Submitted by The Islands’ Oil Spill Association.

The Islands’ Oil Spill Association is offering free oil spill response training for interested islanders in March, April, and May. Sessions will be held on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island.

IOSA is non-profit, volunteer-based oil spill response program and has been protecting the San Juan Islands since 1985.

There are three separate training opportunities (for more info: www.iosaonline.org/training)

3-day Hazardous Materials Operations: this classroom and field training provides the baseline level of training required to perform active response and clean-up to a spill inside the spill zone.

Orcas: Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lopez: Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

San Juan: Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1-day Hazardous Materials Operations: this classroom and field training is the minimum training required to provide support to a spill but working outside of the spill zone. This also meets the annual refresher requirement for previously certified responders.

Orcas: Sunday, March 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lopez: Sunday, March 20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

San Juan: Sunday, May 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

6-hour Oiled Wildlife Training: this training provides a basic overview of oiled wildlife response and how IOSA responders might support wildlife operations during a major spill.

San Juan: Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

IOSA volunteers should be physically fit, able to work for long periods outside in inclement weather, be able to work and move in and around boats, and should enjoy working as part of a team. Space is limited. Register at www.iosaonline.org/training.