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David WesterholmNational Ocean Service| National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

The Gulf Spill:Hitting HomeBlue Planet ForumFebruary 16, 2011

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2NOAAs Mission

To understand and predict changes in Earths environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nations economic, social, and environmental needs

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April 20, 2010

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4NOAAs Role in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Conducting Science to Inform Decision-MakersKeeping Seafood SafeProtecting Wildlife and HabitatsAssessing Natural Resource DamageRestoring Damaged Natural Resources

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5Scientific SupportNOAA is the lead science agency for coastal and marine oil spill responsePredicts where the oil is moving Identifies sensitive habitat to protectForecasts weather and marine conditionsInforms shoreline assessment and cleanupCollects oceanographic observations & subsea samplesNOAA provided daily oil spill trajectory maps and twice-daily weather forecasts

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6Keep Seafood Safe

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

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7Protect 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 issues7

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8Assessing Natural Resource Damage

Trustees for NRDAFederal: DOC, DOI & DoDStates: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and TexasNRDA determinesInjuries/lost use of publics natural resources & servicesAmounts & types of restoration needed to offset lossesNOAA Conducts the following 3 phases of NRDAPre-assessmentInjury Assessment and Restoration PlanningRestoration

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9Restoring Injured Natural Resources

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10Hitting Home: NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

Homeport: Norfolk, VAThomas Jefferson used for research missions in the GulfSearch for presence of, and map the distribution of, subsurface oilCollect baseline water samplesConduct water and air sampling near wellheadScience team included researchers from NOAA, EPA, University of NH, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

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11Hitting Home: People Deployed

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12Interdependence of regional fishery and seafood products Virginia Institute of Marine Science study from July estimates economic loss in VADirect annual loss in VA sales by oyster industry : $11.6 MTotal negative economic impact at each market level: $30.1 M

Hitting Home: Economy

As mentioned previously, the Gulf has national ties and the country has an economic interdependency with this region. While direct environmental impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf never found its way to the East Coast, the economic impacts rippled across the nation, including to Virginias Tidewater region. A study completed last summer by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science estimated the direct impacts to Virginias oyster industry at more than $11 million and total negative impact to the State of about $30 million. While this pales in comparison to the economic impacts in the Gulf of Mexico, it is striking that just one industry in a state hundreds of miles away could suffer such a dramatic impact.12

13Flow 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: Subsurface

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14Fate and Effect of oil on surfaceMovement of oil by wind and current LOOP CurrentHurricanesEcosystem impact of oil as well as removalMechanical In Situ burns Surface Dispersants

Challenges and Public Concerns: Surface

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15Protection strategies

SCAT Teams

Different types of Shoreline Clean Up

Challenges and Public Concerns: Shoreline

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16Planning and Preparedness for E&P

Containment and underwater Countermeasures

Fate Effect better science and modeling

Issues Looking Forward

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17Seafood safety

Fisheries closures/Wildlife impacts

Research and Development

New Technology

Issues Looking Forward

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Questions?17

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Back up slides

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20Gulf of Mexico A National ResourceSeafood~30% of seafood harvested in continental U.S. from the GulfOil & Gas Production~30% oil production ~ 13% natural gas productionCommerce7 out of 10 leading U.S. shipping ports along Gulf coast

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21Moving Forward

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task ForceEstablished through Executive Order on October 5, 2010Purpose 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 DrillingEstablished through Executive Order on May 22, 2010Purpose to examine the facts and circumstances to determine the cause of the Deepwater Horizon oil spillDevelop options for guarding against future oil spillsFinal report released January 11, 2011

Natural Resource Damage Assessment Ongoing

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22National Ocean PolicyCoastal and Marine Spatial PlanningDEFENSE & HOMELANDSECURITYSCIENCECOMMERCIAL FISHINGENERGY & INDUSTRYNAVIGATIONCONSERVATION AQUACULTURE

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