ABSTRACT
During May 9-11, 2023, more than 30 shoreline spill response experts met in Seattle, Washington to discuss the current state of the science about mitigating impacts to shorelines by oils and dielectric fluids. The workshop titled, “Shoreline Oil Spill Response Knowledge Gaps and Technological Development Opportunities” was co-hosted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) at the University of New Hampshire providing significant technical support and facilitation. The findings of the workshop are presented with a focus on how to guide near-term research investment as practitioners test and operationalize new technologies. The workshop included in-person and virtual representatives from industry, Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSROs), academia, consulting firms, and state and federal agencies. All workshop participants were asked to consider shoreline response technologies in six main groupings: response, detection, fate and effects, policy/human dimensions, emerging oils/experimental conditions, and changing the future. Participants also identified and prioritized cutting-edge technologies, and if in existence, assessed their Technology Readiness Level, which could then be used in consideration of further research and development. Nine workshop recommendations emerged after a careful review of notes collected during the workshop.