Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in the development of new techniques or capabilities that will enhance spill response efforts (U.S. Department of the Interior 2022).  The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) specifically outlines the federal government’s responsibilities for oil spill response (Federal Register 1994). This includes on-site characterization of the oil spill to determine the size and type of release. Data on the concentration and type of oil release is used to guide removal decisions and support resource managers’ decisions to protect natural resources. The DOI oil spill responders are also directed to support decisions regarding the protection of natural resources including fish and wildlife, cultural resources, and recovery.   One major challenge in spill response is for the screening of oil samples in the field to guide sample collection and rapid decisions.