Providing an effective response effort in challenging conditions
The National Research Council released a report co-sponsored by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) entitled, “Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment.”
BSEE Director Brian Salerno released the following statement:
“We appreciate the National Research Council’s work to assess the current state of science and engineering regarding oil spill impacts in the Arctic. BSEE co-sponsored this study to leverage the resources of the National Academies of Science with our robust oil spill response research program as we work to enhance preparedness and emergency response capabilities in the Arctic. We look forward to reviewing the committee’s recommendations and to continued collaboration with our federal and state partners to enhance worker safety and environmental protection in the Arctic.“
Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment reviews the current state of the science regarding oil spill response and environmental assessment in the Arctic region north of the Bering Strait, with emphasis on the potential impacts in U.S. waters. The report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the Arctic and makes recommendations to provide an effective response effort in these challenging conditions.
According to Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, a full range of proven oil spill response technologies is needed in order to minimize the impacts on people and sensitive ecosystems. This report identifies key oil spill research priorities, critical data and monitoring needs, mitigation strategies, and important operational and logistical issues.
The Arctic acts as an integrating, regulating, and mediating component of the physical, atmospheric and cryospheric systems that govern life on Earth. Not only does the Arctic serve as regulator of many of the Earth’s large-scale systems and processes, but it is also an area where choices made have substantial impact on life and choices everywhere on planet Earth.
Source: BSEE
For more details please read the full report here