Dr. Scott Harris, PhD, Global Risk Manager for IESO, has been accepted to present at the 2010 ASSE Professional Development Conference in Baltimore, MD.  On June 14 Scott will present “Chalmette, LA: First Katrina, Then the Oil…”  Our web visitors can download an exclusive copy of both Scott’s presentation slides and proceedings paper with the first-hand story right from the front line.  UPDATE: Download the audio of Scott’s presentation.

So, what happened in Chalmette?  Following Hurricane Katrina, over one million gallons of crude oil from the Murphy Oil USA (MOUSA) Refinery in Meraux, LA released into a populated area.  Search and

rescue teams were recovering oiled people, and thousands of homes and properties across at least one square mile were contaminated.  Already in New Orleans directing water search and rescue operations for EPA, Scott was the first Federal official on scene at the MOUSA release.  Over the next two years, the incident presented complex environmental and public health implications, unique logistical, remedial, sampling and data management issues and required coordination across local, state and federal agencies.  If you can’t make it to Baltimore in June, check out the EPA website for a close-up look at this dramatic event.

Dr. Scott Harris, PhD is the Global Risk Manager for IESO, LLC.  His experience covers over 27 years of Environmental, Health and Safety Management in Federal and State government, consulting, general industry and University instruction.  He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Science, with a specialization in Disaster and Emergency Management, from Oklahoma State University, and holds degrees in Geology (B.S.) and Public Health (MPH) from Western Kentucky University.  Before joining IESO Scott was a Federal On-Scene Coordinator for EPA Region 6 and a member of their Emergency Readiness Team.  He held DOD “Top Secret” and DOE “Q” security clearances, and directed multi-agency emergency response, planning and recovery activities for chemical, biological and radiological releases and exercises within the five-state region.

Last 5 posts by Scott Harris

• Arc Flash: Who's Training the Trainers? - May 31st, 2010
• Joint Commission Requirements for NIMS in Healthcare - May 13th, 2010
• OSHA Looking Hard at Healthcare Worker Infectious Diseases - May 10th, 2010
• Arc Flash Alert for Healthcare - May 4th, 2010
• Lift Platform Safety Alert - May 1st, 2010

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