Dr. DiPinto’s work on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment began immediately after the platform blowout, through the final settlement of the natural resource damages claim, and continues today by sharing the science captured since the explosion. Hundreds of scientific studies determined and documented where the oil went, and what type of marine life and coastal habitats were exposed and injured. The entire Gulf ecosystem was affected, and Dr. DiPinto presented key findings involving fish, dolphins, turtles and corals. Dr. DiPinto highlighted how this research was conducted during our initial response to the spill, as well as how later assessments informed the historic $8.8 billion settlement with BP, and how this information will help us improve our response and restoration work in the future. Many questions centered around our data management program, our collation of these important records into our Data Integration Visualization Exploration and Reporting (DIVER) portal, and our efforts to how share these findings with other scientists and the public.

The group also inquired about how we track long-term injuries, and how we determine sub-lethal effects, as well as several topic areas that would benefit from additional research. As a follow up action, a one-page summary of research needs will be distributed to the attendees, and they will also share the presentation key points in the transition planning to keep these priorities afloat in the next administration. Other attendees at the presentation included Dr. Richard Spinrad, NOAA's Chief Scientist; Lois Schiffer, NOAA General Counsel; and Dr. Russell Callender, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service; Tony Penn, Chief of the Assessment and Restoration Division and Lonnie Gonsalves, from the NOAA program Coordination Office.

For more information, see Where to Find OR&R and other NOAA Information on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Or contact Dr Lisa.DiPinto@noaa.gov. Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.