The drill was part of the 2022 Piscataqua River Exercise Series coordinated by state agencies in Maine and New Hampshire, the U.S. Coast Guard, and several other federal organizations.

Teams acted out a scenario in which 500 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the river after a tractor trailer rolled off of a bridge. Booms were deployed in three locations to capture the “oil,” modeled in this case by peat moss, as the tide went out. Exercises like this one ensure that all involved agencies are prepared to work together to respond effectively in the event of a real accident or natural disaster.