At 2:10 p.m. Rich Packard welcomed and thanked the participants and opened the meeting with a review of the agenda and the goals of the meeting.   Rich explained the current training program associated with delivering the new equipment trailers to municipalities and the day-long training exercise planned for Buzzard's Bay Communities that would be based on implementing an actual protection strategy for a coastal resource area.  He went on to note that, for purposes of developing the 3-5 year OSA Strategic Plan,  MassDEP would be seeking advice from the Committee, polling stakeholders, and reviewing issues such as long term budget constraints and the staff time municipalities could realistically devote to training. 

Rich explained that an important task for the OSAAC, with contractor assistance, would be to develop a complete inventory of training needs and options available for meeting them. He mentioned the training that Pilot Association members, Captain Farmer and Captain McVay had recommended (bridge simulator training specific to the Canal Approaches) should be made available for tug-barge captains that transit the Canal. He noted that training of this type is available at a facility in Rhode Island and perhaps could also be made available at the Mass Maritime Academy.  Rich noted that he hoped Subcommittee members, and possibly NEWMOA, could investigate these training possibilities more fully and develop detailed recommendations.

Kevin Partridge asked whether payment of municipal staff salaries for those participating in training had come up as an issue.  Rich replied that it had been brought up several times but that DEP had deferred the issue for resolution in the planning process since it could have a large impact on training costs and, therefore, the amount and quality of the training that could be provided under the OSA.  Kevin suggested that DEP should examine the approach that MassDPH had used to address training Mass Decontamination Units.  He explained that MassDPH had arranged technical training through MassDFS for municipal staff that would serve as trainers and had awarded $3,500 grants to municipalities to offset the costs of training trainers and subsequent training of municipal staff by the trainers. Kevin noted that he thought that the $3,500 amount was probably based on a division of the total funds available rather than on an estimate of what actual municipal costs would be.  Rich Packard observed that this model could possibly avoid some of the administrative challenges that would be associated with a cost reimbursement approach, and would leave decisions about the best use of available funds up to the participating municipalities. 

Kevin suggested that MassDFS had developed training approaches, and "train-the trainer" courses for various situations and would be pleased to work with DEP to address the training needs for the OSA.  He acknowledged that the present use of oil cleanup contractors and special consultants by DEP probably made sense for meeting immediate training needs.  However he thought that DFS could probably help DEP with building an oil response component into the training regimen of fire staff from coastal communities to address longer term training needs.   

David Janik commented that DEP/OSAAC should also investigate training state and local officials to perform natural resource damages assessment.  He cited the importance of having state and municipal officials who understand what information is needed and how to quantify and assess claims when a large incident occurs.  He also cited the need to prepare information/a handbook about organizations that would assist with bird decontamination and the resources and facilities that they would need to conduct large scale bird decontamination operations.

Rich summarized the suggestions that had been offered and noted that he would report on the Subcommittee Meetings at the upcoming OSAAC meeting in October.  He added that a goal of that meeting would be to finalize the Interim Plan, and build consensus about issues/topics that must be included in the Strategic Plan and the proposed timeline for addressing them.