LUMCON Releases 2015 Hypoxia Update: On August 4, 2015, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) issued a press release with a summary addressing 2015’s hypoxic findings in the northern Gulf of Mexico. According to the summary, “This year’s ‘Dead Zone” is the size of Connecticut and Rhode combined, and is the 11th largest in size since Read More
Posts by Andy Shepard
NOAA Provided Access to DWH NRDA Data through DIVER Explorer; More Workshops from Sea Grant’s Oil Spill and Outreach Team!
Recently, NOAA launched DIVER Explorer (Data Integration Visualization Exploration and Reporting), a data warehouse and query tool of the validated Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) data resulting from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) NRDA. DIVER also contains analytical chemistry and bioassay data collected under the DWH Response, historical Gulf Coast sampling data and continues to add Read More
Texas receives Funding for Centers of Excellence; Gulf Restoration Public Participation Bulletin Board; HRI Releases GecoView
A press release issued on June 30, 2015 announced “…Texas is the first state in the nation to receive money from the RESTORE Trust Fund through a federal award to fund two Centers of Excellence. The two centers, Texas OneGulf at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and the Subsea Systems Institute at the University of Houston, Read More
BP Settlement
The US Attorney General press release, “Total Value of Settlement Would Top $18.7 Billion, the Largest Settlement with a Single Entity in American History” describes the settlement with BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill damages. The web site includes a fact sheet that summarizes the “agreement in principle.”
NRDA Trustees Extended Comment Period for Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan; Sea Grant Seminar – Impacts of Oil on Coastal Habitats; Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment Public Review; Introducing Gulf Star
According to the press release issued June 16, 2015, “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (Trustees) have extended the public comment period for the Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments (Draft). The Draft proposes an additional 10 early restoration projects with an estimated cost of $134 million across Read More
2016 GoM Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference: Scientific Session Proposal
The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference is accepting proposals for Scientific Sessions for the 2016 conference. The deadline to submit a session proposal is June 14, 2015. They are also accepting requests for Associated Events and Workshops to be help Monday, February 1. As stated on the event website, “The 2016 Read More
Deepwater Horizon Spill tied to Gulf Dolphin Deaths; Public Comment Opportunity; FIO Job Opportunity
Latest NOAA study ties Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the spike in Gulf dolphin deaths. Studies completed by independent and government scientists have found signs of illness associated with exposure to petroleum products, particularly in the form of rare lesions on their lungs and adrenal glands, in many of these bottlenose dolphin deaths. As stated Read More
AGCRC Soliciting Proposal for Center of Excellence; FL Center of Excellence’s Grant Proposals Due 5/20/15
The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council released solicitation for proposal for the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Research Grant Program on May 13. Non-governmental entities and consortia, including public and private institutes of higher learning in the Gulf Coast Region can submit proposals to serve as Alabama’s Center of Excellence. Proposals are due June 30, Read More
Final Version of NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program’s Science Plan Released
From their announcement, “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the final version of the science plan for the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program. The plan establishes ten long-term research priorities which will guide how the program invests its funds and explains how prior needs assessments for the Gulf of Mexico region and Read More
Senate Hearing – 5 Years After Deepwater Horizon: Improvements and Challenges in Prevention and Response
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will convene on April 29, 2015, at 9:30 AM ET for a hearing entitled, “Five Years After Deepwater Horizon: Improvements and Challenges in Prevention and Response.” More details including the witness list and live streaming can be found here.