Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

George R. Larkin

Abstract

Oil spills, are common disasters associated with hydrocarbon exploration and production, can be devastating and severely impact water quality, which can be detrimental to human life and the environment. One of the primary objectives of oil spill planning and response, aside from protecting human beings, is to reduce the environmental consequences of spills and cleanup efforts. This objective is best achieved by responders identifying sensitive resources ahead of time to establish protection priorities and select cleanup strategies. When a plan is well situated, within the limited hours available to respond, responders will not have to contact all of the various resource managers for information on essential resources to protect. That means that the effectiveness of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) map of an area depends on the integral component of overall planning activity. This qualitative study explored and used publicly available and nonproprietary data to mimic the coastal and marine sensitivity representations on emergency preparedness for environmental disaster in terrestrial settings and produce a plan to address such potential disaster. Results indicate that there is a need to classify the resources that society values, such as biological, socioeconomic, or cultural assets, and describe the state of a system and the degree to which a system or asset is affected, either positively or negatively, in the event of an oil spill. Terrestrial Environmental Sensitivity Index mapping will help to support the highest response priorities, prevent impacts to human life, prevent oil from leaching into groundwater or as runoff, and return the environment to productive use as quickly as possible, leading to positive social change.

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