**SEA OTTER RESPONSE PLAN**

I. [GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS]{.underline}

A. [Authorities and Status]{.underline}

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has responsibility for
managing and protecting sea otters under authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407). In Alaska, the Service\'s
management goals are to:

\* maintain sea otter populations within their optimum sustainable range

\* maintain healthy habitats for sea otters

\* conserve and manage sea otters to ensure opportunities for a variety
of human uses (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1993).

The Service will work closely with any parties engaged in exploration,
development, transportation or storage of energy resources to ensure
that sea otters are adequately protected. Any handling of sea otters
requires Service oversight and approval during secondary and tertiary
response activities.

B. [Current Population, Distribution and Life History]{.underline}

The sea otter species, [Enhydra]{.underline} [lutris]{.underline},
consists of three subspecies geographically distributed from southern
California to the northern tip of Japan (Wilson, et al., 1991). The
subspecies [Enhydra]{.underline} [lutris]{.underline}
[kenyoni]{.underline} (Wilson et al., 1991) is presently found
throughout the Aleutian Islands and southward along the coast from the
Alaska Peninsula to Oregon. The number of sea otters in Alaska has been
estimated to be 100,000 to 150,000 animals (Calkins and Schneider,
1985).

Sea otters inhabit shallow coastal waters, often near kelp beds, and
seldom range more than 1-2 km from shore (Riedman and Estes, 1990). In
Alaska, mating and pupping occur throughout the year; pupping peak
occurs in May/June, and mating peaks in October through December
(Riedman and Estes, 1990). Sea otters often segregate by sex and age.
Generally, females rest in small rafts; males, however, frequently rest
in very large groups (Riedman and Estes, 1990). Foraging activity, as
well as parturition and mating, generally takes place away from resting
areas (Riedman and Estes, 1990). Foraging activity is greatest during
morning and evening (Estes, 1977). Sea otters in Alaska eat sea urchins,
mollusks, crustaceans and fish (Estes, 1980).

The lifespan for sea otters is estimated at 10-15 years for males, and
15-20 years for females. Males can weigh up to 100 pounds and females up
to 72 pounds (Kenyon, 1969).

C. [Susceptibility to Oil Spills]{.underline}

Because sea otters spend a large amount of time on the ocean\'s surface
and depend exclusively on their fur for insulation and buoyancy, they
are highly susceptible to oil contamination (Cimberg and Costa, 1985).
Sea otters are considered vulnerable to oil spill contamination during
their entire life cycle. The most harmful effect from direct exposure to
oil is the fouling of fur with subsequent loss of ability to insulate
(Riedman and Estes, 1990). In addition, inhalation of volatile
hydrocarbons, and ingestion of oil during the grooming process or while
feeding on contaminated prey may be harmful to otters and result in
pulmonary emphysema, subcutaneous emphysema, hemorrhagic enteritis, and
liver or kidney dysfunction (DeGange, 1990). Indirect effects may
include loss of habitat and food resources.

Sea otters are susceptible to several primary medical disorders from
contact with, inhalation or ingestion of oil. Heavily oiled otters may
suffer from [hypothermia]{.underline} in areas with low air
temperatures. In addition, [hyperthermia]{.underline} may occur with
moderately to lightly oiled otters that will excessively groom their
fur. Hyperthermia may also occur as a result of inadequate ventilation
in transport cages and hyperactivity associated with handling (Williams,
et al., 1990).

[Hypoglycemia]{.underline}, or abnormally low blood glucose, may occur
as a result of an otter\'s inability to feed before capture, impaired
liver function or intestinal absorption, fasting, stress or shock
(Williams et al., 1990). [Stress]{.underline} may also be associated
with pursuit, capture, handling, and transport operations (Wilson et
al., 1990).

Subcutaneous and pulmonary [emphysema]{.underline} may occur as a result
of inhalation of volatile petroleum hydrocarbons during the early stages
of an oil spill (Williams et al., 1990).

D. [Response Plan Training Needs]{.underline}

Response personnel should be provided with the following training:

\* contents and use of Wildlife Response Plans as well as Contingency
Plans and the Incident Command System

\* guidance on laws and regulations that apply to handling or \"taking\"
of marine mammals

\* guidance on the roles and responsibilities of federal and state
agencies as well as the responsible parties and their contractors

\* marine safety and boat handling

\* standard first aid.

II\. [RESPONSE STRATEGIES]{.underline}

A. [Carcass Retrieval]{.underline}

All sea otter carcasses should be retrieved and delivered to collection
or morgue sites as directed by the Service\'s Regional Oil and Hazardous
Substance Spill Response Coordinator (RRC) to prevent oil from getting
into the food chain. Each carcass should be accompanied by a form
containing the following information:

\* date found

\* location where carcass was found

\* name of vessel or point of contact

Forms should be kept in a ziplock bag for protection; indelible pen or
pencil should be used. If the carcass is [not]{.underline} retrieved a
form should still be filled out and submitted to the Service collection
or morgue site.

Individual carcasses should be double bagged. Carcasses should be kept
cool, but not frozen during transport to the nearest collection or
morgue site.

Resource trustees designated as Damage Assessment specialists will be
responsible for maintaining a chain of custody record for specimens
required for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process.

B. [Primary Response]{.underline}

1\. General Considerations

Primary response strategies should be emphasized for sea otters because
of their sensitivity to oiling and stress. Primary response for
protecting sea otters from an oil spill is to prevent oil from reaching
areas where sea otters are concentrated, such as haulouts, pupping and
feeding areas (sensitive areas). In addition, sea otters react
differently to disturbance; therefore, care must be taken to prevent
disturbance from driving sea otters into oiled areas.

Primary response for protecting [haulouts]{.underline} will require
determining whether or not the available technology is capable of
working adequately in each haulout area. Technology may not be available
for protecting haulouts located in high energy/exposed coastline areas.

[Pupping areas]{.underline} are difficult to define and protect because
the majority of sea otters give birth in either open water or near kelp
beds which have undefined boundaries. If areas are identified, booms
should be placed far enough to minimize disturbance and prevent driving
sea otters into oiled areas.

Sea otters forage in rocky substrate and soft bottom communities, as
well as in and around kelp (Riedman and Estes, 1990). Special emphasis
should also be placed on [feeding areas]{.underline} containing
intertidal and shallow subtidal prey species utilized by sea otters. Any
low to moderate energy beaches with mussel beds or prey resources
utilized by sea otters should receive priority protection.

2\. Skimming

Generally, the initial response for recovering spilled oil is to
mechanically collect it with skimmers. Skimming vessels may be capable
of recovering oil over large geographic areas in the spill zone. These
vessels may be positioned to recover oil before it reaches sensitive
areas. Skimmers must be careful to maintain an appropriate distance from
sea otters to avoid unnecessary disturbance.

3\. Booms

Sea otter haulouts, pupping areas, and feeding areas may be boomed using
shoreline exclusion or shoreline diversion booming techniques. Booms
should be placed at sufficient distance to avoid disturbance and prevent
the flow of oil into sensitive areas.

[Shoreline exclusion booming]{.underline} involves anchoring one or more
lengths of boom between two or more stationary points to prevent oil
from entering an area occupied by sea otters.

[Shoreline diversion booming]{.underline} is used to divert a spill
headed toward an area occupied by sea otters to a less sensitive area,
such as toward a skimmer or open water.

4\. Dikes/Berms

Use of dikes or berms is considered a technically impractical response
action to protect sea otters in a marine environment.

5\. In-situ Burning (ISB)

The request for an ISB permit is approved by the Federal On Scene
Coordinator (FOSC) pending completion of the ISB checklist (Appendix 1).
The Service concurs with in-situ burning as a response strategy if
impacts from burning are less harmful to humans and wildlife than
impacts of the non-burned oil. All wildlife in the proposed burn area
must be identified prior to Service concurrence of the ISB permit.

In most instances in-situ burning of spilled oil is preferable to
potential oiling of fish and wildlife. Short-term effects associated
with burning are preferable to long-term effects associated with oiled
sea otters and additional wildlife, as well as the potentially damaging
effects of shoreline cleanup on biologically sensitive coastlines.

The Service\'s RRC and Marine Mammal Management (MMM) determine the
potential risk to sea otter population(s) specific to the spill zone,
and fill out Section VII, Resources at Risk, of the ISB checklist. The
RRC reports Service recommendations to the FOSC through the Department
of Interior (DOI) Regional Environmental Officer (REO).

6\. Dispersants

The request for a dispersant use permit is approved by the FOSC pending
completion of the dispersant use checklist (Appendix 2). The Service
concurs with dispersant use as a response strategy if associated impacts
are less harmful to humans and wildlife than impacts of the
non-dispersed oil. All wildlife in the proposed use area must be
identified prior to Service concurrence of the permit.

Approved dispersants can be used to accelerate the natural dispersion
process, that is, breaking up an oil slick on the ocean surface by wave
action.

Dispersants are very controversial in terms of both chronic and acute
effects on wildlife. The Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) has
developed the Dispersant Use Guidelines in an effort to apply
dispersants with the least amount of deleterious environmental effects.
Dispersants must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).

C. [Secondary Response]{.underline}

1\. General Considerations

Secondary response to protect sea otters from an oil spill is to deter
them from the slick or contaminated habitat. Major consideration should
be given to the degree of risk associated with the animal actually
contacting oil. Extreme shock and stress may result from an animal being
pursued, captured, and relocated; however, pre-emptive capture is
preferable to oil contaminating sea otters, resulting in even higher
susceptibility to stress and additional medical disorders.

Pre-authorized permits to handle or take sea otters are not available to
anyone under any circumstances. However, under Section 18.22 of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Service is authorized to handle and do
whatever is necessary to protect sea otters in the event of an
emergency, such as an oil spill. This authority can also be
sub-delegated (in writing) to contractors during an oil spill.

All response activities involving sea otters must be performed in
coordination with the Service\'s RRC, as identified in Section III of
this document.

2\. Pre-emptive Capture, Handling, Transportation, and Release

Pre-emptive capture is potentially the most viable deterrent option
available to move sea otters away from a spill site. Pre-emptive capture
and relocation of sea otters may be feasible if small numbers of animals
are in danger of being oiled. The potential for sea otters to be oiled
should be high before this technique is initiated. Primary concerns when
capturing and handling sea otters are minimizing transportation and
holding times. The single most important factor to a successful capture
operation is communication. Marine band, single sideband, and handheld
radios, as well as cellular phones can all be used if they are
compatible with base station and relay equipment.

Safety of personnel must be afforded the highest priority throughout
secondary response operations. Capture and release operations will not
be conducted when weather, ocean, or any other conditions jeopardize
human safety. In addition, sea otters must be regarded as dangerous in a
captive situation and should be handled as little as possible during
response operations. Handling should be conducted by qualified personnel
who have been trained in Service-approved courses.

Safety of sea otters should primarily be focused on stress reduction.
Stress to sea otters is minimized by:

\* having the equipment necessary to handle and transport animals as
quickly and efficiently as possible

\* reducing the number of vessels used to capture animals in a given
area

\* avoiding unnecessary noise and disturbance

\* never pursuing a sea otter to the point of exhaustion

\* reducing contact with animals except to provide veterinary care.

Pre-emptive capture of female otters and pups present a complex problem.
It is difficult to maintain the mother-pup bond during these operations.
Presently, guidelines to address the overall capture strategy for
mothers and pups are being developed and will be included in Appendix 3.
Until this guidance is available, the Service will support pre-emptive
capture of females with pups as determined on a spill-by spill basis.
All capture operations must be conducted with oversight by the Service
Marine Mammal Team Leader (MMTL).

The Service currently uses three methods for pre-emptive capture of sea
otters: dip netting, entangle netting, and Wilson (diver-held) trapping.

[Dip nets]{.underline} should be large and long-handled to capture young
or lethargic otters in areas with rocky substrates or around kelp beds.

[Entangle nets]{.underline} are modified gill nets used in kelp beds or
along routes of predictable sea otter movement. These are effective for
capturing a large number of otters but are also the least selective and
require constant monitoring (Benz and Britton, in press).

[Diver-held traps]{.underline} are circular nets supported by circular
aluminum tubing used for selective captures. The frame is attached to a
diver-operated underwater propulsion vehicle that is handled by two
divers. Divers attempt to capture an otter by swimming to a position
beneath it, rising rapidly, and trapping the otter during its resting or
grooming period (Benz and Britton, in press).

Capture techniques are described in detail in Appendix 3.

Each otter should be accompanied by a form containing the following
information:

\* capture boat and personnel

\* date, time and location of capture

\* technique used to capture the animal

\* amount of oil in area and whether the otter was observed or captured
in the oil

\* behavior at capture, i.e. aggressive, lethargic, comatose \*
description of otter, i.e. sex, age, distinguishing marks (Loshbaugh,
1990).

Upon landing on a vessel, the otter should immediately be examined by an
attending veterinarian or other qualified personnel.

3\. Deterrents

The use of deterrents (i.e. auditory, visual, olfactory, herding) as a
means to either attract or disperse sea otters was found to be
ineffective because sea otters habituate readily to noise and other
distractions associated with human activity (Davis et al., 1988).
Although slight behavior modification was observed, the modification and
duration of effect was inadequate for protecting sea otters from
potential impacts of an oil spill.

Of the deterrents listed, auditory deterrents such as propane cannons
may have some application for short-term attempts to keep sea otters off
oiled haulouts.

4\. Other

No other secondary response strategies that have been demonstrated
effective are currently available.

D. [Tertiary Response]{.underline}

1\. General Considerations

Tertiary response is the treatment of sea otters contaminated with oil.
The degree of oiling affects the potential survivorship of contaminated
sea otters. Components of tertiary response are the capture, handling,
transportation, treatment, holding, and release of sea otters. Service
MMTLs have oversight for all phases of tertiary response.

Pre-authorized permits to handle or take sea otters are not available to
anyone under any circumstances. However, under Section 18.22 of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Service is authorized to handle and do
whatever is necessary to protect sea otters in the event of an
emergency, such as an oil spill. This authority can also be
sub-delegated (in writing) to contractors during an oil spill.

All response activities involving sea otters must be performed in
coordination with the Service\'s RRC, as identified in Section III of
this document.

2\. Capture

Once the Service has approved the request for oiled sea otter capture
from the FOSC and responsible party, capture of sea otters will be
attempted only by qualified personnel. Service oversight of the capture
operation will be conducted by a MMTL in cooperation with the
responsible party\'s field response personnel.

Safety of personnel must be afforded the highest priority throughout
tertiary response operations. Capture and release operations will not be
conducted when weather, ocean, or any other conditions jeopardize human
safety. In addition, sea otters must be regarded as dangerous in a
captive situation and should be handled as little as possible during
response operations.

Oiled sea otters are extremely susceptible to stress and their safety
should primarily be focused on timely capture. Stress to sea otters is
minimized by:

\* having the equipment necessary to handle and transport animals as
quickly and efficiently as possible

\* reducing the number of vessels used to capture animals in a given
area

\* avoiding unnecessary noise and disturbance

\* never pursuing a sea otter to the point of exhaustion

\* reducing contact with animals except to provide veterinary care.

The Service currently uses two methods to capture oiled sea otters:
dipnetting and entangle netting.

[Dip nets]{.underline} should be large and long-handled to capture young
or lethargic otters in areas with rocky substrates or around kelp beds.

[Entangle nets]{.underline} are modified gill nets used in kelp beds or
along routes of predictable sea otter movement. These are effective for
capturing a large number of otters, but are also the least selective and
require constant monitoring (Benz and Britton, in press).

Capture techniques are described in detail in Appendix 3.

Each otter should be accompanied by a form containing the following
information:

\* capture boat and personnel

\* date, time and location of capture

\* technique used to capture the animal

\* amount of oil in area and whether the otter was observed or captured
in the oil

\* behavior at capture, i.e. aggressive, lethargic, comatose \*
description of otter, i.e. sex, age, distinguishing marks (Loshbaugh,
1990).

Upon landing on a vessel, the otter should immediately be examined by an
attending veterinarian or other qualified personnel.

3\. Handling

Once an animal is captured it must be transferred to a transport kennel
as soon as possible. Handling should only be conducted by qualified
personnel who have been trained in Service-approved courses. Handling in
the field consists of:

\* restraint

\* triage (initial assessment of condition and prioritization of
emergency care)

\* treatment for proper thermoregulation (to prevent hypo- and
hyperthermia)

\* feeding, if necessary

\* preparation for transport (Benz and Britton, in press).

Handling techniques are described in detail in Appendix 3.

4\. Transportation

In Alaska, primary transportation for sea otters will be marine vessel
and aircraft. Transportation time should be minimized whenever possible.
Sea otters should be transported in separate cages, except mothers with
pups. Qualified personnel should monitor each animal\'s body temperature
for hypothermia (chilling) or hyperthermia (overheating) during
transport. Service-approved transportation procedures are described in
Appendix 3.

5\. Treatment

Treatment of sea otters involves two primary focuses: facility operation
and administration; and sea otter care, including assessment, cleaning
and husbandry.

a\) Facility Operation and Administration

Facilities must be in proximity of the capture operation. It is
extremely important to transport the injured sea otters as short a
distance as possible. In addition, the design of the facility must be
conducive to reducing the possibility of disease introduction and
transmission. Davis (1990) describes an effective facility as one with a
flow through system, in an \"assembly line\" configuration. Such a
system should contain specialized areas for:

\* triage and sedation

\* cleaning and rinsing

\* drying

\* recovery from sedation/critical care

\* holding pens/pools

\* pup nursery

\* veterinary clinic

\* husbandry facilities.

The [triage and sedation]{.underline} area is where otters, upon
arrival, are brought for initial examination, medical stabilization,
weighing, and sedation prior to cleaning.

The [cleaning and rinsing]{.underline} area requires tables and access
to water capacity of approximately ten gallons per minute per otter.

The [drying]{.underline} area should have high speed pet dryers and be
separate from the cleaning room to avoid humidity.

An area for [recovery and sedation]{.underline} should contain portable
cages to hold otters until the effects of sedation wear off.

Short-term [holding pens]{.underline} should be outdoors with a small
seawater pool where otters can be taken to groom and feed. After the
health and water repellency of the otter\'s fur has been restored otters
can be moved to [holding pools]{.underline}, where they can socialize
and move.

A separate [pup nursery]{.underline} should be established. This should
be a quiet area with a sink and refrigerator for preparing formula, and
another sink and counter for washing and grooming pups. In addition, the
area should have a waterbed where pups can rest and play.

A well-equipped [veterinary clinic]{.underline} is necessary to treat
medical problems. This area should have an examination table, storage
for medical supplies, one lab for analyzing blood and urine and a
separate necropsy lab, and freezer space to store samples.

[Husbandry facilities]{.underline} should include a food preparation
kitchen with at least 1000 cubic feet of freezer space for frozen
seafood (based on a facility designed to house 200 adult otters eating
25 percent of their body weight daily), and sink space to thaw food.

The Service recommends that the facility also contain a
[morgue]{.underline}, as well as a [quarantine area]{.underline} where
sea otters can be held until checked for transmissible diseases and
their cages cleaned and sanitized. Guidelines for disposal of wildlife
carcasses are included in Appendix 4.

The facility should be located in an area where [staffing
accommodations]{.underline} are available or can be provided. Staff size
will depend on number and health of otters but should be large enough to
provide 24-hour care for sea otters.

Only qualified personnel shall be admitted into treatment facilities.
Public relations should be conducted to minimize disturbance to sea
otters; no cameras with flashes will be permitted in the facility, and
press conferences should be held outside and away from captured otters.

Consideration must be given to disposal of generated waste. If
necessary, wastewater permits must be obtained from federal and state
authorities.

In Alaska, treatment facilities are currently being developed in Valdez
and Homer under the direction of:

[Valdez Rehabilitation Center]{.underline}

Dr. Randall Davis

Texas A & M University, Department of Marine Biology

P.O. Box 1675

Galveston, TX 77553-1675

( )

[Homer Rehabilitation Center]{.underline}

Dr. Jim Styers

9302 164th Ave. KPS

Longbranch, WA 98351

( )

b\) Sea Otter Care

Upon arrival at a treatment facility, each animal will go through
[assessment and triage]{.underline}. This is the process that determines
whether each admitted sea otter requires:

\* treatment and cleaning through the \"assembly line\"

\* quarantine for prevention of disease transmission

\* additional holding for treatment of medical disorders

\* euthanization.

Additional guidelines for assessment and triage will be provided in
Appendix 6 as soon as they are available.

After an animal\'s initial evaluation is completed and the decision has
been made to clean, it is necessary to weigh, stabilize (hold and feed)
and possibly sedate animals prior to initiating cleaning.

[Cleaning]{.underline} is a time consuming process involving repeated
washing and rinsing that may take several hours, depending on the degree
of oiling. Heavily oiled animals should be washed immediately. More
lightly oiled otters can be stabilized and allowed to recover from
capture stress prior to washing. Room temperature should be maintained
at approximately 18°c (Davis, 1990).

Once cleaned, sea otters must be [dried]{.underline} with cool air to
prevent hypothermia. Vital signs need to be monitored throughout the
drying process. Humidity level in the drying room should be kept low.
Once dried, [coat rehabilitation]{.underline} requires grooming in sea
water to restore natural water repellency, as washing may strip a sea
otter\'s coat of natural oils. This may take several weeks, depending on
the health and behavior of each animal (Tuomi, 1992).

[Husbandry activities]{.underline} after washing and during holding are
identified by Tuomi (1990) to include:

\* handling and restraint for medical treatment or movement within the
facility

\* maintenance of body temperature to prevent hypo- and/or hyperthermia

\* nutrition (daily food intake)

\* sanitation, including removal of food and fecal debris to prevent
re-soiling of sea otter\'s fur

\* appropriate quarantine procedures to prevent disease transmission
between healthy and sick animals.

These activities should be conducted with minimal human contact whenever
possible.

Additional guidelines for husbandry activities are described in Appendix
7.

All decisions regarding the health of each sea otter will be made by the
attending veterinarian in consultation with the Service MMTL. In some
cases it may be necessary to [euthanize]{.underline} an animal. Sea
otters should be euthanized by injection when the attending veterinarian
decides that the damage to the sea otter is irreversible and the animal
is suffering. Guidelines for the decision to euthanize are currently
being developed and will be included as Appendix 8 as soon as they are
available.

6\. Holding

Each sea otter will be examined by a qualified veterinarian to determine
health status of the animal upon admission to a treatment facility, as
well as prior to release, translocation or permitted transfer to
aquariums. Any indication of infectious disease precludes otter release
into the wild.

The length of time sea otters are held in captivity should be limited to
reduce risks of disease transmission and dependence on humans.
Unnecessary holding may increase risk of disease and stress. In
addition, sea otters may acclimatize to human care which could affect
their survival upon return to the wild.

Mother and pup pairs and potentially pregnant females should be held
together so that they may form stable social groups.

Treated sea otters should be moved to a pre-release facility with
seawater pens as soon as it is deemed safe by the attending
veterinarian. Holding pens should allow otters to swim and dive. A
Service approved design for holding pens in a pre-release facility is
described by Davis (1990) in Appendix 5.

7\. Release

The purpose of release is to return treated otters to the wild as soon
as possible to areas where they have the best chance of survival, as
determined by the Service.

Every attempt will be made to release sea otters where they were
originally captured or in the near vicinity. This will depend on the
degree of contamination risk present at the release site.

If release in the area where they were captured is not possible, sea
otters should be relocated, preferably to areas already occupied by
other sea otters. However, sea otters from different populations stocks
should not be mixed.

If animals are likely to introduce disease into the wild populations or
are believed unable to sustain themselves in the wild, the no release
option will be exercised. Every attempt will be made to place these
animals in zoos, aquaria, or research facilities.

Sea otters tend to segregate by sex, therefore, it may be advantageous
to release them in areas having otters of the same age and sex
composition. This could reduce social stress and may enhance the
probability of sea otters remaining in the release area. Furthermore,
holding relocated otters at the release site prior to release also
enhances the probability they will remain in the release area (Ralls et
al., 1992).

Female sea otters that have bonded into pairs or groups during holding
should be transported and released as pairs or groups to help reduce the
effects of stress associated with release. Near term pregnant females
should be released to the wild as soon as possible so that they may give
birth in their natural environment. Monitoring should occur after
release to determine survivorship and successfully track sea otter
movements.

Potential release sites in Alaska are being developed as part of the
Area Contingency Plans; a list will be included in Appendix 9 as soon as
it is available.

Additional guidelines for release of sea otter are included in Appendix
9.

III.[LIST OF CONTACTS]{.underline}

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Catherine Berg, Regional Response Coordinator

Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office

605 West 4^th^ Avenue

Anchorage, AK 99501

\(907\) 271-1630

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Phil Johnson, Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Fisheries and Habitat Conservation

1011 E. Tudor Rd.

Anchorage, AK 99503

\(907\) 786-3483

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Doug Burn

Sea Otter Project Leader

Marine Mammals Management

1011 E. Tudor Road

Anchorage, AK 99503

\(907\) 786-3807

IV.[REFERENCES]{.underline}

Alaska Regional Response Team. 1993. Dispersant use guidelines.
[In]{.underline}: Draft Alaska federal/state preparedness plan for
response to oil and hazardous substance discharges/releases, unified
plan volume 1. F11-F14pp.

\-\-\-\--. 1990. Oil spill response checklist: dispersant use.
Unpubl.lit., Anchorage, AK. 5pp.

\-\-\-\--. 1990. Oil spill response checklist: in-situ burning.
Unpubl.lit., Anchorage, AK. 6pp.

Benz, C.T. and R.L. Britton. In press. Sea Otter Capture.
[In]{.underline}: [Emergency Care and Rehabilitation of Oiled Sea Otters
and Other Furbearing Marine Mammals]{.underline}. Williams, T.M. and
Davis, R.W., eds, University of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Britton, R.L. 1991. Proposed disposal guidelines for oil and hazardous
substance contaminated fish and wildlife specimens. U.S. Fish and Wildl.
Serv. unpubl.lit., Ventura, CA. 8pp.

Calkins, D.G. and K. B. Schneider. 1985. The Sea Otter
([Enhydra]{.underline} [lutris]{.underline}). [In]{.underline}: J.J.
Burns, K.J. Frost, and L.F. Lowry, eds. Marine Mammal Species Accounts.
Alaska Dept. Fish and Game Tech. Bullet. 7.

Cimberg, R.L. and D.P. Costa. 1985. North Aleutian Shelf sea otters and
their vulnerability to oil. [In]{.underline}: Oil Spill Conference
proceedings (prevention, behavior, control, cleanup). Los Angeles, CA.
Amer. Petroleum Institute Publ. No. 4385:211-217.

Davis, R.W. 1990. Advances in rehabilitating oiled sea otters: the
Valdez experience. International Wildlife Research, League City, TX.
20pp.

Davis, R.W. and T.M. Williams. 1990. Valdez Otter Rehabilitation Center.
[In]{.underline}: Sea otter symposium proceedings, Anchorage AK. U.S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 90(12):158-166.

Davis, R.W., T.M. Williams, and F. Awbrey. 1988. Sea otter oil spill
avoidance study. U.S. Dept. of Interior Minerals Mgmt. Serv. Rep.
MMS-88-0051. 64pp.

Davis, R.W. , T.M. Williams, J.A. Thomas, R.A. Kastelein and L.H.
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**APPENDIX 1: IN-SITU BURNING CHECKLIST**

**APPENDIX 2: DISPERSANT USE CHECKLIST**

**APPENDIX 3: CAPTURE, HANDLING AND TRANSPORT GUIDELINES**

Benz and Britton, in press

**APPENDIX 4: CARCASS DISPOSAL GUIDELINES**

Proposed disposal guidelines for oil and hazardous substance
contaminated fish and wildlife specimens (Britton, 1991)

**APPENDIX 5: PROPOSED DESIGN FOR SEA OTTER HOLDING PENS**

Advances in rehabilitating oiled sea otters: the Valdez experience
(Davis, 1990)

**APPPENDIX 6: ASSESSMENT/TRIAGE GUIDELINES**

Triage: assessment of oil exposure (T.M. Williams, in press)

**APPENDIX 7: HUSBANDRY GUIDELINES**

Husbandry at the Valdez Otter Rehabilitation Cener (Tuomi, 1990
Symposium proceedings)

**APPENDIX 8: EUTHANASIA GUIDELINES**

To be included when developed

**APPENDIX 9: RELEASE GUIDELINES**

To be added when developed, including list of potential release sites as
developed in Area Contingency Plans