Why does the Marine Vessels Section conduct discharge exercises (drills)?
The Marine Vessels Section may conduct announced or unannounced discharge exercises with any plan holder twice a year to verify the plan holder’s ability to carry out the spill prevention and response strategies described in the contingency plan. If problems are identified, the Marine Vessels Section may choose to conduct additional discharge exercises. Any or all aspects of a contingency plan may be verified during a discharge exercise. Discharge exercises may range from focused table-top exercises to large-scale equipment deployments. Following a discharge exercise, if issues are identified, the Marine Vessels Section will work with the plan holder to resolve them. The Marine Vessels Section does not evaluate discharge exercises on a pass/fail basis. For more information on drills, please see 18 AAC 75.485.
