THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Ocean Studies Board
Committee on Oil in the Sea IV
*****
Congressional Briefing
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 – 2:00 p.m.
via Zoom
on
Oil in the Sea IV: Inputs, Fates, and Effects
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, finds that land-based sources of oil are the biggest input of oil to the sea, far outweighing other sources, and it also notes that the effects of chronic inputs on the marine environment, such as land-based runoff, are very different than that from an acute input, such as a spill. Steps to prevent chronic land-based oil inputs include reducing gasoline vehicle usage, improving fuel efficiency, increasing usage of electric vehicles, replacing older vehicles. The report identifies research gaps and provides specific recommendations aimed at preventing future accidental spills and ensuring oil spill responders are equipped with the best response tools and information to limit oil’s impact on the marine environment.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on September 28, 2022 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.