Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Overview and Update to Congress | August 2013
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Photo credit: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Photo credit: Peter Mark Photo Credit: Kevin Head Severe Marine Debris Event Report: Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Overview and Update to Congress | August 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5 Background .......................................................................................................... 6 Potential Impacts .............................................................................................. 8 National Efforts: Monitoring .................................................................................. 10 National Efforts: Federal Coordination .......................................................... 12 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, DOC ...................... 12 Bureau of Land Management, DOI .......................................................... 15 Department of State .................................................................................. 16 Fish and Wildlife Service, DOI .......................................................... 16 National Park Service, DOI ...................................................................... 18 U.S. Coast Guard, DHS ...................................................................... 18 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .............................................. 19 U.S. Forest Service, USDA ...................................................................... 20 U.S. Navy, DOD .................................................................................. 21 Tsunami Debris by State .................................................................................. 22 Alaska ..................................................................................................... 22 California .............................................................................................. 23 Hawaii ...................................................................................................... 24 Oregon ..................................................................................................... 25 Washington .............................................................................................. 26 Communications Efforts .................................................................................... 28 Summary .............................................................................................................. 30 Appendices .......................................................................................................... 31 NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM MARINE DEBRIS NOAA Severe Marine Debris Event Report: Japan Tsunami Marine Debris 5 INTRODUCTION This Severe Marine Debris Event Report provides an update on the activities federal agencies have undertaken between March 2011 and May 2013 to address marine debris associated with the March 2011 Japanese tsunami, declared a Severe Marine Debris Event by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As required in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq., as amended by Title VI of Public Law 112-213), NOAA is tasked with developing, in consultation with the Interagency Committee, interagency plans for the timely response to events determined by the Administrator to be severe marine debris events, including plans to: coordinate across agencies and with relevant State, the potential impacts of a severe marine debris event, including economic impacts on human health, navigation safety, natural resources, tourism, and livestock, including aquaculture. This report will serve as a comprehensive resource summarizing federal progress and involvement related to this effort as of May 2013. This information is only a snapshot in time. Activities and efforts described in this report are ongoing and changing rapidly. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM MARINE DEBRIS NOAA 6 SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENT REPORT: JAPAN TSUNAMI MARINE DEBRIS BACKGROUND On March 11, 2011, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 rocked the country of Japan, triggering a tsunami with waves up to 130 feet that devastated over 200 miles of land. The events produced a staggering loss of human life and property, and in its wake the problem of marine debris unfurled. As the tsunami receded from land, it washed much of what was in the inundation zone back into the ocean. initially captured by satellite imagery and aerial photos of the waters surrounding Japan immediately after the tsunami. In the months that followed the tsunami, it became apparent that the untold amount of property loss was to become a marine debris issue not just for Japan, but also for its neighbor across the Because of the size of the potential debris area and the narrow coverage of high resolution satellite imagery, it became clear that a full coverage survey of the situation was not possible or practical. Shortly after the tsunami, a variety of types of satellite imagery (e.g., ENVISAT, LANDSAT, SPOT, ASTER) became available from a variety of sources, including U.S. Geological Survey, the International Disaster Charter, the European Space Agency rolling archives, and a joint NASA/JAXA Web site. This imagery was analyzed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental 15–30 m resolution data. More recently, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has provided 7 NOAA with higher resolution (1–5 m) satellite imagery. construction items of various sizes and compositions in between. NOAA and its federal and non-federal partners are leading efforts to collect data, assess the debris and possible impacts based on sound science, and protect our natural resources and coasts. As debris continues to wash ashore, NOAA is working with federal, state, and local partners in the areas of potential impact to identify and implement rapid response protocols to respond to and remove the debris as quickly as possible in order to minimize the negative effects of the landings. Because of the wide at local, state, and federal levels. This type of coordination is critical, and several mechanisms exist to agencies and organizations to provide a common foundation of understanding about the debris and to facilitate development of response contingency plans. Plans developed are particularly valuable for identifying existing capabilities, mandates, and gaps relative to responses to any large or hazardous items that make landfall on U.S. coastlines. explore all possibilities for JTMD detection. Many variables affect where the debris will go and when, including the composition of the debris itself. Items will sink, disperse, and break up along the way, and of arrival on U.S. shores. In addition, the objects themselves behave differently based on their buoyancy and lumber will be affected primarily by currents. Objects of different kinds that start in the same place may move not only at different speeds, but also in different directions. Researchers rely on computer models to predict the path and drift rate of debris items. These model simulations show debris spread Ocean, thousands of miles from land. This large target area combined with the diversity and spread of debris required a holistic approach to detection, leveraging resources across agencies, detection platforms, and sensor types. Federal and state partners have focused on all areas of potential impact to develop contingency plans for potential landfall of Japan tsunami marine debris. As a result of an updated modeling effort that incorporated wind speed and ocean current data from the PROGRAM MARINE DEBRIS NOAA past two years, there is now a better understanding of how fast the debris may travel. This modeling Northwest coast during winter 2011–2012. Sightings of debris items such as small boats, palettes and even large docks found ashore in both Oregon and Washington have supported that hypothesis model. The models also tell us that the bulk of the debris is likely still dispersed north of the Hawaiian Islands. 8 SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENT REPORT: JAPAN TSUNAMI MARINE DEBRIS POTENTIAL IMPACTS breeding grounds and pathways may all be affected. Ecological impacts can also vary depending on the type of marine debris. In terms of JTMD, observed items such as abandoned nets, plastic tarps, and small boats can smother or crush sensitive ecosystems and their bottom dwelling species. Derelict target and non-target species as well as local and migratory species, many of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Fishing line, nets, rope and other debris can entangle, maim and even drown many wildlife species by encircling or ensnaring the animals. While there haven’t been documented accounts of animal entanglement with JTMD as of the date of this report, the potential exists. Entanglement can occur accidentally or when animals are attracted to the debris as part of normal debris items such as bottle caps, lighters, and plastic pieces are also hazardous to wildlife. This debris can behave like and resemble food to animals. Once ingested, these materials can cause starvation and/or choking. There are potential indirect impacts to the environment associated with marine debris as well. An impact of marine debris on shoreline habitats occurs on beaches as a result of debris reduction and removal efforts. Mechanical beach raking, accomplished with a tractor or human labor, is used to remove debris However, beach raking can also be