MAY 6, 2024 — On April 8, 2024, the New Jersey District Court accepted the entry of a settlement reached by NOAA and our co-trustees with Wyeth Holdings, LLC. This settlement compensates for natural resource injuries resulting from hazardous substance releases at/near the American Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
OR&R Weekly Report
The Office of Response and Restoration publishes this weekly round-up of news and information of interest to our partners, stakeholders, and team members. Click to subscribe
MAY 6, 2024 — On April 23 - 24, the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), led by Director Scott Lundgren, hosted a two-day tour of major restoration and debris removal projects in Washington State for Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management Paul Scholz. A congressional staffer for Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) also joined for key events.
MAY 6, 2024 — On October 25, 2023, a local power and water utility experienced a release of diesel fuel from a tank at a plant in Havensight, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The spill of No. 2 diesel was discharged outside the tank’s secondary containment. Original spill estimates of 33,600 gallons of diesel have since been updated and calculated to be over 50,000 gallons.
MAY 6, 2024 — From April 22-29, 2024, over 2,500 participants—representing 170 governments as well as stakeholders from nongovernment organizations, academia, the private sector, the United Nations, and other international organizations—met in Ottawa, Canada, for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to continue negotiations towards a new international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
MAY 6, 2024 — From April 23-25, OR&R staff participated in the annual meeting of the National Response Team (NRT) held in St. Louis, Missouri. The NRT provides technical assistance, resources and coordination on preparedness, planning, response and recovery activities for emergencies involving hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants, oil, and weapons of mass destruction in natural and technological disasters and other environmental incidents of national significance.
MAY 6, 2024 — Ahead of the approaching hurricane season, the Office of Response and Restoration’s (OR&R) Disaster Preparedness Program, in conjunction with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) at the University of New Hampshire, held its 5th annual Hurricane Preparedness Summit.
MAY 6, 2024 — On April 30, several members from the NOAA Marine Debris Program within the Office of Response and Restoration joined OR&R’s Scientific Support and Regional Preparedness Coordinator William Whitmore to host a Marine Debris 101 workshop for partners and stakeholders in the New England region. Roughly three dozen participants attended the 90-minute virtual workshop.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program's Chief Scientist, Amy V. Uhrin gave the keynote address at Sea Grant’s Microplastics in the Coastal Region workshop held April 8-10, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina.
April 2023
APRIL 24, 2023 — A proposed bankruptcy settlement for Maxus Energy Corp. was filed on April 7, 2023. The proposed settlement includes approximately $80 million to NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior related to natural resource damages claims in connection with the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site (Lower Passaic River, New Jersey).
APRIL 24, 2023 — On April 14, the NOAA Marine Debris Program California regional coordinator, Christy Kehoe, joined the “Help the Kelp” marine debris art exhibit unveiling, led by California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and the Santa Barbara Zoo. The exhibit unveiling was a part of the "Conservation Partnership Celebration" event, which highlighted growing initiatives in support of the local environment.
The U.S. District Court finalized a settlement between the members of the Elliott Bay Trustee Council and Lynden, Inc. and related companies (collectively, Lynden), which will fund habitat restoration along the Lower Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington.
APRIL 17, 2023 — Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related illness and death in the United States, causing more fatalities in a typical year than hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, and floods. As climate change continues to increase the likelihood of weather extremes, the impacts of heat on communities—especially on their most vulnerable citizens—is likely to worsen.
APRIL 17, 2023 — From April 3 - April 7, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Northeast regional coordinator, Demi Fox, joined a marine debris removal effort led by the Center for Coastal Studies on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a collaboration with Restore America’s Estuaries.
APRIL 17, 2023 — On March 30, the NOAA Ocean Podcast featured the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s chief scientist, Amy V. Uhrin, who spoke about the importance of seagrasses in coastal environments.
APRIL 17, 2023 — On March 22, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Northeast regional coordinator, Demi Fox, joined NOAA Fisheries staff to speak with a dozen students from Gloucester High School’s Gender Equity and STEM club. The group was especially interested in hearing from women about the career path that led them to the work they do at NOAA.
APRIL 3, 2023 — On March 21, 2022, the Tug Western Mariner ran aground in Neva Strait, north of Sitka, Alaska, resulting in a diesel oil spill. OR&R has been providing support for the response and damage assessment for the spill since the incident occurred.
APRIL 3, 2023 — On March 29, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, released the “Puerto Rico Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide.” The guide is a product of a collaborative process with territorial and federal agencies. This work aims to improve preparedness for responding to marine debris after disasters in Puerto Rico.
March 2023
MARCH 27, 2023 — This week, OR&R scientists worked with the U.S. Coast Guard during ice-breaking in Lake Superior Harbor in Duluth, Minnesota, aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Spar. The project, funded by the Great Lakes Center of Expertise, demonstrates our ability to conduct uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) missions from an operating Coast Guard cutter.
MARCH 27, 2023 — Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related illness and death in the United States, causing more fatalities in a typical year than hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, and floods. As climate change continues to increase the likelihood of weather extremes, the impacts of heat on communities—especially on their most vulnerable citizens—is likely to worsen.
MARCH 27, 2023 — From March 6-10, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Pacific Island Regional team, Mark Manuel and Shanelle Naone, traveled to the island of Tutuila in American Samoa to meet with partners and students.
MARCH 27, 2023 — On March 15, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, wrapped up a month of partner-led virtual workgroup meetings to discuss the California Ocean Litter Strategy. The meetings brought together over 50 partners from across the state and included a diverse set of sectors, including state agencies, nonprofits, private organizations, and academia.
MARCH 13, 2023 — On March 2, 2023, members of the response community had the opportunity to brief the San Juan Island Council Members on the challenges and successes from the F/V Aleutian Isle response at the Council Chambers on San Juan Island, Washington.
MARCH 13, 2023 — On March 1, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the government of Mexico’s Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales hosted a two-day workshop “Mitigation of Marine Litter and Ghost Nets in Mexico: Building Awareness of Efforts” in Mexico City, Mexico.
MARCH 13, 2023 — Last month, staff from NOAA's Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, presented to a tour group from the Pacific branch of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM). CFE-DM is a U.S. Department of Defense organization that builds crisis response capacity and enhances coordination and collaboration with civilian and foreign partners.
MARCH 6, 2023 — Last month, staff from NOAA's Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, spoke about the issue of abandoned and derelict vessels at a public event in Cape May, New Jersey.
MARCH 6, 2023 — Last month, staff from NOAA's Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, participated in the two-day St. Petersburg Science Festival.
MARCH 6, 2023 — Last month, the NOAA Marine Debris Program led the first virtual workshop to create the Southern New England Marine Debris Action Plan.
MARCH 6, 2023 — In early December 2022, the Disaster Response Center in Mobile, Alabama installed its new Davis weather station and launched Davis WeatherLink Live.
MARCH 6, 2023 — Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related illness and death in the United States, causing more fatalities in a typical year than hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, and floods. As climate change continues to increase the likelihood of weather extremes, the impacts of heat on communities—especially on their most vulnerable citizens—is likely to worsen.
February 2023
FEB. 27, 2023 — The United States Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on March 15, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. The public meeting will include presentations from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development on their relevant marine debris-related activities.
FEB. 27, 2023 — Between Feb. 7-11, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, trained coastal community members from the Caribbean to participate in the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP). The project engages NOAA partners and volunteers around the world to survey and record the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines.
FEB. 27, 2023 — Earlier this month, staff from NOAA’s Office of Response & Restoration attended the 2023 Coastal GeoTools conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
FEB. 27, 2023 — On Feb. 7, NOAA staff joined a group of other local organizations in a night of learning and exploration with students and families at Kapolei Elementary’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) night.
FEB. 27 — From Feb. 6-10, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, attended and facilitated marine debris presentation and listening sessions at the Alaska Forum on the Environment.
FEB. 13, 2023 — NOAA and partners recently released a new report on oil slick thickness, "Comparing Recent Advances in Estimating and Measuring Oil Slick Thickness: An MPRI Technical Report."
FEB. 13, 2023 — Last week, NOAA's Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, released the report, "Recycling Opportunities for Abandoned, Derelict, and End-of-Life Recreational Vessels."
FEB. 13, 2023 — Last month, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, within the Office of Response and Restoration, participated in an “Expert Is In” program at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.