History

After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, many Great Lakes State residents wondered what would happen here, if a similar spill occurred in the Great Lakes. 

A ship Captain from St. Ignace, Michigan wondered the same thing.  His name was Captain Harold Hulbert. He began doing something. He sent letters to shoreline communities asking them for support in planning for such an event.  He was directed to the Emergency Management Division, of the Michigan State Police, who in turn sent an announcement to the Emergency Management Directors of shorelines counties, of the States 7^th District.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN WATERWAYS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL PLANNING COMMITTEE was formed.  Later to be called NO Spills.  

On May 14, 1990, the first meeting of the NO Spills group was held.  The purpose of the meeting was to identify players and assignments before a spill occurred.  This would enable us on the Great Lakes, to protect our waters and shores from such devastation. 
 

 Annual workshops have been held ever since. Many guest speakers, covering a wide range of topics, have assisted us in our goal: giving local government and industry information to minimize the effect, and maximize the ability to recover from any hazardous spills on the Great Lakes.  
 

Always striving to improve cooperation between government and industry through communication, it’s NO Spills belief that the workshop builds awareness and cooperation, consequently reducing the threat of such an occurrence.  Workshops have presented ideas for incorporating media into planning and how to work effectively in times of disaster; reviewed Federal agencies rolls in planning issues, developed an awareness of how land use and ground water quality effect the Eco system of the Great Lakes; review actual events and the roles held by local, state, federal officials and the media; how clean up of events plays into local planning; unusual clean-up methods, the roll state and federal laws play into the overall cleanup; wildlife rehabilitation and pre-planning,; as well as natural resources, and damage control and mitigation. 
  

Our 20^th Annual Conference set for January 11-13, 2010. 

NOSPILLS is a non-profit organization.