In 2024, NOAA and co-trustees secured $40 million from four hazardous waste pollution settlements for the restoration of U.S. waterways.

In August, OR&R provided scientific support for 27 marine pollution and coastal emergencies—including 17 new incidents in eight states, one territory (U.S. Virgin Islands), one new international response in the Red Sea, and an ongoing international response in the Philippines.

In July, OR&R provided scientific support for 23 marine pollution and coastal emergencies— including 19 new incidents in seven states, one in Puerto Rico, and one international response in the Philippines. Seventeen of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills, one was a chemical spill, and one involved tracking marine debris—a broken wind turbine blade.

NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration is providing important information to aid in tracking the path of wind turbine parts after the offshore wind energy company, Vineyard Wind, noticed a broken blade on one of its wind turbines offshore of Martha’s Vineyard.

This June, OR&R provided scientific support for 17 marine pollution and coastal emergencies—including thirteen actual or potential oil spills, two chemical spills, and one involved both oil and hazardous materials.

Over the course of the 62 day-response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge Marine Collapse, OR&R's scientific support team produced trajectory analyses, chemistry reports, and situational reports to support the U.S. Coast Guard's pollution control and abatement operations and prepare for potential impacts of a worst case release of the 1.5 million gallons of fuel that remained on board the M/V Dali.

The Great Lakes region stands as a crucial ecosystem, supporting diverse species, habitats, and communities integral to both environmental health and human livelihoods. As part of our mission, OR&R has supported research and development on oil spills in the Great Lakes, working with our close partner and collaborator, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise (GLCOE).

During May, OR&R provided response support for 26 incidents, including 19 new incidents in 10 states. Eighteen of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills, and one was a chemical spill in the Detroit River, Michigan.