Key Points

• Marathon Petroleum’s Los Angeles refinery was the site of a global oil spill response workshop in May, held every two years to advance safety, innovation and emergency preparedness.
• As a co-host of the event with energy peers, Marathon Petroleum joined industry, government and environmental leaders to share best practices and new technologies.
• Collaboration across companies and agencies reinforced a shared commitment to prevention, preparedness and safe operations.

Marathon Petroleum’s Los Angeles refinery served as a co-host for the 11th Oil Spill Response Technology Workshop, a global event held every two years that brings together experts to share advancements in spill prevention and emergency response.

Held in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), the workshop brought public agencies, private industry and environmental leaders to Marathon’s facility to discuss the latest tools, research and strategies to protect waterways and coastal communities.

“When it comes to safe operations and best practices, we’re all on the same team. Safety is the top priority and coming together to learn and grow is what matters most.”

Fellow co-hosts included Chevron, Shell and Phillips 66, reflecting a shared commitment across the energy industry to safety, training and continuous improvement.

“This workshop is about more than just staying current. It’s about staying ready,” said Court Hemerick, Senior Emergency Preparedness Professional at Marathon Petroleum. “We’re constantly working to raise the bar when it comes to emergency preparedness and response, and that starts with learning from others and being part of the conversation.”

The event included sessions on a variety of important topics, such as response technology, the latest and most effective tools, remote sensing, renewable fuels, non-floating oils and more. Demonstrations and presentations highlighted both proven equipment and emerging concepts designed to improve response time and minimize environmental impacts.

“It’s this kind of proactive, multi-agency coordination that allows us to build safer, more resilient systems,” said Heather Geldart, Administrator for OSPR. “California’s environment is one of the most diverse and valued in the world. To protect it, we need to work together. State, federal, tribal and private partners all have a role to play, and this workshop is a shining example of that.”

For Marathon Petroleum, hosting the event reinforced its commitment to safety, training and strong partnerships at every level. The Los Angeles refinery team regularly engages with local, state and federal agencies, as well as community stakeholders, to support safe operations and stay ahead of evolving technologies and practices.

“It was an honor to work alongside our peers and many other partners to help make this workshop possible,” said Luis Martinez, Refining Operations Director at the Los Angeles refinery. “When it comes to safe operations and best practices, we’re all on the same team. Safety is the top priority and coming together to learn and grow is what matters most.”