OR&R scientists sample sediments to determine the levels and types of contamination within a site.

The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) works to prevent and mitigate harm to coastal resources. OR&R is the primary NOAA office charged with responding to oil spills, hazardous material releases, and marine debris. OR&R’s experts provide scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard for spills, and they also coordinate with other agencies during hazardous material releases to ensure protection and restoration of NOAA trust resources. OR&R also coordinates with federal, state, and tribal natural resource trustees to restore damaged coastal resources.

To meet its mission, OR&R maintains an interdisciplinary team to respond to oil and chemical spills and other hazards threatening coastal environments and communities. Among its specialized skills, the office forecasts the movement and behavior of spilled oil and chemicals, evaluates the risk to resources, and recommends protective and cleanup actions. OR&R also provides training, prepares and tests spill response contingency plans, and conducts research to improve response capabilities.

OR&R helps organize and fund marine debris cleanup efforts. Here, people clean up abandoned fishing nets that have washed ashore. “Ghostnets” like this one on the shore of Kasheega Bay on Unalaska Island, Alaska threaten marine animals, coral reefs, and beaches.

In 2005, with funding from Congress, NOAA established the Marine Debris Program (MDP) under OR&R. This program is a joint effort across several NOAA offices to support national and international efforts to prevent, identify, and reduce the occurrence of marine debris to protect and conserve our nation’s natural resources, oceans, and coastal waterways. Examples of marine debris include derelict vessels, fishing gear, and “ghostnets,” as well as debris from natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The NOAA Marine Debris Program supports projects that research the impacts of marine debris on the environment, reduce debris occurrence, and create educational campaigns to inform the public on the detriments of marine debris on national, regional, and local levels.