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| IBRRC's
Bruce Adkins searches for
oiled animals at the Selendang
Ayu grounding off Unalaska
Island in 2004. (Photo: Steve
Ebert/USFWS) |
Since 1971
IBRRC has provided
oiled wildlife collection, rehabilitation
and documentation services on an
assured basis for companies that
transport or hold petroleum products.
These services are performed under
overall direction of and use the
criteria agreed to by appropriate
state, provincial and federal resource
trustees.
IBRRC is committed to
reducing the impact of oil on wildlife
by releasing the highest possible
number of animals back into the
wild.
To do this most effectively,
IBRRC needs the cooperation of the
Responsible Party (RP) and the state
and federal agencies. Animals being
treated at the rehabilitation center
must move through the system as
quickly as possible. In all cases,
IBRRC requests that the RP have
a representative at the rehabilitation
center during working hours, or
at least available as needed, in
order to expedite the communication
process.
Response Team
IBRRC maintains a 25-member
oiled wildlife response team comprised
of trained and experienced professional
wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians,
biologists and other wildlife experts.
All IBRRC response team members
are OSHA certified and trained and
experienced in crisis management.
Team members are mobilized as needed
to oversee different aspects of
the rehabilitation effort. They
coordinate and train local wildlife
rehabilitators and volunteers used
in the wildlife response.
Standard Operating
Procedures
IBRRC's 24-hour answering
service will connect callers with
an IBRRC employee who will activate
an initial assessment team. IBRRC
regional representatives can also
be contacted directly by phone or
beeper. IBRRC's initial assessment
personnel will be contacted immediately
and dispatched within four hours
of notification, or as mutually
agreed by the parties involved.
The team will perform services for
the RP or designated representative
in connection with the RP's operations.
Response protocols
Upon activation and
following consultation with the
RP, IBRRC will commence mobilization
and deployment of our trained response
team whose duties, in accordance
with all elements of IBRRC's Oiled
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
Protocols, include the following
:
• Initial wildlife
impact assessment with trustee agencies
and RP
Assessment consists
of reviewing the spill trajectories,
examining the spill site and surrounding
terrain, and performing fly-overs
as needed. In all cases, IBRRC staff
will meet with state and federal
trustees to identify the wildlife
species in the area which are likely
to be affected.
The RP will also be
informed of any endangered and/or
threatened species which may be
impacted. Following initial assessment,
IBRRC will inform agency representatives
and the RP of IBRRC's initial action
plan. Also, IBRRC will activate
local trained wildlife rehabilitators
to be on-scene to care for oiled
wildlife prior to IBRRC's arrival.
Oiled wildlife facility
design and operation
Not all states and regions
are fully prepared for oil spills
involving wildlife. In areas where
established oiled wildlife rehabilitation
facilities are available, IBRRC
will work with the RP and agency
representatives to activate these
facilities. If no oiled wildlife
rehabilitation facility is available,
IBRRC will assist the RP and trustee
agencies in locating buildings that
can quickly be modified into a functional
rehabilitation facility. The cost
of any renovation will be the responsibility
of the RP. In the event of a federalized
spill, the trustee agencies will
assume the financial responsibility.
All costs associated with establishing
a center will be pre-approved by
the RP or agency responsible.
IBRRC will use its standard
facility guidelines, which are listed
in the IBRRC contingency plan under
the paper entitled: "Facility
Requirements for Oiled Bird Rehabilitation
Centers." Throughout the duration
of the rehabilitation effort, IBRRC
will manage and operate the facility
on a daily basis. This includes
procuring security guards and contacting
local utility companies and other
pertinent agencies as needed.
Overall management
of rehabilitation program
Oiled wildlife rehabilitation
programs are multifaceted and must
be organized in a way that facilitates
the rapid movement of the animals
through the system.
Every aspect of the program, from
washing to feeding, is equally important.
A breakdown within any part of this
system will affect the others. To
assure the effective and efficient
operation of the program, IBRRC
will assign staff members to oversee
each department within the program.
The director will have the responsibility
of overseeing and directing the
entire operation. The director and
on-scene coordinator will work closely
with the RP to maintain effective
communication at all times. The
rehabilitation coordinator and lead
veterinarian will coordinate and
direct the rehabilitation program.
Coordination of local
wildlife rehabilitators
The services of local
wildlife rehabilitators are essential
in oil spills affecting wildlife.
Their expertise in caring for wildlife
can be a great asset during spill
response. IBRRC will contact and
schedule local rehabilitators as
needed within the first 72 hours
of IBRRC's activation. In the event
that an existing wildlife center
has oiled wildlife rehabilitation
capabilities, IBRRC will work with
the RP to establish use agreements
with the appropriate groups.
Management of field
collection of wildlife
Partially and heavily
oiled wildlife can suffer from internal
and external effects. If left untreated,
they will likely die. IBRRC's goal
is to capture as many animals as
possible before they succumb to
these environmental factors. The
collection of impacted wildlife
must be initiated immediately when
it is anticipated that wildlife
may be affected. A timely response
is crucial to the survival of the
affected wildlife. Following initial
assessment, IBRRC will organize
and oversee the search and collection
of impacted animals where it is
deemed necessary. IBRRC's search
and collection coordinator will
work with agency representatives
to establish and implement an action
plan using IBRRC staff and/or volunteers.
In the event that a field stabilization
unit is necessary, search and collection
team members will coordinate their
efforts with the stabilization team.
If the collection of
wildlife has been assigned to agency
personnel, IBRRC will assist as
needed. |
