Ecological Risk Assessments

EM&A has developed a comparative environmental risk methodology to evaluate oil spill response options for the U.S. Coast Guard, and has prepared a guidebook entitled, "Developing Consensus Ecological Risk Assessments: Environmental Protection in Oil Spill Response Planning. A Guidebook". The process is designed to help planners compare the ecological consequences of response options, especially in nearshore or estuarine situations. The goal is to achieve consensus interpretations of the potential risks and benefits associated with selected response options based on a scenario developed by the local participants. The process is heavily focused on achieving a consensus interpretation of the available technical information. This project was the basis for an on-going program to conduct workshops for the US Coast Guard around the country.