This popular guidebook was written for oil and chemical spill responders and Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSCs) and provides a quick reference to the range of scientific support services available through NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) from its Emergency Response Division (ERD).
The revised edition of this guidebook (version 2, July 2010) is available as portable document format (PDF) files, in the following formats:
-
An electronic version [PDF, 3.0 MB], with links to other files, websites, and e-mail addresses. These links, mostly contained in the appendices, take the user directly to those references (Internet connection required). The purpose of their inclusion is to provide a single, instant reference to the many products and services OR&R's Emergency Response Division provides. To access the links more easily, you may want to download the PDF to your hard drive (right-click the link, then choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" from the pop-up menu).
This version can also be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper. It is the best format for those who need an accessible version.
- A "booklet" version [PDF, 3.0 MB] that you can print double-sided, then fold and staple to create a 5.5" x 8.5" booklet.
What's New in Version 2
The guidebook has been updated and expanded. It contains more live links to web pages and other sections of the guide, such as:
- Reference and a link to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) publication, An FOSC's Guide to Environmental Response [PDF, 996 KB].
- Reference and a link to the Memorandum of Agreement between NOAA and the National Pollution Funds Center [PDF, 74 KB] regarding funding for NOAA scientific support.
It includes these new topics:
- NOAA support for international incidents.
- Dealing with marine debris.
- NOAA leadership within the National Response community, including the co-facilitation with the USCG of Ecological Risk Assessment workshops.
- Best Management Practice for environmental resource protection.
- Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service on Essential Fish Habitat and Endangered Species Act.
It describes these new or updated tools:
Obtaining NOAA Scientific Support
NOAA scientific support should be requested by an FOSC by contacting the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) assigned to their Coast Guard District. Appendix 1 of the guidebook provides contact information for ERD SSCs; however, the most up-to-date contact information can be found on the OR&R Field Staff page.
More Information about NOAA Scientific Support
Emergency Response Division: OR&R's Emergency Response Division supports emergency response and restoration activities for oil and hazardous chemical spills, provides preparedness aids for response communities, and offers training on the scientific aspects of oil and chemical spill response.
Job Aids for Spill Response: Information and ordering instructions for NOAA OR&R's spill response Job Aids.
Training for Emergency Responders and Planners: Workshops and self-study resources offered by NOAA OR&R to assist spill response professionals in local, state, and federal governments and industry.
Coast Guard ICS Forms: The U.S. Coast Guard Homeport website offers all-risk/all-hazard ICS forms as PDF files and in Word/Excel formats.
