1. Update on BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Erin Fougères Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Meeting September 16, 2010

2. Fire and explosion onboard the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon (DWH) on April 20, 2010. The rig was located approximately 41 miles offshore LA. The resulting fire could not be extinguished and, on April 22, 2010, the DWH sank, resulting in the oil spill. Declared a “Spill of National Significance” on April 29, 2010. The oil spill continued until July 15, 2010 when flow was stopped by a containment cap. Relief wells to allow permanent termination of oil flow are currently ~50ft from intercepting the well. Background

3. Experts from across NOAA were mobilized to help contain the spreading oil spill and protect the Gulf of Mexico’s many marine mammals, sea turtles, fish, shellfish, and other endangered marine life. NOAA spill specialists are advising the U.S. Coast Guard on cleanup options as well as advising all affected federal, state and local partners on sensitive marine resources at risk in this area of the Gulf of Mexico. The Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Networks within the area likely impacted by the oil spill (the TX/LA border to Apalachicola, FL) are investigating all strandings as though they could potentially be related to the oil spill.

4. Wildlife Impacts As of September 13, 2010 – 1,107 sea turtles stranded or collected via directed captures offshore (527 alive, 580 dead; 470 visibly oiled) 99 cetaceans stranded and 1 sperm whale found floating offshore (9 alive, 91 dead; 6 visibly oiled) 7,996 birds collected alive or dead (5,927 alive, 2,069 dead; 4,306 visibly oiled)

5. Wildlife Impacts Cetacean strandings before (January through April, 2010) and during (May through August, 2010) the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill vs. historic stranding averages (2002-2009) within the area likely impacted by the oil spill (TX/LA border to Apalachicola, FL)

6. Next Steps We are currently still operating under the “Response” phase to the oil spill, but are preparing to transition to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) phase. Under the 1990 Oil Pollution Act (OPA), a NRDA is a legal process to determine the type and amount of restoration needed to compensate the public for harm to natural resources and their human uses that occur as a result of an oil spill. NRDA is conducted by designated State and federal natural resource trustee agencies. Over the course of the NRDA process, the Trustees assess the nature and extent of the injuries, develop a restoration plan, seek compensation from the responsible party, oversee and/or implement the restoration plan, and conduct/oversee monitoring to ensure restoration has occurred. Liability for natural resource damages is in addition to liability for cleanup.

7. Impacts for the PLTRT Delays --- Please be patient!