| RestoreTheGulf.gov |
RestoreTheGulf.gov is the new official site for the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command. It replaces the original site - DeepwaterHorizonResponse.com |
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| Latest Spill & Response Info |
Visit geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/ for the latest information about the oil spill's trajectory, the position of NOAA's research ships, oiled shore, testing, weather forecases, satellite and aerial imagery, fisheries closures, and other information related to the oil spill response. The site uses an interactive map with information overlays selectable by the user.
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Links & Resources |
Broken links? - Web sites related to the oil spill are changing frequently. If you find a link that no longer works, please report it to web@SpillScience.com.
Restoration and Recovery
- National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (accessed 7/25/11)
President Barack Obama established the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling through Executive Order 13543 on May 21, 2010. The Commission examined the relevant facts and circumstances concerning the root causes of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and developed options to guard against, and mitigate the impact of, any oil spills associated with offshore drilling in the future. This included recommending improvements to federal laws, regulations, and industry practices.
- Mississippi Gulf of Mexico Commission (MGOMC) (accessed 7.25.11)
The purpose of this Commission and the development of its Plan is to enable the evolution of a comprehensive, long-term, sustainable vision that ensures a healthy and prosperous Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Response and Cleanup Efforts, Agencies, and Government
These links are widely available from other sources; a detailed list will not be included here.
Public Health
- "PEHSU Information on Gulf Coast Oil Spill for Parents and Community Members," Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) Network, August 2010. (accessed 8.25.10)
Note: Addresses greater susceptibility of children to oil exposure issues.
- "AAP, PEHSU, AACT and ACMT Information for Clinicians
on the Oil Spill Affecting the Gulf Coast," August 2010, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) www.pehsu.net, the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT), and the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT). (accessed 8.24.10)
Note: Content is very similar to the previous item.
- 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill - Web resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (accessed 8.25.10)
For Residents
Note: Nine topics of interest to Gulf Coast residents. Four of the most interesting are listed here.
For Health Professionals (partial list of items follows)
For Response Workers
- NIOSH Workplace Safety & Health Topics (accessed 8.25.10)
Note: extensive list of occupational safety resources from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at CDC.
- "Selected Studies on the Human Health Effects of Oil Spills," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (accessed 8.25.10)
Seafood Safety
This page has links to weekly reports from the Louisiana departments of Health and Hospitals (DHH), Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF), Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Agriculture and Forestry (DAF).
Summary for the 8.23.10 report
"Summary of Data Collected to Date
Of 542 seafood samples (Figure 1) collected between April 30, 2010 and August 20, 2010 (Table 1), trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in 109 samples (Table 2). No (0) sample results showed
levels of concern, (Table 3), meaning that any chemicals detected were below levels that could potentially threaten the public’s health. Results for 19 samples are pending. Additionally, DHH personnel collect water samples from oyster harvesting areas at the time oysters are collected.
Between April 30, 2010 and July 23, 2010, 57 water samples were collected and analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)."
Note: The report indicates that fewer than 20 samples per week have been collected and tested since the week of July 4, 2010. Hydrocarbon compounds have been detected in 109 of 542 samples during the period of 4/30/2010 - 8/20/2010. None of the levels were above the levels of concern tabulated in the report.
- Seafood Surveillance Data, Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill Information. A graphical link to summary results from (accessed 6.21.11)
Petroleum Background and Hazards
Crude Oil
Spilled Oil - Slicks, Sheens, Mousse, Tarballs, and Patties
- Shoreline Assessment Job Aid (pdf, 3.0 mb) (accessed 9.15.20)
An excellent background resource to help understand the terminology of oil spills, with photographs illustrating types of oil (fresh oil, tarballs, patties, mousse, ...), oil distribution, sediment types, shoreline types, and cleanup methods,
- Fact Sheet: Understanding Tar Balls (pdf, 468 kb) (accessed 9.15.10)
Simple two-page flyer from NOAA providing an introduction to tarballs.
- Fact Sheet: Guide to Distinguishing Oil From Algal Blooms (pdf 236 kb) (accessed 9.15.10)
When observed from a boat or aircraft, algal blooms and oil may be confused. This two-page NOAA flyer provides photos and information to help distinguish the two.
Dispersants
- Dispersant Application Observer Job Aid (pdf, 2.1 mb) (accessed 9.15.10)
A NOAA job aid that provides refresher information on observing and identifying dispersed and undispersed oil, describing the oil's characteristics, and reporting the information. August 2007.
- Fact Sheet: Oil Spill Dispersant Application and Monitoring, May 12, 2010 (pdf, 1.6 mb) (accessed 9.15.10)
Simple two-page flyer from NOAA describing monitoring of dispersants used in reponse to oil spills, including NOAA's Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART) program.
- Methods for Detecting Dispersants in Water,
Summary of EPA Analytical Methods for Dispersant Analysis in Water Samples (accessed 8.25.10)
- "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico," Environmental Health Perspectives, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, August 1, 2010. (accessed 8.26.10)
Note: Describes concerns and questions regarding the widespread use of dispersants on the spill.
Corexit Products
Where Did the Oil Spread and What Happened it?
National Incident Command Evaluation
- BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Budget: What Happened To the Oil?, released August 2, 2010. (report is not dated)
"The National Incident Command (NIC) assembled a number of interagency expert scientific teams to estimate the quantity of BP Deepwater Horizon oil that has been released from the well and the fate of that oil."
- Supporting information, calculation method, and details for "Deepwater Horizon MC252 Gulf Incident Oil Budget," August 2, 2010.
Georgia Sea Grant Evaluation
- Outcome/Guidance from Georgia Sea Grant Program: Current Status of BP Oil Spill, August 17, 2010, Chuck Hopkinson, Director, Georgia Sea Grant (accessed 8.25.10)
This report summarizes the findings of an ad hoc group of Florida university-based oceanographic experts who independently evaluated and interpreted the conclusions of the NIC oil budget report. The group states that the media interpretation of the report’s findings has been largely inaccurate and misleading. Oil that the NIC report categorizes as dissolved or dispersed has been widely interpreted by the media to mean “gone,” resulting in the conclusion that only about one quarter of the oil remains in the marine environment. The Georgia Sea Grant group believes that most of the dissolved and dispersed forms of oil are still present and not necessarily harmless. The group based it's distribution fractions on the 4.1 million barrels of oil that escaped into the Gulf, not on the 4.9 million barrels released from the wellhead, of which 0.8 million barrels was captured.
Why Don't the Numbers Agree?
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (accessed 8.26.10)
The Trustee Council was formed to oversee ecosystem restoration in Prince William Sound. Their site provides information about the Exxon Valdez spill, its impacts, and restoration and research efforts.
Note: An excellent web resource for understanding the history of the Exxon Valdez spill, the recovery, and the current status of Prince William Sound.
Highlights:
- Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (accessed 8.26.10)
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council was formed after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 to provide a voice for communities affected by oil industry decisions in Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska, and Cook Inlet.
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (accessed 8.26.10)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, web resources for information on the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Includes links to many related resources, including photo galleries.
Note: Good set of references, particularly Lessons Learned section and the section on environmental impacts.
- Hindsight and Foresight: 20 Years After the Exxon Valdez Spill (QuickTime video, 202.9 mb) (accessed 8.26.10)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A short documentary revisiting the Exxon Valdez oil spill twenty years later, and the changes it brought about in its wake.
Note: Good overview of Exxon Valdez spill, response, and remaining effects. Focus on
NOAA role in spill reponse.
Other Gulf of Mexico Oil Spills
Air Monitoring Data
EPA Air Monitoring Data for the Gulf Coast (accessed 8.25.10)
This interactive page allows you to select air monitoring locations from a map and then view the most current test results. You may also download historical data (as a .csv file) for the site you selected and view them using the spreadsheet software on your computer. Note that many pages open in a new browser window.
The data viewing process is somewhat complex. Unfortunately, summary information and basic conclusions are not readily available on the site.
Water Sampling Data
EPA Water Monitoring Data for the Gulf Coast (accessed 8.25.10)
This interactive page allows you to select water monitoring locations from a map and then view the most current test results. You may also download historical data (as a .csv file) for the site you selected and view them using the spreadsheet software on your computer. Note that many pages open in a new browser window.
The data viewing process is somewhat complex. Unfortunately, summary information and basic conclusions are not readily available on the site.
Miscellaneous Topics
Underwater Video from MC252
- OilSpillHug.org - A resource site for educators, scientists, and engineers. Features hundreds of hours of underwater video. Oilspillhub.org is an online resource for those studying the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. The site provides an archive of the underwater video of the event, as well as additional tools and resources for educators, scientists, and engineers who are expanding our knowledge of environmental issues.
Booms
"Dead Zones"
- Fact Sheet: Links Between Gulf Hypoxia and the Oil Spill, May 26, 2010 (pdf, 796 kb) (accessed 9.15.10)
Two-page flyer from NOAA addressing the effects of the oil spill on hypoxic zones in the Gulf. Hypoxia, or low oxygen, develops near the mouth of the Mississippi River every summer as a result of excess nutrients that are introduced principally via the Mississippi River. The oil spill may exacerbate this year’s dead zone. The brochure defines the possibilities but offers no conclusions and states that research and monitoring are needed to understand the situation.
Wildlife
28-page publication describing the threats to birds in Louisiana and adjacent areas posed by the the oil spill and other factors. Summarizes the conclusions of a team who evaluated the region six months after the spill. Includes recommendations for mitigating spill effects and protecting birds and wildlife.
Bibliographies
- Resources on Oil Spills, Response, and Restoration: A Selected Bibliography, NOAA, June 2010
(206 pages, pdf, 1.4 mb) (accessed 9.15.10)
Prepared as an aid for those seeking information concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and information on previous spills and associated remedial actions. Includes electronic resources, video resources, and publications.
- Fact Sheet: Deepwater Horizon Information Resources, August 2, 2010 (pdf, 243.7 kb)
Two-page flyer from NOAA providing a categorized list of web-based resources providing information relevant to the respone to the Deepwater Horizon spill.
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