Clean Rivers Cooperative maintains a robust training program that ensures contractors with whom we maintain service agreements with are trained and ready for response activities with our members and equipment. This program covers a wide range of training topics in a number of locations throughout the river system. While this training is focused on contractor readiness it may also offer benefit to Member personnel who are part of your internal spill teams. The Cooperative Training Committee and Cooperative Staff are always looking for ways to leverage resources and create value-added opportunities for member training and engagement. We have two upcoming opportunities for your internal response teams to train in tandem with our Cooperative Response Contractors from Republic Services as they conduct their monthly contractor trainings deploying GRPs June 13th and June 27th.
Please reach out to Carl Boelter boelter@pdxmex.com if you are interested in participating in any of these training events. Listed dates may change due to operational consideration. An up to date calendar is maintained on our Membership page: https://cleanriverscooperative.com/members/
Please visit our Resources & Equipment page for more information on our Response Contractors US Ecology (formerly NRC) & Clean Harbors.
**Trainings open for member participation.
- January 11th –Technician Training – Clean Rivers Facility, Portland, OR
- This training will focus on setting up, operating, and winterizing equipment based at the Portland Operations Facility.
- January 25th – Command Post Set Up – Clean Rivers Facility, Portland, OR
- This training will cover proper setup, operation, and teardown of the Mobile Command Unit. Air Monitor training, knot tying practice, and training of new Clean Rivers anchor systems.
- February 15th – Technician Training – Tongue Point, Astoria, OR
- This training session includes setting up, operating, and repacking equipment staged at Tongue Point in Astoria, OR. Equipment includes Shallow Water Recovery Barge (SWRB), Douglas 18000 Skimmer kits, Fast Tanks, Decon Kits, and Boom Trailers.
- February 29th – Tidewater Barge 4 – Port of Vancouver, WA
- This training will cover operation of the CounterVac located on Tidewater Barge 4. FRV’s Independence and North River will be utilized during this training.
- March 14th – GRP MC 0.2 – Portland, OR
- Training will include deploying GRP MC 0.2 in the Multnomah Channel. Vessels will include OSRV HW Zarling and workboat Alumaweld III.
- March 26th – Fast Water Training – Clackamas River.
- This training involves training in fast water on the Clackamas River using jet boats and the boom vane.
- April 10th & 11th – forklift Certification Training – Clean Rivers Operations Facility Portland, OR
- Forklift certification for safe operation and handling of the Cooperative forklift.
- May 24th – Technician Training – Columbia Pacific Bio Refinery, Clatskanie, OR
- Training will cover Cooperative equipment located at Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery. Contractors will operate and inventory equipment in the shoreline trailer, inspect and inventory boom in boom trailer, splash and operate the SWB, and operate a skiff.
- **June 13th – GRP – Columbia/Willamette River
- This training will cover a GRP (not yet determined) in the Columbia or Willamette Rivers in the Portland / Vancouver area.
- **June 27th – GRP – Astoria, OR
- This training will cover a GRP (not yet determined) in the Lower Columbia River. Vessel FRV Columbia Responder will be utilized during this training.
- July 10th & 11th – Wildlife Rehabilitation System Set Up – Clean Rivers Operations Facility, Portland, OR
- This training will include setting up and operation of the wildlife rehab trailer and wildlife transport trailer. Special guest personnel from International Bird Rescue will be onsite.
- August 22nd – Current Buster System & Pump Operation – Clean Rivers Cooperative Operations Facility, Portland, OR
- This training will focus on the set up and demobilization of the Current Buster #2 and pump operations.
- September 19th – Enhanced Skimming w/ Shallow Water Recovery Barge (SWRB) – Willamette River, Portland, OR
- This training will include enhanced skimming setup and operation with a SWRB. The FRV Independence will be outfitted with totes to simulate pumping product off the barge to allow for continuous operation. Workboats Alumaweld 1 & 2 will be used for enhanced skimming setup.
- October 10th – Team Leader GRP’s – Portland, OR
- Contractors will first meet at the Cooperative Operations Facility for a briefing and then break into teams and proceed to their designated locations to formulate a plan to complete their assigned task. This training will simulate a response callout starting at 06:00am.
- November 7th – Tidewater Barge 2 – Port of Vancouver, WA
- This training will cover operation of the CounterVac located on Tidewater Barge 2. FRV’s Independence and North River will be utilized during this training.
- December 5th – Night Operations Training – Portland, OR
- Crews will break off into 3 vessels. Main vessel will use plotter and radar to navigate. Radios will be used to stay in communication, notify of passing, intentions, etc.
In addition to the scheduled monthly training, Clean Rivers may provide an additional training for various focus items such as communications, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, swift water, testing new GRP’s and complete at least two upriver equipment deployments.
