deepwater horizon / bp oil spill…the latest state of play

South Florida Natural Resources Center

Deepwater Horizon / BP Oil Spill…The Latest State of Play

Erik Stabenau, Ph.D.Oceanographer, Everglades National Park

Dan Kimball, SuperintendentEverglades & Dry Tortugas National Parks

South Florida Natural Resources Center

Deepwater Horizon / BP Oil Spill…The Latest State of Play

Erik Stabenau, Ph.D.

DOI Technical LeadEnvironmental Unit

Florida Peninsula Command PostDeepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill Response

Overview

• Federal lands as pockets of productivity

• Gulf Oil and the BP Gulf Oil Spill

• Joint response to make things right

• Environmental operating picture and timeline

• Public relations

• Long term considerations

Federal Lands

Parks, refuges, monuments, seashores

Ecological and cultural assets

Shelf zone currently off limits to drilling, known zone with low currents

~ 4,000 Oil platforms in Gulf of Mexicohttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

April 20, 2010

Tragedy at Deepwater Horizon well site

11 People die during the event, 115 people rescued

2 days later, rig sinks

Initial spill footprint:1 mile x 5 mile

4 days later, confirmed well is leaking

estimated rate = 1,000 bbl / day

April 28, flow rate estimated at 5,000 bbl / day

Environmental Unit

South Florida Natural Resources Center

kbd

What will the oil look like?

What will the oil look like?

What will the oil look like?

Public Opinion – Outreach Efforts

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov

Public Opinion – Outreach Efforts

Public Opinion – Outreach Efforts

Public Opinion – Outreach Efforts

Public Opinion – Outreach Efforts

Press and public opinion – Risk and Threat

USCG managing threats and perception of threats as a Safety Issue

NOAA model•15 years of historic data•90 day spill•120 day forecast•500 total events

•Results indicate relative probability of impact on shores

•NO skimming•NO dispersants•NO information on type

Press and public opinion – Risk and Threat

USCG managing threats and perception of threats as a Safety Issue

News result:•Up to 80% chance of oil in Southeast Florida

•Likely date: August 18

•Second Eddy added to diagram to imply flow

Source: Sun Sentinel cover, July 3rd.Correction posted or to be posted.

Joint Information CenterPublic Opinion and Politics

Early public meetings in St. Pete

Joint Information CenterPublic Opinion and Politics

Joint Information CenterPublic Opinion and Politics

Hosting meetings – Florida Style

Florida FWCFish and Wildlife Research InstitJune 2006 Sources: ESRI Data & Maps CDNOAAUSCGFWC - FWRICreated in ArcGIS 9 using ArcMap

Digital ACP Regionsand ESI Map Grid 0 20 40 6010

Miles

SectorMobile

SectorSt. Petersburg

SectorKey West

SectorMiami

SectorJacksonville

Sector Savannah

SectorCharleston

§̈¦20

§̈¦65

§̈¦75

§̈¦10

§̈¦16§̈¦85 §̈¦95

§̈¦55§̈¦59

§̈¦26

§̈¦12

§̈¦4

§̈¦185

§̈¦275

§̈¦295

§̈¦475

§̈¦285

§̈¦195

F l o r i d a

G e o r g i aA l a b a m aM i s s i s s i p p i

S o u t h C a r o l i n a

L o u i s i a n a

N o r t h C a r o l i n aA r k a n s a s

-90°

-90°

-80°

-80°

30°

30°

.

DVD\WebsiteComplete

As of 4/2010

DVD\WebsiteUnder

Development(Updates)

As of 4/2010Sector San Juan

12/09

06/0808/09

09/06

05/10

Plans are in place for the coast

ESI Maps

Environmental UnitShoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team

Environmental UnitShoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team

“New” Purpose for Parks

Relocation and release in resilient healthy ecosystems

July 6 – Pelican release at De Soto National Memorial

Turtle relocation and release expected at other Florida national parks

RecognitionRecognizing the importance of healthy coastalecosystems.

MessagingGetting the right message about the value of theselands during the current crises and how long termplanning affects their ability to survive impacts.

ResearchMore complete baseline studies to provide historiccontext and identify future needs

Fundamental research is critical to success

South Florida Natural Resources Center

Thank you