Blue Planet Forum Feb. 16, 2011

The Gulf Spill:Hitting Home
Blue Planet Forum
February 16, 2011
David WesterholmNational Ocean Service| National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

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NOAA’s Mission
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To understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs

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April 20, 2010

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NOAA’s Role in
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
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Conducting Science to Inform Decision-Makers
Keeping Seafood Safe
Protecting Wildlife and Habitats
Assessing Natural Resource Damage
Restoring Damaged Natural Resources

Scientific Support
NOAA is the lead science agency for coastal and marine oil spill response
Predicts where the oil is moving
Identifies sensitive habitat to protect
Forecasts weather and marine conditions
Informs shoreline assessment and cleanup
Collects oceanographic observations & subsea samples
NOAA provided daily oil spill trajectory maps and twice-daily weather forecasts
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Keep Seafood Safe
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NOAA, FDA, and EPA: Comprehensive, coordinated, multiagency program ensuring seafood safety
Coast Guard and NOAA monitored and enforced closed Federal areas
Collaborated with state and federal agencies on strict reopening protocols
Extensive testing to ensure seafood safe from oil and dispersant contamination

Protect Wildlife and Habitats
NOAA is responsible for protection of sea turtles, dolphins, whales and other marine protected species
NOAA research ships study impact of the oil on marine mammals and fisheries
Implemented region-wide protocols caring for turtles in distress
Partnered with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others to address sea turtle nesting beaches issues
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Assessing Natural Resource Damage
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Trustees for NRDA
Federal: DOC, DOI & DoD
States: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas
NRDA determines
Injuries/lost use of public’s natural resources & services
Amounts & types of restoration needed to offset losses
NOAA Conducts the following 3 phases of NRDA
Pre-assessment
Injury Assessment and Restoration Planning
Restoration

Restoring Injured Natural Resources
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Hitting Home: NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson
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Homeport: Norfolk, VA
Thomas Jefferson used for research missions in the Gulf
Search for presence of, and map the distribution of, subsurface oil
Collect baseline water samples
Conduct water and air sampling near wellhead
Science team included researchers from NOAA, EPA, University of NH, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Hitting Home: People Deployed
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Hitting Home: Economy
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Interdependence of regional fishery and seafood products
Virginia Institute of Marine Science study from July estimates economic loss in VA
Direct annual loss in VA sales by oyster industry : $11.6 M
Total negative economic impact at each market level: $30.1 M

Challenges and Public Concerns: Subsurface
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Flow Rate
Use of Subsurface dispersants
Fate and Effect of oil rising up from the bottom
Potential biological impacts of subsurface oil

Challenges and Public Concerns: Surface
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Fate and Effect of oil on surface
Movement of oil by wind and current
LOOP Current
Hurricanes
Ecosystem impact of oil as well as removal
Mechanical
In Situ burns
Surface Dispersants

Challenges and Public Concerns: Shoreline
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Protection strategies
SCAT Teams
Different types of Shoreline Clean Up

Issues Looking Forward
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Planning and Preparedness for E&P
Containment and underwater Countermeasures
Fate – Effect better science and modeling

Issues Looking Forward
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Seafood safety
Fisheries closures/Wildlife impacts
Research and Development
New Technology

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Questions?
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Back up slides
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Gulf of Mexico – A National Resource
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Seafood
~30% of seafood harvested in continental U.S. from the Gulf
Oil & Gas Production
~30% oil production
~ 13% natural gas production
Commerce
7 out of 10 leading U.S. shipping ports along Gulf coast

Moving Forward
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
Established through Executive Order on October 5, 2010
Purpose to coordinate and ensure seamless transition between the immediate response and long-term recovery
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
Established through Executive Order on May 22, 2010
Purpose to examine the facts and circumstances to determine the cause of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Develop options for guarding against future oil spills
Final report released January 11, 2011
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Ongoing
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National Ocean Policy
Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
DEFENSE & HOMELANDSECURITY
SCIENCE
AQUACULTURE
COMMERCIAL FISHING
ENERGY & INDUSTRY
CONSERVATION
NAVIGATION

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Blue Planet Forum Feb. 16, 2011

by Chesapeake Bay Foundation on Mar 03, 2011

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Blue Planet Forum Feb. 16, 2011 — Presentation Transcript