By Vicki Loe, NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration
Washington resident Kavya Varkey joined NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration for an internship this summer at the NOAA Western Regional Center in Seattle. A senior this year at Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington, Kavya says she’s always been drawn to science. Her interest has continued to develop and come into focus, and she plans to pursue an education that will lead to a career in environmental science.
Sitting at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into Upper New York Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the New York-New Jersey Harbor is located at the center of commerce. The harbor is a multi-billion dollar port, an industrial complex, and a transportation hub — but the natural resources both in and around the harbor are often overlooked.
Every month our Emergency Response Division provides scientific expertise and services to the U.S. Coast Guard on everything from running oil spill trajectories to model where the spill may spread, to possible effects on wildlife and fisheries, and estimates on how long the oil may stay in the environment.
By Steve Lehmann, NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration
The Chelsea River, which sits at the northern end on Boston Harbor, is home to the vast majority of oil storage in the Boston area. Among other things, it supplies most of the fuel to Logan International Airport. While the currents are slow, the river is narrow and requires transit through two bridges, often with marine traffic in the area.