GIS & Spatial Analysis

NRDA

Spill Response & Planning

Database/ Applications Development

M/V Selendang Ayu, December 2004
Unalaska Island, AK
Clients: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Alaska

In 2008, RPI was contracted to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the location, amount, degradation, and bioavailability of the lingering oil from the M/V Selendang Ayu incident. This work involves extensive field logistics to: deploy and retrieve nearly 190 polyethylene membrane devices (PEMDs), collect and preserve 105 mussel tissue samples and 139 sediment samples, and excavate 725 pits to describe lingering oil along 20 shoreline segments. The results will be used to identify the need for and scale of appropriate restoration projects.

M/V Cosco Busan, November 2007
San Francisco Bay, CA
Clients: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of California

RPI is assisting the Trustees in preassessment and injury quantification from the spill of 58,000 gallons of a heavy fuel oil into San Francisco Bay. We have the technical lead on two shoreline resource groups (rocky shores; sand beaches, flats, and marshes) and are advising the eelgrass group.

T/V Athos I-120, November 2004
Clients: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

RPI assisted the Trustees in quantifying injury to wildlife (primarily birds) and shoreline resources as a result of the spill of 265,000 gallons of Venezuelan crude oil in the Delaware River. For the bird injury assessment, GIS modeling was used in a risk-based assessment that built on the extensive aerial surveys and ground observations during the spill event. The DARP/EA should be completed in 2008.

T/B Bouchard-120, April 2003
Clients: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island

RPI was responsible for quantifying injury to shoreline resources as a result of the spill of 98,000 gallons of a heavy fuel oil in Buzzards Bay that affected over 85 miles of shoreline in MA and 17 miles of shoreline in RI. RPI also assisted the Trustees in quantification of the injury to aquatic resources. The DARP/EA should be completed in 2008.

Pryor Well Blowout, Spill, and Fire, July 2002
Obed Wild and Scenic River, TN
Clients: National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Tennessee

RPI is assisted the Trustees in the Preassessment, Injury Assessment, and Restoration Planning phases for a spill from a well blowout and fire that affected the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Impacted resources and services include fish communities, benthic macroinvertebrates, terrestrial vegetation and soils, water quality, and public use. The final DARP/EA will be released by summer 2008.

M/V Westchester, November 2000
500,000 gallons of Nigerian crude oil in the Mississippi River at River Mile 38
Clients: NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, State of Louisiana

RPI prepared the Preassessment Phase Data Report. Based on this report, a final restoration strategy was agreed upon.

Petrobras Pipeline, January 2000
300,000 gallons of marine fuel into Guanabara Bay, Brazil
Client: Petrobras

RPI is evaluating the results of injury studies commissioned by Petrobras and the Federal government and making recommendations for restoration of injured resources.

PEPCO/Chalk Point Pipeline, April 2000
126,000 gallons of a mixture of No. 6 and No. 2 fuel oils into the Patuxent River, Maryland
Clients: NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, State of Maryland

RPI designed, implemented and prepared final reports on studies to scale injury to:
   Wetlands
   Birds
   Aquatic Resources (Fish and Shellfish)
   Benthic Resources
   Terrapins

Administrative Record for the Pepco NRDA case

M/V New Carissa, February 1999
Coos Bay, Oregon
Clients: Department of Interior, NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, State of Oregon

RPI prepared the Preassessment Data Report, synthesizing all of the ephemeral data collection activities and interpreting a large chemical database to document the extent of the initial oil exposure in the water, sediments, oysters, and crabs.

Tuna Longliners Removal, Pago Pago, 1999
Clients: NOAA, Government of American Samoa

RPI designed and implemented a rapid field assessment program for assessing the likely impact from the planned removal of 9 abandoned vessels from the reef flat in Pago Pago harbor. Injuries and recovery rates for developed for coral, algal turf, and Halimeda communities. Emergency restoration options were identified and scaled in terms of habitat credits, and a full Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/EA was written.

T/B North Cape, February 1996
828,000 gallons of home heating oil on the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Rhode Island
Clients: NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, State of Rhode Island

RPI staff chaired the Salt Ponds Technical Working Group and wrote the injury quantification sections of the Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan for salt pond resources.

Colonial Pipeline–Reedy River, July 1996
1,000,000 gallons diesel into the Reedy River, South Carolina
Client: State of South Carolina

RPI assisted in field data collection and data evaluation for injury to fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and sediment and water quality impacts.

T/V Amazon Venture, December 1986
500,000 gallons No. 6 fuel oil into the Savannah River, Georgia
Clients: Department of Interior, NOAA, States of South Carolina and Georgia

RPI conducted the first NRDA for an oil spill under the CERCLA Type B regulations.