PREFACE 



The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) held its 1979 Pollution Response 

 Workshop on 8-10 May 1979, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The workshop was de- 

 signed primarily to enhance the ability of FWS personnel to provide technical 

 expertise during oil and hazardous substances spill emergencies. 



Recognizing that effective pollution response requires a team approach, 

 the FWS also invited participation from members of the various Federal, 

 State, and local agencies in addition to representatives of industry, private 

 citizens, conservation and humane organizations, and the academic community. 



At the workshop, 150 participants experienced an intensive 3 days of 

 lectures, discussions, exercises, demonstrations of spill cleanup equipment, 

 and hands-on training in the use of bird hazing devices. The final day in- 

 cluded a simulated spill scenario, wherein participants, divided into small 

 groups, found themselves in the character roles of Local Response Team 

 members. Their task was to develop a response to the spill under realistic 

 limitations of time, equipment, and expertise. 



What did the workshop accomplish? In addition to providing structured 

 training to FWS personnel, it gave participants an opportunity to exchange 

 experiences vital to effective spill response. The status of individual con- 

 tingency plans was brought into perspective. In addition, Field Response 

 Coordinators left the workshop with more definitive plans of action they will 

 implement to develop or to improve local plans. Two notable areas of desired 

 improvement were increased cooperation with State and local governments and 

 better identification of sensitive fish and wildlife habitats. 



These Proceedings contain 29 papers presented at the workshop. The docu- 

 ment is intended as a reference for FWS personnel and others who are concerned 

 about or involved in responding to oil and other hazardous substance spills. 

 From this exchange of ideas, it is hoped that the workshop participants and 

 others who consult the Proceedings will be equipped to respond more efficient- 

 ly and effectively to future oil and hazardous substances spills. 



This workshop and these Proceedings are designed to help meet a long-term 

 need for continuous training of all individuals involved in spill response. 

 The Proceedings are just a stepping stone in this overall training process. 

 Additional training will be needed as technology advances and threats to fish 

 and wildlife resources and their habitats continue. 



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