE OTHER PANEL MEMBERS FOR INCLUDING ME HERE. FEMA HAS NO
STATUTORY AUTHORITY NOR RESPONSE ABILITY FOR OFFSHORE EVENTS. FEMA IS A COORDINATING BODY
UNDER THE NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT THE STATES WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. THOSE
EMERGENCIES RANGE FROM SMALLER ISSUES THROUGH THINGS LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN IN OKLAHOMA TO SANDY,
KATRINA, AND THOSE LARGE EVENTS. AS I SAID, WE DO THAT THROUGH THE NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK,
WHICH SETS UP A STRUCTURE BY WHICH ALL OF THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO AN EMERGENCY COMES
TOGETHER. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I AM HERE EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE STATUTORY AUTHORITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF WHAT IS DONE ON THE OFFSHORE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL
IMPACT THE DISASTER AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT FEMA DOES AND CAN DO WITHOUT THE STATUTORY
AUTHORITY THROUGH THE NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK AS AN ASSISTANT WERE DONATING BODY TO BSEE
AND THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU JUST A SHORT SUMMARY OF WHAT
FEMA IS AND HOW WE DO THAT QUIT DONATING FUNCTION. THROUGH THE NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK -- YOU
HAVE HEARD IT MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES HERE -- THE INTER-AGENCY COMES TOGETHER AND ALL
THE FEDERAL CAPABILITIES ARE COORDINATED ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THAT DISASTER THE STATES , WHO
ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE TO THE CITIZENS IN THE STATE FOR HOW THE DISASTER IS RESPONDED
TO. HOW THE FEDERAL ENTITIES COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THAT -- YOU HAVE HEARD THE TERM
ESF USED SEVERAL TIMES. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PANEL ARE LEADS ON ESF. EMERGENCY SUPPORT
FUNCTION, AND THERE ARE 15 EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS THAT BRING FEDERAL CAPABILITY TOGETHER
AND COORDINATE HOW THE FEDERAL CAPABILITY WILL RESPOND. WHEN WE LOOK AT A CRISIS LIKE
HURRICANE SANDY, AND THE CHALLENGE OF UNWATERING MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE TUNNELS IN MANHATTAN,
WE TURN NOT TO FEMA, BUT FEMA COORDINATES THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND THEY LOOK
AT OTHER ENTITIES AROUND THE NATION THAT HAVE THE CAPABILITY. THEY LOOK INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE AND RING TOGETHER -- BRING TOGETHER THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS THAT MAY
HAVE THE CAPABILITY, AND QUITE LIKELY, THE COAST GUARD STRIKE TEAM, AND BRING ALL THE
CAPABILITY LOOKING AT THE PROBLEMS FROM MULTIPLE EYES TO GIVE THE BEST SOLUTION. WE DO THAT
AND COMMUNICATIONS, WE DO THAT IN MANY FUNCTIONS. WHY IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IMPORTANT
FOR ME? ENERGY IS A KEY FACTOR IN ANY DISASTER AND BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THE SURVIVORS AND
THE SURVIVABILITY OF THOSE SURVIVORS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT AND REESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT IS DAMAGED. WE LOOK AT HOW ELECTRICITY, HOW THE OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACT
S, THE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW IT IMPACTS THE GASOLINE THAT IS NEEDED. ALL OF THOSE
FACTORS GO INTO OUR PLANNING, AND AS WAS INDICATED, THERE IS AN ENTIRE ESF THAT LOOKS AT AND COORDINATE
OUR RESPONSE TO A DISASTER IN ENERGY. BUT I ALSO WANT -- I ALSO LOOK AT IT AS THE COORDINATING
CAPABILITY WE HAVE CAN BE APPLIED OUTSIDE THE NORMAL FEMA STRUCTURES. LAST YEAR AS A
RESULT OF THE DROUGHTS IN THE MIDWEST, INTERIOR CAME TO FEMA AND SAID, "CAN WE USE THE SAME
NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK IN ADDRESSING HOW ALL OF FEDERAL ENTITIES THAT HAVE A ROLE
AND POTENTIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE DROUGHT RESTRICTED AREAS CAN BE SUPPORTED? " FEMA
PROVIDED THE SAME COORDINATING CAPABILITY AND WE CAN REVISE THAT TO THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY
IF THAT IS A NECESSARY RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER. AS YOU HAVE HEARD HERE BEFORE, MY PITCH IS
THAT PREPAREDNESS REDUCES THE IMPACT OF THE DISASTER. IT IS NOT JUST THE PLANS, IT IS
THE EXECUTION OF THE PLANTS, IT IS THE EXERCISING OF THE PLANTS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS THE
REWRITING OF THE PLANTS. IT IS THE PROCESS OF PLANNING THAT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS AND
UNDERSTANDING. IT IS NOT THE ELIMINATION OF THE PLAN AFTER IT HAS BEEN ASKED IT IS NOT
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN AFTER IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER -- IT
IS NOT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN AFTER IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WILL WHO HAVE
NEVER PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. THE ACTIVITIES WE ARE DOING TODAY ACTUALLY BUILD A STRUCTURE.
I HAVE TO PUT A PITCH IN FOR NOAA. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TODAY WITH THE INFORMATION WE
GET AND THE WARNINGS WE GET IN TERMS OF THEIR ACCURACY AND TIMELINESS. LIVES WERE SAVED
IN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL EIGHT MINUTES THAT EXIST TODAY OF WARNINGS FOR TORNADOES
THAT DIDN'T EXIST TWO YEARS AGO SAVE LIVES IN OKLAHOMA. THEY SAVE LIVES AND HURRICANES,
THEY SAVE LIVES IN VIRTUALLY EVERY EVENT THAT WE HAVE. THE LAST PITCHES THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT NOTICE EVENTS, PREPARING FOR THE HURRICANE THAT YOU GET THE NOTICE. PLEASE DON'T LOSE
SIGHT OF THE NO NOTICE EVENTS. WHILE EARTHQUAKES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ARE UNLIKELY, THERE
IS OIL INFRASTRUCTURE OFFSHORE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THE NO NOTICE
EVENT IS GOING TO CREATE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THOSE EVENTS.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING US ON, FOR INVITING US, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANY
AUTHORITY OR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU, ALL OF THE ENTITIES THAT DEAL
WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL TO THE NATION. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU , JOE. THOSE OF US WHO FOCUS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF APPRECIATE THE
INTEREST AND THE COORDINATION THAT WE HAVE WITH FEMA, AND ALSO WITH YOUR STATE COUNTERPARTS,
THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND ALL THE STATES AND COUNTIES AND PARISHES. WE TRIED TO TAKE
A PAGE FROM YOUR BOOK AS WE DO THE PLANNING AND PREPARATION FOR OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
IMPACT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, AND HE WILL BE THE FINAL SPEAKER FROM THE FEDERAL AGENCY FOR
US TODAY, IS MR. JAMES DEVINE FROM THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY . HE'S IS THE SENIOR
ADVISOR FOR SCIENCE APPLICATIONS FROM USGS. MR. DEVINE.
THANK YOU, ADMIRAL. THE FIRST QUESTION PEOPLE MIGHT ASK IS WHAT IS THE INTEREST OF THE GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY RELATIVE TO HURRICANES? SECONDLY, AS THE TEMP SPEAKER HERE THIS MORNING, WHAT I'M
ABOUT TO SAY MIGHT SOUND -- AS THE 10 TO SPEAKER HERE THIS MONEY, WHAT I'M ABOUT AS A MITEL
AT THE BROKEN RECORD, THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS DONE IN CORPORATION WITH THE BUREAUS AND
AGENCIES HERE ON THE DAIS, STARTING WITH NOAA, FDMA --FEMA, DOE, OTHER AGENCIES NOT MENTIONED
HERE TODAY. IT TRULY IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, WHAT WE DO. HAVING BEEN THE USGS EMERGENCY
COURT IN NADER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, I'VE A CORPORATION DEVELOP FROM JUST LITTLE SPIKES TO FULL-BLOWN
PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ALL MORNING. QUICKLY, WHAT DOES USGS DO FOR -- WHAT
DOES USGS DO? FIRST, THANKS TO THE CAPABILITY OF NO WHAT I'M GIVING ADVANCE WARNING ABOUT
HOW BIG THE EVENT IS GOING TO BE, WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PRE-POSITION ASSETS TO BE READY
AT THE RIGHT SPOT, WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, TO DO WHAT OUR JOBS ARE SET OUT TO DO. SECONDLY,
BECAUSE OF THOSE WARNINGS, WE ARE GIVEN SOME TIME TO ASSESS CONDITIONS PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
ONE OF -- A FEMA DIRECTOR ONE TIME TOLD ME THAT WHEN I NEED TO KNOW IS WHAT IT LOOKED
LIKE BEFORE AND WHAT IS A LITTLE LIKE NOW -- WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE NOW. IF YOU CAN
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS YOU ARE A STEP AHEAD ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. OUR GOAL IS TO ASSESS
WHAT THE CONDITIONS LOOK LIKE, AND THAT IS THE SHORELINE, BARRIER ISLANDS, THE STATUS
OF THE STREAMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE STREAMS NEAR THE SHORELINE SHOULD THESE ARE ELEMENTS
THAT FALL WITHIN OUR DOMAIN. AFTER THE EVENT GOES BY -- HURRICANE IN THIS CASE, OUR FIRST
GOAL IS TO ASSESS WHAT OUR CAPABILITIES AND IMPACTS HAVE BEEN AND THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION
AND PROVIDE THE CORRECTIONS WE NEED TO PUT THE RIGHT TEAM IN THE FIELD. SECONDLY, WHAT
IS THAT TEAM, WHAT DO WE DO? WE HAVE A STRONG CAPABILITY AND REQUIREMENT TO ASSESS THE CONDITION
OF THE SHORELINE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE HEADLINES, SURE, THE GEOLOGIC PROCESS THAT COMES ON THE
WAY, AND THERE IS DEEP JEOPARDY FROM SEA LEVEL RISE AND CONDITIONS LIKE HURRICANES, AND TO
ASSESS THE QUALITY, QUANTITY, AND CAPABILITY OF THE STREAMS NEARBY. THIRDLY, WE HAVE A
MAJOR ROLE IN PROVIDING GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION FOR THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO USE. NEED
TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT IS MOVED, AND WHERE THINGS END UP, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS
WHERE YOU HAVE LOST THE FAMILIAR LANDMARKS THAT ONE USES WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR. YOU ARE
LEFT WITHOUT YOUR NORMAL CAPABILITY OF DETERMINING WHERE YOU ARE. STARTING WITH THE DATA WE PROVIDE,
WE OPERATE THE SATELLITE, WHICH PROVIDES THAT RESOLUTION DATA. WE PROVIDE THAT DATA IMMEDIATELY,
AND IN OUR PAST , HURRICANES SUCH AS THE TRINA -- SUCH AS KATRINA. WE SET UP 20 OR 30 TERABYTES
OF GEOSPATIAL DATA TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, TO ASSIST THEM WHERE THEY ARE -- KNOWING
WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. WE PREPARE AND FREQUENTLY FLY DATA AFTER THE
EVENT TO DETERMINE MORE PRECISELY WHAT HAS CHANGED AND HOW MUCH. WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO INVOKE THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTER, WHICH PROVIDES ALL OF THE SATELLITE OPERATING COMPANIES
WHO HAVE AGREED TO PROVIDE DATA FREE IN THE MIDST OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY. THIS PROVIDES
A VERY RICH SET OF IMAGERY AND OTHER GEOSPATIAL DATA, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR THE RESPONSE MECHANISM.
WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER SOURCES OF IMAGERY, WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO THE PROBLEM. FINALLY,
IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN OIL SPILL ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE, WE CAN PROVIDE A SUITE
OF GEOLOGICAL, GEOPHYSICAL, REMOTE SENSING, ANOTHER ANALYTICAL TOOLS TO PUBLICIST SAYS
THE AMOUNT, LOCATION, THE QUALITY, THE POTENTIAL OF THIS BILL. COMBINED THOSE ELEMENTS, WE
FIT IN VERY SWEETLY WITH THE AGENCIES YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE. WITH THAT I AM GOING
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ONE MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU , JIM, AND HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITIES, AND IN A HURRICANE EVENT THAT
BECOMES PARTICULARLY CRITICAL TO ALL OF THE AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.
WHEN WE WERE PREPARING FOR THIS EVENT, WE WANTED TO HAVE NOT JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
STATE GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, WE WANTED TO HAVE A PRIVATE CITIZEN REPRESENTED,
AND QUITE OFTEN WHEN WE DO THAT WE TURN TO THE PEW OCEANS COMMISSION. REPRESENTING THE
PEW OCEANS COMMISSION FOR US TODAY IS VICE ADMIRAL, RETIRED ROGER RUFE. HE HAS A FINE
HISTORY UPON WHICH TO BASE COMMENTS FOR OUR PURPOSES TODAY. ROGER ?
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, THANKS TO YOU AND TO BETSY -- AND TO BSEE FOR BRINGING TOGETHER
THE KEY PLAYERS ON THE TOPIC, AND ESPECIALLY FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS AS WELL. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. AS A FORMER PEW OCEANS COMMISSION
OR AN FORMER PRESIDENT OF OCEAN CONSERVANCY AND THE CURRENT ADVISOR TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENT
-- PEW ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM AUDIT PROGRAM, I BRING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE
PROCEEDINGS THIS MORNING. MY PRIMARY INTEREST IS UNDERSTANDING HOW THE CONDITIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL
INTELLIGENCE, PLANNING AND REPAIRED IS THAT WE HEARD EARLIER TAKEN ACCOUNT AND CONTRIBUTE
TO REDUCING THE RISK TO OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. I AM HERE TO LISTEN AND LEARN. I DON'T HAVE
MUCH TO SAY. I AM HERE TO LISTEN AND LEARN, AS MOST OF THE PUBLIC IS AS WELL TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE PRESENTATION TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE STATES AND THEIR
CONCERNS AND THE DISCUSSION THAT WILL FOLLOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
AND THAT IS A GREAT TRANSITION FOR US TO READ -- THAT IS A GREAT TRANSITION FOR US. NOW
WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES. THEY ARE NOT HERE PHYSICALLY BUT WE THINK
THE TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO WORK FOR US TO HEAR FROM THEM VERBALLY OVER THE TELEPHONE
CONNECTION . OUR FIRST STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS STEVE JENKINS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT -- ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. ARE YOU OUT THERE AND CAN YOU GIVE US SOME REMARKS?
YES, ADMIRAL WATSON. I AM HERE. DID YOU ALL HEAR ME?
YOU ARE FINE, SIR. YOU ARE ON THE LINE HERE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2013 HURRICANE SEASON. GO AHEAD.
-- HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. PLEASE PROCEED.
AND EARL WATSON AND HIS STAFF FOR ARRANGING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. THE OFFSHORE
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR NATION'S SECURITY AND ECONOMY. ALABAMA
HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED AS POSSIBLE OFFSHORE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL STATES HAVE EXTENSIVE
EXPERIENCE IN RESPONDING TO HAZARDOUS EVENTS INCLUDING TROPICAL WEATHER. LESSONS ARE LEARNED
DURING EACH RESPONSE REGARDLESS OF SIZE. COMMUNICATION" A NATION ARE CRITICAL DURING ALL RESPONSES.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE RESPONSE COMMUNITY AND CLOSING GOVERNMENT
INDUSTRY ARE KEY FOR RESPONSE TO PARENT IS. RESPONSE DRILLS FACILITATE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE CRITICAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY FINAL REMARKS?
THAT WILL DO IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD GO TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA. GWEN IS WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. GWEN, GO AHEAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PANEL AND ADMIRAL. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU COME A GO-AHEAD.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HER MAJESTY RESPONSE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY WITH OUR PARTNERS FOR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
FOR THE DISCUSSION. FOR THIS DISCUSSION WE HAVE THE NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN AND THE
RESPONSE FRAMEWORK. THIS DISCUSSION IS VALUABLE TO US TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS AND REFINE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS AND AUTHORITIES. FLORIDA HAS ENJOYED GOOD FEDERAL AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS.
AS A NON-DRILLING STATE OFFSHORE, WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT DISTANCE
WAS OUR BEST ALLY. IN SEVERAL VENUES WE HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED MOST POINTEDLY HOW VULNERABLE
WE WERE AND HOW PREPARED WE NEED TO BE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING GOOD TO COME OUT OF THE
KEY POINTER SPILL AND 20 -- THE DEEP WATER SPILL IN 2010 AND THE SUBSEQUENT DRILLING
INITIATIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN, THEY ARE -- THEY RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS
AT THE STATE LEVEL AND SUSTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS INTO GREAT MONTH AND HELP US TO FOSTER STRONGER,
MORE INCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD. IN RECENT YEARS FLORIDA
HAS ENJOYED MUCH MORE INCLUSION IN THE PREPAREDNESS AND PLANNING. EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENED OUTSTANDING
-- HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING INCLUSION IN THE STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS FOR CONTINGENCY PLANNING
FOR THE DRILLING INITIATIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN. AND THE PROACTIVE NOTICE BY NOAA ABOUT
THE RESULTS OF THEIR REMEDIATION OF UNDERWATER LEGACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS, HISTORICAL
UNDERWATER THREATS, OFFSHORE, ALLOWED US TO INCLUDE THOSE IN CONTINGENCY PLANS. WE HAVE
WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH BOTH DISTRICT SEVEN AND EIGHT TWO PROVIDES ALL THE PLANTS AND
THE STRATEGY THROUGHOUT FLORIDA TO IMPROVE OUR PROTECTION FROM THREATS AND IMPACT OFFSHORE.
THIS FORM AND -- THIS FORM TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT INCLUSION THAT WE APPRECIATE. FLORIDA
AS A WHOLE IS STRIVING TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN PREPAREDNESS. WE ENJOY MEMBERSHIP IN THE ROBUST
PARTNERSHIP AND THE FLORIDA STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, THAT EXTENSIVE TEAM OF FEDERAL
AND STATE AGENCIES CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE AND PLAN FOR OIL SPILL CONTINGENCIES. FOR
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS, THIS TEAM IS, NO PUN INTENDED, WELL OILED. WE ARE MORE IN TUNE
WITH THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE STORMS ON OFFSHORE FACILITIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR
THE STATE AND THE NEED TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO FACILITATE SWIFT RECOVERY TO BE ESTABLISHED
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PORTS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. TO THAT
END, SEVERAL AGENCIES IN THE STATE REVIEW PREPAREDNESS PLANS FOR THE OFFSHORE FACILITIES
NEAR OUR WATERS, IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY AWARENESS AND FLORIDA'S AWARENESS OF THE CAPABILITIES
OF THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY. WE HAVE INITIATED A VOLUNTEER EACH WATCH PROGRAM FOR POSSIBLE
POLLUTION SETTINGS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE HEALTH
OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND TO CAPITALIZE ON THE ELEVATED AWARENESS OF THE WHOLE FLORIDA COMMUNITY.
OUR IMMEDIATE OPPOSITE FROM HER JUICY RESPONSE IS EXPANDING ITS PREPARED THIS ROLE THROUGH
DISH OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS EXPANDING ITS PREPARED TO SCROLL THROUGH AGENCIES, AND WE
HAVE IMPROVED TRAINING FOR OUR RESPONDERS AND THE EXTENDED RESPONSE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND
FOR FLORIDA AND NEIGHBORS. THIS YEAR WE IN FLORIDA WILL HOST A CONFERENCE IN CAP FROM
NOVEMBER 12 TO THE 14TH. AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AS A RESPONSE COMMITTEE,
THIS WILL FOCUS NOT ONLY ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST BILLS, BUT WILL MAKE A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO LOOK AHEAD. THE CONFERENCE SESSION -- AND WE WILL ASK INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO LOOK
FORWARD AND THE RESPONSE COMMUNITY ON WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS HEADED IN TECHNOLOGY, TRANS
ROTATION -- TRANSPORTATION, AND EXPLORATION, AND SUBSEQUENTLY ASK WHAT APPLICATIONS -- WHAT
IMPLICATIONS THAT MAY HAVE FOR THE RESPONSE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE READY FOR
THOSE CHALLENGES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH MANY OF THE PARTNERS IN THAT NOVEMBER
FOR HIM -- THAT NOVEMBER FORUM. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION
TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, GWEN. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. MR. BRENT CAMPBELL
IS FROM THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF CONSERVATION.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BRENT CAMPBELL AND I AM THE EMERGENCY COORDINATOR FOR THE LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. IT IS PART OF THE EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION 12 DURING
TIMES OF EMERGENCIES. AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE SECRETARY OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, I THANK BSEE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS FORM AND INVITING
THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. LOUISIANA HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL AND GAS-RELATED
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COASTAL AREAS AS WELL AS OFFSHORE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE
AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE, WE ARE SEEKING WAYS TO IMPROVE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES AFTER AN IMPACT FROM HURRICANE. I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
TO DO SO, HAVING FARM -- HAVING FORUMS LIKE THIS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
AT THE END OF THE PERIOD.
OK, THANK YOU, BRENT. FINALLY, FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, MR. WILLIAM GRIMES, WITH THE TEXAS
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
THANKS. MY NAME IS BILL GRIMES. I AM THE STATE COURT IN IT ARE FOR THE RESPONSE DIVISION
OF THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. I AM REPRESENTING THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE OIL SPILL DIVISION.
WE ARE THE STATE COASTAL RESPONSE AGENCY AND RESPOND TO A PROXIMALLY 650 SPILLS ANNUALLY
WITH OUR FEDERAL RESPONSE PARTNERS. LIKE MIGHT STATE COHORTS, WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS INFORMATION-SHARING FORUM AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE QUARTER NATION WITH STATE
AND FEDERAL ENTITIES DURING SIGNIFICANT METEOROLOGICAL EVENTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. SIMILARLY, OUR
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN ENGAGE WITH A GROUP OF STATE ENTITIES TO AUTOMATE
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM. AND FINALLY , I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO A CLEAN
GOLF IN NOVEMBER AND -- IN NOVEMBER IN TAMPA. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BILL. OK, I THINK WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO
TRANSITION TO OUR GUESTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO US IN A VARIETY
OF WAYS. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK JUST TO SET UP FOR THAT. I AM SURE THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN COMMUNICATE BY TELEPHONE OR BY E-MAIL. I WILL BE PROVIDING YOU THE
DETAILS OF THAT AS SOON AS WE GET BACK HERE, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ABOUT 45-MINUTE CONVERSATION
WITH THOSE HERE IN THE ROOM AND THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING OR WATCHING FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS.
FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHY DON'T WE SEE IF WE CAN REASSEMBLE HERE. OK. LET'S JUST START AGAIN. HERE IS WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE AN U N COUNTED NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE WATCHING
MAYVIA T-- WATCHING THIS VIA THE WEG STREAMING TECHNIQUE. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE E-MAIL
-- WEB STREAMING TECHNIQUE. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE E-MAIL. IT WILL COME RIGHT HERE TO
ME AT THE PODIUM AND I WILL READ IT OUT. BSEE HURRICANEF ORUMATBSEE.GOV. LET ME REPEAT THAT.
BSEEHURRICANFORUMATBSEE.GOV. OK, WE HAVE FOLKS HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE IN THE SOUTH INTERIOR
BELDEN THE BEST BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE HAVE OUR STAKE REPRESENTS AS ON THE LINE.
WE HAVE OUR PANEL RIGHT HERE WITH ME. I WANTED TO START OUT AND ASK -- FROM OUR PANEL MEMBERS
. DO THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EACH OTHER BASED ON THE REMARKS MADE THIS MORNING? JOE?
[INDISCERNIBLE] THE NORMAL PROCESS AND THE SAFETY. [INDISCERNIBLE] CAN YOU OFFER YOUR
PERSPECTIVE? I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU SHUT DOWN A FACILITY, IT HAS A MAJOR IMPACT
ON THE ECONOMY. THERE MAY BE SHORTAGES. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND WHERE
WE SEEK THE MOST DEPTH IS IN THE EVACUATIONS.
A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK I WILL HAVE TWO PEOPLE RESPOND TO THAT. FIRST BILL FROM DOE
AND LAWRENCE FROM BSEE. THEY REPRESENT THE SUPPLY NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE WORKING
OFFSHORE.
SHUTTING DOWN THE ENERGY SYSTEM. [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] WE CAN ESTABLISH MONTHLY OR
WEEKLY AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY. THERE IS A PERIOD WHERE WE ARE FINDING WE ARE SPENDING
DAYS [INDISCERNIBLE] IT REALLY IS HARD.
GREAT.
[INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE]
THANKS. ANY OTHER PANEL MEMBERS WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT QUESTION? OK, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION
FOR THE PANEL. THIS HAS TO DO WITH COMMUNICATION. WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
AND COORDINATION BETWEEN OUR AGENCIES AND BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES?
MAYBE I WELL QUEUE UP AGAIN, BILL. THEN I WILL GO TO THE FOLKS ON THE LINE FROM THE
STATES.
I MADE A COMMENT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY. GET EMERGENCY COMMUNITIES INVOLVED.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS A STRUCTURE [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT IS IMPORTANT. WE NEED A STRUCTURE IN
PLACE THAT WORKS. WE WILL WORK HARD TO GET THAT MORE ROBUST. WE WILL GET OUR PARTNERS
TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY. TECHNOLOGY CHANGES. WE NEED TO VALUE AND SUPPORT THAT DATA. WHEN
IT IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE , THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE]
[INDISCERNIBLE] WE ARE A BRAIN TRUST FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON. [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE]
THANKS, BILL. LET ME GO OUT TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES OF THERE. THE QUESTION IS WHAT MORE NEEDS
TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE TO VACATION IN COORDINATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE BEST
TO IMPROVE KING LITIGATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES -- TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES.
TO THE IMPROVED PLANNING WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN RECENT YEARS HAS REALLY IN HERE IN IMPROVED
COMMUNICATIONS. IT HAS BUILT IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS EVEN MORE SOUNDLY AND GOTTEN US AWAY FROM
THE ADDED THAT THE TIME TO EXCHANGE BUSINESS CARDS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESPONSE. WE
ARE ENJOYING SOME OF THE BEST INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED
IN RECENT HISTORY FROM THE UNIFIED COMMAND -- COMMAND CONCEPT BEING EFFECTIVELY USED.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY IN THE NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN ARENA. NRS
IS BOTTOM UP. THAT CREATES A PUBLIC MESSAGING CHALLENGE. FOR FLORIDA, THAT IS OUR SIGNIFICANT
PLACE TO WORK, BUILDING BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR WORKING GOVERNMENT AND OUR PUBLIC.
THANKS, GWEN.
[INDISCERNIBLE] DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND BETTER COMMUNICATION AND PLANNING. FROM A
HURRICANE PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS PROBABLY NO BETTER EXERCISE, STARTING WITH THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES. EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE DID A CABINET LEVEL HURRICANE EXERCISE. FLORIDA
CONDUCTED AN EXERCISE ON HURRICANES. IT IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS NOT JUST DURING
THE EVENT, BUT IT IS CONTINUING. THE FRAMEWORK IS THERE . WE GOT COORDINATED SUPPORT FOR
THOSE ENTITIES. WE CAN HELP STATES IN ANY TYPE OF MAJOR EVENTS. THERE IS A NATIONAL
RESPONSE FRAMEWORK. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT.
BREAK. GO AHEAD.
START THE MOVE TOWARD MORE SOPHISTICATED MEASURES . WHETHER IT IS TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE OR TRANSPORTATION
UNITS. WE CAN WORK TOWARD IMPROVING . [INDISCERNIBLE]
THAT IS A GREAT POINT.
AS SOON AS THAT BECOMES A DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT ENTITY, IT IS GOING BACK TO ALLOWING A SINGLE
ENTITY TO DEVELOP THAT IN THE PROPER METRICS. STATES OUR INDUSTRIES ARE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT
SET OF CRITERIA, THEY ARE NOT COMMUNICATING.
GOOD. CYNTHIA?
[INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
[INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE]
HA WE TRY TO IDENTIFY KEY DELEGATIONS. [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE IS NOT ONE PERFECT [INDISCERNIBLE] CAPABLE
OF ALL THAT WE NEED. WE ARE INVESTING OUR TIME AND ENERGY. [INDISCERNIBLE] LOOK AT THE
REGULATIONS. LOOK AT WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME.
THANKS.] WE DO HAVE AN AUDIENCE RIGHT HERE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE PRESS. I WANTED TO
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOR OUR PANEL. GO AHEAD. PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. WE HAVE ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROOM.
ON THIS SAME SUBJECT OF BRAVERY, I BRAVERY,HOLLY FROM API TO COMMENT ON THIS. SHE SAID THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF REGULATIONS THAT COULD BE WAIVED AND COULD HELP THE INDUSTRY BETTER
RAMP UP AND RESPOND TO STORMS. IF I COULD TAKE A SECOND BITE OF THE APPLE WHILE I AM
UP HERE, MR. SECRETARY, YOU MENTIONED YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO INDUSTRY. I THOUGHT YOU SAID
INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES WILL WORK WITH YOU IN YOUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. I WONDER
IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON THAT.
LET'S LET'S HOLLY GO FIRST. HOLLY PUSHED THE BUTTON.
[INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE]
BILL?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
[INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR US, WE
ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL MAJOR ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPRESENTED. YOU CAN GO
TO ANY ONE OF THOSE ASSOCIATIONS. WE CAN GET EVERYTHING WE NEED. WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. [INDISCERNIBLE]
THANKS. ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE STATES? I WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY
PENDING ONCE. OK. LET ME GO BACK TO OUR AUDIENCE. HERE IN THE ROOM. I HAVE A QUESTION THAT BRINGS
US BACK TO THE ACTUAL OFFSHORE INDUSTRY. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE KATRINA AND RITA.
BACK IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DESTRUCTION. THERE WAS DANGER TO LIFE AND
A LOT OF PROPERTY. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS SINCE THEN WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
AND THE INDUSTRY ITSELF. I AM SURE THERE IS MORE STILL TO DO. LET ME POSE THAT QUESTION
TO OUR PANEL. WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO APPROVE PREPAREDNESS IN THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY IN LIGHT
OF THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS HURRICANE SEASON THIS YEAR? MAYBE, IF WE CANNOT GET IT DONE
THIS YEAR, HOW QUICKLY CAN WE GET IT DONE FOR FUTURE YEARS? LARS?
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE CONCERNS IN 2005. [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE TYPICAL
IN CONSTRUCTION. [INDISCERNIBLE] INDUSTRY KEPT UP WITH THE CHALLENGE. WE CHALLENGE INDUSTRY
TO KEEP THAT UP, KEEP THAT MOVING.
ANYONE ELSE ON THAT QUESTION? I GUESS I WILL THROW A LITTLE PLUG TO SOMETHING WE MENTIONED
YESTERDAY. IT DOES INVOLVE THE STATES. THE DE COMMISSION PROCESS CAN INVOLVE -- DECOMMISSION
PROCESS CAN INVOLVED STRUCTURES BE PUT ON THE SEABED TO BE USED AS A HABITAT FOR AN
ARTIFICIAL REEFS. THAT TAKES THE COOPERATION OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PARTICULARLY
THE STATE AGENCIES. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COOPERATION. WE PUT OUT A NEW INITIATIVE
TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE THIS. THAT ME GO BACK TO SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED BY GWEN AND OTHER
FOLKS ABOUT THE NEED TO GET FOLKS INFORMATION , PRIVATE CITIZENS WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH OFFSHORE
ACTIVITIES. OFFSHORE ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. WHETHER IT IS A SHIP OFFSHORE
OR A DRILL RIG OR A PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH
THE PUBLIC? I THINK THERE IS A YEARNING TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN THEY SEE THESE
BIG, RED THINGS ON THEIR SCREEN GOING ACROSS WHAT WILL PROUDLY BE COMMUNICATED TO THEM
AS 20% -- WILL PROBABLY BE COMMUNICATED TO THEM AS 20% OF THE PRODUCTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
WE ARE DOING A COUPLE OF THINGS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AND STATES. WE HAVE WORKED WITH EACH STATE TO DEVELOP AN ENERGY INSURANCE PLAN TO HELP
THE STATES BETTER PREPARE FOR THESE TYPES OF EVENTS. TO TAKE IT DOWN TO THE CONSUMER
LEVEL, THERE IS A PREPARED THIS GUIDE FOR ENERGY, AND ENERGY PREPARED THIS GUIDE FOR
THE HOMEOWNER AND FOR THE BUSINESS HONOR AND FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS. ONE THING THAT WAS
CLEAR TO US WHEN WE WERE ON THE GROUND AFTER SANDY ACCUSING LEADERS DID NOT KNOW HOW TO
PREPARE THEIR COMMITTEE FOR AN ENERGY DISASTER. IT HAS TAKEN A LARGE EFFORT TO PUT THIS GUY
TOGETHER. WE WANTED TO USE REDY.GOV, BUT FEMA TOOK THAT. WE WILL GET THE URL OUT AS SOON
AS WE COMPLETE IT. IT WILL PROBABLY BE ENERGY .GOV. WE ARE JUST DOING A FINAL LOOK AT THE
MATERIALS. IT WILL BE A COMMON-SENSE CHECKLISTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT THINK ABOUT THIS. A
LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS DO NOT THINK ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE ASSUME THEY WILL BE WITHOUT POWER
FOR A FEW HOURS. A RECENT SURVEY BY PEPCO AS CUSTOMERS IN A MAJOR SIGNIFICANT DISASTER,
HOW LONG YOU THINK YOU WILL BE WITHOUT POWER? THE SURVEY CAME BACK AND SAID 8 HOURS. THAT
IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE SAID WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED. THEY
DID NOT THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. WE ARE ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE, WORKING WITH
FEMA, OF A PRESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, AN ENERGY APPLICATIONS FOR SMART DEVICES. IT CAN DO
MULTIPLE THINGS FOR A CUSTOMER. AN INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AND HELP IN THE ASSESSMENT
PROCESS BY TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF IMAGES AND HAVING THOSE ANDGEO -- HAVING THOSE IMAGES
GEO LOCATED. YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW QUICKLY THAT WILL ENHANCE RESTORATION. WITH THE ADVENT
OF THE SMART GRID AND SMART METERING, SOME ELEMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY ARE HAVING MORE SUBTLY
SHOW AWARENESS. THERE ARE ELEMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY THAT WILL NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON UNLESS YOU PICK UP A PHONE AND CALL THEM. IT TAKES TIME TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE TO SEE
THAT. THEY ARE TAKING RESOURCES WITH FROM RESTORING TO GO OUT AND DO ASSESSMENTS. WE
ARE LOOKING AT DEVELOPING AND APP THAT THE CONSUMER CAN USE TO HELP SPEED ALONG THAT
PROCESS.
HOLLY, LET'S FOCUS ON THE OFFSHORE. HOW CAN WE KEEP IT BETTER ON WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT
THERE?
AT API, WE HAVE A HURRICANE RESPONSE WEB PAGE. WE HAVE A HURRICANE FACT SHEET THAT TALKS
ABOUT THE MEXICO PIPELINE, THE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION INFORMATION AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
SEGMENTS OF THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY THAT ARE AFFECTED OR CAN BE AFFECTED DURING A STORM.
WE HAVE ALSO LISTED OUR STANDARDS AND WHAT WE HAVE PRODUCED TO IMPROVED STRUCTURAL DESIGN
AND METADATA. WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE. AND POSTED. THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND DELIVERY OF FUEL IS A COMPLEX ISSUE. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER
JOB OF SIMPLIFYING IT FOR THE CONSUMER AND COMMUNICATING IT IN A SIMPLE FASHION THAT
THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND AND CAN HELP US CAN TAKE THE ISSUES BETTER. WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS STATE GOVERNMENTS.
API HAS A STATE PETROLEUM COUNCIL. WE WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE COMMUNICATING AND COOPERATION AMONG STATES, FEDERAL AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE ON THAT ONE?
BILL SEEMED TO TOUCH ON THIS A LITTLE BIT. I AM INSISTED IN HEARING WHAT THE OTHER AGENCIES
ARE DOING REGARDING HARNESSING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHALLENGES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER
MODERN FORMS OF COMMUNICATION.
WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?
WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE GOT A TWITTER ACCOUNT EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE ARE USING IT TO SEND
OUT OUR MESSAGE TO ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE ON THIS
PANEL. WE HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB OF REACHING ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF THAT. IT
IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT IN THE HURRICANE CONTEXT. WE JUST GOT OUR ABILITY TO USE YOUTUBE.
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. THAT CAN HELP TRAIN PEOPLE ABOUT HER CAN PREPAREDNESS.
GOOD.
I AM WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SOCIAL MEDIA IS HUGE BEFORE HURRICANE EVENTS OR ANY
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS A TWITTER ACCOUNT. AND JUST OF
THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK. THEY PASS OUT INFORMATION, GRAPHICS, WAYS TO PREPARE
ON FACEBOOK. PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO TWEET STORM REPORTS. THEY TAKE A PICTURE OF DAMAGE OUR
REPORT WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN AND THE WEATHER SERVICE CAN BE SEEN THOSE REPORTS IN REAL
TIME AND USE THEM TO REPORT FUTURE WARNINGS. FINALLY, WE ALSO HAVE A NEW MOBILE APP WHERE
WE ALLOW ANY USER OUT THERE -- THIS IS NOT SO MUCH FOR HURRICANES. ANY USER CAN REPORT
THE PRECIPITATION TYPE. SAY THEY ARE IN A SNOWSTORM OR THERE SNOWSTORAHAIL -- A SNOWSTORM
OR HAI. THERE -- OR HAIL. THERE PHONE IS GEOTAGGED. I AM GOING TO WRAP UP IN FIVE MORE MINUTES.
WE GOT A QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR WEB VI EWERS. SHE WORKS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND
AQUARIUMS. HIS FOLKS IS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL AWARENESS TEAM.
SHE SAID, CAN YOU SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS EMERGENCY PROGRAMS
FOR LAYPERSON'S AND ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED BEFORE AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS?
WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME GUIDANCE FOR VOLUNTEERS AND MOU'S WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN SHARE WITH FOLKS.
ANYBODY FROM THE STATE WHO CAN COMMENT ON THAT? THAT QUESTION APPLIES AT THE STATE LEVEL
AS MUCH OR EVEN MORE SO THAN ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. OK. BILL?
JOE HAD TO STEP AWAY FROM THEMA. FEMA -- STILL HAD TO STEP AWAY FROM FEMA. FEMA HAS ESTABLISHED
A FEMA CORPS. IT WAS FAIRLY RECENTLY STARTED UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY TRAIN
VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT FEMA. THESE FOLKS WERE CRITICAL IN HELPING DURING SANDY. FOR EXAMPLE,
RUNNING MEDICINE TO ELDERLY PEOPLE. RUNNING WATER WHEN THERE WAS NO ELEVATORS TO GET CRITICAL
SUPPLIES TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THERE IS A VALUABLE FUNCTION. IN THE CITY OF HOBOKEN, I WOULD
MISS IT MYSELF. EVERYONE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WAS FLOODED. THEY HAD NO WE MERGE -- NO EMERGENCY
RESPONSE CAPABILITY. THE VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP AND SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THIS PLACE
BACK UP? THAT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER. I WOULD REACH OUT TO FEMA, LOOK AT THEIR WEB SITE AND CHECK
OUT THE FEMA CORPS.
THE COAST GUARD HAS A DYNAMIC AND LONGSTANDING COAST GUARD AUXILIARY THAT IS MADE UP ENTIRELY
OF VOLUNTEERS. THEY DO FOCUS ON OFFSHORE AND NEAR COASTAL TOWN OF VOLUNTEER WORK, INCLUDING
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE. THAT IS ANOTHER AREA IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING THE
YOU CAN LOOK INTO AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN. WE HAVE COME CLOSE TO THE END OF OUR TIME. ANY
FINAL REMARKS OR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY ANY OF OUR PANEL?
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE QUICK COMMENT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. WE OPERATE THE NATION'S
EARTHQUAKE PROGRAM. THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS TOTALLY TRANSFORMED THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE
ABOUT EARTHQUAKES.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM FOLKS IN THE ROOM? FINAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY ON
THE PHONE? ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO WRAP THIS UP. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING
IN TODAY'S FORUM. THIS WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THIS DIVERSE GROUP.
HI WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DID -- I WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR YOUR CONTOUR VERSIONS' -- CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE DID, WHEN THERE IS NO HURRICANE BEARING DOWN, THAT WE THINK ABOUT IT AND TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN DO IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. AS WE LEARNED TODAY, WE NEED
TO BE PREPARED. THESE STRONG STORMS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PART OF LIFE OFFSHORE IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO. IT IS OUR DUTY AS PEOPLE WHO OVERSEES OPERATIONS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
LOOKING AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING AND WORKING OFFSHORE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE
CAN TO MINIMIZE THEIR RISK IN WHAT IS A RISKY ENVIRONMENT THIS TIME OF YEAR ON INTO THE
LATE FALL SEASON. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO
MAKE GOING FORWARD. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS IN WASHINGTON ABOUT THE
EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOWN IN THE GULF. EVERYBODY IS RALLYING AROUND THE DISTRICT
COMMANDER DOWN THERE
FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD AND OTHER AGENCIES AS
THEY WORK TO BE EXTREMELY WELL PREPARED FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON AND THE SEASONS TO COME
IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE WILL ADJOURN AND MAYBE TRY IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]