ICS in Action: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

1. ICS in Action: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response FDA SER Food Safety Seminar Nashville, TN November 16-18, 2010 Kimberly Livsey, FDA SER, Emergency Response Coordinator

2. The Beginning�.

3. Posture Initial contact from Office of Emergency Operations (OEO) occurred on April 22. Informal monitoring of the oil spill�began by Southeast Region on April 23. SER Regional Shellfish Specialists (RSSs) OEO assigned coordinator to DWH Incident on April 26. NOAA started updates to OEO on April 27. OEO began providing reports to the HHS Secretary�s Operation Center (SOC).

4. ThreatGulf Coast Seafood Industry Overall Economics of Gulf Fisheries in 2008� Commercial Fishermen Harvested 1.27 billion pounds of finfish & shellfish Earned $659 million in total landings revenue Recreational Fisherman 3.2 million fisherman took a total of 24 million trips Finfish Wide variety of fish species in the Gulf of Mexico Red snapper more valuable finfish species

5. ThreatGulf Coast Seafood Industry Overall Economics of Gulf Fisheries in 2008� Shrimp Largest landing in nation with 188.3 million lbs or 73% of total Blue Crabs Most economically valuable crab species LA lands approx 26% or 41.6 million lbs for the nation Oysters Leads US in production at 67 percent of total Over $60 million in dockside value

6. Who�s In Charge National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Lead Agency Regulate Federal Waters State Agencies Responsible for State Waters From Shore to 3 Miles Out Exception FL (9 miles) FDA Support Agency Jurisdiction over Seafood in Interstate Commerce

7. Expectations NOAA is Lead, but�� FDA Where are you? What are you doing? Last Major Oil Spill: 20 years Exxon Valdez - March 1989

8. Past Oil Spills Finfish metabolize oil quickly after exposure. Oysters likely to remain tainted for an extended period after exposure due to sedentary state. Shrimp and crab metabolize oil at a faster rate than shellfish but slower than finfish.

9. Past Oil Spills Dispersants used have low potential to bioaccumulate and pose no significant public health risk in consumption. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH�s) are the chemical hazards associated will oil.

10. Where�s the Oil? NOAA tracked the oil spill on and beneath the surface Satellites in space Planes in the air Boats on the water Gliders below the surface Scientists on the ground

11. NOAA issued oil spill trajectory forecast maps. Movement based on wind, tidal currents, and weather.

12. Initial Response to Threat Precautionary Closure of Federal Waters by NOAA 36.6% of Gulf waters would be closed to Fishing at the height of Incident NOAA Fisheries Service announced any changes daily at 12 noon est. New closed area would become effective at 6 pm est. Precautionary Closure of State Waters by Individual States Based on NOAA Trajectory Forecast State Surveillance and Monitoring Announced via Public Releases Mapping Utilized to Depict Closures

15. Posture SER formal monitoring structure is established on April 30 A SER Point of Contact (POC) is designated for each agency responsible for seafood safety in Gulf States. District Emergency Response Coordinators Regional Shellfish Specialists (RSSs)

16. SER Activities POCs monitor the opening and closing of state waters, provide technical assistance to and assess the needs of the Gulf States. SER starts providing daily Situation Reports (Sitreps) to OEO.

20. Incident Command Posts RSSs are assigned as liaisons to Unified Commands in Houma and Mobile.

22. Initial Requests from States Public Messaging Regarding The Safety Of Gulf Seafood Assistance With A Sampling Protocol Sample Analysis Methodology Dispersant Safety Laboratory Assistance (Capacity) Sensory Training For States

23. Response from FDA Initiation of Gulf State Calls Development of Talking Points for States to Use Communication of Dispersant Safety Info from CDC Participation of Technical Experts on State Health Directors� and Governors� Calls Partnering with NOAA, AFDO, and IFPTI to provide Sensory Training for States Collaboration with NOAA on a Sample Analysis Methodology and Reopening Protocol Identification and Equipping of Laboratories to Run Method

24. IMG Laboratory Unit Analytical Strategy: Waters are Examined Visually Samples Chosen and Evaluated by State Sensory Screeners Panel of Organoleptic Experts examines Seafood Sample Chemical Analysis for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

25. Method Throughput Comparison NOAA (8 labs) Turnaround Time 4-5 days Each Lab 15 � 20 samples/week Eight Labs 120 � 130 samples/week Screening Method (11 labs) Turnaround Time 24 � 36 hours Each Lab 20 samples/day Eleven Labs 1100 samples/week

26. Mobile Lab Deployment Initially Deployed to Davie, FL After Oil Spill, Redeployed to Tallahassee, FL Mid-May through Mid-August SPME/GC-MSD Technology to Test for Volatiles in Seafood Product

27. IMG Technical Specialists Reopening Protocol Developed in conjunction with NOAA Living document Determining levels of concern Sampling Procedure How much to sample of each species How samples should be handled

28. Reopening Protocol For Waters Closed Due To Oil Impact Assess Water Submit Justification for Reopening Waters Collect Samples Open by Species Sensory Analysis Chemical Analysis Concurrence Letter

29. Is the Seafood Safe?

31. SER IMT Command and General Staff

33. Operations Section Florida and New Orleans Branches

34. Seafood Assignments FDA initiates Gulf Coast Seafood Assignments to verify the safety of seafood in Commerce Limited HACCP Inspections Concentrating on Receiving Issued Industry Letter Sample Collection of Seafood Products

35. Seafood Assignments Florida and New Orleans Inspection Branches Conducted 332 Inspections/Visits over 2 Operational Periods 194 Primary Process 43 Out of Business 33 Inactive 62 Other (2nd, Retail, Clam) Collected 51 Samples 21 Crab, 15 Shrimp, 12 Oysters

37. Approach To Ensure Safety of Seafood Closures of Federal and State Waters Inspection and Testing of Seafood at Primary Processors Reopening Protocol for Federal Waters Agreed Upon by States

39. Communications Keep Gulf States informed and provide technical assistance Closures Reopening protocol Sampling and inspection assignments Talking points and press releases Challenge Many agencies and players involved Information did not reach all those impacted

40. Baseline Samples PAH analysis to assist with reopening of waters Coordinate sample submission Drawback Could not be used for the NRDA

41. NOAA/FDA Reopening Protocol States closed waters when oil or other chemical contaminants were observed Not initiated for precautionary closures Reopening protocol to ensure consistency was requested by the Gulf states Approved by Governors and Agency Executives Buy-in not initially obtained from those implementing the method

42. NOAA/FDA Reopening Protocol Factors to consider for reopening Nature and extent of observed oil that resulted in closure Tar balls, oil sheen, light to heavy oiling Elapsed time since closure and last observance of oil Potential for future impact based on Presence of oil in adjacent or nearby areas Prevailing currents Prevailing winds Likelihood that fisheries will be impacted by oil movement within 7 - 10 days

43. NOAA/FDA Reopening Protocol State submits written request to NOAA and FDA for concurrence for reopening of waters Challenge: Limitations of electronic data Solution: Required extensive collaboration and input from the states

48. NOAA/FDA Reopening Protocol Concurrence obtained and sampling plan approved Oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish Challenge: Sample collection Solution: Flexibility and openings by species State submits samples to NSIL for sensory analysis Challenge: Limited number of expert sensory panelists Solution: Reduced panel size from 10 - 7

49. NOAA/FDA Reopening Protocol PAH analysis by FDA/FERN labs Challenge: Implementing NOAA PAH method Solution: Validation of rapid LC method Challenge: Agreeing upon limits of concern for PAHs Solution: FDA and states (Fish Consumption Advisory Group) collaborated on final levels of concern

50. Hallelujah! July 15 - The Deepwater Horizon oil leak is finally capped!

52. Deepwater Horizon Response Status SER IMT stood down on August 27 LA only state currently with closed waters Continue to monitor reopening process RSS John Veazey is still providing technical assistance to the state Tracking complaints and media reports related to oiled seafood Moving into Recovery Phase Conducted 2 After Action Reviews

54. Contact Information Kim Livsey SE Region Office 404-253-1273 Cell 404-824-5197 kimberly.livsey@fda.hhs.gov Neisa Alonso SJN District Office 787-474-9501 Cell 787-342-2774 neisa.alonso@fda.hhs.gov Nelson Venerio FLA District Office 407-475-4729 Cell 407-415-8415 nelson.venerio@fda.hhs.gov Wendy Campbell NOL District Office 615-366-7806 Cell 615-310-0483 wendy.campbell@fda.hhs.gov

55. Acknowledgements Peter Koufopoulos, FDA Division of Seafood Safety, CFSAN Selen Stromgren, PhD and Capt. Michael McLaughlin, PhD, Division of Field Science, ORO LaTonya Mitchell, FDA SRL, Director of�Chemistry Branch II, SRL Wendy Campbell, FDA NOL-DO, Emergency Response Coordinator, NOL-DO Nathan Beck, FDA Office of Crisis Management, OC John Veazey, David Wiggins, Marc Glatzer, FDA Regional Shellfish Specialists, SER Marybeth Willis, FDA Regional Milk Specialist, SER Larry Estavan, Senior CSO, NOL-DO AP � Photo of Burning Oil Rig