High-pressure, hot-water washing of shorelines is often a viable method for removing stranded oil from hard surfaces, like large rocks and seawalls. However, while effective, it can directly and indirectly injure and kill plants and animals in the treated zone, both in the short-term and long-term.

When used incorrectly, high pressure water streams may drive oil into the beach sediments where oil may become trapped or further contaminate clean areas. Washing with high pressure may drive oil from the water surface down into the water column, dispersing or emulsifying the oil, which could have additional environmental effects and require additional recovery methods. In addition, using high pressure or large volumes of water can wash away fine sand and silt from shorelines and disrupt the structure of the beach.

Because of these considerations, we tend to be very cautious about the situations and habitats in which we recommend using high-pressure, hot-water washing. Slightly modifying this technique in a number of ways may remove the oil just as well while also minimizing possible injuries from response activities. For example, you can lower the water pressure, use a broad water fan or flow rather than a jet nozzle, or flush the area with warm or ambient temperature water.

Washing techniques, such as high-pressure, hot-water washing, should normally be combined with an effort to contain and collect the mobilized oil, or else it could wash up someplace else along the shoreline. The area being treated must first be contained with boom appropriate for the habitat and sea conditions.

Nearly all oils float on the water (although exceptions do exist), so the methods people use to collect the oil generally focus on removing the layer of oil from the water. How that layer is removed varies—but usually, when oil is washed off a contaminated beach, it is skimmed from the sea surface with special boats or oil skimmers. Cleanup workers also may use special sorbent booms that oil sticks to. These booms can then be collected and recycled or discarded.

Spill Containment Methods: Learn about how sensitive locations can be protected from an advancing oil slick with various kinds of equipment and tactics during an oil spill response.
Lessons Learned From the Exxon Valdez Spill: OR&R's goal is to use science to better understand physical and biological recovery after an oil spill like the Exxon Valdez, and then apply the lessons in future spill responses. This includes the use of hot-water washing on intertidal coastlines during the Exxon Valdez spill.
Has Prince William Sound Recovered From the Spill? Following the Exxon Valdez spill, the NOAA monitoring program in Prince William Sound indicated that oiled and hot-water washed sites initially suffered more severe declines in population abundance than oiled and not-washed sites.
Job Aids for Spill Response: Learn more about the job aids that OR&R has created to help oil spill responders complete their response tasks.
EPA's Oil Spill Response Techniques: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists more information about response methods used during oil spills, including mechanical, chemical, and biological means.
ITOPF's Clean-Up and Response: The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation offers detailed descriptions of the oil spill cleanup and response process, ranging from aerial observation of spills to the ultimate disposal of collected oil and oiled debris.

A few seaweeds, snails, oysters, and other marine life are hitching rides on debris items from the 2011 Japan tsunami which are now washing up in the U.S. This influx of sea creatures aboard tsunami marine debris is also bringing concerns that some of these foreign species may become invasive, possibly threatening marine life and communities here in the United States. For example, more than 90 different species [PDF] managed to make the journey (or hitchhike along the way) aboard a single item from Japan—the 66-foot-long dock which washed up near Newport, Ore., and came coated in marine life. Of those 90+ species, eight have been identified as showing up outside the range where they normally live. This includes a species of Asian kelp known as wakame (Undaria pinnatifida). While wakame is a tasty ingredient in many traditional soups and salads in Japan, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Global Invasive Species Database also has pegged it as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. If it were to become established along the Oregon or Washington coast, wakame could balloon into huge kelp beds that out-compete native kelp and seaweeds and could also become a nuisance as they attach to ships and other marine infrastructure. The northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) and Japanese shore crab (Hemigraspus sanguineus) are two other known invasive species that arrived on the dock in Oregon in June 2012. Fortunately for Oregon's local marine life, two days after the dock's arrival, the state had workers using shovels and rakes to scrape off invasive species and put them in a deep and sandy resting place, eight feet below the beach’s surface. They then sterilized anything that remained on the dock with a blowtorch. However, the majority of the species identified on the dock are non-invasive seaweeds and polychaete worms. In fact, most of the species arriving on marine debris are not invasive—even if they are hitchhikers. This was the case at Cape Disappointment, Wash., when a small Japanese fishing boat (with a confirmed connection to the tsunami) washed up covered in gooseneck barnacles (order Pedunculata). While unusual-looking, these barnacles are not invasive and have a fascinating historic myth purporting that barnacle geese developed from gooseneck barnacles because they had similar colors and shapes. During a recent two-day regional workshop at Portland State University in Oregon, NOAA examined this issue of marine life latching onto and growing on marine debris (a phenomenon known as "biofouling"). Approximately 80 aquatic invasive species experts from federal (U.S. and Canada), tribal, and state government agencies from the West Coast; academic institutions; and non-governmental organizations began developing a regional, science-based approach to biofouling and Japan tsunami marine debris. How—and who—is best suited to respond to the potential introduction of aquatic invasive species on tsunami debris? How should we communicate with the public about the possible threats these aquatic newcomers may pose? The team is working on finalizing a framework and regional protocols "to identify, detect, and respond effectively and rapidly to marine debris with invasive species" [PDF]. If you are in Oregon and find a piece of marine debris which is hosting marine organisms, take a photo of it and send a detailed description to beach.debris@state.or.us. The state of Oregon has more information about what to do [PDF] and recommends to "never move debris with organisms on it to other bodies of water—an aquarium, pond or estuary. It increases the risk that invasive species will spread." For those in Washington, the state recommends that "if you find an object you suspect has invasive species, call 1-855-WACOAST (1-855-922-6278) and press '3' to leave a message for state authorities. Be sure to include as much information about the object's location as possible." If you are in Alaska, California, or Hawaii and find marine debris that has living organisms attached, the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force offers the following instructions:

• Remove the item from the water and place on dry land (above the high tide line) so that any organisms living on it will die and not be returned to the ocean. Never move debris with organisms on it to other bodies of water—an aquarium, pond or estuary. It increases the risk that invasive species will spread.
• Take a photo, if possible, and send photo along with details (location, county, date found, description of item) to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.
• This information will be shared with the marine debris response team and invasive species experts to determine what action needs to be taken. If we are notified that dock- or pier-sized structures wash ashore, a science-based team of experts may be deployed to the site for immediate evaluation."

So, why can't we go out and clean up this area? Unfortunately, there are many factors that must be taken into account. Two major factors are that these areas of concentrated marine debris move and change throughout the year and that many of these areas also harbor abundant sea life, much of which is microscopic.

Even with all of that in mind, let's perform a rough estimate on the cost of a hypothetical cleanup: Suppose we were to attempt to clean up less than 1% of the North Pacific Ocean (a 3-degree swath between 30° and 35°N and 150° to 180°W), which would be approximately 1,000,000 km². Assume we hired a boat with an 18 ft (5.5 m) beam and surveyed the area within 100 m off of each side of the ship. If the ship traveled at 11 knots (20 km/hour), and surveyed during daylight hours (approximately 10 hours a day), it would take 67 ships one year to cover that area! At a cost of $5,000-20,000 per day, it would cost between $122 million and $489 million for the year. That's a lot of money—and that's only for boat time. It doesn't include equipment or labor costs. Also, keep in mind that not all debris items can be scooped up with a net.

How Do We Fix it?

The ultimate solution to the global problem of marine debris is not in clean up and removal (we can do that every day for the rest of our lives). The solution lies in prevention—stopping marine debris at the source. That means preventing trash from getting into our oceans and waterways in the first place. For more information on the garbage patch and ways that you can help prevent marine debris, check out the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.

UPDATED FEB. 27, 2019 — While everything may be bigger in Texas, some reports about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch would lead you to believe that this marine mass of plastic is bigger than Texas—maybe twice as big as the Lone Star State, or even twice as big as the continental U.S. For NOAA, a national science agency, separating science from science fiction about the Pacific garbage patch (and other garbage patches) is important when answering questions about what it is, and how we should deal with the problem. There are many conflicting estimates for the size or mass of these garbage patches. The NOAA Marine Debris Program takes down two other myths about the garbage patches:

Garbage patches aren’t a solid patch. The name conjures images of a floating landfill in the middle of the ocean, with miles of bobbing plastic bottles and rogue yogurt cups. While it's true that these areas have a higher concentration of plastic than other parts of the ocean, much of the debris found in these areas are small bits of plastic, or microplastics, smaller than 5mm in size that are suspended throughout the water column. The debris is more like flecks of pepper floating throughout a bowl of soup, rather than a skim of fat that accumulates or sits on the surface. Microplastics are nearly ubiquitous today in the marine environment and may come from larger pieces of plastic that have broken down over time, from fleece jackets or plastic microbeads added to face scrubs. The impacts of these microplastics on marine life is an area of active research.

There are many garbage patches, and by that, we mean that trash congregates to various degrees in numerous parts of the Pacific and the rest of the ocean. These natural gathering points appear where rotating currents, winds, and other ocean features converge to accumulate marine debris, as well as plankton, seaweed, and other sea life.

Any way you look at these "peppery soups" of plastic in the Pacific, none of the debris should be there. The NOAA Marine Debris Program website and blog have lots of great information and references if you want to learn more about the garbage patch issue.

Looking for more information about the garbage patches?

• Debunking Myths About Garbage Patches
• Visualizing How Ocean Currents Help Create the Garbage Patches
• Video: What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

JUNE 8, 2012 — Happy World Ocean Day, a global celebration honoring the ocean that gives us so much and links us across the globe. This year the theme is Youth: the Next Wave for Change. The Ocean Project, which coordinates World Ocean Day, believes that we share the responsibility of ensuring our ocean is protected for future generations. In that same vein, the scientists at NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration strive to share their knowledge and experiences with young people to inspire them to careers in ocean science. One of our scientists, Dr. Amy Merten, recently spoke to a group of 150 students from Washington's Salish Sea Expeditions program as they nervously prepared to present their final research projects. The program provides a unique marine science experience to middle and high school students as they navigate Puget Sound on a 61-foot sailing vessel and work on group research projects. As she addressed the budding young scientists, Dr. Merten spoke not only about the problems she works on now, but also the circuitous path it took to get her there. As a biology undergraduate student in the early 1990s, a senior project introduced her to cutting-edge oceanography as well as the early discussions of climate change. "This experience exposed me to real scientists, including those in NOAA," Merten explained. "It was my first exposure to NOAA, and I knew that's where I wanted to be." This experience landed Merten her first job out of college and led her to study the effect of chronic pollution on Chesapeake Bay's food web. As she was finishing her Ph.D. and working at NOAA, she transitioned to the field of emergency response at the Office of Response and Restoration. This took her to several oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, the 2004 Athos spill in Delaware Bay, and the 2004 Selendang Ayu oil spill off the coast of Unalaska, Alaska. During this time, Merten also aided Vietnamese scientists in developing their nation's oil spill response plan. In 2005, she helped mitigate the effects of numerous oil and chemical spills caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "Working on the ground with oil spill responders gave me practical experience for applying my academic and policy expertise," Merten recalled.

Describing her work in the aftermath of the hurricanes, Merten told how she came to the difficult decision to burn spilled oil in a contaminated marsh near a Gulf of Mexico refinery. Because there were potential risks, her decision was met with some skepticism, but as a result, the marsh showed remarkable recovery after the burn.

 

She emphasized to the students that such problems can be very complex, and frequently without black-and-white solutions. "You never know when a leadership opportunity will emerge," she reflected. "You have to trust your instinct and your skills, and people will work with you to overcome risky challenges."

Later, Merten's team finished developing a mapping tool, the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA), coincidentally just in time to be put to use for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill. The idea for ERMA was conceived by Merten and a University of New Hampshire scientist to consolidate environmental data on a web mapping platform. It was used by responding agencies, corporations, and others as the common operating picture throughout the oil spill cleanup and damage assessment in the Gulf of Mexico. Wrapping up with where her current passion is taking her now, Merten discussed how the Arctic environment is changing and the challenges that oil spills, a potential consequence of increased drilling and shipping in that region, could pose to local communities. She now is working on solutions to the unique and complicated problems an Arctic oil spill response could present: an isolated environment, sub-freezing temperatures, unique cultures, and what happens when oil mixes with ice. Merten, a technical advisor to the Salish Sea Expeditions program, ended her speech by saying, "I hope your experience at Salish gives you a foundation in science, and you're able to think back to what you've accomplished to help you move forward in the future." Her overriding message to the young scientists was one of encouragement: Follow your interests, don't always expect a linear career path, stay curious, and work hard.

MAY 25, 2012 — This June, Seattle, Wash., is hosting a city-wide, month-long festival celebrating science, technology, and innovation in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World's Fair. If you're going to be in the Seattle area, you can find an overview and schedule of all the planned activities at seattlesciencefestival.org. The festival has three components: Science EXPO Day, Science Festival Week, and the Science Luminaries Series. NOAA is playing a part in all three, starting with the kick-off event on June 2.

Science EXPO Day, on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at the Seattle Center will feature more than 130 exhibitors with interactive activities, demonstrations, and science experiments. As part of a larger NOAA exhibit at Science EXPO Day, the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) will showcase how we model oil spills by demonstrating our GNOME software application. (If you can't make the Science EXPO, you can still download the GNOME model for free and try it yourself!) This model also has been valuable in developing possible scenarios of how debris from the 2011 Japan tsunami has traveled across the Pacific Ocean, towards Hawaii and the North American West Coast. Experts from the NOAA Marine Debris Program will be on hand to discuss ongoing efforts to address problems the debris could cause in the water and after landing on shore.

NOAA will celebrate Science Festival Week with an open house for the public on Friday, June 8, 2012, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. NOAA staff will conduct a variety of guided tours through the Sand Point and Montlake campuses, giving visitors a chance to see first-hand the work that we do to protect endangered species, restore coastal and riverine habitat, forecast the weather, and more, right here in Seattle. The public can hear about these NOAA activities straight from our scientists and ask questions as they peek behind the scenes at how we study the ocean and atmosphere. The Office of Response and Restoration's "War Room," a hub of activity when an oil spill occurs, will be one of the highlights. From there, our spill modelers will demonstrate the tools they use to create animated maps forecasting where oil might go to help responders during oil spills such as the recent Deepwater Horizon/BP incident in the Gulf of Mexico. There will be lots of maps, artifacts, and photos, along with experts on hand to discuss our work on oil spills, marine debris cleanup, and environmental restoration. Also, twice that day, OR&R's Nir Barnea will join NOAA scientists Vasily Titov and Mark Koehn for a discussion of the 2011 Japan tsunami and the resulting marine debris. See NOAA Open House for more details.

The Science Luminaries Series consists of lectures and panel discussions by some of the nation’s greatest scientific minds, such as theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and astronauts Bonnie Dunbar and George "Pinky" Nelson. Please visit the Science Luminaries Series for detailed schedules and information. NOAA's Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, a distinguished scientist (as well as a former astronaut) who serves as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and NOAA Deputy Administrator, will be one of the featured speakers. Dr. Sullivan will share the stage on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, with Dr. Anthony Janetos, Director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute at the University of Maryland and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Dr. Nicholas Bond, Washington State Climatologist and University of Washington and NOAA Atmospheric Scientist, to discuss climate change and what it could mean for the future. This event will take place at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus at 7:30 p.m. For details on this exciting presentation, see Conversations About Our Changing Planet: Observations, Models and Implications. Space Needle photo above used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

MAY 8, 2012 — Help NOAA expand what we know about the effects of chemical dispersants on both spilled oil and the marine environment: funding for research projects is now available. The explosion and subsequent well blowout on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010, led to the largest oil spill in United States history. The unprecedented use of chemical dispersants on and below the ocean's surface during this oil spill raised scientific, public, and political questions about both their effectiveness and their potential consequences for ecosystems and marine life in the Gulf of Mexico.

To help answer those questions, NOAA is partnering with the Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire to fund research on dispersants and dispersed oil. The focus will be in the following areas: 1) dispersants and risk communication; 2) degradation of dispersants and dispersed oil; and 3) biological effects of dispersants and dispersed oil on surface and deep ocean species. The request for research proposals is available at the Center's website. Researchers interested in submitting a proposal need to turn in a letter of interest by May 15, 2012.

The Coastal Response Research Center was established in 2004 as a hub for oil spill research, development, and technical knowledge transfer. The Center is a partnership between the University of New Hampshire and those of us at NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. The Center collaborates with other federal, state, and local research and development programs to promote effective protection, assessment, and restoration of coastal areas and resources. The overall goal of the Center is to reduce both the potential for, and the consequences of, spills and other hazards threatening coastal environments and communities.

Advances in science and technology relating to spills will be applied to other types of threats to coastal environments and communities, when possible. Preventing a spill is always the preferred scenario, but as long as we explore, drill, and transport oil, there will be a chance for spills. And once oil is spilled, we can no longer prevent harm from happening to the marine environment, but we can reduce that harm through a combination of response measures. With our partner at the Coastal Response Research Center, we hope to improve the science of spill response before the next oil spill happens, so that when it unfortunately does occur, we are better prepared to deal with it.

APRIL 26, 2012 -- 52.9 million. That is the disgustingly large number of cigarette butts beach cleanup volunteers have collected over the past 25 years during the International Coastal Cleanup, an annual event sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy. Consistently the number one piece of litter found, cigarette butts represent an astounding 32 percent of total debris items gathered overall at these cleanups. And that's sadly not only the case on beaches but elsewhere too. Most cigarette filters are made of a type of plastic, cellulose acetate, which doesn't biodegrade and can persist in the environment for a long time. Fish, birds, and other animals can mistake small pieces of plastic, like cigarette butts, for food. Eating them could cause cause the animal to choke or starve to death because the plastic isn't digested, filling up their stomachs. Cigarette butts contain toxins (such as heavy metals and the organic compounds nicotine and ethylphenol) and not a lot is known about how those toxins impact the environment, wildlife, and humans. However, studies show they have a negative health impact on fish. For example, according to public health non-profit Legacy®, a recent laboratory test demonstrated that one cigarette butt soaked in a liter of water was lethal to half of the fish exposed to it. In an effort to raise awareness about this common source of pollution, NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration hosted a booth at the Louisiana Earth Day environmental festival in Baton Rouge on April 22, 2012. The festival is one of the largest Earth Day events in the nation, covering several downtown blocks and attracting thousands of people. Even as the occasional smoker strolled by the booth, children crowded in for the chance to win a T-shirt by guessing as close as possible the number of cigarette butts in a large jar (1,523 gathered in only two hours!) and marvel at its grossness. Several of the kids remarked as they looked at the jar how they want their parents to stop smoking. Some of the parents and other grown-up visitors proudly announced how long it had been since they quit. One current smoker announced that his girlfriend was making him dispose of his cigarette butts responsibly, rather than tossing them on the ground. Lots of visitors had never considered the negative impacts cigarettes could cause to the marine environment. But here in this part of the country, next to the Mississippi River and not far from the Gulf of Mexico, most seemed interested in learning about the harmful implications this type of marine debris could cause their environment. The NOAA Marine Debris Program, part of the Office of Response and Restoration, is educating the public on this specific type of pollution, one that almost seems to be the "last form of acceptable litter." While most people would be horrified to see, say, some fast food litter tossed out of the car in front of them, unfortunately few of us would be as shocked to see someone throw a cigarette butt on the street. Learn more about what you can do about this problem.

APRIL 18, 2012 -- An estimated $60 million in early restoration projects soon will begin along the Gulf Coast following the nation's largest oil spill, according to the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council.

"The early restoration projects will drive both ecological and economic renewal," said NOAA trustee Monica Medina, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. "Through these and future projects, the trustees intend to build a regional restoration economy."

With finalization of the "Deepwater Horizon Phase I Early Restoration Plan & Environmental Assessment," eight restoration projects will be implemented. The projects provide for marsh creation, coastal dune habitat improvements, nearshore artificial reef creation, and oyster cultch restoration, as well as the construction and enhancement of boat ramps to compensate for lost human use of resources.

This is the first early restoration plan under the unprecedented April 2011 agreement with BP to fund $1 billion in early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico. Meant to address injuries to natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill, the funding enables the trustees to begin restoration before the completion of damage assessment activities.

The $1 billion will go towards the following early restoration projects:

• Each Gulf state—Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas—will select and implement $100 million in projects;
• The Federal Resource Trustees, NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior, will each select and implement $100 million in projects;
• The remaining $300 million will be used for projects selected by NOAA and Department of the Interior.

"This milestone agreement will allow us to jump-start restoration projects that will bring Gulf Coast marshes, wetlands, and wildlife habitat back to health after the damage they suffered as a result of the Deepwater Horizon spill," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

During what has been deemed the largest oil spill in U.S. history, NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration provided forecasts of oil movements, advised the U.S. Coast Guard on cleanup operations, produced and maintained the Common Operational Picture, and managed large volumes of data streams and assessed resources threatened by spilled oil. We continue to work with state and federal agencies to document impacts to the Gulf of Mexico's natural resources and the public's lost use of them.

AUGUST 23, 2013 -– NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, a leader in providing scientific information in response to marine pollution, has scheduled a Science of Oil Spills (SOS) class for the week of October 28, 2013, in Falmouth, Mass.

We will accept applications for this class through Monday, September 23, and we will notify applicants regarding their participation status by Monday, September 30, 2013.

SOS classes help spill responders increase their understanding of oil spill science when analyzing spills and making risk-based decisions. They are designed for new and mid-level spill responders.

These three-and-a-half-day trainings cover:

• Fate and behavior of oil spilled in the environment.
• An introduction to oil chemistry and toxicity.
• A review of basic spill response options for open water and shorelines.
• Spill case studies.
• Principles of ecological risk assessment.
• A field trip.
• An introduction to damage assessment techniques.
• Determining cleanup endpoints.

To view the topics for the next SOS class, download a sample agenda [PDF, 117 KB].

Please be advised that classes are not filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Office of Response and Restoration tries to diversify the participant composition to ensure a variety of perspectives and experiences to enrich the workshop for the benefit of all participants. The class will be limited to 40 participants.

Other SOS classes planned for fiscal year 2014 (beginning October 1, 2013 and ending September 30, 2014) include classes in Mobile, Ala. in the late winter/early spring and in Seattle in the summer. At this time, we are not accepting applications for classes other than the Falmouth, Mass., class.

For more information, and to learn how to apply for the class, visit the SOS Classes page.

As an intern, you will work on a variety of projects focusing on outreach and public engagement. Based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. (easily accessible on Metro's Red Line), you will be in the loop on and encouraged to attend marine policy events, lectures, conferences, and receptions that provide fantastic networking opportunities for your career development.

Position Description

OR&R faces the challenges of supporting NOAA and federal initiatives while keeping pace with Congress and constituents in support of our major programs:

• Emergency response support for 120–200 oil and chemical spills in coastal waters each year
• Natural Resource Damage Assessment and environmental restoration planning
• NOAA's Marine Debris Program
• NOAA's Disaster Response Center

OR&R works on critical environmental hazard issues, such as oil spill response, offshore drilling policy, marine debris prevention and reduction, and restoring natural resources. We are looking for motivated self-starters who enjoy independent as well as group work to join our team. The ideal candidate for this internship will possess a strong academic background and the desire to immerse him or herself in the world of marine policy and the internal workings of a federal office.

Major Responsibilities

• Assist in preparations for one-on-one meetings with key OR&R constituents and events to support OR&R programs; assist in note-taking at events and prepare debrief materials.
• Attend NGO, interagency, and Congressional events and prepare debrief materials for OR&R staff
• Assist in preparation for and execution of congressional outreach events, such as briefings, hearings, and testimonies
• Write and update biographical profiles for key members of Congress and stakeholder groups
• Track progress of key legislation and policy initiatives
• As experience permits, provide input on federal policy initiatives, including permits, administration views, and agreements
• Assist in special projects as needed that fit your interest and skill areas, including research reports, video production, or media relations

Desired Qualifications

• Interest or experience in marine policy and communications
• Strong writing and verbal communications skills
• Familiarity with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong work ethic
• Experience researching academic literature or legislation
• Familiarity with Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar

Eligibility and Compensation:

OR&R cooperates with institutions of higher learning and internship coordination programs to support students who have arranged to receive credit for their work. Interns are also expected to develop a project based on their interests and present on the project to the NOAA community. We can accommodate part- time and full-time availability. While the duration of internships can vary, most typically last at least 10 weeks. At this time, stipends are not offered. Internships are open to students age 16 and older. The NOAA Office of Security requires a background check for all interns and staff; this process will begin at the start of your internship. Non-US citizens must hold an appropriate visa and be accepted as an intern at least 45 days prior to the scheduled start date to complete additional security clearance.

To apply, email a cover letter (including dates of availability), resume and a writing sample to Policy Analyst Robin Garcia at Robin.Garcia@noaa.gov.

Application deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017

Please review the OR&R Internships page for further details on eligibility for this and other OR&R intern positions.

Recently, NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center hosted the fifth and final OR&R Science of Oil Spills (SOS) workshop of 2011. The Mobile, Ala., workshop included training sessions on a wide range of oil spill response topics, as well as a field trip to nearby Dauphin Island.

Most of the more than 45 participants hailed from the Gulf of Mexico region, while others traveled from as far away as Alaska and Nigeria. Participants included representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, state and federal agencies, and industry, as well as a Nigerian researcher investigating potential improvements to oil spill response in the Niger Delta region.

Through a mix of presentations and exercises, participants in the three and a half day course deepened their knowledge of a range of oil spill response topics, from environmental sensitivity mapping to spill trajectory prediction. This workshop activity fit well with the Disaster Response Center's objective to enhance preparedness and response in the Gulf of Mexico and highlighted the collective OR&R mission.

This most recent SOS workshop followed many other OR&R Emergency Response Division training events this year, including earlier SOS workshops in Seattle, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC; Shoreline Cleanup Assessment (SCAT) classes in various U.S. locations; short courses presented at the International Oil Spill Conference; and other training events. The next SOS workshop is scheduled for April 2012 in Seattle.