Below are some useful resources relating to the Gulf oil spill, including summaries of the relevant laws, fisheries closure updates, unified command updates and satellite imagery tracking the oil slick.
Summary of the OPA that became law in 1990 after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The OPA increased government powers relating to oil spills and created the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) to help fund cleanup costs of future oil spills.
Oil Pollution Act >
OSLTF was created to help fund cleanup costs of oil spills. It is only intended as a backup fund for when the responsible party is either unknown or refuses to pay for the cleanup costs of an oil spill.
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund >
NPFS is run by the US Coast Guard and implements parts of the OPA and administers the OSLTF, holding polluters directly and financially accountable for their oil spill clean up costs.
National Pollution Funds Center >
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. As a steward, NOAA Fisheries Service conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources in a way that ensures their continuation as functioning components of marine ecosystems, affords economic opportunities, and enhances the quality of life for the American public.
Updates from NOAA regarding the Gulf oil spill, providing scientific and biological response services to federal and local crews.
NOAA Offices of Response and Restoration >
Providing documents, references, policies, maps and other files for use in the pollution response to the Gulf oil spill in the USCG Sector Mobile Area of Responsibility.
US Coast Guard Sector Mobile digital Area Contingency Plan >
The official website of the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command, offering updates on the coordinated response to the Gulf oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.
Unified Command Updates >
Satellite images from USF’s Optical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Marine Science, tracking the progress of the Gulf oil spill.
University of South Florida Oil Spill Tracking Images >
Skytruth is a non profit organization offering daily reports and analysis on the Gulf oil spill using NASA/MODIS satellite imagery.
Skytruth NASA/MODIS Satellite Images >