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- Emergency Preparedness & Response
Providing Yearly Response Training
CSS scientists supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Scientific and Technical Assistance for Consequence Management (STACM) contract are experienced in EPA’s emergency response efforts, both natural and manmade. To help EPA staff prepare for these emergency response efforts, CSS staff provide yearly response training. The training includes review of respiratory protection equipment, operation checks, a review of Level C, B, and A personal protective equipment (PPE). The various levels of PPE required for hazard response personnel provide increasing protection based on the hazardous material personnel are addressing. Level D provides minimum protect required using equipment such as gloves, coveralls, safety glasses, face shields, and chemical-resistant steel-toed shoes. Level A provides the highest level of protection for when the greatest hazard potential exists.
This equipment includes positive pressure, full face-piece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); totally encapsulated chemical- and vapor-protective suit; inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves; and disposable protective suit, gloves, and boots. During the training, CSS staff have EPA personnel with the opportunity to try on and test the Level A PPE to try and complete some dexterity tasks, which adds some fun and entertainment to the training.
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New Data and Reports on the U.S. Marine Economy
Each year CSS economists on contract with NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management work with other federal agencies to process the most recent economic and labor data, and extract the portions related to marine-dependent sectors.
Studying Mesophotic Coral Health
Mesophotic coral can live at depths of 500 feet below the ocean surface. Even at this depth, some of the mesophotic corals in the Gulf of Mexico were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Our coral scientists supporting NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science are studying the extent of this impact.…
Contributing to Wind Energy Area Designations
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico. The WEAs are located off the coasts of Galveston, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana and have the potential to power nearly three million homes. BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify…