Japan Tsunami Marine Debris:

Information and updates

http://www.personal-mastership.com/tag/red-ocean/

Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium18 April 2012

• Early tsunami-generated marine debris• Overview of what we know (and don’t)

• Ocean models of tsunami debris movement • Other “Frequently Asked Questions”

• Federal agencies (alphabetical order)

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• U.S. Coast Guard• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• National Park Service• Navy Region Hawaii

• Federal and non-federal activities• Contingency response planning

Overview

Photos: US Navy Pacific Fleet

• Early on, debris was in concentrated patches, fields

• Patches/fields no longer visible by April 14, 2011

• Wood, construction materials abundant

• Most debris probably sank near shore• Past experience: American Samoa

tsunami, hurricanes Katrina and Rita most debris sank near shore

• Likely 70% sank in nearshorewaters of Japan (Government of Japan)

Photo taken on March 12, 2011off the Sendai coast, Japan.

Government of Japan, 3/9/12 press release with estimated amounts: http://www.env.go.jp/press/press.php?serial=14948

Early Tsunami-generated Marine Debris

• March 11, 2011 –Debris washed out with tsunami

• By April 14, 2011 debris could no longer be detected by our satellites.

Early Tsunami-generated Marine Debris

Satellite image: 14 March 2011; 15m resolution

What We Know

• Debris is dispersed and not in large concentrations or fields.

• Likely quite a lot of debris sank near shore off Japan coast.

• Computer models • Debris will move east with predominant ocean currents

and winds• Predicted trajectories of simulated marine debris• Simulated debris particles don’t degrade, sink, etc.• No real-time tracking• Very difficult to predict an exact date and location

Marine Debris MovementCharacteristics of a debris item will affect how it moves

with ocean currents and winds.

Ocean currents Winds

• Combination of sail area and drag• Low = slow (e.g., wood)• Medium = moderate (e.g., fishing vessel)• High = fast (e.g., unoccupied inflatable life

raft)

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Marine Debris ModelingNo models exist yet specifically for

marine debris of all shapes and sizes.NOAA OSCURS (surface current model; Ocean Surface Current Simulator)• Forecast; historical data; lower windage used• NWHI-winter 2011/2012; W. coast and AK-2013; MHI-2014

NOAA GNOME (oil spill model; General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment)• Hindcast• Using Navy HyCOM (ocean currents) and NOAA data (wind) • 1-5% wind speed

GNOME results• High windage debris waters off Pacific Northwest coast as early as

winter 2011-2012. • Majority of modeled particles are dispersed north and east of the

Hawaiian Archipelago.• This debris may show up intermittently along shorelines for a long

period of time, over the next year or longer.

Marine Debris ModelingNOAA GNOME

• 1,000 particles• Random

windage: low to high

• 8 locations (>3.5m)

• 0700, 11 March 2011 through 7 April 2012

• These do NOT represent fields/patches of debris

Area contains 95% of all simulated particles

Area with highest concentration of simulated debris with 1% windage

Where will debris wash ashore?• Areas where marine debris typically washes ashore• East or windward sides of most Main Hawaiian Islands• NWHI and MHI (agency staff, NGOs, community groups, etc.)

no confirmed reportsRadioactivity above normal? Highly unlikely.

• Debris washed out days before the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant incident

• Shoreline marine debris monitoring ongoing• State Dept. of Health monitoring since April 2011

What We Know

How much remains still floating? Unknown• Estimates from Japan Ministry of the Environment (3/9/12 release):

• Approx. 5 million tons of debris washed into the ocean• 70% of that likely sunk near shore• 30% (1.5 million tons) still floating soon after tsunami• How much of that still remains afloat at this time = ?

• Figures in most media (5-20+ million tons) = unsubstantiated

Types of debris? Relatively unknown• Hawaii receives marine debris from across the Pacific,

including Japan• Difficult to source identify Japan tsunami marine debris• Three confirmed sightings – identifiable fishing boats

What We Don’t Know

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• U.S. Coast Guard• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• National Park Service• Navy Region Hawaii

Federal AgenciesRoles and activities related to Japan tsunami marine debris

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersHonolulu District

• Main point of contact: George Young, Chief, Regulatory Branch (george.p.young@usace .army.mil, (808)438-9258)

• Area of Responsibility: HI, GU, AS, & CNMI• Regulatory Program Authorities

• Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act,1899• Section 404, Clean Water Act, 1972• Section 103, Marine Protection, Research, Sanctuaries Act, 1972

• Jurisdictional Limits• Section 10 (Rivers and Harbors Act)

• All marine and ocean waters, incl. adjacent wetlands, tidal stream mouths and estuaries

• High Tide Line seaward to 3 nautical miles offshore (200 nautical miles offshore if structure/infrastructure is anchored to sea floor

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRegulatory Program and Permits

• Jurisdictional Limits (continued)

• Section 404 (Clean Water Act)

• All marine and ocean waters, relatively permanent tributaries, and all waters/wetland with a significant nexus to navigable waters

• Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and below

• Within boundary of wetland, if material is placed in a wetland

• Work Requiring a Permit

• All work in, over, or under navigable (ocean/marine) waters, incl. dredging, with potential to affect the course, capacity, or use of navigable waters

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRegulatory Program and Permits

• Work Requiring a Permit (continued)

• All projects involving the placement and/or discharge of dredged and/or fill material into a jurisdictional water body or wetland

• Who is Required to Obtain a Corps Permit?

• Any individual/agency conducting work in, over, or under navigable waters, or discharging fill into jurisdictional waters

• Permit Types (available for debris removal)

• Nationwide Permit (NWP), Letter of Permission (LOP), Standard Permit (SP)

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRegulatory Program and Permits

• Permit Processing Considerations

• Corps is required to complete other consultations required by law, including Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act, National Historic Preservation Act.

• Corps will use the most expedient process appropriate for project scale and impacts to aquatic environment. NWP/LOP/RGP < 60 days; SP > 120 days

• State Permits Required Before Corps Permit May Be Issued

• Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Consistency Determination, Office of State Planning; For all projects.

• Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) , State Dept of Health, Clean Water Branch; For projects involving discharge of fill.

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRegulatory Program and Permits

U.S. Coast Guard

Marine Debris Authorities under:• Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act of 2006, to:

• Prevent discharge by ships only.• Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 USC 1321), to:

• Respond to substantial threats of discharge in U.S. navigable waters.

• Oil Pollution Act of 190- OPA-90 (33 USC 2701), to:• Provides for a strict liability regime for spills in navigable waters.

• Agency Assistance (14 USC 141(a)), to:• Assist Fed/State partners to perform duties “especially qualified” for.• Related to above: Economy Act (31 USC 1535), to

• Allow for reimbursement of services between agencies.• Notice to Mariners 33 CFR 72.01, to:

• Advises mariners of information concerning safety of navigation.

U.S. Coast Guard

Derelict Vessels, specifically under: • 14 USC 88 (4) – Saving life and property

• May destroy or tow into port sunken or floating dangers to navigation.

Main point of contact: CDR Robert Hendrickson, Law Enforcement Branch, District 14 (robert.t.hendrickson @uscg.mil, (808)535-3361)

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Jurisdiction: Inland zone, 50 yards inland of the high tide line

• Activities: Assess hazardous materials and advise State of Hawaii on safe transport and disposal options

• Resources: EPA's Superfund Program has authority to assess, clean up and dispose of hazardous materials, pollutants or contaminants that pose a threat to human health and the environment.

• ORRT: EPA Co-Chairs the Oceania Regional Response Team with the US Coast Guard. Federal and state representatives on the ORRT meet three times a year. JTMD has been on the ORRT agenda since April 2011.

U.S. EPAStatutory Mandates and Jurisdictions

• Response SOPs: USEPA has well established protocols for assessing hazardous materials. POC in the Region is Harry L. Allen

• Transportation/Disposal SOPs: USEPA concurs on an ocean dumping permit issued by the Army Corps. POC is Allan Ota

• Ongoing Monitoring: Working with the interagency workgroup. POC is Anna-Marie Cook

• Response Protocol: Coordinating with California agencies to develop response protocols/contingency plans. POC is John Kennedy

Main point of contact for EPA Region: Daniel Meer, Superfund Division, Emergency Response, Preparedness and Prevention Branch (Meer.Daniel@epamail.epa.gov, (415)972-3132)

U.S. EPARoles and Activities

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRoles and Activities

Locational jurisdictional information - Shoreline/land and some near shore waters within refuge areas • NWHI – Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

• Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR); • Hawaiian Islands NWR consisting of

• Nihoa Island• Mokumanamana Island• French Frigate Shoals with Tern Island• Laysan Island• Lisianski Island• Pearl and Hermes Atoll

• Oahu - James Campbell NWR

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRoles and Activities

• Activities related to marine debris

• FWS supports studies on the effects of marine debris to wildlife and documentation of accumulation of marine debris on shoreline at selected locations in NWHI and in Oahu;

• Potential resources available - NONE unless additional funding is provided;

• Participant in Regional Response Contingency Plan and associated protocols/procedures for hazmat

• Transportation/Disposal Capability - NONE unless significant funding provided.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRoles and Activities

• Ongoing and Future detection and monitoring• Midway Atoll - Monitoring of marine debris utilizing protocols

developed with Christine Ribic, PhD and Seba Sheavly, PhD; POC = Deputy Refuge Manager John Klavitter, John_Klavitter@fws.gov, 808-954-4817

• Tern Island - Monitoring of marine debris on data form; working with NOAA Marine Debris Program; POC = Tern Island Refuge Manager Paula Hartzell, PhD; paula_hartzell@fws.gov, 808-792-9480

• Laysan - Incidental monitoring. POC: Biotech Cindy Rehkemper, cindy_rehkemper@fws.gov, 808-792-9487

• James Campbell NWR on Oahu – Incidental Monitoring and ongoing cleanup. POC: Dave Ellis (dave_ellis@fws.gov, (808)637-6330)

Main point of contact: Barry Stieglitz, Refuge Supervisor, (Barry_Stieglitz@fws.gov, (808)792-9540)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA Roles and Resources

• Scientific support

• Information dissemination

• NOAA trust resource protection and management

• Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

• Contingency response planning

• Marine debris removal efforts

• Marine Debris Program: Total of 12 staff nationwide for all marine debris issues; 1 staff (70% time) on JTMD for 6 mos.

• Other NOAA offices: Modelers, oceanographers, satellite imagery experts, data visualizers, and communications personnel

• Modeling• Two NOAA models (forecast and hindcast)• Coordinating modeling subject-matter expert group• Model output: graphic and communication

• At-sea/Aerial sightings and satellite imagery• Call for “significant sightings” of marine debris in the North Pacific

Ocean; report to disasterdebris@noaa.gov• Tracking reported at-sea and aerial sightings• High resolution satellite imagery analysis

• Shoreline• NOAA Marine Debris Program Shoreline Monitoring Guide and data

sheet – MD.monitoring@noaa.gov• Assisting in analysis of monitoring data from Tern Island, FFS, NWHI• Tracking shoreline sightings; report to disasterdebris@noaa.gov

NOAA Scientific Support

Reported sightings and satellite imagery

NOAA Scientific Support

Only three confirmed sightings of Japan tsunami marine debris.

NOAA Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA)

• Web page http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html

• Biweekly agency update conference call

• Meetings and briefings with partners and stakeholders

• Public presentations

• Media (traditional, social, digital)

• EPA-NOAA monthly bulletin –Subscribe online

NOAA Information Dissemination

NOAA Fiscal Year 2012 Planned Activities with additional funding from Congress (Senator Inouye):

• Expanded marine debris removal effort in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

• Improved at-sea observations and potential marine debris tracking

• Shoreline marine debris monitoring in HI, AK, WA, OR, CA

• Facilitation of contingency planning and information sharing

• Marine debris modeling communication and data visualization

• Focus was Northwestern Hawaiian Islands• Information & updates• Contingency response planning with regional subject matter expert groups• 80 participants; 42 agencies and organizations

Japan Tsunami Marine Debris WorkshopHonolulu | 19 January 2012

• Am Marine/PENCO• City and County of Honolulu, Dept. of Emergency Management• City and County of Honolulu, Dept. of Environmental Services• City and County of Honolulu, Dept. of Parks and Recreation• County of Hawaiʻi, Department of Environmental Management• County of Hawaiʻi, Civil Defense• County of Kauai, Deputy County Attorney• County of Kauai, Fire Dept., Ocean Safety Bureau• County of Kauai, Police Dept.• County of Maui, Mayor's office• Heally Tibbits• HIHW National Marine Sanctuary/DLNR• Hawaiʻi Pacific University• NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program• NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary• NOAA Marine Debris Program• NOAA National Weather Service• NOAA Office of Coast Survey• NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations• NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Pacific Islands Region• NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

• NOAA PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Division• NOAA Pacific Islands Region• NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office• NOAA Pacific Services Center• Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument• Sause Bros.• State of Hawaiʻi, Civil Defense• State of Hawaiʻi, Coastal Zone Management Program• State of Hawaiʻi, Dept. of Health• State of Hawaiʻi, Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)• State of Hawaiʻi, DLNR, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation• State of Hawaiʻi,, Office of Planning• Tetra Tech• University of Hawaiʻi, International Pacific Research Center• University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program• US Coast Guard, District 14• US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9• US Fish and Wildlife Service• US Navy Region Hawaiʻi • Woolaway and Assoc.• Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council

NOAA Resource Protection and Planning

NOAA

Main points of contact: Hawaii (Pacific Islands Region): Carey Morishige, NOAA Marine Debris Program (carey.morishige@noaa.gov, (808)532-3207)National: Ruth Yender, NOAA Marine Debris Program (ruth.yender@noaa.gov, (808)694-3936)

National Park Service

• NPS has primarily a terrestrial presence in Hawaii and the Pacific though there are several parks with offshore boundaries and marine resource stewardship programs in place - the parks will address those areas specifically identified under their enabling legislation and work with partners and communities for areas adjacent to the parks.

• NPS stands ready to provide assistance and will support other agencies and organizations at all levels to address issue in both the near term and long term processes.

• NPS currently has cooperative and mutual aid agreements with various agencies and organizations such as NOAA and the Coast Guard in support of joint operations and projects.

• NPS will engage and support inventory and monitoring, communication strategies, outreach and education programs. Note the importance of community education, outreach and engagement about the marine debris issue.

National Park ServiceRoles and Activities

• Parks will have locally based responsibilities (by island) and willcoordinate appropriately; network and ensure information and communication process to avoid duplication, streamline response and commitments of staff and technical support.

• NPS will partner with others in activities in support of tsunami marinedebris management and identification and/or removal; supportive role; standing by as needed.

• Communications and outreach issues will need to be defined and established; parks have offered to host, in conjunction with partners, current information such as posters and media materials at park visitor centers to bring awareness to the issue.

• NPS currently deploys the Incident Command System (ICS) and unified command process for all major events and would encourage the development and implementation of a unified command system amongst agencies.

National Park ServiceRoles and Activities

Main point of contact: Melia Lane-Kamahele, Manager, Pacific Islands Office (Melia_Lane-Kamahele@nps.gov, (808)541-2693 x729)

Navy Region Hawaii

• Navy Region Hawaii’s primary responsibility is for the shore installation management of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Pacific Missile Range Facility

• Navy Region Hawaii is closely monitoring the status of Japan Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) for potential operational impacts and to proactively protect the natural resources along the shorelines of our installations

• Region personnel have participated in all major NOAA and EPA led JTMD meetings in Hawaii

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Navy Region HawaiiResponsibilities and Planning

• Installations will respond to any increased occurrences of marine debris through establish shore cleanup procedures

• Installation will continue to conduct mandated and volunteer based shoreline cleanup events and educational outreach to the military community

• Installation staff will seek opportunities with our Federal and State partners to share information on any JTMD discoveries

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Navy Region HawaiiShoreline Protection

• US Navy is providing ocean current data from the HyCOM (Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model) system for use in the NOAA JTMD modeling efforts

• Main point of contact: Regional Coordination Office (808)473-4141

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Navy Region HawaiiPartnering

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Navy Region HawaiiStewardship

Federal Activities(Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Federal waters, shorelines, and lands)

• Scientific support – modeling, satellite imagery acquisition & analysis (NOAA, USCG, Navy)

• Floating hazards to navigation (USCG)• Oil and hazardous materials assessment and response (USCG, EPA)• Trust resource management and protection (NOAA, FWS, NPS)• NWHI response contingency planning (NOAA, USFWS)

Non-Federal Activities(Non-Federal coastal and nearshore areas)

• Majority of marine debris response, removal, disposal • Lead Main Hawaiian Islands response contingency planning• NWHI response contingency planning

Federal and Non-Federal Activities

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

• Lead(s): Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument co-trustees (NOAA, USFWS, State of Hawaii)

• Status: Information being compiled on existing plans and protocols. Identification of gaps and needs. Working to ensure all possible scenarios are covered.

Main Hawaiian Islands

• Lead(s): TBD

• Status: State and County agencies in communication regarding existing plans and protocols relating to marine debris. Identification of gaps and needs.

Marine Debris Response Contingency Planning

Mahalo

For more information:www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov disasterdebris.wordpress.com