Florida public power utility JEA hosted a two-day joint security and environmental oil spill training response exercise in conjunction with local, state and federal agencies on April 7-8.
The training combined a Maritime Security exercise along with a national program required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
Leaders from JEA and the other agencies responded to a simulated oil spill at JEA’s Northside Generating Station, triggered by a security incident. The mock scenario involved coordination between agencies involved with containing the spill, cleaning the oil spill, protecting the security of JEA infrastructure and communicating the news with customers.
“This training reflects our commitment to being prepared for any emergency that could impact JEA resources, our environment and our community,” JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey said. “I’m proud of the strong participation across agencies and the level of coordination we’re building to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively when it matters most.”
The utility prepares throughout the year for emergencies, and the two-day exercise aimed to ensure that utility leaders and local first responders are aligned with their roles in any potential environmental crisis.
The training included representatives from JAXPORT, City of Jacksonville Environmental Quality Division, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Coast Guard.
