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| | cent Spills
Thousands of incidents occur each year in which oil or chemicals are released into the coastal environment. Spills into our coastal waters, whether accidental or intentional, can harm people and the environment, and can have severe economic impacts, including substantial disruption of navigable waterways.
A primary task of NOS scientists is to develop and use a variety of modeling software to forecast where the spill might go and its potential effects on the coastal environment. Restoring Injured Natural Resources
NOS is responsible for assessing damage to coastal and marine resources caused by oil and chemical spills. Through a process known as natural resource damage assessment, NOS scientists determine the nature and extent of injuries to natural resources from spills, and the restoration actions needed to reverse these losses. NOS experts also use scientific and economic studies to determine the level of restoration necessary to restore the natural resources and services they provide. The Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program, which is a collaborative effort among NOS, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the Office of General Council, fulfills NOAA's natural resources damage assessment responsibilities. M/V Selendang Ayu The M/V Selendang Ayu ran aground and broke in two on Unalaska Island in Alaska's Aleutian Peninsula on December 8, 2004, and prompted multiple NOAA response actions. The 730-foot vessel was loaded with soybeans and contained 335,732 gallons of a combination fuel oil and marine diesel. The vessel broke into two nearly equal length sections on Spray Cape, AK. The bow section sunk during a subsequent winter storm event and the stern section remains upright. Heavy oiling was reported on the shorelines adjacent to the grounding location, and shorelines in the vicinity were oiled to a lesser extent. NOAA is continuing with shoreline oiling assessment for the purposes of directing clean up and natural resource damage assessment. Shoreline assessment and clean up operations are expected to continue into the summer. NOAA will be maintaining personnel in support of these operations for both the clean up and the damage assessment. (top)
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Revised November 20, 2007
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