NOV. 25, 2019 — Each year, the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) supports the training of over 2,000 responders. The OR&R external training team and instructors are gearing up for a busy 2020. We will be holding four Science of Oil Spill (SOS) Classes, two Science of Chemical Releases (SOCR) Classes, three NOAA-specific ICS 300 classes, as well as a number of Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques (SCAT) classes and other training programs associated with conferences, such as those at the upcoming International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC).  

Right now, there are three trainings open for registration, two SOS classes and one NOAA-Specific ICS 300 class. (Please note the NOAA-Specific ICS-300 is for NOAA staff only). Below are the dates and locations of the trainings we currently have scheduled:

• NOAA-Specific ICS-300. 
  • Jan. 14-16 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Deadline for registration is Dec. 13, 2019.
  • March 4-6 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Registration not yet open.
• Science of Oil Spills Class. 
  • Feb. 10-14 in Key West, Florida. Deadline for registration is Dec. 13, 2019.
  • March 23-27 in Mobile, Alabama. Deadline for registration is Jan. 31, 2020.
  • June 22-26 in Seattle, Washington. Registration not yet open.
  • Additional class in Annapolis, Maryland to be announced. 
• Science of Chemical Releases Class. 
  • May 4-7 in Mobile, Alabama. Registration not yet open.
  • Aug. 17-20 in Seattle, Washington. Registration not yet open. 

Our OR&R external training team has identified three projects to focus our efforts to improve training across the divisions for 2020. (1) Work on having a Train-the-Trainer program for OR&R instructors; (2) Modernize training tools and technology so that we can create and host more remote classrooms both live and online; and (3) Continue to improve courses taught, working to improve existing classes by having clearer objectives and more hands-on activities. 

If you have an interest in upcoming trainings or projects that the external training team is working on, please reach out to the OR&R External Training Coordinator at Kimberly.Albins@noaa.gov. 

Return to OR&R Weekly Report.