OR&R Senior Scientist Lisa Dipinto presented on research and methods development during a Research and Development Session, and Houston-based Scientific Support Coordinator Paige Doelling participated on a panel addressing NOAA contributions to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s enhancements to offshore information for Area Contingency Plans. 

Additionally, Adam Davis, a scientific support coordinator based in Mobile, Alabama, chaired a session on natural disaster response tools that featured a representative from OR&R's contractor Research Planning Inc. The session discussed job aids for the use of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS, or drones) in responding to spills and hurricanes, along with field-to-command post data systems used for tracking potential pollution targets after disasters through to resolution. 

The joint OR&R-University of New Hampshire Coastal Response Research Center held two working group information exchanges on dispersants and sunken and submerged oil.

Biologist Nicolle Rutherford provided an in-depth overview of the ESI Mapping program that covered the state of the ESI program, recent updates to maps and datasets across the country, and the many uses of ESI data.

Other colleagues from around NOAA also attended and presented. NOAA Fisheries representatives addressed marine mammal and sea turtle response inclusion in area contingency plans, and a representative from the NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch addressed radar satellite-based spill detection.

The Clean Gulf Conference provides a forum for the region’s spill response industry to come together and share findings and progress made in spill prevention, preparedness, and response. Attendees from all fields and organizations shared presentations and case studies dealing with recent and past incidents along with the latest technologies advancing the industry.