By Doug Helton, Regional Operations Supervisor, Emergency Response Division
The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) provides critical scientific support to protect our coastal communities following natural disasters and other incidents that result in marine pollution. Within OR&R, the Emergency Response Division (ERD) provides scientific expertise and services to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on everything from running oil spill trajectories that model where the spill may spread, to identifying possible effects on wildlife and fisheries, and estimating how long the oil may impact coastal communities and ecology. Additionally, the Marine Debris Program (MDP) supports national and international partners to respond to large debris caused by major disasters within communities at risk of and responding to impacts from severe weather. At the end of each year, we reflect on the response events and activities that OR&R supported.
During November, OR&R provided response support for 12 incidents. OR&R’s support for an allision between a barge and a bridge in Alabama continued from October 2024, while 11 new incidents were supported in six states, one territory (Puerto Rico), and one foreign country (Samoa). Ten of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills and one involved threat of chemical pollution from a mine tailing release.
In October, OR&R provided scientific support for 11 marine pollution and coastal emergencies— including eight new incidents in five states and one territory (Guam). Four of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills, one involved threats of pollution from hurricanes, and three were chemical spills (or oil and chemicals mixed).
In September, OR&R provided scientific support for 19 marine pollution and coastal emergencies—including Hurricane Helene, which came ashore in Florida, but ultimately affected six states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia).
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.
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.
This March, the Office of Response and Restoration provided scientific support for 26 marine pollution and coastal emergencies—including twelve actual or potential oil spills, two chemical incidents, and five other incidents, including two involving dead whales.
