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OR&R Attends Oregon State of the Coast

NOVEMBER 2, 2018 — The 2018 Oregon State of the Coast conference was held on October 27, in Coos Bay, Oregon. 

Group of people milling about in an exhibit hall.
Poster session and art display at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Image credit: NOAA.

This annual conference, organized by Oregon Sea Grant, brings together scientists, students, artists, fishermen, and the general community to get updates on, and engage in current and future issues and opportunities facing Oregon’s marine environment.

Doug Helton from NOAA's Emergency Response Division was a panelist on a discussion entitled "Oil and Gas Off of Oregon’s Coast: What’s going on?"  Doug joined Patty Snow (Oregon’s Coastal Management Program), State Senator Arnie Roblan, Charlie Plybon (Oregon Policy Manager, Surfrider Foundation), and Jena Carter, Chair of the Ocean Policy Advisory Committee, to discuss the implications of oil and gas exploration.

Doug talked about the risk of spills and how response to an offshore spill would unfold. The other panelists discussed the on-going policy and advocacy work to protect the Oregon Coast, noting that the just two days prior to the conference,  Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 18-28 directing state agencies to protect Oregon’s coast from offshore oil and gas drilling. The Executive Order specifically made it the official policy of the state of Oregon to oppose oil drilling activities from shore to over 200 miles off the state, and to prevent the development of any new infrastructure that would serve offshore drilling operations.

The conference was held at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Doug also joined their student event Friday evening (Oct. 26) to participate in a science poster and art display that also included a career fair for the students.

For further information, contact Doug.Helton@noaa.gov.

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Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:50pm PST