History

Background

The National Spill Control School was established in 1974 and was named as a consulting, training, and research resource for the National Response Team under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The NSCS offers specialized hands-on OSHA-mandated training for professionals and workers in the Oil Spill, HAZMAT, and Emergency Management industries, as well as others in exploration, production, and transportation who deal with spill prevention, planning, and response. In addition to training response personnel, industrial workers, and military personnel, the NSCS supports the National Response Team's Strike Force with consulting and research as requested. The NSCS is a nationally recognized facility for oil spill research activities.

• 1969-1977: After the Santa Barbara Oil Spill, City of Corpus Christi Petroleum Engineer Harry Franklin approached the Port of Corpus Christi to form the Corpus Christi Oil Spill Control Association (CCOSCA) and Texas A&I University to support spill response training. The $350,000 Department of Energy STEP Project (Spill Training and Educational Program) funding supported CCOSAC staff training at Texas A&I. Texas A&I received $15,000 from the city of Corpus Christi to match STEP funds on April 2, 1975, to establish the National Spill Control School. Fall 1977, the first courses were executed. Read more here.

• 1978-1989: NSCS became self-sustaining by offering 20 courses per year to government, oil and gas, and “other” workers. Conference seminars on marine spill response and wildlife rescue with the US Fish and Wildlife Service were taught and advising missions to Nigeria and the Suez Canal carried out. Navy personnel at 15 installations received 40-Hour HAZMAT in 1979. After the 1986 Superfund Act, this course became HAZWOPER 40.

• 1990-2001: After Exxon Valdez, the Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) names NSCS at TAMU-CC as a National Response Team (NRT) research and training resource in Title 33 USC Chapter 40 Subchapter IV Section 2761, Part e(2)(D). After that, the NSCS advised the 1993 City Twinning Project development of urban infrastructure in Samut Prakarn, Thailand, presented with the Corpus Christi Oil Spill Control Association “Response Action Planning for Oil Spills using ArcView GIS” at the International Oil Spill Conference, was recognized by the TGLO for program achievements, expanded training at the OHMSETT test facility, and helped the Port of Corpus Christi develop a staging area and spill response action planning.

• 2003-2021: After EPA recognition in 2003, the NSCS begins training with the Cayman Islands Department of Environmental Health. Other program developments include the Tidal Inlet Protection program used in the TGLO Oil Spill Kit, research that reduced the toxicity of chemically dispersed oil in shrimp, assisted the EPA to amend the NCP surfacing washing agent product schedule, and was named a Non-Federal Oil Pollution Testing Facility in the ICCOPR Oil Pollution Research and Technology Plan FY 2022-2027.

• 2023–Present: The NSCS continues presentation efforts through the Costal Bend Hurricane Conference in collaboration with the Conrad Blucher Institute, bilingual training initiatives in South America of IMO curriculum, and a partnership of advancement and training of spill responders in Nigeria.

NSCS Courses Offered

Courses offered through 2024 have included HAZWOPER, DOT HAZMAT, Oiled Wildlife, HAZMAT Chemistry,Shoreline Clean-Up Assessment Techniques, Oil Spill Strategies and Tactics, HAZWOPER Supervisor Training, HAZWOPER refresher training, Hazardous Materials Transportation, Oils Spill Strategies and Tactics for Artic Conditions, K9 Oiled Shoreline Detection, and Environmental Analysis.

Our Leadership

Dr. Muhlestein's vision for NSCS revolves around the belief that a successful safety culture is built on continuous improvement and a strong connection between academia and industry. By fostering collaboration and seeking input from both sectors, NSCS ensures that its Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response curriculum remains cutting-edge and relevant. Dr. Muhlestein is eager to engage with local industries and academic institutions, fostering a dynamic environment that encourages the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

In alignment with the NSCS mission, Dr. Muhlestein is deeply passionate about instilling a culture of safety and environmental responsibility in the Coastal Bend region. His dedication, combined with a commitment to collaborative and applied learning, positions NSCS as a driving force in achieving an enhanced quality of safety culture in the area. Join us at NSCS, where education, experience, and passion converge to shape a safer and more sustainable future for the Coastal Bend community.

Our Location