The primary objective of this agreement is to establish a formalized framework for policy decisions, funding allocation, and leveraging ERMA COP (Common Operating Picture) to optimize decision-making during response operations for both NOAA and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Its scope encompasses bolstering responses to natural disasters like hurricanes or tsunamis in U.S. navigable waters and territories, under either the Stafford Act or NCP authorities.

After the signing of the Interagency Agreement, discussions between OR&R and USCG focused on shared priorities and interests, particularly in the realms of operational scientific support, collaborative research initiatives, and effective data management strategies. The dialogue underscored a commitment to exploring innovative technology advancements, new products, and avenues for enhancing preparedness while nurturing ongoing collaboration.

Furthermore, the OR&R Director and the acting Emergency Response Division Chief visited the National Pollution Funds Center Director and Case Management Division Chief, further reinforcing collaboration efforts during the visit.

In response to the crude oil release, known as the MPOG 11015 incident, a Unified Command was established by the USCG, the responding party MPOG, and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, in coordination with NOAA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Forefront Emergency Management and other federal, state and local agencies to develop and execute a response strategy. For decades, the USCG and NOAA have played a joint role in ensuring vital operational support and response capabilities for oil and chemical spills. After the reports were received, OR&R began deploying to provide response support on-scene to the incident management team, the Federal On-scene Coordinator (U.S. Coast Guard), and Unified Command based in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

On-scene, response teams identified the leak as crude oil, however, the exact location, time of the release, and the amount of oil is still being evaluated. Initial engineering calculations indicate the potential volume of oil is 1.1 million gallons (about one tenth the size of the Exxon Valdez spill). On November 17, USCG aircraft and NOAA satellite imagery observed a slick of over 40 miles in length, heading southwest from the leak location; however, overflights in the following days observed intermittent surface sheens. 

Since November 21, no new or continuous oil discharge has been reported. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys and assessments are ongoing by the pipeline owners, USCG, and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to determine the source location of the spill. ROVs will continue to survey the pipeline, as weather conditions permit.

OR&R mobilized to provide scientific support

OR&R has provided scientific support, including spill trajectory and fate modeling, information on resources at risk, and coordination of NOAA capabilities with the spill response. OR&R obtained and analyzed samples from the pipeline to characterize the oil’s physical and chemical properties, enabling the response team to better predict how the oil will move and its impacts on the environment. A NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator reported to the incident command post on November 16, and additional NOAA OR&R staff continued to arrive in the following days. The staff included a science team led by OR&R’s chief scientist to conduct small science experimentation, drifter deployment, and data collection—separate from the response—to support future oil spill response and damage assessment technologies (funded as a research effort). 

In the week following the arrival of responders on-scene, overflights observed intermittent surface sheens. Oil features such as golf ball-size tar balls and larger emulsified oil patties have been observed by vessels on-scene. Surface monitoring is ongoing with additional overflights and shoreline surveys in the Mississippi Delta. Initially, weather conditions during the week of November 17 impeded full access to some remote areas for surveying. 

On November 19, OR&R began the initial phase of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), with a lead coordinator deploying on-scene for vessel deployment and assessments. OR&R engaged with trustees, including the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on natural resource injury assessment and will continue to work together as they move through the NRDA process. 

OR&R has announced training classes on various spill response topics in a number of locations for fiscal year 2024. All spill responders and planners are encouraged to apply. 

Science of Oil Spills (SOS) classes:

• Mobile, Alabama, March 18-22, 2024:  Application form is open until Dec. 7, 2023.
• Seattle, Washington, June 3-7, 2024:  Application period will be open Dec. 11, 2023 - Feb. 8, 2024.
• Ann Arbor, Michigan, September 16-20, 2024: Application period will open on March 25, 2024.

Science of Chemical Releases (SOCR) classes:

• Mobile, Alabama, March 11-15, 2024:  Application form is open until Dec. 7, 2023.
• Seattle, Washington, May 6-10, 2024:  Application period will be open Dec. 11, 2023 - Feb. 8, 2024.

During the initial stages of response to a chemical spill (or potential spill), ERG distances can help emergency responders and planners quickly assess the potential threat and make informed decisions about evacuations and shelter-in-place to help keep the public safe from airborne hazards.

Previous versions of CAMEO Chemicals had ERG distances in a table format on datasheets that display response and shipping information based on United Nations-North American (UN/NA) identification numbers. Now, ERG distances can also be visualized on a map from any UN/NA datasheet that has the ERG Table 1 (or Table 3) values from the green section. Additionally, these map objects can be exported to a KML file so that they can be viewed in other mapping tools, including the related MARPLOT map program.