The Observer, May 2007
SEARIVER DRILL: SHORT ON REALISM
Two reports on last fall’s oil-spill drill by Exxon Mobil’s SeaRiver Maritime tanker subsidiary are available from the citizens council. Here, council president Stan Stephens meets with agency and industry officials during the drill to oppose plans to approve the use of dispersants on the hypothetical spill, or scenario. The dispersants approval process was among several problems the council found that made the drill unrealistic. “This scenario forced too many artificialities to be put into play to force the response to go in a non-rational direction,” the council said in one of its reports. This was a tabletop drill, meaning it was conducted entirely indoors, with no on-water activities. The reports are available from either council office. Photo by Susan Sommer, citizens’ council.