An ad hoc committee will organize a 2-day public workshop in Washington, D.C. The workshop will convene individuals from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, with relevant expertise, including public health research and practice, oil and gas operations and oil spill response, environmental health and surveillance systems, disaster recovery and resilience, disaster research, risk assessment and communication, public policy and practice.
Workshop discussions will:

1. Explore key research needs and other opportunities (e.g., collection of environmental, social, health data) for improving public health response and protection during and after oil spills (including physical, mental, and social aspects of health and well-being);
2. Inform the design of a rapid response “workshop-in-a-box” and other activities (as needed) that would be available should there be an offshore oil spill of national significance.

The committee will develop the agenda for the workshop, select and invite speakers and discussants, and moderate the discussion. Brief workshop proceedings will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines, based on the presentations and discussions held during the workshop. The brief proceedings will be subject to normal institutional review procedures.