Response Risk Communication Tools for Dispersants and Oil Spills

The current regulatory framework for oil spill response does not easily allow for integration of public and stakeholder participation and information sharing, nor does this framework consider risk perception as a significant factor in response efforts. With social media and more immediate exchange of information being used during crisis situations such as oil spills, it is important to consider these factors, since information from a variety of sources, including members of the public, can influence decision making and oil spill response outcomes. As evidenced in the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) incident, use of social media and rapid information sharing was an influence in the response, possibly impacting decision making. In particular, the use of dispersants as an oil spill countermeasure caused an outcry of concern amongst the public, when both information and misinformation spread through social media and some academic channels, which led to heightened fears about this response option. One logical way to address some of these issues is to better understand public concerns and beliefs regarding oil spills and response options, so that responders can better communicate about risks and share information in ways that people will understand. Likewise, engaging a broad range of stakeholders including members of the public, especially early during the pre-spill stage, a dialogue can be started and relationships formed that may enable improved collaboration and informed decision making in an actual spill situation. Led by co-PIs, Ann Hayward Walker of SEA Consulting Group and Ann Bostrom from the University of Washington (UW), the SEA/UW team was comprised of investigators with extensive public, private, and academic research experience with oil spills and risk communication. The investigators surveyed members of the public at large and analyzed Twitter data collected during DWH oil spill, assessed the use of scenarios, and summarized current issues regarding communicating uncertainty in oil spill planning and response. The survey research and social media analyses exploit new technology and analytical capabilities in both domains, and build on data from prior oil spill workshops as well as DWH. Quality assurance was provided through a peer-review workshop structured to comment on five draft white papers and discuss preliminary findings from the project’s research results. Products from this project can be applied immediately by NOAA, other federal, state and local, as well as industry, end users to promote effective response communications about dispersants and oil spills. Findings can also provide direct input to a strategic risk communications plan for oil spills and response options, including the use of dispersants, controlled burning, and mechanical clean-up. This project led to the development of preparedness recommendations and response tools to address public and stakeholder information needs and risk perceptions about dispersants and oil spills. The approach is original and integrative: building on a mental models approach for risk communications, the research team conducted original survey research, analyzed social media data, leveraged other current survey research and decision analysis, and integrated relevant social and natural science research findings to design effective and useful communications strategies for dispersant use at oil spills for use in future preparedness and response planning.