Deepwater Horizon Event Response Efforts

Florida's coastline is of paramount importance to the environment and economy. Due to the significance of the habitats found along the coastline, Florida is actively working to minimize the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These efforts go well beyond the containment of the oil in the Gulf, and beyond the clean-up efforts on-shore. Responders are working to determine the effects of the oil spill on the environment in order to develop long-term strategies to restore these precious coastal habitats.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead agency in Florida for responding to impacts of the oil spill along the coastline. After an oil spill or hazardous substance release, response agencies including federal partners (the United States Coast Guard, the Minerals Management Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) work cooperatively to clean up the substance and eliminate or reduce risks to human health and the environment. However, these efforts may not fully restore the damaged natural resources. To minimize these losses, NOAA utilizes the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) legal process to identify the extent of resource injuries, the best methods for restoring those resources, and the type and amount of restoration required. DEP's Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) is leading the NRDA process for Florida. Managers are working with other programs within DEP and state and federal agencies to collect samples and determine the current conditions of coastal resources, to the greatest extent possible.

Water and sediment samples are used to determine the presence or absence of hydrocarbons (an indicator of the presence of oil) at potential impact areas and sensitive habitats. They also provide baseline information about the environmental characteristics that may also be affected by the oil spill. Some sites are being sampled by other state agencies for additional information, such as fish and shellfish tissue and wildlife counts, including nesting birds and sea turtle nests.

On April 30, CAMA, in cooperation with DEP's Division of Environmental Resource Assessment and Restoration (DEAR), began pre-assessment baseline monitoring at Ft. Pickens Aquatic Preserve in Escambia County with water and sediment samples. By early July, DEP will have completed all baseline sampling for the entire Florida coastline from Escambia County to Monroe County and up the east coast to Duval County. This effort was made possible due in large part to the local government partners who were there to assist DEP every step of the way.

Now that the Florida Panhandle is experiencing impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a new phase in assessment has begun. This step of the NRDA process is determining injury to resources and the extent of those injuries. Recovery from the oil spill will be a long process and is dependent on having the most accurate information possible so that managers have clear goals for future restoration.

For More Information, please visit the Florida State Emergency Response Team Natural Resource Damage Assessment. This site has information about sampling locations, procedures and the data that is collected.

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