Research for Accidents

The Exxon Valdez disaster of March 1989 revealed major shortcomings in this nation's ability to deal with such an incident, and resulted in the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90). In general, OPA-90 called for increased preparedness for major oil spills by requiring information of area committees, preparation of area plans, and periodic exercises. It was in response to this requirement for periodic exercises that the Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Research and Special Programs Office of Pipeline Safety, and Mineral Management Service developed the Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP). The country is divided into 60 areas for oil spill response. PREP conducts 20 area exercises per year, so that each area is exercised once every three years. The 1995 San Diego PREP area exercise was the first exercise led by the Navy. This report serves as the formal evaluation report for the 1995 San Diego PREP area exercise and satisfies all Navy documentation requirements under PREP.