The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to release the “Delaware Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: Comprehensive Guidance Document” (Guide). The Guide is a product of a collaborative process with state, local, and federal agencies. The Guide aims to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following any natural disaster or event that generates large amounts of marine debris in Delaware.
Marine debris ends up in the ocean every day as a result of littering and poor waste management. Occasionally, such as during natural disasters, large amounts of debris enter nearshore coastal waterways all at once. Disaster-related debris can include abandoned and derelict vessels, construction and demolition debris, and household hazardous waste, among other types of debris. It can be a hazard to navigation, damage habitat, and pose pollution threats.
To prepare for these impacts, the NOAA Marine Debris Program works with coastal states and territories to develop response guidance documents. The Delaware Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide describes how all levels of government respond to marine debris, to facilitate a coordinated and timely response after a disaster in Delaware. The Guide identifies individual organizations’ roles and responsibilities and includes an overview of permitting and compliance requirements that must be met before marine debris removal work begins.
This Guide serves as a complete reference for marine debris response in Delaware. The accompanying Field Reference Guide includes the most pertinent information for quick reference in the field and during emergency response operations.
Check out the Guide on our website.