Spill Control Association of America (SCAA)

Who is SCAA?:

The Spill Control Association of America was organized in 1973 to actively promote the interests of all groups within the spill response community. Our organization represents spill response contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants, instructors, government & training institutions and corporations working in the industry.

The following new goals were established by the Board of Directors this past year:

• To grow membership by appealing to a broader cross-section of the environmental response/remediation industry.
• To focus on SCAA's resources to support the interests of its members and prospective members in an ever-changing market place faced with challenges of a more stringent regulatory atmosphere.
• To provide a unique forum for networking where members of SCAA can mutually address a range of issues and concerns with a wider audience.

Membership in SCAA includes spill control contactors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants and government agencies.

As an association since 1973, SCAA actively promotes the interests of the spill response community. Over the past few years, we have participated in a number of key events including

• SCAA was instrumental in urging its industry to develop standards for equipment and methodologies when it recommended to its membership participation with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and supported the formation of ASTM's committee F-20. SCAA has remained active with ASTM since the early 1970s through representation of its members on various sub-groups responsible for the drafting of standards which serve to enhance the efforts in responding to oil spills.
• Participants in the OPA '90 (Oil Pollution Act) NegReg (Negotiated Regulations Committee) process
• At the request of the U.S. Government, we participated in addressing the oil spills occurring during Desert Storm
• SCAA was instrumental in negating the use of U.S. troops to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 through our discussions with the White House and Department of Transportation.
• Voiced industry opposition to the Snowe Amendment. ('The Snowe Amendment' [introduced by Maine's Senator Olympia Snowe] section 1117 of Senate bill S.1004, which detailed the use of foreign registry oil spill response vessels during response actions undertaken in U.S. waters when adequate U.S. resources are unavailable. SCAA opposed the original form of this amendment because there were no foreign country reciprocity requirements, and because of Jones Act infringements. While the Snowe Amendment was eventually worded to include a reciprocity requirement, our concern is that future Jones Act reform actions could present similar issues.)
• Participated in the discussions surrounding new Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO) classification guidelines
• Developed a uniform spill response contract that has been approved by the Coast Guard as well as spill co-op managers.
• Regular attendee of meetings of the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee and the Spills Advisory Group.
• Panelist during the Coast Guard's Hazardous Substances Response Plans Workshop to provide input into the guidelines being developed for hazardous materials response planning.
• Partner with the Coast Guard and Association of Petroleum Industry Co-op Managers ('APICOM') in the 'Quality Partnership for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection', which was created to improve the effectiveness of spill response and to further sound risk management among/between private and governmental response organizations.

Several issues face the oil and hazardous materials' response industry that may directly and indirectly have the potential to affect the business opportunities available to SCAA's membership. These include:

1. Potential Jones Act Reform
2. Hazardous Substances Response Plan regulations, including Contractor Qualification
3. Use of Public Sector Resources vs. Private Sector Resources
4. Salvage and Fire Fighting Regulations
5. Spill Response Command/Management Systems

SCAA will continue to monitor the issues facing our profession, and serve as a forum within which proposed regulations and other environmental guidelines can be intelligently discussed and evaluated.

• To make health, safety and environmental considerations a priority in the planning and implementation of our operations
• To provide our customers with quality products and reputable service, while responding safely, effectively, and efficiently, in their time of need
• To recognize that we, as an industry, have a direct impact on the quality of the global environment and we will work to improve that quality
• To participate with Government, customers and other stakeholders in creating responsible laws, regulations and standards to safeguard the community, workplace and environment; and,
• To remember, that as a member of the community, we will recognize and support programs and services that improve the quality of life for all.