2017 State-of-the-Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil (DDO) in U.S. Arctic Waters: Efficacy & Effectiveness

Chemical dispersants were employed on an unprecedented scale during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and could be a response option should a large spill occur in Arctic waters. The use of dispersants in response to that spill raised concerns regarding the need for chemical dispersants, the fate of the oil and dispersants, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Concerns remain that would be more evident in the Arctic, where the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions would make a response to any oil spill very difficult. An outcome of a 2013 Arctic oil spill exercise for senior federal agency leadership identified the need for an evaluation of the state-of-the-science of dispersants and dispersed oil (DDO), and a clear delineation of the associated uncertainties that remain, particularly as they apply to Arctic waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), and in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embarked on a project to seek expert review and evaluation of the state-of-thescience and the uncertainties involving DDO. The project focused on five areas and how they might be affected by Arctic conditions: dispersant effectiveness, distribution and fate, transport and chemical behavior, environmental impacts, and public health and safety

2018 State-of the Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil (DDO) in U.S. Arctic Waters: Eco-Toxicity and Sublethal Impacts

Chemical dispersants were employed on an unprecedented scale during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and could be a response option should a large spill occur in Arctic waters. The use of dispersants in response to that spill raised concerns regarding the need for chemical dispersants, the fate of the oil and dispersants, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Concerns remain that would be more evident in the Arctic, where the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions would make a response to any oil spill very difficult. An outcome of a 2013 Arctic oil spill exercise for senior federal agency leadership identified the need for an evaluation of the state-of-the-science of dispersants and dispersed oil (DDO), and a clear delineation of the associated uncertainties that remain, particularly as they apply to Arctic waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), and in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embarked on a project to seek expert review and evaluation of the state-of-the-science and the uncertainties involving DDO. The project focused on five areas and how they might be affected by Arctic conditions: dispersant effectiveness, distribution and fate, transport and chemical behavior, environmental impacts, and public health and safety. This publication (1 of 5) addresses efficacy and effectiveness

2017 State-of the Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil (DDO) in U.S. Arctic Waters: Physical Transport and Chemical Behavior

Chemical dispersants were employed on an unprecedented scale during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and could be a response option should a large spill occur in Arctic waters. The use of dispersants in response to that spill raised concerns regarding the need for chemical dispersants, the fate of the oil and dispersants, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Concerns remain that would be more evident in the Arctic, where the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions would make a response to any oil spill very difficult. An outcome of a 2013 Arctic oil spill exercise for senior federal agency leadership identified the need for an evaluation of the state-of-the-science of dispersants and dispersed oil (DDO), and a clear delineation of the associated uncertainties that remain, particularly as they apply to Arctic waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), and in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embarked on a project to seek expert review and evaluation of the state-of-the-science and the uncertainties involving DDO. The project focused on five areas and how they might be affected by Arctic conditions: dispersant effectiveness, distribution and fate, transport and chemical behavior, environmental impacts, and public health and safety. This publication (1 of 5) addresses efficacy and effectiveness

CAMEO Stakeholders Report

Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) is a suite of software applications used to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. CAMEO was first released in 1986, and was jointly developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to assist front-line chemical emergency planners and responders. It has since undergone numerous modification and upgrades, and is a critical tool used today for chemical spills, other hazards, and emergency management. The CAMEO system integrates a chemical database and a method to manage the data, an air dispersion model, and a mapping capability. All modules work interactively to share and display critical information in a timely fashion. As a result of fatal chemical accidents in recent years, Executive Order (EO) 13650 (Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security) was signed on August 1, 2013 for: Improving Operational Coordination with State, Local and Tribal partners Enhancing Federal Coordination Enhancing Information Collection and Sharing Modernizing Regulations, Guidance, Policy and Standards Identifying Best Practices. The CAMEO team has been working to address these EO requirements and the areas of action in a manner that will best meet the needs of CAMEO users and stakeholders

2017 State-of the Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil (DDO) in U.S. Arctic Waters: Degradation and Fate

Chemical dispersants were employed on an unprecedented scale during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and could be a response option should a large spill occur in Arctic waters. The use of dispersants in response to that spill raised concerns regarding the need for chemical dispersants, the fate of the oil and dispersants, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Concerns remain that would be more evident in the Arctic, where the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions would make a response to any oil spill very difficult. An outcome of a 2013 Arctic oil spill exercise for senior federal agency leadership identified the need for an evaluation of the state-of-the-science of dispersants and dispersed oil (DDO), and a clear delineation of the associated uncertainties that remain, particularly as they apply to Arctic waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), and in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embarked on a project to seek expert review and evaluation of the state-of-the-science and the uncertainties involving DDO. The project focused on five areas and how they might be affected by Arctic conditions: dispersant effectiveness, distribution and fate, transport and chemical behavior, environmental impacts, and public health and safety. This publication (1 of 5) addresses efficacy and effectiveness

2017 SCAT (Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique) Workshop Report

On January 18-19, 2017, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration (ORR) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Disaster Response Center (DRC) co-sponsored the “Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) for Tomorrow” workshop at NOAA’s Disaster Response Center training facility in Mobile, AL. NOAA ORR supports the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in its role in emergency response (Emergency Response Division [ERD]) and also overseas damage assessment and restoration (Assessment and Restoration Division [ARD]). As part of its role, ORR updates existing tools and creates new ones related oil spill response, assessment and restoration. This workshop assisted ORR in advancing SCAT with respect to data standards and data exchange. Collecting, managing and sharing SCAT data collected or managed by different organizations can be difficult due to the various data methods and formats used. One of ORR’s major goals is to develop a common data standard for SCAT that is acceptable to federal and state agencies, and industry, and enhancing information sharing

2016 NRPT: Natural Disaster Causing Technology Disasters in Mobile Bay Area

On June 8-9, 2016, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC)[1] and Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) co-sponsored a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Regional Preparedness Training (NRPT) Workshop at the DRC’s facility in Mobile, AL. The workshop, titled “Natural Disaster Causing Technology Disasters in Mobile Bay Area”, focused on preparedness, planning, and improving response to an oil spill occurring during a natural disaster (e.g., flooding from a tropical storm) and explored the roles and responsibilities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). [1] A list of acronyms is provided on Page 1 of this report

NRPT: Learning from the Past and Moving Forward: Response Challenges from Severe Weather or Tsunamis to Shared Trust Resources and Mission Responsibilities

On April 23-25th, 2019, CRRC and DPP co-sponsored a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Regional Preparedness Training (NRPT) Workshop at the USEPA facility in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The workshop, titled “Learning from the Past and Moving Forward: Response* Challenges from Severe Weather or Tsunamis to Shared Trust Resources and Mission Responsibilities”, focused on preparedness, planning and improving response to an extreme weather event or natural disaster. This was the fourth workshop in a series of NRPT events, the goal of this workshop is to provide focused discussion regarding lessons learned from hurricane and natural disaster response for specific regions. NRPT workshops are conducted to improve preparedness and build a common understanding of how disasters can be addressed when they threaten personnel, infrastructure or natural resources. This program uses NOAA resources to address localized problems and concerns with respect to emergency preparedness and planning. The focus of the workshop was improving preparedness- through communication, logistics and building relationships/planning season for the Caribbean region (e.g., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) following the 2017 hurricane. Workshop Objectives: Improve knowledge and skills to enhance risk communications before and after a damaging or disastrous tropical hurricane (cyclone) or tsunami event. Apply lessons learned to “disaster readiness” for safety of staff and families as well as shared trust resources. Enhance effective mission response and recovery activities. Build resilient local coastal communities on the islands through preparedness planning to: (a) gain knowledge, (b) enhance cross-agency and cross-regional coordination, and (c) foster response/recovery planning and informed actions. Workshop Goals: With adequate information and communicated knowledge, the public and response community will make informed decisions relative to personal protection and safety. With adequate information and effective communications, responders and natural resource managers are prepared for and respond effectively to mitigate disaster impacts

2016 NRPT: Oil Spill Response Options for the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

On May 25-26, 2016, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC)1 and Disaster Response Center (DRC) co-sponsored a NOAA Regional Preparedness Training (NRPT) Workshop at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The workshop focused on preparedness, planning and improvement of response to a potential oil spill that threatened the FGBNMS. The workshop examined response options such as dispersant use and in-situ burning (ISB) while developing the framework for an Environmental Tradeoff Analysis (ETA) to evaluate response options. The workshop also provided the opportunity for the spill response community to build relationships, understand the role each group plays in a response, and create a common understanding of the issues at the regional level. Preceding the workshop, the CRRC and DRC conducted a one-day training on May 24, 2016 at the FGBNMS titled, “State-of Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil” which was open to all 43 workshop participants

2016 NRPT: Addressing Public Concerns During Spill Response

On June 28-29, 2016, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) co-sponsored a NOAA Regional Preparedness Training (NRPT) workshop at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) in St. Petersburg, FL entitled “Addressing Public Concerns during Response... sorting fact from fiction during response.” The workshop focused on understanding the public’s desire to be informed during a response and the need to plan for and execute an effective public communications plan during a potential oil spill. Following the workshop, CRRC and DRC conducted a one-day training on June 30, 2016, on risk communication and the use of social media during a response which was open to all workshop participants. Fifty three workshop and training participants (Appendix A) represented federal and state agencies, industry, response organizations, academia, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This workshop was the third in the NRPT series to provide a focused training activity to enhance Gulf of Mexico (GOM) regional preparedness across NOAA line offices and among key state, federal, and other stakeholders. The overall goal of the NRPT workshops was to better understand coastal disasters: the human and natural resources at risk, the roles and responsibilities of the different response agencies, the science that drives decision-making, and the importance of public outreach