Office of Response and RestorationHere are citations for a sampling of research publications of the Emergency Response Division staff of NOAA OR&R.
Oil and Chemical Spills
Every year NOAA responds to over 100 oil and chemical spills in U.S. waters. Whether accidental or intentional, these spills can threaten life, property, and public natural resources as well as substantially disrupt marine transportation with potential widespread economic impacts. The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) is charged with responding to oil spills, chemical accidents, and other emergencies in coastal areas. Under the National Contingency Plan, NOAA is responsible for providing scientific support to the federal on-scene coordinator for oil and hazardous material spills.
Addressing the Issue
OR&R's expertise spans oceanography, biology, chemistry, and geology, allowing the response team to estimate oil and chemical trajectories, analyze chemical hazards, and assess risks to coastal animals, habitats, and important areas to humans. This team, led by regional scientific support coordinators, provides scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard for spills in coastal waters. When OR&R scientists respond to a spill, they work to answer specific questions:
- What got spilled?
- Where will it go and what will it hit?
- What damage will it cause and how can the effects of the spill be reduced?
During an oil spill in coastal waters, OR&R's role is to provide scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard officers in charge of response operations.
Chemicals can be an important part of manufacturing valuable economic goods—but they can also create dangerous situations if accidentally released. OR&R develops several software tools, such as the CAMEO software suite, to help emergency responders and planners assess hazardous material releases and protect public health and safety.
For significant spills, OR&R is responsible for providing scientific support to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator overseeing the response. Find news and information for notable incidents in which OR&R has been involved, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Under the National Contingency Plan and the National Response Plan, OR&R works with the U.S.
Oil and Chemical Spill Research Publications |
Oil and Hazardous Materials Response ReportsHere are reports describing oil and chemical spill responses in which OR&R participated from October 1992 through September 1999. |
How to Locate Wildlife Threatened During Oil SpillsAug. 7, 2017 - This is the first story in a weeklong look at the impacts of pollutants on wildlife and endangered species. We’ll explore tools we’ve developed to map sensitive species and habitats, how marine debris endangers marine life, how restoring toxic waste sites improves the health of wildlife, and the creation of a mobile wildlife hospital. |
Oil and Chemical Spill Research Publications
Here are citations for a sampling of research publications of the Emergency Response Division staff of NOAA OR&R.
Oil and Hazardous Materials Response Reports
Here are reports describing oil and chemical spill responses in which OR&R participated from October 1992 through September 1999.
How to Locate Wildlife Threatened During Oil Spills
Aug. 7, 2017 - This is the first story in a weeklong look at the impacts of pollutants on wildlife and endangered species. We’ll explore tools we’ve developed to map sensitive species and habitats, how marine debris endangers marine life, how restoring toxic waste sites improves the health of wildlife, and the creation of a mobile wildlife hospital.
