An FOSC’s Guide to 

NOAA Scientific Support

U.S. Department of Commerce

NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration • Emergency Response Division

Second edition, July 2010
Although released by NOAA, the information in this document does not reflect, represent, or form any part of the support of the policies of NOAA or the Department of 

Commerce. Further, release by NOAA does not imply that NOAA or the Department of 

Commerce agree with the information contained herein.

Cover photo 1: Fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil 

rig Deepwater Horizon, April 21, 2010. Photo courtesy of USCG.

Cover photo 2: NOAA observer Dave Wesley records data during an overflight in the Gulf 

of Mexico, April 28, 2010. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

Cover photo 3: From left, Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) team 

lead Graham McDonald, NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator John Whitney, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Larry Robinson investigate 

tar balls washed ashore on the beaches of Dauphin Island, Alabama, May 13, 2010. 

Photo courtesy of NOAA.

Dedication

NOAA’s Emergency Response Division (ERD) envisions a healthier environment for an improved quality of life wherever it may work.

Its mission is to develop, communicate, and apply practical and credible 

science in responding to risks and mitigating the consequences from spills 

and other hazards threatening coastal environments and communities.

This second edition of “An FOSC’s Guide to NOAA Scientific Support” 

is dedicated to the U.S. Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinators 

(FOSCs) and their staff, who consistently demonstrate their dedication 

to protecting lives, property, and the environment during responses to 

emergency incidents. NOAA’s Emergency Response Division thanks you 

for making us a valued part of your response team.

This guidebook is a product of the combined efforts of the entire ERD 

staff, and has been greatly improved by suggestions provided by experienced Coast Guard responders, including many great suggestions 

provided by the highly trained members of the National Strike Force.

Jim Jeansonne, Editor
iii

What’s New in Version 2

•	 Updated and expanded.

•	 More live links to Web pages and other sections of the guide:

•	 Reference and link to the USCG “An FOSC’s Guide to Environmental

Response.”

•	 Reference and link to the Memorandum of Agreement between NOAA

and the NPFC regarding funding for NOAA Scientific Support.

•	 New topics:

•	 NOAA Support for International Incidents.

•	 Dealing with Marine Debris.

•	 NOAA Leadership within the National Response Community, including

the co-facilitation with the USCG of Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) 

workshops.

•	 Best Management Practice (BMP) for Environmental Resource Protection.

•	 Consultation with USFWS and NMFS on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

and Endangered Species Act (ESA).

•	 New/updated tools:

•	 Chemical Reactivity Worksheet (CRW)

•	 Chemical Aquatic Fate and Effects Database (CAFÉ)

•	 Dispersant Mission Planner, version 2 (DMP2)

•	 Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®)

•	 NOAA Unit Converter for Oil Spill Response (NUCOS)
iv

NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) and Team Functions

Advisory

Principal science advisor to FOSC

Oil science and properties

Chemical sciences

Dispersant science/ monitoring (SMART)

Protected resource concerns

Chemical hazard assessment

Toxicity to wildlife and fish

Environmental best management practices

Environmental tradeoff analysis for ops

Resources at risk (RAR) analysis

Trajectory Forecasting

Oil slick trajectory forecasting

Oil slick location monitoring

Chemical transport modeling

Air plume modeling

WMD science issues

Weather, Tides & Currents

Custom spot weather forecasts

Tides and currents forecasts

Hazardous weather alerts

Coordination with National Hurricane Center

Hurricane evacuation threshold planning

Information Management & GIS

On-scene experienced IM team

Production of briefing materials

Production of operational maps

Information to Situation Unit

Establish and maintain photo database

Scientific information database

Provide common ops picture (ERMA®)

International Science Support

Experienced international team

SSC can travel with Strike Team

Health & Safety

Assist in safety plan development

Chemical and oil health effects

Chemical plume modeling

Threat potential to water intakes

Scientific Team Coordination

Environmental Unit Leader

General on-scene science coordination

Integration of science expertise into UC

SCAT Coordination

SCAT team coordination

SCAT field team leadership

SCAT team trustee representative

SCAT design and data management

Agency Coordination

Trustee issues and concerns

ESA consults for natural resources

RRT science coordination

Lead Administrative Trustee (LAT) integration into UC

Scientific consensus building

Access to all NOAA resources

Overflight Observation

Trained overflight oil observers

Maps oil location, type, amount

HEEDs trained and equipped

Rapid data transfer to UC

ICS Positions and Roles

SSC is FOSC Command Staff

SSC may be Environmental Unit Leader

Provides technical specialists (weather, overflight, 

chemical, trajectory, etc.)
v

Contents

Dedication ii

What’s New in Version 2 iii

NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) and 

 Team Functions iv

1 ABOUT THIS GUIDE 1

Purpose 1

Companion Guide - The USCG FOSC Guide Book for Environmental Response	 1

Using the NOAA FOSC Guide 2

Questions or Comments 2

2 THE SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT COORDINATOR AND TEAM 3

SSC Roles during a Response 3

Always Available to the FOSC 3

Directly Serving the FOSC 4

All NOAA SSC/SST Costs are per NPFC Agreement	 4

NOAA SSC Support to the Coast Guard 4

NOAA Scientific Support and the National Strike Force 5

NOAA SSC Support to other On-Scene Coordinators 5

NOAA Scientific Support for International Incident Planning and Responses 5

NOAA SSC Support for Special Incidents 6

Building Scientific Consensus and Dealing with Uncertainty	 7

The NOAA Scientific Support Team 7

Dealing with Marine Debris	 8

Access to all of NOAA’s Resources 9

Customized Science Support 9

RRT Science Integration and Coordination 10

3 BACKGROUND ON NOAA’s SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT 11

Origin of the SSC and Scientific Support Team 11

NOAA’s Advanced Scientific Support Team 11

The NOAA Scientific Support Organization 11

4 WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NOAA DURING A RESPONSE 12

After the NOAA SSC is Contacted 12

For an Oil Spill or Threat of a Spill 12

For a Chemical Incident 14

5 NOAA SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT BETWEEN INCIDENTS 17

Between Incidents – Facilitating Readiness	 17

NOAA Leadership within the National Response Community	 18

Research and Development of Response Science Tools 18

NOAA Field Team Readiness 18

SSC Coordination with Coast Guard Districts and Sectors 19

6 SPILL MODELING, FATE, AND TRANSPORT 20

Modeling - A Key Service	 20

Oil Fate and Trajectory Forecasting 20

NOAA’s Incident Modeling Experience	 20

NOAA Oceanographers Run Our Models	 20

Aerial Observation and Spill Mapping	 21

NOAA Oil Spill Models	 21

NOAA Chemical Incident Models	 22
vi

7 RESPONSE CHEMISTRY 25

Protection from Chemical Hazards - The Paramount Goal of Response	 25

During a Chemical Incident 25

During an Oil Spill 25

During a WMD Incident	 26

SMART (Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies)	 26

Dispersant Mission Planner 2 (DMP2)	 26

Chemistry Support Contract Laboratory	 27

Unusual or Specific Chemical Hazard Assessment	 28

Collaborating with Other Response Science Laboratories	 28

8 HEALTH AND SAFETY 29

NOAA Health and Safety Coordinator 29

Health and Safety Services Available 29

Chemical Incident Support 29

Oil Spill Support 30

Unusual or Specific Hazard Analysis 30

9 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION 31

Minimizing Environmental Impact	 31

NOAA’S Natural Resource Science Team 31

Resources at Risk (RAR) Analysis 31

Best Management Practices for Resource Protection	 32

The Role of Environmental Sensitivity Mapping	 32

Environmental Protection Priorities 32

Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) Leadership	 33

Natural Resource Publications for Responders 33

Required Consultation with NMFS and USFWS during a Federal Response	 33

NOAA’s Roles as Resource Manager and Trustee 34

Common Trustee Concerns and Activities during Response 34

Coordinating NRDA with Incident Response 35

Working with NRDA Trustees	 35

Separate NOAA NRDA Cost Accounting 36

10 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND GIS SUPPORT 37

Taming the Information Beast	 37

Planning and Operations Support 37

Synthesizing Information 37

SCAT Data Management	 38

ResponseLINK and IncidentNews - Data Sharing and Dissemination	 38

Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®) 39

Post-Incident Data Summaries 40

APPENDICES 41

1. Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) Contact Information 41

2. DOC/NOAA Regional Response Team (RRT) Representation	 43

3. NOAA’s Response Job Aids And Related Publications 45

4. Incident Response Forms 48

5. Online Incident Information 52

6. NOAA Response Models	 54

7. NOAA Response Training Availability 56

8. Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) During Incident Response 58

9. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Mapping	 60

10. Natural Resource Special Publications 62

11. Unit Conversion Table 64
1

1 ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Purpose

This “FOSC’s Guide to NOAA Scientific Support” provides a quick reference 

to the range of scientific support services available through NOAA’s Office 

of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division (ERD, commonly called “NOAA Hazmat”).

Through the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC), a full NOAA Scientific Support Team (SST) experienced in incident response science support 

is available to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC), day or night. 

The NOAA SSC is one of the special technical advisors within the Incident 

Command System (ICS), as specified in the National Oil and Hazardous

Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP, 40 CFR § 300.145), available 

at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/julqtr/pdf/40cfr300.145.pdf

(PDF; 46.7 kb) 

This guide describes the components of the NOAA SST, the duties and 

composition of the team elements, and their value to the FOSC and Unified 

Command. For a quick orientation to NOAA Science Support, Section 4 

gives a description of what to expect from the NOAA Scientific Support 

Team once you contact the SSC and the response progresses. A quick 

reference table of common NOAA SSC and team functions is located on 

page iii of this guide.

Companion Guide - The USCG FOSC Guide Book for 

Environmental Response

An excellent companion reference for environmental responses is “An 

FOSC’s Guide to Environmental Response,” compiled by the Gulf Strike 

Team in 2008. The guide is available at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/nsfweb/

docs/FOSCGuidev07.pdf (PDF; 995.8 kb). The purpose of the U.S. Coast 

Guard (USCG) guide is to provide a ready resource for Coast Guard and 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On-Scene Coordinators or their 

representatives for response to oil and hazardous substance emergency 
2

response operations. Where applicable, the USCG guide references the

National Contingency Plan (NCP) and other appropriate guidance.

Using the NOAA FOSC Guide

The NOAA Scientific Support guide is provided in hard copy and electronic 

form.

• Hard Copy – This handy-sized guide is designed to keep at the duty

station and with response gear. Use it when you don’t have quick access to a computer.

• Electronic Versions – The electronic version is a PDF file available via

the Internet at http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/foscguide and is 

more powerful than the hard copy. It links to the full text of a host of 

response-related materials, including many fillable response or training 

request forms, as well as additional response information. For quick 

access, place the Web link on your desktop. The PDF file can also be

saved to your computer and used when an Internet connection is not 

available.

• Future Insert for the IMH – Plans are in the works for a version of

this guide formatted as an insert to the Incident Management Handbook (IMH), for those who wish to customize their copy. The IMH version will be text only, similar to the “no frills” IMH structure.

Questions or Comments

If you have questions or comments about this guide, contact one of the 

following individuals:

Jim Jeansonne

NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator

Office: (727) 551-5714

Cell: (206) 276-5308

E-mail: Jim.Jeansonne@noaa.gov

John Tarpley

NOAA Hazmat

Regional Operations Chief (Chief SSC)

Office: (206) 526-6338

E-mail: John.Tarpley@noaa.gov
3

2 THE SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT COORDINATOR 

AND TEAM

The NOAA SSC is the FOSC’s gateway to the entire NOAA Scientific Support 

Team (SST).

SSC Roles during a Response

Scientific Support Coordinators (SSCs), per the National Contingency Plan 

(NCP), may be designated by the FOSC as principal advisors for:

• Scientific issues.

• Communication with the scientific community and Natural Resource 

Trustee agencies (the “Trustees”).

• Coordination of requests for assistance from state and federal agencies regarding scientific issues.

Typical SSC response functions, at the request of the FOSC, include:

•	 Leading a scientific team – such as serving as the Environmental Unit

Leader, or Scientific/Technical Team Leader.

• Providing scientific support for operational 

decisions – such as the tradeoffs for use of

alternative countermeasures.

•	 Coordinating on-scene scientific activity –

such as field sampling and integrating ongoing academic environmental studies into the 

response needs.

• Integrating expertise from governmental 

agencies, universities, community representatives, and industry to assist the FOSC in 

evaluating the hazards and potential effects 

of releases and in developing response 

strategies.

•	 Facilitating the FOSC/Unified Command’s communication with the Lead

Administrative Trustee (LAT) for natural resources to ensure coordination between damage assessment data collection efforts and data 

collected in support of response operations.

• Coordinating required emergency consultations for protected resources (such as threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, 

sensitive habitats, etc.)

Always Available to the FOSC

The NOAA SSC and the Scientific Support Team are available to the FOSC 

24 hours a day simply by calling the assigned NOAA SSC directly or the 

NOAA Hazmat 24-hour duty phone – (206) 526-4911. 

NOAA SSC discussing GNOME 

oil trajectory model display.
4

Directly Serving the FOSC

The NOAA SSC is one of the special technical advisors within the Incident 

Command System (ICS), as specified in the National Oil and Hazardous

Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP, 40 CFR § 300.145). Though 

often seated with the Environmental Unit of a Unified Command to support 

and liaise with the overall response effort, the NOAA SSC has a primary 

responsibility to serve the FOSC directly as a member of their staff.

All NOAA SSC/SST Costs are per NPFC Agreement

NOAA Hazmat and the National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC) have an

agreement that establishes procedures for the reimbursement of NOAA 

scientific support services as requested or approved by the FOSC. The 

agreement is available at http://www.uscg.mil/ccs/npfc/docs/PDFs/urg/

App/NPFC_MOU_AppA_03.pdf (PDF; 73.6 kb). This agreement, and any 

subsequent agreement, is only valid through the period of performance.

NOAA SSC Support to the Coast Guard

NOAA generally assigns SSCs to the Coast Guard Districts in support of 

Sector planning and response needs. (See Appendix 1 for a list of SSCs, 

their locations, and contact information.) SSCs may be augmented by SSC 

Representatives (SSCr) and Assistant SSCs (Asst SSC). Each individual SSC 

is supported by a complete Scientific Support Team that includes expertise 

in:

• Oil slick trajectory forecasting and monitoring.

• Pollutant transport modeling.

• Environmental chemistry.

• Chemical hazard assessment.

•	 Health and safety.

• Information management.

• Resources at risk.

•	 Biological assessments.

• Environmental tradeoffs of cleanup strategies.

• Natural Resource Trustee issues.

EPA FOSC and Coast Guard District 8 and Sector Port Arthur, TX 

Command with NOAA SSC during 

Hurricane Ike Response.
5

NOAA Scientific Support and the National Strike Force

NOAA Hazmat has developed a close working relationship with the USCG

National Strike Force and regional Strike Teams. More information on this

relationship can be obtained by contacting the Strike Team Commander in 

your area or the National Strike Force at the National Response Center:

Atlantic Strike Team

(609) 704-0008

Pacific Strike Team

(415) 883-3311

Gulf Strike Team

(251) 441-6601

National Strike Force

(800) 424-8802

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/nsfweb

NOAA SSC Support to other On-Scene Coordinators

NOAA SSC support, and the complete NOAA Scientific Support Team, may 

be available to other federal and state responders or Trustee agencies if requested. NOAA SSCs are not currently assigned to EPA regional emergency 

response offices or other federal agencies.

NOAA Scientific Support for International Incident Planning 

and Responses

Over the last three decades, NOAA has responded to approximately 35 

international incidents, including:

•	 M/T Hebei Spirit, Korea 2007.

•	 M/T Solar I, Philippines 2006.

•	 M/V Prestige, Spain 2002.

•	 T/V Nahodka, Japan 1997.

•	 T/V Braer, United Kingdom 1993.

•	 Arabian/Persian Gulf Spills, Kuwait 1991.

For international incidents, the NOAA SSC and team typically respond with 

the USCG Strike Team.

NOAA has also participated in joint spill exercises or provided SOS (Science 

of Oil Spills) training and planning support for the following foreign governments when requested through the U.S. State Department:

Americas and Caribbean

British Virgin Islands

Canada

Dominican Republic

Gulf of Fonseca region

Mexico

Panama

Africa

Egypt

Ghana

Gulf of Guinea region

Cameroon

Oceania

Australia

Micronesia

Europe

Bulgaria

Hungary

Malta

Portugal

Romania

Spain

Sweden

Ukraine

Eurasia

Cyprus

Persian (Arabian) Gulf

Republic of Georgia

Russia

Turkey

Asia

China

Korea

Philippines 

Vietnam
6

NOAA ERD has provided CAMEO training through the United Nations 

Environment Programme - Awareness and Planning for Emergencies at the 

Local Level (UNEP/APELL) in over 50 countries. Additionally, organizations

in other countries have translated CAMEO into several languages over the

years. 

ERD has also demonstrated its software to a number of other countries 

to assist in spill response planning and training. For example, IMEDEA

(Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) hosted an Advanced Oil

Spill Modeling Course in Spain in 2006. The course featured ERD’s GNOME

trajectory model and ADIOS2 oil weathering model.

NOAA SSC Support for Special Incidents

NOAA science support is for “all hazards.” The NOAA SSC experience 

can benefit an FOSC during emergency responses to natural disasters, 

ship groundings, significant national events, terrorist incidents, etc. For 

example, following the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in

2005, NOAA Scientific Support Teams played major roles in rescue support, response to the multiple large oil spills, chemical container location 

and cleanup, and debris removal. The NOAA SSC also frequently supports 

vessel salvage operations. NOAA scientific support for weapons of mass 

destruction (WMD) or significant national events typically includes air dispersion and waterborne chemical modeling.

NOAA SSC deployed with the Pacific Strike Team during Guimaras 

oil spill in the Philippeans.
7

Building Scientific Consensus and Dealing with Uncertainty

The NOAA SSC strives for a consensus on scientific issues affecting the 

response, but also ensures that differing opinions within the scientific community are communicated to the FOSC. By applying this available depth of

scientific knowledge and the NOAA SST experience to response issues, the 

FOSC receives the best scientific support available.

All scientific information has inherent limitations and uncertainty, and the 

sciences used during incident response have an abundance of both. An 

important duty of the NOAA SSC is to understand and clearly communicate the limitations and uncertainty associated with field data, trajectory 

forecasts, and other technical information provided to the FOSC and Unified 

Command.

The NOAA Scientific Support Team

Working closely with the NOAA SSC is an extensive team of NOAA scientists and technicians as both a home team (at ERD headquarters in Seattle 

and other offices), and the on-scene team. As a rule, the SSC is usually 

joined on-scene by several vital SST members.

The home team typically includes:

• A weather team working with 

National Weather Service

(NWS) Incident Meteorologists/

Forecasters to provide incidentspecific spot forecasts.

• Oceanographer-modelers running the computer models to 

generate trajectories, spill fate 

forecasts, and similar products.

• A chemistry team to advise on 

chemical reactivity, hazards, oil identification, and toxicology.

•	 Biologists to assist with natural resource protection strategies.

• An industrial hygienist to provide health and safety and toxicology consultation to the NOAA team and to consult with the Unified Command’s 

Safety Officer.

The on-scene team, in addition to the SSC, typically includes at least one 

Information Management (IM) specialist and a biologist-overflight observer.

The team may also include:

•	 Information Management (IM) specialists to manage the intense data

flow generated by a response, and support planning and operations 

by preparing and presenting information as GIS maps and large format 

displays.

NOAA ERD Home Team in the Seattle “War 

Room” conferring on an incident response.
8

• Shoreline Cleanup Assessment 

Technique (SCAT) specialists to 

coordinate, lead, and conduct 

both aerial and ground level 

SCAT surveys, as well as manage and deliver to responders 

the large amount of data often 

produced.

• Additional SSCs and SSC 

Representatives (SSCr) to assist 

and back-up the primary SSC 

during larger and more complex 

incidents.

• Sampling teams and supplies to collect source or environmental 

samples to support the response.

• Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) specialists to quantify 

injury, share biological expertise and coordinate response-Trustee issues within the ICS.

All on-scene NOAA personnel become part of the NOAA SST and are 

coordinated by the NOAA SSC, the NOAA team leader. The NOAA SSC is 

responsible for the overall NOAA team safety and ensures full coordination 

of NOAA activities with the Unified Command.

Dealing with Marine Debris

Marine debris is both a chronic issue and one

that complicates incident response efforts, 

especially following hurricanes. NOAA plays a 

major role in national and international efforts 

to deal with marine debris and recently established a Marine Debris Division (MDD) within the

Office of Response and Restoration to focus 

those efforts. 

At the request of the FOSC, the NOAA SSC will 

coordinate with the MDD to address marine

debris-related issues during a response. Since 2005, the NOAA team has 

worked very closely with NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey (OCS), USCG, EPA, 

FEMA, and DHS to manage the serious marine debris problem resulting

from the major hurricane strikes along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastal

areas. This collaboration resulted in survey and mapping of marine debris 

in coastal waters of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This information

was available to removal contractors, boaters, and other potential users on 

the project Web site: http://gulfofmexico.marinedebris.noaa.gov. Working

with its partners, MDD produced the Marine Debris Emergency Response

Plan, which used lessons learned from the response to marine debris after 

SCAT team calibration during the Mississippi River barge DM932 response.

Marine Debris on the beach 

at Kanapou Bay, Island of 

Kaho’olawe, HI, an area of very 

heavy accumulation.
9

Katrina and Rita, to develop recommendations and action items for addressing a future large scale dispersion of marine debris. 

NOAA’s Marine Debris Division has developed a program committed to

investigating and solving problems that stem from marine debris, through 

research, prevention, and reduction activities, in order to protect and conserve our nation’s marine environment and ensure navigation safety. The 

MDD supports and works closely with partners across the U.S. to fulfill its

mission, using these strategies to address marine debris:

• Facilitate, support, and conduct research and assessment of marine 

debris.

• Prevent and reduce the occurrence and impacts of marine debris.

• Develop, use, and disseminate tools and products to improve efforts 

to address marine debris.

• Encourage changes in behavior to address marine debris.

More information about NOAA’s marine debris work is available at http://

marinedebris.noaa.gov.

Access to all of NOAA’s Resources

Through the NOAA SSC, the FOSC can quickly access the myriad of resources available throughout NOAA. NOAA, as the nation’s premier oceanic 

and atmospheric science agency, can provide and coordinate a broad 

range of scientific resources during a response. For example, the SSC 

routinely requests the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) to provide

incident-specific spot weather forecasts once or twice a day. The NOAA 

SSC may also request special satellite data, aerial photography, navigation 

response teams, or vessel support from other NOAA line offices in special 

cases.

Customized Science Support

By discussing the needs of the specific incident with the NOAA SSC, an

FOSC will get science support tailored to the requirements of that particular incident in coordination with the local scientific and technical expertise 

available.

NOAA Scientific Support 

Team members collecting oil samples.
10

RRT Science Integration and Coordination 

The NOAA SSC for an area frequently serves as either the primary or 

alternate Regional Response Team (RRT) representative for the Department 

of Commerce (a role delegated to NOAA). The NOAA RRT representative 

provides leadership for the synthesis and integration of environmental 

information required for spill response decisions in support of the FOSC 

(§300.145(c)(4)). Note, however, if there is a potential conflict of interest 

between the NOAA SSC and their RRT role during an RRT decision, the 

same person will not serve in both roles for NOAA. 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) image and 

analysis indicating a surface anomaly, correctly identified as an oil slick 100 miles off the 

Texas coast.
11

3 BACKGROUND ON NOAA’s SCIENTIFIC 

SUPPORT

Origin of the SSC and Scientific Support Team

The idea of a scientific support function originated during the M/V Argo 

Merchant oil spill off Nantucket, MA in 1976, when it became apparent

that the FOSC required a focal point to coordinate scientific activity, with a 

technical staff to focus on the operational needs of the incident. Following 

the T/V Exxon Valdez spill and the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

(OPA 90), this idea was solidified as the Scientific Support Coordinator position within the Incident Command structure.

NOAA’s Advanced Scientific Support Team

The original idea evolved into NOAA Hazmat, now the Emergency Response

Division (ERD). Today’s NOAA Scientific Support Team includes response 

oriented scientists and technicians with expertise in oceanography, biology, 

chemistry, geomorphology, natural resources, human health and safety, 

and technical information management, who all directly support the FOSC. 

The SST represents a broad range of scientific disciplines and operational 

experience, having responded to most major U.S. spills and many major 

overseas incidents over the last three decades.

The NOAA Scientific Support Organization

The NOAA SSC, under the NCP, is the scientific support liaison to the 

FOSC. The NOAA SSC leads the full NOAA Scientific Support Team during 

a response. The SST is composed primarily of staff within the Emergency 

Response Division (ERD) of the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R). 

OR&R is within NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS). Scientists and staff 

from NOAA’s Assessment and Restoration Division (ARD) of OR&R frequently augment the SST. 

M/V Argo Merchant grounded off Nantucket, 1976.

T/V Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef, 

Prince William Sound, AK, March 24, 1989.
12

4 WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NOAA DURING A 

RESPONSE

After the NOAA SSC is Contacted

Once the Coast Guard calls the SSC (or Hazmat Duty Officer*) for scientific support, the SSC then contacts the NOAA Scienctific Support home 

team to provide several support products. The following list describes the 

products typically generated and the time frame in which they are usually 

available to the FOSC. All NOAA scientific support is customized per the 

support needs requested by the FOSC, through the assigned SSC. The following flow of products is typical. Some of the products discussed here are 

explained in detail later in the guidebook.

For an Oil Spill or Threat of a Spill

Initial Response Products and Actions – The first hour

• Initial trajectory report prepared by the home team and provided to the 

FOSC through the SSC, with interpretation.

• Oil fate information provided through the SSC.

•	 Weather forecast (thereafter once or twice a day).

• Tidal heights and currents (thereafter once a day or as needed).

• For inland spills, water level forecasts and river velocity estimates.

•	 Open Hotline on ResponseLINK (new postings added as needed and

available). See Appendix 5 for more information about ResponseLINK

and Hotline.

• Continue collecting and updating incident information.

*	 The Hazmat Duty Officer (HDO) is available 24 hours a day at (206) 526-4911. For calls after

regular hours (in Seattle), the answering service will immediately contact the HDO. The caller

should receive a return call within 30 minutes.

Example of tide graph.
13

Example of ResponseLINK Hotline.

Next Products (as needed) – The next two to four hours

•	 Modeling products - trajectory forecast map.

• Resources at risk (RAR) analysis.

• Toxicology information.

•	 Human health and safety consultation.

• Initial resource protection priorities 

recommendations.

The Remainder of Day One

• Discuss with FOSC future scientific support needs.

• If dispersant application, in situ burn, or other alternative countermeasures are being considered by the Command, the SSC will coordinate 

with natural resource managers and RRT representatives, and may assist the FOSC with convening an incident-specific RRT conference call. 

(This may occur earlier or later in the response, as appropriate.)

• If appropriate, the SSC responds on-scene and arranges for additional 

on-scene NOAA SST personnel.

•	 The SSC generally posts a daily incident summary to Hotline.

Days Two through the End of Response

•	 Home team continues to generate weather forecasts, oil fate estimates, trajectory forecasts, which are recalibrated daily from field 

observations, as requested by the FOSC through the SSC.

ALOHA threat zones displayed on a 

MARPLOT map.
14

Chemical Reactivity Worksheet 

–V.2 Main Page.

• Field-ready SST members requested should arrive and initiate field support by conducting initial aerial and/or ground level assessments. Data

from overflights and field teams are critical for the oceanographers to 

recalibrate water levels, currents, winds, and trajectory predictions.

• On-scene information management personnel set up and begin producing response support products and managing response-generated 

data.

•	 If a public Web site for access to appropriate response information is

desired, NOAA can set up an IncidentNews site. (See Appendix 5 for 

more information about IncidentNews.) 

• If source samples are obtained, they are shipped for fingerprinting and 

product characterization analysis to support response decisions.

• Composition of the SST adjusts as dictated by the response needs.

• Following the active response phase of significant incidents, a postincident data summary is prepared by NOAA for the FOSC.

For a Chemical Incident

Initial Response Products – Usually within the first hour

• Initial hazard assessment.

•	 Health and safety consultation with FOSC and Unified Command Safety

Officer.

•	 Open Hotline on ResponseLINK (new postings added as needed and

available).

•	 Weather forecast (thereafter once or twice a day).

• Reactivity report for potential mixing of affected chemicals.

•	 Hazard mitigation priorities consultation.

•	 Chemical property and response information (from CAMEO).

CRW-2 screen showing results of mixing two 

hazardous chemicals.
15

• Air dispersion modeling products, including threat zone estimates 

(from models such as ALOHA and NARAC). Modeling is updated as

needed for duration of incident.

Next Products (as needed) – The next two to four hours

• Air dispersion modeling products will be updated as needed for the 

duration of the incident.

• Pollutant transport forecast map (waterborne chemicals).

• Demographic information for potentially affected population and regulated facilities in the area (from census population data).

• Resources at risk (RAR) analysis.

• Toxicology.

• Additional human health and safety issue consultation with responders.

• Additional resource protection priorities.

The Remainder of Day One

• Discuss with FOSC future scientific support needs.

• If appropriate, SSC responds on-scene and arranges for additional onscene NOAA SST personnel.

•	 The SSC generally posts a daily incident summary to Hotline.

Days Two through the End of Response

•	 Home team continues to generate weather forecasts, chemical fate

projections, waterborne chemical trajectory forecasts, etc., as requested by the FOSC through the SSC.

• Requested field-ready SST members arrive and initiate field support by 

conducting initial field assessments.

• On-scene information management personnel set up and begin producing response support products and managing response-generated 

data.

•	 If a public Web site for access to appropriate response information is

desired, NOAA can set up an IncidentNews site. (See Appendix 5 for 

more information about IncidentNews.) 

• If source samples are obtained, they are shipped for product characterization analysis to support response decisions.

• Composition of the SST adjusts as dictated by the response needs.

• Following the active response phase of significant incidents, a postincident data summary is prepared by NOAA for the FOSC.
16

All Hazard Incident Support

For other types of incidents or events (“All Hazards” support), NOAA Scientific Support will have a similar structure and chronology to those described 

above, but will be specialized to the unique nature of that event. Examples 

of such incidents include hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, 

vessel groundings, Right whale strike investigations, certain vessel and 

aircraft searches, nationally significant events such as political conventions, 

Superbowl events, and potential terrorist WMD incidents.

NOAA Satellite image of Hurricane Bill in 2009.

Acid leaking from side of storage tank at chemical facility.
17

5 NOAA SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT BETWEEN 

INCIDENTS

Between Incidents – Facilitating Readiness

In addition to supporting on-going incident responses, much of the support 

provided by the NOAA SSC and ERD is accomplished between incidents. 

While the NOAA SSCs are the individuals the FOSC works through, they

represent an extensive team of experienced and talented emergency response scientists within ERD and other divisions of the Office of Response 

and Restoration. The NOAA SSCs and other key ERD personnel participate 

in or arrange a host of response training, readiness, research and development, and leadership activities. These include local, regional, national and 

international response community efforts, such as:

• Regional Response Team (RRT) and Area Committee leadership and 

science integration to prepare Regional and Area Contingency Plans 

(RCPs and ACPs). (See Appendix 2 for the NOAA RRT representation by 

region.)

• Spill training coordination, exercise planning, and support during the 

exercise. (Contact your SSC for training or drill support.)

• Development and updating of the NOAA scientific support computer 

models, special tools for responders (Spill Tools), and ERD’s handy 

response “Job Aid” booklets. (See Appendix 3 for a list and description 

of available job aids.)

• Development of response-related technical documents. (See Appendix 

10 for a list and description.)

• Coordination of response science training (“Science of Oil Spills”) by 

NOAA ERD. (See Appendix 7 for ERD training opportunities.)

• Co-facilitation with the USCG of Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) 

workshops, in which participants develop a consensus of the potential 

ecological risks of response options considered during spills. (See Appendix 7 for more about ERA Workshops.)

• Creation of supporting documentation for exercises (such 

as trajectories, resources at 

risk, weather), and participation in those exercises. 

• Creation of Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps. (See 

Appendix 9 for more about ESI 

maps.)

USCG National Strike Force and NOAA SSC 

participating in SMART training.
18

• Alternative countermeasures review and approval, including leadership 

in developing and updating SMART dispersant and in situ burn (ISB)

monitoring protocols and technology.

NOAA Leadership within the National Response Community

NOAA ERD personnel actively participate in National Response Team (NRT) 

leadership, including NRT committees and special work groups. NOAA ERD 

scientists are a well known and integral part of the national scientific community, especially in the field of oil and chemical incident response science.

Research and Development of Response Science Tools

In addition to refining and updating NOAA’s existing array of response applications, guides, and tools, NOAA ERD scientists are constantly developing new ones. Currently, some of our tools, such as the new Chemical 

Aquatic Fate and Effects (CAFÉ) application, may only be available through

the NOAA SSC since they are still being tested and refined. CAFÉ, for

example, was successfully “tested” during a March 2009 incident involving

an overturned barge containing a mixture of zinc and calcium bromide in 

the Mississippi River.

The rapidly advancing fields of information communication and data processing provide both great opportunities and challenges for responders. 

Chemical incidents pose especially time-dependent support needs.

NOAA Field Team Readiness

All members of the NOAA SST who respond on-scene are appropriately 

trained and equipped for the duties they will perform. To accomplish this, 

field personnel routinely train and update their skills with in-house and external training and certifications, including:

•	 OSHA/HAZWOPER - All field personnel are 40-hour certified and current.

•	 Incident Command System (ICS) - All NOAA Hazmat responders have

completed at least IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 training, as well 

as having considerable on-scene experience. NOAA SSCs have also 

completed advanced ICS and USCG courses such as ICS-300, ICS-410 

(Type 2 Incident Commander), and Crisis Management training. Higher

level and specific position ICS trained personnel are available to fill 

specific science team functions.

•	 First aid/CPR - Field personnel are required to be current.

• Aircraft safety - NOAA SST responders have completed Offshore Survival and Helicopter Emergency Egress Device (HEED) training.

• Small boat operation and safety.

• General field operations, including use of GPS receivers, digital photography, satellite phones, etc.
19

• Cold climate trained and equipped when deployed to such climates.

• SCAT team member trained (SCAT leaders, coordinators, or trainers 

are available if needed).

•	 Aerial Observation training, including SMART Tier 1 observation (for

specific field responders).

SSC Coordination with Coast Guard Districts and Sectors

SSCs spend much of their time between incidents building solid working 

relationships and coordinating with FOSC’s and their staff within their assigned Coast Guard Districts. In this way, their ability to communicate with 

and support the FOSC during an actual incident is greatly enhanced.

USCG National Strike 

Force participating in 

SMART training.

NOAA Scientific Support Team members 

taking helicopter egress 

training.
20

6 SPILL MODELING, FATE, AND TRANSPORT

Modeling - A Key Service

Trajectory forecasting, real-time tracking of oil and chemical spills, and 

air plume forecasts are critical services required by the FOSC and Unified 

Command. These services are central to good response planning to protect responders, communities, and the environment, and to maximize the 

effective use of expensive and scarce response resources.

Oil Fate and Trajectory Forecasting

The goals of oil fate and trajectory forecasting are to predict oil weathering 

processes, such as evaporation and dispersion, and where the remainder 

of the oil will go and when. The computer tools used by NOAA to forecast 

weathering and trajectories are ADIOS and hydrodynamic models to approximate the currents, and the transport model, GNOME, to incorporate

the currents, maps, and spill-specific information to move the spill around. 

These NOAA models are discussed in more detail later in this section.

NOAA’s Incident Modeling Experience

NOAA HAZMAT has provided vital spill fate and transport forecast services

since the M/V Argo Merchant spill in 1976. HAZMAT has responded to approximately 100 requests each year for incident modeling assistance and 

has over 30 years of spill experience evaluating real-time at-sea conditions, 

running trajectory models, and providing interpretation of model output. In 

consult with the NOAA SSC, this experience is available to assist the FOSC 

and Unified Command during an incident. 

NOAA Oceanographers Run Our Models

NOAA uses physical oceanographers, not just technicians, to set up and 

run our models. This is because we have determined that a high level of 

expertise and training is required to fully understand and use trajectory 

Number of incidents for which NOAA Hazmat has provided support, 1999 to 2009.
21

models in an operational environment. The modeler must understand what 

factors drive the environment and what available real-time or forecast 

geophysical data most reliably represent those factors on a given day. 

Our oceanographers acquire and review appropriate field data needed to 

calibrate and adjust the forecast to provide the most accurate trajectory 

forecast to the FOSC. The NOAA modeling team understands the limitations 

and uncertainties of the trajectory forecasts, and clearly communicates 

these to the FOSC through the SSC.

Aerial Observation and Spill Mapping

Aerial observations by NOAA’s trained observers 

are used to collect critical field data used for 

spill planning and operations, as well as trajectory model calibration and verification. While

helicopters are generally the preferred aircraft, 

conditions of the incident will dictate the aircraft 

used for operational overflights. The NOAA team 

generally does not provide or hire aircraft, but 

requests available seat assignments through the 

ICS. The NOAA SST does provide field-ready, 

safety-trained, and experienced overflight observers. NOAA’s aerial observers work closely with 

our information management staff to rapidly and 

accurately convert the raw overflight observations 

to tactical planning information and maps for the 

Unified Command.

NOAA Oil Spill Models

Below is a summary of some of the more common NOAA response models

used by the NOAA team. Detailed model information and instructions for 

free downloads are available in Appendix 10, and through our Web site,

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov. A NOAA report “Hazmat Modeling

Products for Spill Response and Planning” (2002) is also available at http://

response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/958_products.pdf (PDF; 1.14 

MB). The report describes in detail the modeling and simulation products

that NOAA provides to help professional responders, as well as the 

general public, understand, plan 

for, and respond to oil and chemical spills.

NOAA SSC conducting 

aerial overflight.

NOAA Hazmat oceanographers running 

GNOME oil trajectory model.
22

GNOME (General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment)

This model was developed by NOAA ERD to simulate the movement of a 

substance on or in the water. The GNOME model is the primary tool used

by NOAA to forecast the movement of oil for responders. NOAA strongly 

recommends that the FOSC and Unified Command, through the NOAA SSC, 

request that NOAA oceanographers provide the trajectory forecasts using 

GNOME. GNOME can also be used between incidents as a planning tool.

ADIOS 2 (Automated Data Inquiry for 

Oil Spills, ver.2)

ADIOS 2 estimates the evaporation, 

natural dispersion, and other weathering 

processes of oil in the ocean for up to the 

first five days after it is spilled. An easy 

to run model, ADIOS 2 inputs include oil 

chemistry data from its large library of oil 

types, wind and sea state, and volume 

spilled over time. ADIOS 2 outputs support decisions by the Unified Command 

by providing tables and graphs that show 

changes in the volume of oil left floating, and oil density and viscosity over 

time. The ADIOS 2 weathering predictions help responders decide if and 

when skimmers or dispersants may be effective.

TAP (Trajectory Analysis Planner)

For spill contingency planning, NOAA’s TAP model provides a statistically 

based approach to help protect an area against likely oil spills. TAP is not 

designed to use during response to an actual spill, but provides an excellent approach to response planning, preparedness, and consequence analysis. Area spill committees can use it to help develop their Area Contingency 

Plan (ACP).

NOAA Chemical Incident Models

Chemical incidents require a particularly rapid and informed response to 

protect the public and responders. NOAA ERD, jointly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has developed the CAMEO (Computer-Aided

Management of Emergency Operations) software suite to quickly provide

accurate information to Incident Command. These programs are also 

important training and preparedness tools for first responders.

The CAMEO integrated suite of applications includes:

•	 CAMEO – Data management modules used to keep track of information (such as chemical inventories and contacts) and an interface for 

navigating between other programs in the CAMEO suite.

ADIOS 2 oil fate graphical output.
23

•	 CAMEO Chemicals – A database of hazardous chemicals—with physical properties, hazards, and response recommendations—and a tool

for predicting how chemicals might react if mixed.

•	 ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) – An air dispersion

model that estimates threat zones for chemical releases.

•	 MARPLOT (Mapping Application for Response, Planning, and Local

Operational Tasks) – A simple mapping program, which can display

ALOHA threat zones and CAMEO facilities.

•	 Chemical Reactivity Worksheet – Similar to CAMEO Chemicals, this

program focuses solely on hazards, and allows users to add their own 

chemicals to the database.

CAMEO Chemicals contains an extensive database, which includes response recommendations 

for thousands of hazardous chemicals. Chemical 

datasheets provide physical properties, health 

hazards, information about air and water hazards, 

and recommendations for firefighting, first aid, 

and spill response. UN/NA datasheets show where

to find response information from the Emergency 

Response Guidebook and shipping information from 

the Hazardous Materials table (49 CFR 172.101).

Users can also create a collection of chemicals and 

see what hazards might occur if those chemicals 

mixed. CAMEO Chemicals is available online at

http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov and as a downloadable program at http://response.restoration.

noaa.gov/cameochemicals.

ALOHA is a short-range hazard modeling program that estimates threat

zones for chemical releases that may result in toxic gas clouds, BLEVEs

(Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions), jet fires, vapor cloud explosions, and pool fires. ALOHA threat zones can be displayed on maps in

MARPLOT or they can be exported to ArcView or ArcMap. (These Arc

export extensions are available at http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/

aloha_arctools.) Additional information regarding hazardous releases into 

the atmosphere may also be provided from sources such as the National 

Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC).

MARPLOT is a general-purpose mapping application that can be used to

easily view and modify maps (including drawing new objects on the map). 

MARPLOT can display ALOHA threat zones, get population estimates, and

link objects on a map to the CAMEO database.

Chemical Reactivity Worksheet (CRW) is a program that predicts potential

reactive hazards (such as flammability, explosivity, and toxicity) posed by 

each chemical in the database. The program also predicts the hazards that 

Main CAMEO screen 

provides easy access to 

CAMEO data management modules and 

other parts of the CAMEO 

suite.
24

might occur if multiple chemicals were mixed together. Much of the functionality of the reactivity worksheet is also available in CAMEO Chemicals,

but only the CRW allows the user to create their own chemical records.

A chemical tool separate from the CAMEO suite is the Chemical Aquatic

Fate and Effects Database (CAFÉ). For chemical spills into an aquatic

environment, CAFÉ can be used by the NOAA SSC and ERD scientists to

predict the fate of spilled chemicals, and the effects they may have on 

those ecosystems. Information contained in CAFÉ includes:

• Important physical properties of over 40,000 chemicals.

•	 Ways in which the chemicals are used.

•	 Model outputs for partitioning of the chemical and the water phase.

• The chemicals’ evaporation rates from a river or lake.

• The chemicals’ biodegradation rates.

• The entire EPA ECOTOX database of aquatic organism ecotoxicity data. 

• Analytical methods for analysis.

• Detailed water reactivity (i.e., hydrolysis information, including products 

of reaction).

An important feature of CAFÉ is its easy-to-use interface that allows the

user to graph toxicity data quickly for presentation purposes during a spill 

event.

At this time, CAFÉ is only available for ERD use in support of responses,

but not for public distribution.

Median LC50 (Lethal Concentration 50; the concentration in water that kills 50% of 

the test organisms) data for 24-hour exposure of benzene to aquatic organisms.
25

7 RESPONSE CHEMISTRY

Protection from Chemical Hazards - The Paramount Goal 

of Response

In addition to the chemical reactivity, trajectory and air plume forecasting 

discussed above, the FOSC and Unified Command need fast and accurate 

chemical hazard information to protect responders and the public during a response. NOAA ERD therefore places a priority on providing a high 

level of chemical and toxicological support to the responders. Through 

the SSC, the NOAA chemistry team provides the expertise and information 

necessary to evaluate the chemical hazards associated with both chemical 

and oil spills and responses. These 

include detailed information on oil and 

chemical properties and composition, 

reactivity, and environmental interactions associated with the specifics of 

an incident. This information is used 

by the NOAA SSC to advise the FOSC 

and Unified Command on pollution 

movement, resources at risk, and 

possible routes of human or environmental exposure.

During a Chemical Incident

Through the SSC, the chemistry team:

• Provides concise chemical information, using sources such as the 

chemical datasheets in CAMEO Chemicals, which include response

information, physical properties, and toxicity levels of concern.

• Evaluates how substances react in the environment.

• Indicates potential interactions among spilled chemicals.

•	 Warns about reaction by-products, such as toxic gases.

• Advises on possible mitigation options.

•	 Helps design sampling protocols for on-scene conditions.

• Identifies resources for sample analysis, if appropriate.

• Interprets and verifies analytical results.

During an Oil Spill

Through the SSC, the chemistry team:

• Evaluates oil composition and properties.

• Predicts oil weathering rates and fates.

• Advises on the suitability of alternate countermeasures, such as burning, dispersion, bioremediation, or chemical application.

Fluorosilic acid incident, Braithwaite, LA.
26

•	 Helps design sampling protocols for on-scene conditions.

• Identifies resources for sample analysis, if appropriate.

• Interprets and verifies analytical results.

During a WMD Incident

In the event of a weapons-of-mass-destruction (WMD) incident, NOAA ERD

can provide many of the scientific and information management support 

services that FOSCs have relied on during more typical pollution incidents 

and following natural disasters in recent years. The products and services flow would initially be similar to that of a large chemical air or water 

release, and transition into the long-term science support NOAA frequently 

provides following major hurricanes. 

SMART (Special Monitoring 

of Applied Response 

Technologies)

SMART is a cooperatively designed

monitoring program for in situ burning and dispersant application. NOAA 

ERD is actively involved at a national 

level in the SMART program, advising

on research and development needs 

and training responders, such as the 

National Strike Force. This includes 

evaluation and training with the new dispersant monitoring system that uses 

the Turner Designs® C3 submersible fluorometer at the OHMSETT facility

with the USCG National Strike Force. NOAA SSCs and the chemical team 

lead the work group that reviews SMART protocols and the monitoring

system operating manuals. More information about SMART is available at

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/648_SMART.pdf (PDF; 

769.6 kb).

Dispersant Mission Planner 2

The new Dispersant Mission Planner, version 2 (DMP2) is a tool that spill

responders and planners can use to assess dispersant application system 

performance. DMP2 is an update to the Dispersant Mission Planner that

was originally part of the Spill Tools software collection. New features 

include:

• Enabling Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSROs) to evaluate Effective 

Daily Application Capacities (EDAC) for different dispersant application 

systems, using DMP2’s EDAC Mode. This allows OSROs to evaluate

compliance with the dispersant application requirements in new Coast 

Guard rules. (Effective September 30, 2009, the Coast Guard’s rules 

for facility and vessel owners require dispersant capability. To demonAircraft applying chemical oil dispersant 

over an oil discharge.
27

strate this capability, planholders need to make manual calculations of 

EDAC for each dispersant application platform they intend to use, or 

use DMP2.)

•	 In operational mode, DMP2 provides general performance estimates

for the application of dispersants involving a specified oil spill concentration, application platform, and scenario. It can be used to refine and 

optimize system configurations and to examine staging and logistical 

support.

Appendix 6 links to more information about DMP2 and to download instructions. 

Chemistry Support Contract Laboratory

In addition to our in-house chemistry team, NOAA ERD contracts with an 

experienced analytical and consulting laboratory so that we can provide 

the highest level of chemistry support to the FOSC. Through the SSC, this 

laboratory capability provides the FOSC with overnight answers to critical 

questions about oil weathering, contamination sources, and chemical identities.

Dispersant Mission Planner 2 dosage page.
28

Unusual or Specific 

Chemical Hazard 

Assessment

Oil sample chromatogram or “fingerprint” 

produced by the NOAA ERD chemistry team.

Because every chemical release

poses unique threats, the NOAA 

SST chemistry team has the special 

training and experience to deal 

with unusual and specific chemical 

hazards and analytical issues during 

spills. For example, through the 

NOAA SSC, the team can review 

and advise the FOSC on the suitability of specific state-of-the-art chemical or bioremediation response options, and any associated toxicological 

issues.

Collaborating with Other Response Science Laboratories

The chemistry team often collaborates with other chemists and analytical 

laboratories, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratory and

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); chemists from

academia and industry; and other experts to resolve problematic sample 

characterizations or 

special tasks associated 

with incident response.

Example of Oil Chemistry 

Report.
29

8 HEALTH AND SAFETY

NOAA Health and Safety Coordinator

The NOAA SST includes an in-house Health and Safety Coordinator to

provide the expertise and information necessary for evaluating the human 

health hazards associated with oil and chemical releases. In addition to being available to advise the FOSC through the NOAA SSC, the NOAA Health

and Safety Coordinator, a Certified Industrial Hygienist, ensures that all

NOAA field personnel are fully safety-trained and equipped for aircraft, boat, 

and remote field operations.

Health and Safety Services Available

• Detailed information on allowable human exposure levels.

• Recommendations for personal protective gear for the incident, based 

on the specifics of a release.

• Evaluation of potential routes of human exposure.

•	 Consultation with OSHA, the Center for Disease Control, the Agency for

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and similar agencies.

• Site safety plan design for NOAA SST personnel.

• Consultation with the Unified Command safety officer.

• Assistance in designing sampling protocols for on-scene conditions to 

meet OSHA requirements.

• Interpretation of analytical results.

• Review of specific response actions and tools for their human health 

and safety suitability (such as application of surface cleaning agents).

• Consultation with NOAA SST chemists and air modelers to design air 

monitoring strategies.

Chemical Incident Support

During chemical incidents, the NOAA Health and Safety Coordinator

focuses on how substances can affect the incident responders, as well as 

an exposed population (whether by inhalation, absorption, or ingestion) and 

possible mitigation options following an incident.

Phosphoric Acid spilling from phosphogypsum stack near Houston, 

TX.
30

In-situ burn after Hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Oil Spill Support

During oil spills, the NOAA Health and Safety

Coordinator focuses on the health and safety 

aspects of the spill on the responders, and when 

applicable, on the public at large. The NOAA 

Health and Safety Coordinator assists in evaluating different cleanup methods, such as burning, 

dispersants, and skimming, and also considers 

effects associated with manual beach cleanup, 

including workers’ exposure to oil agents, decontamination issues, and physical stresses, such as 

heat or cold. 

Unusual or Specific Hazard Analysis

The NOAA Health and Safety Coordinator has

the expertise to provide guidance to deal with 

unusual and specific hazards during incidents.

NOAA scientist assessing 

level of oiling on Alaskan 

beach.
31

9 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Minimizing Environmental Impact

Chief goals of spill response are to prevent, minimize, and mitigate impacts 

to the environment. The NOAA Scientific Support Team (SST) brings a 

wealth of experience and knowledge of natural resource protection strategies to assist the FOSC in doing just that.

NOAA’S Natural Resource Science Team

The NOAA SST includes an impressive depth of expertise in natural 

resource science, including: marine and aquatic biology, coastal geology,

geochemistry, fisheries science, ecology, aquatic toxicology, fish and 

shellfish pathology, seafood safety, and environmental microbiology. More

importantly, our scientists have extensive experience in applying this expertise to the unique challenges of spill response. NOAA’s Office of Response 

and Restoration (OR&R) personnel have responded to oil and chemical spills 

throughout the world, from the Arctic to the tropics, helping protect icy, 

sandy, and rocky coasts, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Resources at Risk (RAR) Analysis

One of the first priorities of the SST is to provide a rapid analysis of the 

natural resources at risk (RAR) as a result of the incident. This RAR analysis 

mostly involves risk to sensitive biological resources, but also encompasses human-use resources (such as drinking or cooling water supplies 

and recreational areas), as well as cultural and historical resources. To 

properly protect the latter, the NOAA SSC actively coordinates with the 

State Historic Preservation Office

(SHPO) for the affected state(s).

Within hours of notification and

collection of basic spill information, the SST can produce a brief 

written description of RAR in the 

spill area, along with properties of 

the spill product and how a spill 

may affect the environment. RAR 

information is used to complete 

the ICS-232 form, Resources at 

Risk Summary. See Appendix 4

for a list of ICS forms and how to 

access them online.

Example of a RAR analysis.
32

Best Management Practices for Resource Protection

In order to clearly communicate to response operations how to minimize 

adverse effects on natural resources during cleanup, the NOAA SSC may 

develop a concise Best Management Practices (BMP) document. The BMP

contains detailed instructions to field observers and crew chiefs on how 

they can direct crews to accomplish cleanup objectives with the least injury 

to the environment. It also contains important Environmental Unit contact 

information in the event additional information is needed. The BMP is

prepared in consult with all appropriate agency resource managers, using 

the practical experience and expertise of the SSC and the whole SST to 

allow the cleanup to proceed in an efficient, yet environmentally responsible 

manner.

The Role of Environmental 

Sensitivity Mapping

The primary tools for RAR analysis 

are the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps. ESI maps help spill 

responders and planners identify 

vulnerable coastal locations before 

a spill happens, so that protection 

priorities can be established and 

cleanup strategies identified in 

advance. NOAA ERD researchers, 

working with colleagues in other 

government agencies and private 

consulting experts, have produced 

ESI maps for most coastal areas in 

the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii,

the Great Lakes, and the U.S. Territories. More information about ESI maps

is available in Appendix 9.

Environmental Protection Priorities

Incident responders have limited response resources and time. Therefore, 

the FOSC and Unified Command must prioritize the environmental protection and cleanup strategy. The NOAA SSC may consult with the RRT 

members and Natural Resource Trustees, and strives for a consensus when 

considering the RAR and the operational tradeoffs of available response 

strategies. When presenting recommendations to the FOSC, the NOAA

SSC presents the consensus opinion, as well as the range of opinions 

expressed. Between incidents, SSCs take a leadership role in Area Committees, working with resource stakeholders to determine protection priorities 

for each area to produce Geographic Response Plan (GRP) maps for the 

Area Contingency Plans (ACPs).

Section of Environmental Sensitivity Index 

map.
33

Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) 

Leadership

Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) surveys are conducted to determine shoreline types and degree of oiling. This information 

is provided to the Planning Section to help prioritize cleanup operations. 

As shoreline cleanup proceeds, SCAT is used to help determine “how clean 

is clean” endpoints. SCAT surveys are conducted by small field teams 

composed of members determined by the specific purpose of the surveys. 

NOAA SST field personnel are trained and experienced in planning, conducting, leading, training, and coordinating all aspects of SCAT surveys. 

Further, the NOAA SST members are skilled at coordinating, processing, 

and archiving the vast amount of SCAT data produced during a spill. The 

information can then be analyzed and summarized to facilitate the FOSC 

making informed decisions regarding cleanup operations and endpoints.

Additionally, NOAA ERD is an active leader nationally in reviewing and revising the SCAT process and providing SCAT training to Coast Guard, state, 

and local responders.

Natural Resource Publications for Responders

NOAA ERD produces publications to assist responders in understanding 

the sensitive nature of several natural resources at risk from oil spills, and 

potential ways to deal with them. The current list of these publications 

includes:

•	Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations.

•	Oil and Sea Turtles: Biology, Planning, and Response.

•	Oil Spills in Mangroves: Planning and Response Considerations.

•	 Managing Seafood Safety after an Oil Spill.

•	Guidance on Sensory Testing and Monitoring of Seafood for Presence

of Petroleum Taint Following an Oil Spill.

•	 Characteristic Coastal Habitats: Choosing Spill Response Alternatives.

Appendix 10 provides additional information on each of the natural resource 

publications, including an Internet link to access them. For information on 

other available NOAA response job aids, see Appendix 3.

Required Consultation with NMFS and USFWS during a 

Federal Response

An FOSC directing a federal action, including pollution response, is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7, to consult with the 

Secretary of Interior and/or Commerce (delegated to the National Marine

Fisheries Service (NMFS)) if the federal action (the response, not the pollution itself) may adversely affect ESA-listed species, or their critical habitat. 

Similarly, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
34

Act that designates Essential Fish 

Habitat (EFH), requires consultation

with the NMFS if the federal action

may affect EFH. The NOAA SSC,

in coordination with appropriate 

RRT representatives, may facilitate 

this required consultation. For ESA 

Section 7 consultations, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was

developed between USCG, EPA, 

DOI, and NOAA NMFS and NOS,

effective in July 2001, establishing 

procedures for such consultations. The agreement is available at http://www.uscg.mil/ccs/npfc/docs/

PDFs/urg/App/NPFC_MOU_AppA_03.pdf (PDF, 73.6 kb). This agreement, 

and any subsequent agreement, is only valid through the period of performance. 

NOAA’s Roles as Resource Manager and Trustee 

NOAA has been delegated three natural resource Trustee roles that are 

relevant to response.

1.	In National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research

Reserves, NOAA is the direct resource manager and is responsible for 

in-depth management of those resources on a year-round basis. 

2.NOAA Regional Response Team Representatives. NOAA’s RRT representative and alternates coordinate with all NOAA units and focus 

their concerns on resource questions related to emergency response 

efforts. 

3.NOAA is a Trustee for Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). 

In this capacity, NOAA is responsible for quantifying injuries caused by 

the release (or potential release) and response actions, and securing 

comparable restoration to compensate the public.

To ensure that the NOAA SSC retains the scientific objectivity required to 

serve the FOSC, NOAA’s NRDA Trustee functions are carried out through 

a separate division of the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), the 

Assessment and Restoration Division (ARD). The SSC will coordinate the 

interaction and participation of ARD with the Unified Command.

Common Trustee Concerns and Activities during Response

Each Trustee role has characteristic concerns during the response:

Natural Resource Trustee recording shoreline oiling.
35

NOAA Sanctuary or Reserve Manager (who may or may not be a 

Trustee; often part of the Environmental Unit (EU))

•	 Protection and cleanup of managed resources.

•	 Public access to managed lands, etc.

Resource Manager (Usually for specially protected species. Manager may

or may not be a Trustee; often part of the EU)

•	 Protection of specially protected resources and critical habitat.

•	 Essential Fish Habitat protection (Magnusen-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act), including consultations.

RRT Representatives (assigned by each agency)

•	 Environmental impact of response strategies.

•	 Incident-specific issues include: Port of Refuge, in situ burning, dispersant application.

NRDA (Agency Trustee representatives assigned to conduct NRDAs)

•	 Conducting a preliminary survey to determine if natural resources 

under Trustee jurisdiction are potentially affected.

•	 Co-Trustee and Trustee-Responsible Party (RP) NRDA discussions and 

coordination of data collection.

•	 Collecting ephemeral NRDA data and samples.

•	Opening a dialog with the National Pollution Fund Center.

•	 Conducting detailed field assessments and overflights, when appropriate.

•	NRDA data sharing with RPs and Unified Command.

Coordinating NRDA with Incident Response

The relationship of NRDA to the Unified Command and response efforts is 

often misunderstood. While in the past, NRDA activities were often poorly

coordinated with response and occurred outside of the structure or control 

of the Unified Command, this is changing. Trustee representatives are concerned with, and skilled at, determining the threats to the natural resources 

under their jurisdiction. Since the FOSC is charged with protecting these 

same natural resources, both groups can greatly benefit by better integration of the two processes during an incident response. The NOAA SSC can 

greatly facilitate this integration.

Working with NRDA Trustees

Under the National Contingency Plan, both the FOSC and Natural Resource 

Trustees (the “Trustees”) are responsible for protecting natural resources 

during an incident response (NCP, 40 CFR § 300.615). The NRDA Trustees 

must coordinate natural resource damage assessment and restoration 

(NRDAR or NRDA) actions with the Unified Command. NRDA liaisons, work-
36

ing closely with the Liaison Officer, and Planning and Operations Sections

are the main conduit for effective information sharing. The SSC also facilitates Natural Resource Trustee coordination and communication with the 

Unified Command. 

The OR&R Assessment and Restoration Division (ARD) is NOAA’s lead in the 

NRDA.

Separate NOAA NRDA Cost Accounting

All NRDA-related costs for NOAA are accounted for separately from 

response-related costs. NRDA costs are documented and recovered 

through agreements directly with the RP and/or the Oil Spill Liability Trust

Fund. For all NOAA personnel, incident-related cost recovery is determined 

by the type of activity they are engaged in (i.e., they help achieve response 

objectives or NRDA objectives). Certain NOAA SST personnel are qualified 

to perform both types of activity.
37

10 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND GIS 

SUPPORT

Taming the Information Beast

The NOAA Information Management (IM) team members are an integral part

of the SST and promote efficient internal and external communication to 

support the many aspects of response operations. The IM staff integrates

on-scene data collection, data synthesis, information presentation, and data 

dissemination during all phases of an incident response. The NOAA IM team

is managed by the NOAA Team Lead (the SSC) and is usually placed within

the Situation or Environmental Unit within the Planning Section, but may 

support a number of different sections.

Planning and Operations Support

The primary objectives of Information Management are to:

• Produce information displays which provide a common operational 

picture to facilitate informed operational decisions and planning.

• Clearly present response recommendations to the FOSC.

• Document and archive scientific data produced during a response.

Synthesizing Information

An important IM team function is to synthesize critical information and facilitate its flow to the FOSC, and throughout the Unified Command system. 

This may include:

•	 Maintaining incident status boards (in coordination with the Situation

Unit).

• Providing the appropriate software and hardware tools and expertise to 

capture and display information.

• Creating products to meet 

specific response needs.

•	 Being a resource for Section

Chiefs to enhance information 

flow and communication clarity.

• Producing briefing products and 

displays such as: on-water oil

slick maps based on overflights; maps of shoreline oiling 

showing extent and degree of 

exposure; shoreline cleanup 

progress reports; oil trajectories; and resources at risk. NOAA Information Management technician 

supporting the Unified Command during 

a Preparedness for Response Exercise 

Program (PREP) drill.
38

SCAT Data Management

A difficult but important job during larger and long-term responses is managing the intense flow and sheer volume of data generated by the SCAT 

process. SCAT data, its analysis, and presentation to the user is time-critical to response operations. Throughout the response, SCAT and other data 

generated must also be organized and safely archived as federal records, 

in concert with the Documentation Unit. The NOAA SST, including our highly 

experienced and skilled Information Management team, are trained to

provide these valuable services.

ResponseLINK and 

IncidentNews - Data Sharing 

and Dissemination

For most incidents, NOAA will start 

an incident Hotline on the restricted

access Internet-based NOAA ResponseLINK (https://responselink.

orr.noaa.gov). The Hotline report

facilitates the FOSC’s ability to share 

current incident information with 

approved response personnel in other locations, such as RRT members, 

Natural Resource Trustees, response partners, and stakeholders. ResponseLINK allows the NOAA SST to assist the FOSC and the command staff in

keeping decision makers up to date on what is happening with the incident 

response. Because ResponseLINK has restricted access, posting information to it takes less clearance time. ResponseLINK is used to post:

• Incident notifications

• Daily status reports

• Coast Guard pollution or incident reports

• Overflight and other response maps

• Chemical analysis reports

• Trajectory maps and reports

• Resources at risk analyses

• Incident photos

• Spot weather forecasts

In addition to ResponseLINK, information that is less sensitive or restricted

in distribution may be posted to a publicly available Internet site, IncidentNews at http://www.incidentnews.gov.

Entry page for ResponseLINK.
39

Environmental Response 

Management Application 

(ERMA®)

ERMA® is a Web-based Geographic

Information System (GIS) tool 

designed to assist both emergency 

responders and environmental 

resource managers who deal with 

incidents that may adversely impact 

the environment. The application can 

assist in response planning and is 

accessible to both the Command Post and to assets in the field during an 

actual response incident, such as an oil spill or hurricane. The data within 

ERMA also assist in resource management decisions regarding hazardous

waste site evaluations and restoration planning. 

ERMA supports environmental preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by:

• Providing integrated and timely information to improve decision-making.

• Integrating and synthesizing various types of information on a single 

map interface.

• Providing fast visualization of current information.

• Improving communication and coordination among responders and 

stakeholders.

ERMA coverage includes:

• U.S. Caribbean, through partnership with EPA Region II and USCG 

District 7.

•	 U.S. Northeast (Canadian Border to Long Island Sound), in support of

the 2010 SONS (Spill of National Significance) exercise.

•	 Puget Sound, Washington.

•	 Gulf of Mexico.

More information about ERMA is available at http://response.restoration.

noaa.gov/erma or http://www.crrc.unh.edu/erma.

ERMA geospatial situational awareness 

display.
40

Post-Incident Data 

Summaries

For significant incidents, the NOAA 

IM staff compiles a post-incident

“Information Management Report”

that is provided to the FOSC. This 

report contains all NOAA overflight 

maps, Hotline reports, shoreline

survey information, weather 

forecasts, official scientific recommendations, and other responserelated reports, memorandum, and 

scientific information developed 

during the response. This report can greatly facilitate the FOSC’s task of 

preparing the official FOSC after-action report.

Cover of the Information Management Report for the M/V Selendang Ayu Incident.
41

APPENDIX 1

SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT COORDINATOR (SSC) CONTACT 

INFORMATION

The following map shows the location of NOAA’s Emergency Response Division (ERD) field personnel. Most Scientific Support Coordinators (SSCs) are

located in U.S. Coast Guard district offices.

District 1, except CT:

Steve Lehmann, NOAA SSC

CDR USCG 1st Dist. (MEP)

408 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02110

Office: (617) 223-8016

Cell: (617) 877-2806

E-mail: Steve.Lehmann@noaa.

gov

District 5 (north part) and CT:

(CT to DE):

Ed Levine, NOAA SSC

USCG Battery Park Building

1 South Street, Room 329

New York, NY 10004

Office: (212) 668-6428

Cell: (206) 849-9941

E-mail: Ed.Levine@noaa.gov

District 5 (south part, MD to 

NC):

Frank Csulak, NOAA SSC

74 Magruder Road

Highlands, NJ 07732

Office: (732) 872-3005

Cell: (732) 371-1005

E-mail: Frank.Csulak@noaa.gov

District 7:

Brad Benggio, NOAA SSC

909 SE 1st Avenue, Suite 714

Brickell Plaza Federal Building

Miami, FL 33131

Office: (305) 530-7931

Cell: (206) 849-9923

E-mail: Brad.Benggio@noaa.gov

District 7 & 8 Backup:

Jim Jeansonne, NOAA SSC

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Office: (727) 551-5714

Cell: (206) 276-5308

E-mail: Jim.Jeansonne@noaa.gov
42

District 8:

Charlie Henry, NOAA SSC

Prevention, USCG 8th Dist. 

(DP-SSC)

500 Poydras St., Suite 1341

New Orleans, LA 70130

Office: (504) 589-4414

Cell: (206) 849-9928

E-mail: Charlie.Henry@noaa.gov

LT Mary Gill, NOAA Asst SSC

USCG Sector Houston-Galveston

9640 Clinton Dr

Houston, TX 77029

Office: (713) 671-5100 Ext 1052

Cell: (206) 849-9953

E-mail: Mary.Gill@noaa.gov

District 9:

LCDR Elizabeth Jones,

NOAA SSC

USCG Marine Safety Office

AJC Federal Building

1240 East Ninth Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44199

Office: (216) 522-7760

Cell: (206) 849-9918

E-mail: Elizabeth.Jones@noaa.

gov

District 11:

Jordan Stout, NOAA SSC

Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 50-7

Alameda, CA 94501

Office: (510) 437-5344

Cell: (206) 321-3320

E-mail: Jordan.Stout@noaa.gov

LT Joshua Slater, NOAA Regional

Response Officer (Asst. SSC)

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, Washington 98115

Office: (206) 526-4883

Cell: (206) 462-0710

E-mail: Joshua.Slater@noaa.gov

Districts 13 and 14:

Ruth Yender, NOAA SSC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-6081

Cell: (206) 849-9926

E-mail: Ruth.Yender@noaa.gov

LT Joshua Slater, NOAA Regional

Response Officer (Asst. SSC)

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, Washington 98115

Office: (206) 526-4883

Cell: (206) 462-0710

E-mail: Joshua.Slater@noaa.gov

District 17:

John Whitney, NOAA SSC

Peterson Tower Bldg., Suite 100

510 L Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

Office: (907) 271-3593

Cell: (907) 440-8109

E-mail: John.Whitney@noaa.gov

LT Joshua Slater, NOAA Regional

Response Officer (Asst. SSC)

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, Washington 98115

Office: (206) 526-4883

Cell: (206) 462-0710

E-mail: Joshua.Slater@noaa.gov

NOAA ERD Seattle Office

Doug Helton, NOAA Incident Operations Coordinator

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, Washington 98115

Office: (206) 526-4563

Cell: (206) 890-7760

E-mail: Doug.Helton@noaa.gov

LT Joshua Slater, NOAA Regional

Response Officer (Asst. SSC)

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, Washington 98115

Office: (206) 526-4883

Cell: (206) 462-0710

E-mail: Joshua.Slater@noaa.gov

In the event an SSC cannot be reached, or for 24/7 emergency support,

contact the ERD Duty Officer at (206) 526-4911.
43

APPENDIX 2

DOC/NOAA REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAM (RRT) 

REPRESENTATION

The following map shows the Regional Response Team (RRT) regions. The 

table below lists the NOAA primary and alternate representatives for each 

RRT region and their contact information.

Regions I: 

Steve Lehmann, NOAA OR&R

CDR USCG 1st Dist. (MEP)

408 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02110

Office: (617) 223-8016

Cell: (617) 877-2806

E-mail: Steve.Lehmann@noaa.

gov

Alternate: 

Ed Levine, NOAA OR&R

USCG Battery Park Building

1 South Street, Room 329

New York, NY 10004

Office: (212) 668-6428

Cell: (206) 849-9941

E-mail: Ed.Levine@noaa.gov

Region II: 

Frank Csulak, NOAA OR&R

74 Magruder Road

Highlands, NJ 07732

Office: (732) 872-3005

Cell: (732) 371-1005

E-mail: Frank.Csulak@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Ed Levine, NOAA OR&R

USCG Battery Park Building

1 South Street, Room 329

New York, NY 10004

Office: (212) 668-6428

Cell: (206) 849-9941

E-mail: Ed.Levine@noaa.gov

Region III: 

Ed Levine, NOAA OR&R

USCG Battery Park Building

1 South Street, Room 329

New York, NY 10004

Office: (212) 668-6428

Cell: (206) 849-9941

E-mail: Ed.Levine@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Frank Csulak, NOAA OR&R

74 Magruder Road

Highlands, NJ 07732

Office: (732) 872-3005

Cell: (732) 371-1005

E-mail: Frank.Csulak@noaa.gov
44

Region IV: 

Brad Benggio, NOAA OR&R

909 SE 1st Avenue, Suite 714

Brickell Plaza Federal Building

Miami, FL 33131

Office: (305) 530-7931

Cell: (206) 849-9923

E-mail: Brad.Benggio@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Jim Jeansonne, NOAA OR&R

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Office: (727) 551-5714

Cell: (206) 276-5308

E-mail: Jim.Jeansonne@noaa.gov

Regions V and VII: 

Steve Lehmann, NOAA OR&R

CDR USCG 1st Dist. (MEP)

408 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02110

Office: (617) 223-8016

Cell: (617) 877-2806

E-mail: Steve.Lehmann@noaa.

gov

Alternate: 

LCDR Elizabeth Jones,

NOAA OR&R

USCG Marine Safety Office

AJC Federal Building

1240 East Ninth Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44199

Office: (216) 522-7760

Cell: (206) 849-9918

E-mail: Elizabeth.Jones@noaa.

gov

Region VI: 

Charlie Henry, NOAA OR&R

Prevention, USCG 8th Dist. (DPSSC)

500 Poydras St., Suite 1341

New Orleans, LA 70130

Office: (504) 589-4414

Cell: (206) 849-9928

E-mail: Charlie.Henry@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Jessica White, NOAA OR&R

1445 Ross Avenue, Ste 1200

Mail code 6SF-T

Dallas, TX 75202

Office: (214) 665-2217

Cell: (206) 719-5439

E-mail: Jessica.White@noaa.gov

Region VIII: 

LCDR Elizabeth Jones, NOAA

OR&R

USCG Marine Safety Office

AJC Federal Building

1240 East Ninth Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44199

Office: (216) 522-7760

Cell: (206) 849-9918

E-mail: Elizabeth.Jones@noaa.

gov

Alternate: 

Charlie Henry, NOAA OR&R

Prevention, USCG 8th Dist. 

(DP-SSC)

500 Poydras St., Suite 1341

New Orleans, LA 70130

Office: (504) 589-4414

Cell: (206) 849-9928

E-mail: Charlie.Henry@noaa.gov

Region IX: 

Jordan Stout, NOAA OR&R

Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 50-7

Alameda, CA 94501

Office: (510) 437-5344

Cell: (206) 321-3320

E-mail: Jordan.Stout@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Doug Helton, NOAA OR&R

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-4563

Cell: (206) 890-7760

E-mail: Doug.Helton@noaa.gov

Region X: 

Ruth Yender, NOAA OR&R

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-6081

Cell: (206) 849-9926

E-mail: Ruth.Yender@noaa.gov

Alternate 

Gary Shigenaka, NOAA OR&R

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-6402

Cell: (206) 719-7441

E-mail: Gary.Shigenaka@noaa.gov

Alaska: 

Doug Helton, NOAA OR&R

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-4563

Cell: (206) 890-7760

E-mail: Doug.Helton@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

John Whitney, NOAA OR&R

Peterson Tower Bldg., Suite 100

510 L Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

Office: (907) 271-3593

Cell: (907) 440-8109

E-mail: John.Whitney@noaa.gov

Oceania: 

Ruth Yender, NOAA OR&R

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Office: (206) 526-6081

Cell: (206) 849-9926

E-mail: Ruth.Yender@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Jordan Stout, NOAA OR&R

Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 50-7

Alameda, CA 94501

Office: (510) 437-5344

Cell: (206) 321-3320

E-mail: Jordan.Stout@noaa.gov

Caribbean: 

Brad Benggio, NOAA OR&R

909 SE 1st Avenue, Suite 714

Brickell Plaza Federal Building

Miami, FL 33131

Office: (305) 530-7931

Cell: (206) 849-9923

E-mail: Brad.Benggio@noaa.gov

Alternate: 

Jim Jeansonne, NOAA OR&R

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Office: (727) 551-5714

Cell: (206) 276-5308

E-mail: Jim.Jeansonne@noaa.gov
45

APPENDIX 3

NOAA’s RESPONSE JOB AIDS AND RELATED PUBLICATIONS

NOAA’s Job Aids and some related publications are listed in the following 

table. Some publications may no longer be available in print or are temporarily out of stock. However, PDF versions are available for downloading

and may be printed from your computer. Title/Web Link Description URL for PDF version Order the publication Trajectory Analysis Handbook en Español: Manual de Analisis de Trayectorias http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ trajanal_handbk A flip booklet containing an overview of the physical processes that affect oil movement and behavior in the marine environment, along with a discussion of each process. http://response.restoration.noaa. gov/jobaid/trajanalysis (PDF, 2.7M) en Español: http://response. restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/ trayect (PDF, 4.1M) Not available at this time. Related Publication: Questions and Answers: Spill Trajectory Analysis A 1996 technical explanation of spill trajectory analysis and how it differs from oil spill trajectory modeling. http://response.restoration.noaa. gov/erdpub/qa_trajanal (PDF, 266.5K) Contact orr.library@noaa.gov. Related Publication: Digital Distribution Standard for NOAA Trajectory Analysis Informa- tion A 1996 technical description of a method for preparing a set of “minimum regret” trajectory model runs for use in trajectory analysis, and a standard digital file format for presenting the results. http://response.restoration. noaa.gov/erdpub/ta_stand (PDF, 230.9K) Contact orr.library@noaa.gov. Open Water Oil Identification Job Aid for Aerial Observation

en Español: Asistencia para laIdentificación de Petróleo en Aguas Abiertas para observación aéreahttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/oil_id

A flip booklet with color photos of oil, to aid in oil slick identification. This aid was created to help responders perform efficient assessments and to use standard language to communicate findings effectively. Updated in 2007.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/aerialobs (PDF, 4.6M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/orderformSpanish version by special order. Contact orr.library@noaa.gov.

Related Publication:Aerial Observations of Oil at Sea

1996 recommended procedures for assessing spilled oil from the air.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/oilatsea (PDF, 61.5K)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.
46

Title/Web Link Description URL for PDF version Order the publication

Dlspersant Application Observer Job Aidhttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/dispersant

A flip booklet with color photos to aid people who have completed training in dispersant application observation. Use it to refresh your memory on how to observe and identify dispersed and undispersed oil, describe oil characteristics, and report this information to decision-makers. Updated in 2007.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/disperse (PDF, 2.1M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/orderform

Related Publication:Dispersing Oil Near Shore in the California Current Region

A 2001 paper summarizing our current knowledge of dispersants, dispersing oil, the need for preapproval, methods used to simulate spill responses, and ecological risk assessment.

http://www.calcofi.org/newhome/publications/CalCOFI_Reports/v42/pdfs/Vol_42_Mearns_etal.pdf (PDF,1.4M)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

Shoreline Assessment Job Aiden Español: Guia para la Evaluacion delLitoral Costerohttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/shoreline

A flip booklet with color photos of surface oil distribution, oiling descriptors for thickness and type, sediment types, shoreline types, and cleanup methods to aid in the shoreline cleanup and assessment team (SCAT) process. Updated in 2007.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/shore_assess (PDF, 3.0M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/orderformSpanish version by special order. Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

Related Publication:Shoreline Assessment Manual

A 2000 manual outlining methods for conducting shoreline assessments and using the results to make cleanup decisions.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/manual_shore_assess(PDF, 3.8M)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

Related Publication:Shoreline Assessment Formshttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/shoreline_forms

Forms you can download, print out, and then use to record your observations during a shoreline survey following an oil spill. You can find more information about how to use the forms in the Shoreline Assessment Manual

See the Web link for PDF versions ofthe Forms.

N/A

Characteristic Coastal Habitats: ChoosingSpill Response Alternativesen Español: Hábitats CosterosCaracterísticos: Selección de Alternativaspara Responder a Derrames de Petróleohttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/coastalhab

A job aid that illustrates typical attributes of North American coastal habitats at risk from oil spills. The text describes each habitat and discusses how oil is likely to behave there, and considerations for treating oil.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/coastal (PDF, 3.3M)en Español: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/costeros(PDF, 5.2M)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.Spanish version by special order. Contact orr.library@noaa.gov.
47

Title/Web Link Description URL for PDF version Order the publication

Characteristics of Response Strategies: AGuide for Spill Response Planning in MarineEnvironmentshttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/responsestrat

A job aid designed to help spill responders select appropriate response options to minimize environmental impacts when oil spills in coastal habitats. It is especially for people participating in cleanup assessment as part of Operations and Planning Units within the Incident Command System.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/response (PDF, 558.3K)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

ESI Training Manualhttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ESI_Training

A 2008 training manual, providing an oil spill scenario that takes place in Mobile Bay, Alabama.Your task is to identify the probable resources at risk. The manual shows how to use hard copy or PDF versions of the ESI data; the free ESI Viewerproduct; and the map document/tools available tosimplify ESI viewing and querying in ESRI’s ArcMapvs. 9.2 or higher.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/ESI_Training.zip (Zip file,142.1M)A single compressed file containing the Training Manual and all the filesyou’ll need to work through it.

Available online only.

Introduction to Coastal Habitats andBiological Resources for Spill Responsehttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/habitats_bio

A 1992 training manual covering physical, geological, and biological considerations relevant to oil spill response and cleanup.

See the Web link for PDF versions ofthe 10 chapters.

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

Mechanical Protection Guidelines A 1994 manual describing how to deploy booms, 

barriers, and other mechanical protection devices during a spill response.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/mechanical (PDF, 1.0M)

Contactorr.library@noaa.gov.

Observers’ Guide to Sea Icehttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/seaice

A job aid for volunteers who report observations of ice conditions to authorities such as the U.S. Coast Guard. Updated in 2007.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/jobaid/seaice_doc (PDF, 2.9M)

Contact orr.library@noaa.gov.
48

APPENDIX 4

INCIDENT RESPONSE FORMS

NOAA Emergency Response Division (ERD) offers electronic Incident Command System (ICS) forms in two versions:

ICS forms for all-risk/all-hazard situations, produced by the U.S. 

Coast Guard: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/icsforms_uscg. 

These forms are available in two formats:

• Portable Document Format (PDF) files, which are not “fillable.”

•	 Microsoft Word/Excel formats, which can be completed electronically.

ICS forms for oil spill response: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/

icsforms. These forms are available in two formats:

•	 FileMaker database containing the ICS forms.

• PDF files.

The Coast Guard recommends the use of their ICS forms because those 

forms are the most capable for all-risk/all-hazard incidents; however, any

of these versions may be used. The following table lists the Coast Guard 

(“CG”) versions.
49

Form Number Form Name PurposeN/A IAP Cover Sheet The Incident Action Plan (IAP) cover sheet provides a checklist of items that may be included in the action plan.ICS 201-CG Incident Briefing The Incident Briefing form provides the Unified Command (and the Command and General Staffs assuming command of the

incident) with basic information regarding the response situation and the resources allocated to the incident. It is also a permanent record of the initial incident response.

ICS 202-CG Incident Objectives The Incident Objectives form describes the basic incident strategy, control objectives, and provides weather, tide and current 

information, and safety considerations for use during the next operational period. The Attachments list at the bottom of the form also serves as a table of contents for the Incident Action Plan.

ICS 203-CG Organization 

Assignment List

The Organization Assignment List provides ICS personnel with information on the units that are currently activated and the names ofpersonnel staffing each position/unit. It is used to complete the Incident Organization Chart (ICS form 207-CG) which is posted onthe Incident Command Post display. An actual organization will be event-specific. Not all positions need to be filled. The size of the organization is dependent on the magnitude of the incident and can be expanded or contracted as necessary.

ICS 204-CG Assignment List The Assignment List(s) informs Division and Group supervisors of incident assignments. Once the assignments are agreed to by the

Unified Command and General Staff, the assignment information is given to the appropriate Divisions and Groups.

ICS 204a-CG Assignment List

Attachment

The Assignment List Attachment informs field personnel of specific incident assignment information. Once the Unified Commandand General Staff agree to the Group / Division assignments, the specific assignment information is given to the appropriate StrikeTeam or Task Force Leaders.

ICS 205-CG Incident Radio 

Communications Plan

The Incident Radio Communications Plan is a summary of information obtained from the Radio Requirements Worksheet (ICS form216). Information from the Radio Communications Plan on frequency assignments is normally noted on the appropriate Assignment List (ICS form 204-CG).

ICS 205a-CG Communications List The Communications List records methods of contact for personnel on scene.ICS 206-CG Medical Plan The Medical Plan provides information on incident medical aid stations, transportation services, hospitals, and medical emergency

procedures.

ICS 207-CG Incident Organization 

Chart

The Incident Organization Chart is used to indicate what ICS organizational elements are currently activated and the names of personnel staffing each element. An actual organization will be event-specific. Not all positions need to be filled. The size of the organization is dependent on the magnitude of the incident and can be expanded or contracted as necessary. Personnel responsible for managing organizational positions are listed in each box as appropriate.

ICS 208-CG Site Safety and Health

Plan

The Site Safety and Health Plan is designed for safety and health personnel that use the ICS. It is intended to meet the requirementsof the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response regulation (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.120).Although primarily designed for oil and chemical spills, the plan can be used for all hazard situations.
50

Form Number Form Name PurposeICS 209-CG Incident Status 

Summary

The Status Summary:

1.	 Is used by Situation Unit personnel for posting information on Status Boards.2. Is duplicated and provided to Command Staff members, giving them basic information for planning for the next operational 

period.

3. Provides information to the Information Officer for preparing news media releases.4. Summarizes incident information for local and off-site coordination centers.

ICS 209H-CG Incident Status 

Summary: Hurricane

A Status Summary created for hurricane incidents.

ICS 211-CG Check-In List Personnel and equipment arriving at the incident can check in at various incident locations. Check-in consists of reporting specific 

information which is recorded on the form.

ICS 213 General Message The General Message is used by:

•	 Incident personnel to record incoming messages which cannot be orally transmitted to the intended recipients;•	 Command Post and other incident personnel to transmit messages to the Incident Communications Center for transmission

via radio or telephone to the addressee;

•	 Incident personnel to send any message or notification to incident personnel which requires a hard-copy delivery;•	 Incident personnel to place resource orders.

ICS 213RR-CG Resource Request 

Message

This form is used by all incident personnel to request tactical and non-tactical resources.

ICS 214-CG Unit Log The Unit Log records details of unit activity, including strike team activity. These logs provide the basic reference from which to

extract information for inclusion in any after-action report.

ICS 215-CG Operational Planning 

Worksheet

This form communicates to the Resources Unit the resources needed as a result of decisions made during the Tactics and Planning meetings. The Worksheet is used by the Resources Unit to complete the Assignment List (ICS form 204-CG) and by the LogisticsSection Chief for ordering resources. The worksheet may also be used by the Resources Unit Leader to complete the AssignmentList Attachment(s) (ICS form 204a-CG), if the Operations and Planning Section Chiefs deem it necessary.

ICS 215a-CG Incident Action Plan 

Safety Analysis

This form communicates to the Operations and Planning Section Chiefs safety and health issues identified by the Safety Officer. The Worksheet is used by the Planning section Chief to complete Operations briefings.

ICS 216 Radio Requirements 

Worksheet

The Radio Requirements Worksheet is used to develop the total number of personal portable radios required for each Division/Group and Branch. It provides a listing of all units assigned to each Division, and thus depicts the total incident radio needs.
51

Form Number Form Name PurposeICS 220-CG Air Operations 

Summary

The Air Operations Summary provides the Air Operations Branch with the number, type, location, and specific assignments ofaircraft.

ICS 221-CG Demob. Check-Out This form provides the Planning Section information on resource releases from the incident.ICS 225-CG Incident Personnel 

Performance Rating

This form gives supervisors the opportunity to evaluate subordinates on incident assignments.

ICS 230-CG Daily Meeting Schedule The Daily Meeting Schedule records information about the daily scheduled meeting activities.ICS 232-CG Resources at Risk 

Summary

The Resources at Risk Summary provides information about sites in the incident area which are sensitive due to environmental, archaeo-cultural, or socio-economic resources at risk, and identifies incident-specific priorities and issues. The information recorded here may be transferred to ICS form 232a-CG, which acts as a key to the Area Contingency Plan (ACP) or Geographic Response Plan (GRP) site numbers shown on the Situation Map.

ICS 232a-CG ACP Site Index If used, this form is posted next to the Situation Map, providing a key to the ACP/GRP sites shown on the map.ICS 233-CG Incident Open Action 

Tracker

The Tracker allows ICS personnel to monitor actions during the incident.

ICS 234-CG Work Analysis Matrix This form allows the Operations Section Chief to document an operation’s objectives, strategies, tactics, and work assignments.ICS 235-CG Facility Needs 

Assessment Worksheet

This worksheet outlines the facility requirements for all ICS personnel.

ICS 237 Incident Mishap

Reporting Record

This form is completed by the Safety Officer if an injury/mishap occurs.
52

APPENDIX 5

ONLINE INCIDENT INFORMATION

ResponseLINK

ResponseLINK is a limited access, Web-based communications system for

incident responders. An email address and password are required to log in 

to the system. The Web site is https://responselink.orr.noaa.gov.

NOAA staff: Your username is your NOAA e-mail address, including the

domain part (e.g., “john.smith@noaa.gov”). Your password is the same as

your email password. 

Other users: Use the username and password provided by the ResponseLINK administrator.

To request access or obtain more information, contact the ResponseLINK

administrator at orr.incidentnews@noaa.gov. 

Components of ResponseLINK:

Incident Hotlines: “Hotline” contains information and reports about recent

incidents. This system is used by NOAA as a real-time spill communications 

system. Incident reports are entered chronologically; as a result, early 

reports may contain factual errors. Sometimes these errors are corrected 

in a later report. Incidents can be browsed by the Hotline open date or

searched by incident name.

NRC Notification (RRT): The National Response Center (NRC) Notification

section of ResponseLINK contains incident notifications received by the

National Response Team, as well as Regional Response Team (RRT) information. The NRC Notifications are only available to federal, state, and local 

government personnel. You can browse all the notifications, narrow your 

browsing to individual RRT regions, or further limit your browsing to states. 

New NRC notifications are received every 30 minutes. They are displayed 

for 30 days and then deleted. OR&R does not maintain a long-term archive 

of notifications.

IncidentNews

The IncidentNews Web site (http://www.incidentnews.gov) contains news, 

photos, and other information provided and approved by the Unified Command for specific spill incidents. It is important to note that the information 

on this Web site comes to OR&R directly from the field and has not been

confirmed. The information is posted on the site as it becomes available. 

The timing of updates depends on the nature of each spill and the resources available to post the material. The date and time of updates is noted 

on each page. During rapidly evolving events, the site might be updated 

several times per day. In the later phases of a response, the site might be 

updated once per week.
53

IncidentNews now features newsfeed subscriptions (Atom or RSS) for 

updates on new incidents as they happen.

For more information, contact the IncidentNews administrator at orr.incidentnews@noaa.gov.

Environmental Response Management Application - ERMA®

The Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), a partnership of the 

University of New Hampshire and OR&R, has developed a data platform to

interface diverse spatial data, including real-time data, in a Web-based mapping format accessible to the Command Post and field operations. ERMA

gives responders and decision-makers ready access to specific data useful 

during spill drills, planning, response, assessment and restoration, as well 

as for other environmental incidents and natural disasters. 

More information about ERMA is available at http://www.crrc.unh.edu/erma

or http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erma. 

Marine Debris Division

Since 2005, OR&R’s Marine Debris Program (within the Marine Debris

Division) has served as a centralized program within NOAA, coordinating, 

strengthening, and enhancing marine debris activities within the agency, 

and among its partners and the public. The MDP has undertaken national

and international efforts focused on researching, reducing, and preventing 

debris in the marine environment. 

Program components that the MDP undertakes include: (1) mapping, identification, impact assessment, removal, and prevention; (2) reducing and 

preventing gear loss; and (3) outreach.

More information about the Marine Debris Program is available at

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov.
54

APPENDIX 6

NOAA RESPONSE MODELS

Information about NOAA’s response models is available in a series of fact 

sheets, available on the OR&R Web site. NOAA model applications are free

and instructions to get them are also in the fact sheets.

Oil Spill Response Models and Spill Tools Oil Spill Models URL for Model Fact Sheet (PDF) Web Site Information GNOME (General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment), oil trajectory model. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ book_shelf/820_GNOME.pdf (PDF, 1.1 M) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ gnome TAP (Trajectory Analysis Planner), trajectory analysis software. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ book_shelf/894_tap.pdf (PDF, 657.9K) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/tap ADIOS 2 (Automated Data Inquiry for Oil Spills), oil weathering model. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ book_shelf/538_adios.pdf (PDF, 721.8K) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ adios Spill Tools, a set of three programs designed for oil spill planners and responders: the Mechanical Equipment Calculator, the In Situ Burn Calculator, and the Dispersant Mission Planner http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ book_shelf/1024_SpillTools.pdf (PDF, 386.8K) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ spilltools DMP2 (Dispersant Mission Planner 2), a tool that helps spill responders assess dispersant application system performance. N/A http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ dmp2
55

Chemical Response Models URL for Model Fact Sheet (PDF) Web Site InformationCAMEO Software Suite, an integrated set of softwaremodules designed to help first responders and emergency planners plan for and quickly respond to chemical accidents. The suite encompasses several programs, including CAMEO, ALOHA, and MARLOT.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1015_cameo.pdf(PDF, 695.2 K)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/cameosuite

CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of EmergencyOperations), a database application that allows emergency planners and responders to manage data about their community.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1015_cameo.pdf(PDF, 695.2 K)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/cameo

CAMEO Chemicals, a database of hazardous chemicals thatcan be used to get response recommendations and predict how chemicals might react if they were mixed together. CAMEO Chemicals is available online and as a downloadableprogram.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1382_cameo_chem.pdf (PDF, 1.2M)

Online version: http://cameochemicals.noaa.govDownloadable version: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/cameochemicals

ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres), amodeling program that estimates threat zones associated with hazardous chemical releases, including toxic gas clouds, fires, and explosions.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1020_aloha.pdf(PDF, 478.6K)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/aloha

MARPLOT (Mapping Application for Response, Planning,and Local Operational Tasks), a general purpose mappingprogram that makes it easy to quickly create, view, and modify maps.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1021_marplot.pdf(PDF, 865.7 K)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/marplot

U.S. Coast Guard’s Chemical Response Tool, a new online product.

N/A http://chemresponsetool.noaa.gov

Chemical Reactivity Worksheet (CRW), a program youcan use to find out about the reactivity of substances or mixtures of substances.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1016_react.pdf(PDF, 894.8K)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/crw

Precursors Database, OR&R’s forensics and response tool. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1297_precursors.pdf

(PDF, 474.7K)

N/A
56

APPENDIX 7

NOAA RESPONSE TRAINING AVAILABILITY

NOAA OR&R offers both workshops and self-study options to FOSCs and 

other spill response professionals in local, state, and federal governments 

and industry.

Workshops for Emergency Responders and Planners

Science of Oil Spill (SOS) Workshops: OR&R’s Science of Oil Spill (SOS) 

training builds skills in analyzing complex spill events and making risk-based 

decisions that maximize long-term environmental benefit. SOS training has 

also been called Environmental Spill Response (ESR) training. The SOS 

workshops are designed for new and mid-level spill responders.

The workshops generally 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, offering an opportunity to practice/apply skills learned.

• An introduction to damage assessment techniques.

• Determining cleanup endpoints.

These workshops are held annually, usually in the spring at NOAA’s main 

campus in Seattle. Class sizes are limited to allow for personalized instruction. Each workshop includes three days of training, beginning on Tuesday 

morning and ending on Thursday afternoon. There is no tuition for the 

workshop; however, attendees are responsible for their own travel costs. 

Contact your District Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for more information about SOS Workshops, or to see when the next workshop is scheduled, see the NOAA OR&R Training Web page (http://response.restoration.

noaa.gov/emergencyresponse/training). The SSC can tell you how to apply, 

or you can contact the NOAA ERD Training and Response Specialist at orr.

training@noaa.gov.

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Workshops: During oil spill responses, there is limited time to make decisions on response options. The 

decision to use chemical dispersants and/or in situ burning may be especially contentious, and both have only a limited “window of opportunity.” 

To encourage discussion and consensus before a spill happens, the U.S. 

Coast Guard and OR&R have co-facilitated a series of Consensus Ecological 

Risk Assessment (ERA, or C-ERA) workshops. (From 1996 through 2007, 

19 ERA workshops were conducted, training over 500 participants.)
57

During ERA workshops, participants learn a simplified risk assessment 

method that can be applied with minimal training. Workshop participants

work in small groups and all together to develop a consensus of the potential ecological risk of the response options considered. To be most useful 

during an actual response, participants should include resource trustees, 

stakeholders from local, state, and federal agencies, and from NGOs. ERA 

participants typically analyze the following response options:

• No response.

• Open-water mechanical cleanup (skimmers).

• In situ burning.

• Open-water dispersant application.

•	 Mechanical shoreline cleanup.

By basing assessment on a risk matrix and local information, each ERA

workshop enables relatively quick, systematic comparison of response 

options that have ecological effects. By coming to consensus in this nonemergency setting, decision-makers may reach a faster consensus during 

an actual response.

For additional information, visit the NOAA OR&R ERA Web page at http://

response.restoration.noaa.gov/era or contact OR&R’s ERA Specialist with 

any questions.

Specialty Workshops: In addition to the workshops described above, 

NOAA will offer short workshops (on an as-needed basis) on topics such as 

Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT), overflight observation, computer modeling, and special response or resource topics. 

CAMEO Training: Information about CAMEO training is available at http://

response.restoration.noaa.gov/cameotraining. The EPA also lists CAMEO

training events on its Calendar of Events page, http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/cameo/cam-evnt.htm.

ESI Training: A new training module (manual and associated training materials) is now available to help spill responders and planners learn to use 

the digital ESI data products. For more information, see the ESI Training 

section, http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ESI_training.

Self-study Resources for Emergency Responders and Planners

You can also build your knowledge of spill and chemical accident response 

on your own. The self-study section of OR&R’s Web site (http://response.

restoration.noaa.gov/emergencyresponse/training_selfstudy) provides 

links to some self-study resources, as well as the tools and software they 

involve.

Contact OR&R’s Training and Response Specialist with any questions at orr.

training@noaa.gov.
58

APPENDIX 8

NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT (NRDA) 

DURING INCIDENT RESPONSE

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process is often initiated by Trustee agencies during an incident response. The NRDA Trustees 

most often involved are NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),

and state Trustee agencies. There are a number of other NRDA Trustees, 

including Native American tribes and foreign countries, which may become 

involved when their resources are affected. Generally only the first phase of 

an NRDA, called Preassessment, is started during the response and is characterized by intensive ephemeral data collection and coordination among 

and between Trustees and responsible party (RP) representatives, as well 

as the federal on-scene coordinator (FOSC) and Unified Command.

The NOAA Scientific Support Team (SST) can greatly facilitate coordination 

between the FOSC and Unified Command and the NRDA Trustees. 

Below are some relevant facts for responders concerning Trustees and

NRDA:

• NRDA Trustees are specifically designated agencies or individuals under 

OPA/CERCLA. (See below for legal references)

• OPA (Oil Pollution Act) may be used to initiate an NRDA for oil spills or the 

threat of a spill.

•	 CERCLA (Combined Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liability

Act) is used for chemical or combined oil/chemical spills.

• Trustees may initiate preassessment actions under the NRDA provisions 

of OPA, CERCLA, state laws, or if applicable, regulations for specially

managed areas, such as marine sanctuaries or state and national parks.

•	 Under both OPA and CERCLA, there are implementing regulations for

NRDAs.

• Preassessment, although initiated during the incident response, generally 

continues past the end of the active response.

• For NOAA, agency NRDA actions are directed through NOAA’s Assessment and Restoration Division (ARD) of OR&R, rather than through the 

Emergency Response Division (ERD, commonly called “NOAA Hazmat”).

• NOAA, as a Trustee agency, strongly encourages cooperative Trustee-RP 

NRDA planning and data collection at the earliest opportunity during an 

incident response.

•	 NRDA Cost Accounting: All NRDA related costs (personnel or other

expenses) are documented and recovered through a Trustee agreement 

with the RP, or specific authorization between a Federal Lead Administrative Trustee (FLAT) and the National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC), or at

a later time by the Trustees through the formal NRDA process. For NOAA 
59

SST personnel, cost recovery is determined by the type of activity (i.e., 

response-related or NRDA-related). Certain NOAA SST personnel are 

qualified to perform both types of activities.

• The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) is not responsible for 

directing NRDA actions, but is responsible for the overall NOAA team 

safety and coordination with response. In this way, the NOAA SSC retains 

the function as an objective science information coordinator serving the 

FOSC.

Additional NRDA Information

OPA

• Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. §§2701, et seq.

• NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program 

(DARRP): http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/about/laws.html#OilPollution

• OPA NRDA Regulations, 15 C.F.R. Part 990

• http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/15cfr990_03.html

CERCLA

•	 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act

(CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. §§9601, et seq.

• NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program 

(DARRP): http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/about/laws.html#Comprehensive

•	 CERCLA NRDA Regulations, 43 C.F.R. Part 11

• U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and 

Compliance: http://www.doi.gov/oepc/frlist.html

•	 National Archives and Records Administration: Code of Federal Regulations: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/43cfr11_03.

html

National Marine Sanctuaries

•	 National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. §§1431, et seq.

• NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program 

(DARRP): http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/about/laws.html#National

National Parks

• Park System Resource Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. §19jj

• NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program 

(DARRP): http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/about/laws.html#Park

NOAA SST NRDA Information Contacts

•	 Jim Jeansonne: mobile (206) 276-5308 or jim.jeansonne@noaa.gov

•	 Frank Csulak: mobile (732) 371-1005 or frank.csulak@noaa.gov

•	 Doug Helton: mobile (206) 890-7760 or doug.helton@noaa.gov
60

APPENDIX 9

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX (ESI) MAPPING

The most widely used approach to mapping sensitive environments in the 

U.S. is NOAA’s Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). ESIs use a standardized approach to compile information on shoreline sensitivity, and coastal 

biological and human-use resources. ESI maps are used to identify sensitive 

resources before a spill occurs in order to establish protection priorities 

and cleanup strategies in advance. This can significantly reduce the environmental consequences of spill and cleanup efforts.

Sensitive environment mapping is an integral part of spill planning. ESI 

maps are not an end in themselves, rather a starting point for prevention, planning, and response. The resource definitions in NOAA’s ESI maps 

provide guidance for developing Area Contingency Plans (ACPs). NOAA 

manuals, such as the Mechanical Protection Guidelines, the Shoreline Assessment Manual, and the Shoreline Assessment Job Aid, are examples

where the ESI definitions are the basis for effective, site-specific planning. 

(See Appendix 3 for access to the above referenced manuals.)

ESI Data Formats

Hard Copy Maps – A limited number of hard copy ESI atlases are published. These hard bound, 11”x17” laminated maps are appropriate for a 

command post setting, but can be cumbersome in the field and are expensive to produce. Individual maps can be printed from the PDFs described 

below.

Portable Document Format Maps – ESI maps are also available in

portable document format (PDF). This format allows users to print multiple 

copies of an area of interest or individual map pages at varying scales. In 

addition, the PDFs include links that allow users to navigate from the index 

page to the area of interest and from there to the “back of the map,” where 

seasonality and species details are listed. The PDF version also includes 

the introduction pages containing representative photos with shoreline 

descriptions and response considerations.

Geodatabase – The ESI data are published in a geodatabase format along

with an .mxd file that displays the data in ArcMap 9.2 or higher. The .mxd

uses standardized ESI colors and symbology, and the relates to the data 

tables are preset. A number of ESI tools have been developed to ease 

searches and queries of the ESI data, as well as tools to summarize shoreline and biological impacts. More information and the latest versions of the

tools are available at http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_toolbar.

Free ESI Viewer – The ESI Viewer is a freeware mapping and database

engine that allows viewing, printing, and simple queries of the ESI data. The 

Viewer runs on Windows or Macintosh platforms and allows users without

access to other mapping software an opportunity to explore the digital 
61

vector ESI data. It is simple to install and intuitive to use. In the ESI Training 

Manual, there is a section on installing and using the ESI Viewer. For more

information about the manual and how to obtain the Viewers, see the ESI

Map Self-study section, below.

ArcView 3.x Project – ArcView 3.x ESI project and shape files are also

available. Each major data element corresponds to a theme with links to 

a comprehensive flat file data structure. As with the ESI Viewer, layers are

color coded to match the standard ESI data format. The shape files may 

be used with this project in order to take advantage of the preset database 

links, or they can be imported into other projects or software that support 

the shape file format.

MOSS Formatted Files – All ESI data layers are provided in a MOSS file

format. This is a simple ASCII format that can be imported directly into a 

MOSS GIS system or is suitable for writing translators to bring the data into

other mapping software.

.E00 Files – ESI data are provided in their native, double-precision ESRI

format as .e00 files. These files, along with the relational database files 

provided, are used to produce the hard copy atlas. 

How to Get ESI Data

For additional information about ESI data:

• http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi

• orr.esi@noaa.gov

• (206) 526-6317

Order forms for ESI CDs/DVDs and hard copy maps are available at http://

response.restoration.noaa.gov/orderesi.

ESI Map Self-study

To learn more about using ESI maps for spill response, visit the Self-study 

section of OR&R’s Training Web site (http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/

emergencyresponse/training_selfstudy) for ESI-related exercises. New to 

the site is an ESI training module (manual and associated training materials) 

to help spill responders and planners learn to use the digital ESI data products. Contact OR&R’s ESI Specialist with any questions: orr.esi@noaa.gov.
62

APPENDIX 10

NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS

The following publications, related to natural resource management, are available in several formats from 

NOAA. For a print version of a publication, contact OR&R’s Orders Specialist at orr.library@noaa.gov. To

view a PDF or Web version of a publication, use the Web links below. Publication URL for Publication (PDF) Web Information Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning & Response Considerations A 2001 report summarizing relevant research on coral reefs, written for anyone working in or planning for spill response in coral reef regions. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ erdpub/coral_oil (PDF, 10.4M) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/coral Toxicity of Oil to Reef-Building Corals: a Spill Response Perspective A report that explores spill case histories, field studies, and experimental studies to assess the acute and chronic impacts of oil on coral. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ erdpub/coral_tox (PDF, 336.8K) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/coralreef Oil and Sea Turtles: Biology, Planning, and Response

A basic overview of sea turtle biology: summarizes what isknown about the effects of oil on sea turtles, reviews potential response actions in the event of a release, and presents case histories from previous spills.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/turtle_oil(PDF, 2.7M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/seaturtles

Oil Spills in Mangroves: Planning & Response ConsiderationsA 2002 report summarizing current research on mangrove ecosystems for spill response decisionmakers.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/mangrove_oil(PDF, 4.2M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/mangroves

Recovery of Mangrove Habitats at the Vesta Bella Spill SiteA 1994 report describing chemistry and mangrove observations one year after the 1991 cleanup of the Vesta Bella oil spill.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/V_Bella(PDF, 4.0M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/mangroves

Managing Seafood Safety after an Oil SpillA 2002 guide to help seafood managers and other spill responders determine appropriate seafood management actions in response to a spill.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/seafood2(PDF, 1.1M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/seafoodsafety

Guidance on Sensory Testing and Monitoring of Seafood forPresence of Petroleum Taint Following an Oil Spill A 2001 guidance document describing how to conduct sensory testing on seafood suspected of petroleum taint.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/seafood(PDF, 1.8M)

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/seafoodsafety
63

Publication URL for Publication (PDF) Web InformationResponding to Oil Spills in Coastal Marshes: the Fine Line Between Help andHindranceA 1995 report describing the advantages and disadvantages of seven cleanup methods of oiled marshes: natural degradation/no response; vacuum/pumping;low-pressure flush; vegetation cutting; burning; bioremediation; and sediment removal/replanting.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/erdpub/helphind(PDF, 44K)

N/A

ESI Training ManualThis 2008 training manual provides an oil spill scenario that takes place in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Your task is to identify the probable resources at risk.The manual shows how to use hard copy or PDF versions of the ESI data; the free ESI Viewer product; and the map document/tools available to simplify ESIviewing and querying in ESRI’s ArcMap vs. 9.2 or higher.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/ESI_Training.zip(Zip file, 142.1M)A single compressed file containing the Training Manualand all the files you’ll need to work through it.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ESI_Training
64

APPENDIX 11

UNIT CONVERSION TABLE

The following table provides conversions for standard units (length, mass, 

velocity, etc.) but also provides conversions for some of the lesser known 

units used in managing oil and chemical spills. 

OR&R has also developed a simple desktop tool, NUCOS (NOAA Unit 

Converter for Oil Spills), that converts both standard units and units unique 

to spill response. For example, NUCOS converts the units for oil volume, 

viscosity, and density from the conversion list of the Dispersant Mission

Planner 2 (http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/dmp2), a tool that helps 

spill responders assess dispersant application system performance. More

information about NUCOS is available at http://response.restoration.noaa.

gov/nucos. 
65

IF YOU KNOW MULTIPLY BY TO FIND

LENGTH

inches 2.540 centimeters

feet 30.480 centimeters

yards 0.914 meters

miles 1.609 kilometers

millimeters 0.039 inches

centimeters 0.393 inches

meters 3.280 feet

meters 1.093 yards

kilometers 0.621 miles

nautical miles 1.15 statute miles

nautical miles 1.85 kilometers

WEIGHT

ounces 28.350 grams

pounds 0.453 kilograms

grams 0.035 ounces

kilograms 2.204 pounds

VOLUME

fluid ounces 29.573 milliliters

pints 0.473 liters

quarts 0.946 liters

gallons (U.S.) 3.785 liters

milliliters 0.033 fluid ounces

liters 1.056 quarts

liters 0.264 gallons (U.S.)

AREA

acres 4,047 meters2

acres 43,560 feet2

OIL SPILL CONVERSIONS

barrels (oil) 42 gallons

tons (metric) ~7 barrels

tons (metric) ~300 gallons

SPEED / VELOCITY

knots 1.69 feet per second

knots 0.51 meters per second

knots 1.15 statute miles per hour
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Gary Locke, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Dr. Jane Lubchenco

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator

National Ocean Service

David Kennedy, Acting Assistant Administrator

for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone

Management

Second Edition

July 2010