Range Plans Emergency Response Exercise
Washington PA Observer Reporter
22 October 2010
Nearly 100 people from 20 local, state and federal emergency response
organizations and industry service companies will meet early Saturday
at a Range Resources drilling location in Washington County to simulate
a variety of real-life scenarios on a natural gas drilling site.
Range Resources, the area's largest Marcellus Shale natural gas
producer, organized the hands-on emergency preparedness drill to
provide local first responders with formal emergency training specific
to the natural gas industry. It is the first safety drill related to
the Marcellus Shale natural gas development in Washington County.
The emergency situations - which include missing and injured workers,
equipment failure and a condensate spill - are designed to proactively
identify gaps in response capability and to educate local emergency
responders.
The hands-on emergency preparedness drill is based on a highly
successful program that Range conducted in Lycoming County last year,
which received national recognition.
"With the complexities involved in natural gas drilling, and the
increased amount of activity in Washington County, it's critical to
proactively give the local first responders hands-on experience to
improve their confidence in facing industry-related situations," said
Ralph Tijerina, director of health, safety, security and environment
for Range's Marcellus Shale division.
While all exercises will begin with a 911 call and dispatch to
appropriate police and/or fire departments, each situation will have
different limitations and scenarios. After responding to a presented
situation, each group will be evaluated by local emergency officials on
their response time and execution.
Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection
will participate in scenarios that include liquid spills, while STAT
Medevac and Life Flight helicopters will simulate drill site landing
protocol and transportation to nearby Washington Hospital.
Other participating emergency response organizations include seven fire
departments from the county, as well as the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency; Ambulance and Chair Service; Washington County
Department of Public Safety; North Franklin Police Department; and the
Emergency Medical Service Institute.
Numerous natural gas industry service companies from the area will also
participate in the exercises.