Social disruption from oil spills and spill response: Social and Environmental Research Institute (SERI)

Project funded by the The Coastal Response Research Center; NOAA Grant Number: NA04NOS4190063.

1 June 2008 - 31 May 2010.

Tom Webler (PI) and Seth Tuler (Social and Environmental Research Institute)

Kirstin Dow, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina

The objective of this project is to design a process to help Area Committee planners anticipate and plan for the socially disruptive impacts, or "human dimensions" of spills. This process will lead planners and other stakeholders through a systematic exploration of the possible socially disruptive impacts.

To develop this process, we will first construct an organized list (or taxonomy) of socially disruptive impacts from spills. We will do this by mining the existing literature and interviewing Area Committee members in three different regions, collecting their insights into how oil spills could impact human communities. The three case studies are: The Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay, Long Island Sound Area Planning, and the DM-932 spill in New Orleans. A fourth case study in Cordova, Alaska is also being completed as part of a separately funded project (more information).

Second, to understand how particular qualities of communities determine the way in which impacts are brought about, we will use vulnerability theory. This involves characterizing sensitivities and adaptive responses of the people, groups, institutions, and communities that are impacted by a spill event and spill response. We will develop a generic technique to help AC planners identify, gather, and summarize relevant vulnerability information.

Third, we will identify existing data sets that AC planners can use to characterize impacts and vulnerability information.

Research Progress (Summer 2009)

We are presently one year into this two-year project. To date we have:

Completed a review of existing literature on human impacts.

Constructed a taxonomy of human impacts.

Completed taxonomies of vulnerability information on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive action.

Completed a case study of the Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay.

Completed 50% of the interviews for a case study of Long Island Sound.

Begun a review of existing data sets on information relevant to the human dimensions of spills.

Drafted a the overall strategy of a guidance document for how to help AC planners think through and plan for these impacts.

Completed preparatory work for a case study of the DM-932 spill in New Orleans (interviews will be completed in August 2009).

Anticipated Benefits

This project will provide a base of knowledge to understand how oil spills impact human communities and will assist planners to evaluate trade-offs and synergies between protecting environmental resources and protecting or mitigating impacts to human communities. Results will be transferable to Area Committees across the nation. The project will improve contingency planning by enabling plans to better incorporate information about human impacts.

Publications and Reports

Tuler, S., Webler, T., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Characterizing social disruption of oil spills and spill response. Presentation made at the Clean Gulf Conference November 2009 in New Orleans. (PDF Available)

Webler, T., Tuler, S., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Social disruption from oil spills and spill response: Characterizing effects, vulnerabilities, and the adequacy of existing data to inform decision‐making. Interim Report (summary of progress in Phase 1). (PDF Available)

Webler, T. and Lord, F. (Submitted June 2009). Planning for the human dimensions of oil spills and spill response, Environmental Management

Webler, T., Tuler, S., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Characterizing social disruption of oil spills and spill response. Presentation made at the Coastal Zone Management Conference 2009 in Boston. (PDF Available)

Case study report of the human dimensions of the Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (PDF Available).

Case study report of the human dimensions of the DM-932 spill in New Orleans (Available Fall 2009).

Case study report of the human dimensions of oil spills in Long Island Sound (Available Spring 2010).

Case study report of the human dimensions of the Exxon Valdez spill (Available Spring 2010).

A taxonomy of human dimensions of oil spills (Available Spring 2010).

Funder Information

The Coastal Response Research Center is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the Office of Response and Restoration, and the University of New Hampshire. The goal of the Center is to reduce the consequences of spills and other hazards that threaten coastal environments and communities by conducting research, developing new response and restoration methods, and transferring technology to practitioners. For more information on this and other Center-funded projects, (visit CRRC).

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All material © SERI unless otherwise noted.			Project funded by the The Coastal Response Research Center; NOAA Grant Number: NA04NOS4190063. 1 June 2008 - 31 May 2010. Project Team Tom Webler (PI) and Seth Tuler (Social and Environmental Research Institute) Kirstin Dow, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina Project Overview The objective of this project is to design a process to help Area Committee planners anticipate and plan for the socially disruptive impacts, or "human dimensions" of spills. This process will lead planners and other stakeholders through a systematic exploration of the possible socially disruptive impacts. To develop this process, we will first construct an organized list (or taxonomy) of socially disruptive impacts from spills. We will do this by mining the existing literature and interviewing Area Committee members in three different regions, collecting their insights into how oil spills could impact human communities. The three case studies are: The Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay, Long Island Sound Area Planning, and the DM-932 spill in New Orleans. A fourth case study in Cordova, Alaska is also being completed as part of a separately funded project (more information). Second, to understand how particular qualities of communities determine the way in which impacts are brought about, we will use vulnerability theory. This involves characterizing sensitivities and adaptive responses of the people, groups, institutions, and communities that are impacted by a spill event and spill response. We will develop a generic technique to help AC planners identify, gather, and summarize relevant vulnerability information. Third, we will identify existing data sets that AC planners can use to characterize impacts and vulnerability information. Research Progress (Summer 2009) We are presently one year into this two-year project. To date we have: Completed a review of existing literature on human impacts. Constructed a taxonomy of human impacts. Completed taxonomies of vulnerability information on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive action. Completed a case study of the Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay. Completed 50% of the interviews for a case study of Long Island Sound. Begun a review of existing data sets on information relevant to the human dimensions of spills. Drafted a the overall strategy of a guidance document for how to help AC planners think through and plan for these impacts. Completed preparatory work for a case study of the DM-932 spill in New Orleans (interviews will be completed in August 2009). Anticipated Benefits This project will provide a base of knowledge to understand how oil spills impact human communities and will assist planners to evaluate trade-offs and synergies between protecting environmental resources and protecting or mitigating impacts to human communities. Results will be transferable to Area Committees across the nation. The project will improve contingency planning by enabling plans to better incorporate information about human impacts. Publications and Reports Tuler, S., Webler, T., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Characterizing social disruption of oil spills and spill response. Presentation made at the Clean Gulf Conference November 2009 in New Orleans. (PDF Available) Webler, T., Tuler, S., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Social disruption from oil spills and spill response: Characterizing effects, vulnerabilities, and the adequacy of existing data to inform decision‐making. Interim Report (summary of progress in Phase 1). (PDF Available) Webler, T. and Lord, F. (Submitted June 2009). Planning for the human dimensions of oil spills and spill response, Environmental Management Webler, T., Tuler, S., Dow, K., and Lord, F. 2009. Characterizing social disruption of oil spills and spill response. Presentation made at the Coastal Zone Management Conference 2009 in Boston. (PDF Available) Case study report of the human dimensions of the Bouchard-120 spill in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (PDF Available). Case study report of the human dimensions of the DM-932 spill in New Orleans (Available Fall 2009). Case study report of the human dimensions of oil spills in Long Island Sound (Available Spring 2010). Case study report of the human dimensions of the Exxon Valdez spill (Available Spring 2010). A taxonomy of human dimensions of oil spills (Available Spring 2010). Funder Information The Coastal Response Research Center is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the Office of Response and Restoration, and the University of New Hampshire. The goal of the Center is to reduce the consequences of spills and other hazards that threaten coastal environments and communities by conducting research, developing new response and restoration methods, and transferring technology to practitioners. For more information on this and other Center-funded projects, (visit CRRC).