The NOAA team—members of OR&R, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPs), National Weather Service (NWS), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)—along with federal, state, local, tribal, and community partners, were recognized with the prestigious award. This community response team seamlessly conducted maritime environmental protection and safety operations in August-September 2022, resulting in the safe and successful recovery of the fishing vessel Aleutian Isle. Their work minimized impact to the environment, culturally sensitive areas, and other protected resources throughout the San Juan Islands, Washington. 

The interagency team established a Unified Command to coordinate a robust response for 45 consecutive days, involving over $1.2 million of equipment salvaged in a complex deep water dive operation, and the critical protection of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) and other ecologically sensitive habitats. 

Utilizing state of the art remotely operated vehicles and commercial diving operations, pollution response efforts successfully identified the sunken vessel at a depth of 240 feet and provided key information that led to the recovery of nearly 2,500 gallons of oily water mixture and 590 gallons of pure diesel fuel, as well as the salvage and disposition of the vessel. 

Furthermore, the team’s response included the activation of 10 Geographic Response Plans and deployment of 7,300 feet of boom to mitigate the threat of pollution, protecting 15 miles of environmentally sensitive shoreline. The team also managed a proactive information campaign to update the public and other key stakeholders on operational progress.

OR&R and CO-OPS teams worked with a contractor to acquire and review on-site current meter data and compare it with oceanographic models. These NOS teams streamlined data sharing to produce 10 timely site-specific tidal and current prediction briefings, and identified the timing of currents to improve safety and efficiency of salvage dive operations. The current predictions were used to refine models for 14 oil spill trajectories to communicate the extent of oil released from the vessel for impacts in U.S.-Canadian waters. NMFS worked with several NGOs to report the location of the SRKW in relation to the oil every two hours during daylight hours, advised volunteer vessel of opportunity teams on deterrence operations to protect the SRKW from pollution and entanglement hazards, and advised on three ESA consultations and eight Resources at Risk to protect sensitive species and habitats. The NWS provided daily and extended site-specific weather forecasts to inform critical operations and worker safety throughout the response both for on-water and air-quality conditions.

The award was presented at the Seattle Federal Executive Board’s virtual 2023 Celebration of Public Service. The Board looks forward to this opportunity, held during Public Service Recognition Week each May, to acknowledge and appreciate public servants who work tirelessly for the good of U.S. citizens. Congratulations to the OR&R and NOAA teams—and to all of those recognized with SFEB awards. We recognize and thank all who serve on behalf of the American people.

For more information about the F/V Aleutian Isle incident, visit:

• NOAA Supports Spill Response After Fishing Vessel Sinks Off San Juan Island, Washington, August 17, 2022
• Responders Celebrate Successful Response, Partnerships in Final F/V Aleutian Isle Incident Debrief, November 7, 2022
• Giving Thanks for the Partnerships that Make a Spill Response Happen, November 23, 2022
• Response Community Briefs County Officials on the F/V Aleutian Isle Response, March 13, 2023
• Incident Summary: F/V Aleutian Isle
• Washington Department of Ecology’s incident-specific webpage