NOAA Office of Response and Restoration

06/04/2026

When oil spills or hazardous waste releases damage or close our favorite parks and beaches, OR&R works to quantify the loss to the public. Leveraging new technologies, OR&R economists are exploring mobility data from smartphones to get a more complete picture of how community recreation is impacted after environmental disasters.

Learn how this new tech is shaping the future of natural resource damage assessments to restore impacted coasts: https://blog.response.restoration.noaa.gov/using-smartphone-data-measure-recreation-impacts-after-environmental-disasters

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

Did you “NOAA” that we respond to ship groundings?

Despite advanced technology, ships of all sizes can still run aground and cause harm to reefs, beaches, and other habitats in U.S. waters. OR&R comes into play to provide scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard, address the possible environmental consequences of the grounding, and even support restoration efforts depending on the damage to natural resources. We accomplish this through strong partnerships and legal authorities.

Learn about how local communities can be affected, how we respond, and how our work has safeguarded marine and coastal natural resources for decades. https://blog.response.restoration.noaa.gov/grounded-ships-and-oil-pollution-how-response-and-restoration-minimize-harm-and-promote-recovery

📸The M/V Jireh grounded on Mona Island in 2012. Image credit: U.S. Coast Guard.

05/11/2026

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! Today is a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and taking action in support of planet Earth, while celebrating those who work to protect it.

One problem that our Earth faces is marine debris. Our trash has been found in every corner of our ocean, from the most remote shorelines, to ice in the Arctic, and even the deepest parts of the sea floor.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program works around the United States to investigate and prevent impacts of marine debris to benefit the environment, the economy, and navigational safety. Our work would not be possible without our partners and the collaboration between local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry. Protecting planet Earth is a team effort!

Let's work together with these resources to protect the planet that sustains our ocean, Great Lakes, and waterways from marine debris! https://blog.marinedebris.noaa.gov/celebrate-earth-day-noaa-marine-debris-program

04/20/2026

April is Citizen Science Month! It is a great time to get involved in the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) to measure the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines.

Anyone can get involved and help solve the issue of marine debris. Using this standardized collection method, suite of helpful resources, and publicly available data, participants and volunteers can detect differences in marine debris over time, inspire prevention efforts, and inform education and outreach. MDMAP is also a great opportunity to get outside and get to know your local shorelines!

Get started here:
https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/our-work/monitoring/marine-debris-monitoring-and-assessment-project

04/03/2026

📢Public Comment Sought: Draft Plan to Address Berry’s Creek, New Jersey Pollution Legacy

NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trustees for Berry’s Creek, have released a Draft Damage Assessment Plan and are seeking public comment on the proposed approach. Review the Draft Plan and comment by May 6, 2026: ➡️ https://darrp.noaa.gov/hazardous-waste/open-public-comment-draft-damage-assessment-plan-berrys-creek-watershed-new

Berry’s Creek has been heavily contaminated with hazardous substances, including mercury, other toxic metals, PCBs, and PAHs, since the late 1920s. This pollution affected surface water, sediments, wetlands, and the ecosystem, putting fish, crabs, turtles, birds, and mammals at risk. Consumption advisories and commercial harvest bans are in place due to the serious health risk to people.

This plan outlines how the Trustees will assess the harm to natural resources and guide future restoration efforts for the Berry’s Creek area, including three related EPA Superfund sites.