Project Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop Geographic Response Plans (GRP) to protect sensitive coastal environments and resources along the Upper Narragansett Bay/Providence River coastline. The project is being directed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) with funding provided by Motiva Enterprises, LLC. Nuka Research and Planning Group, LLC has been contracted by Motiva to facilitate the Planning Group and the GRP development process.
This website contains draft and final work products developed by the GRP work group as well as meeting materials and answers to frequently asked questions about GRPs.
Study Area and Candidate Sites
The study area for this project, as depicted below, includes Upper Narragansett Bay and the Providence River. Individual sites within the study area will be prioritized for GRP development based on input received from work group participants regarding relative risk of oil spill impacts, environmental sensitivity, natural resources and habitat, human use, feasibility of protection, and other relavent factors. GRPs will be developed for the highest priority sites first. For an example of what a completed GRP looks like for a specific site, see this example from the Cape and Islands GRP in Massachusetts.
A GRP site prioritization matrix (file date: 4/23/08) has been developed to summarize the resources at risk for each of the potential GRP sites. This document is still in draft form and we are currently seeking review and input.
Map of Candidate Sites
The shaded areas show the general location of candidate sites for individual GRP development. Click here to open or save a pdf file of this overview map.
Base Maps of Proposed Sites:
1 - Warwick Neck to Rocky Point
6 - Fields Point and Yacht Clubs
7 - Lower Port of Providence/Bulkhead
9 - Hurricane Barrier/Fox Point
14 - Watchemocket Cove & Squantum
18 - Annawamscott and Mussachuck Creeks
19 - Warren Cove/Rumstick Point
23 - Sheep Pen Cove/Coggeshall Cove
Meeting Materials
April 28, 2008 -- Site Prioritization Meeting
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Save the Bay Center - Fields Point, Providence
This will be a working meeting that will focus on prioritizing sites within the study area for GRP development.
- Agenda
- Meeting Materials
- Site prioritization matrix (updated 4/23/08)
- Base maps of proposed sites (see above)
- Meeting Summary
March 28, 2008 -- Project Kick-off Meeting
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
RIDEM
235 Promenade Street, 3rd floor, room 300
Providence, RI 02908
- Agenda
- Meeting Materials
- Project overview (2MB)
- Prioritization of sites for oil spill response (link to follow)
- Site selection process (5MB)
- Meeting Summary
Project Participants
Project participation is open to all interested parties. If you would like to participate in this project or have your email added to the project information list, please contact Elise DeCola.
- List of current work group participants (file date: 4/3/08)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are GRP?
GRP are oil spill response plans tailored to protect a specific sensitive area from impacts following a spill. These response plans are map-based strategies that can save time during the critical first few hours of an oil spill response. They show responders where sensitive areas are located and where to place oil spill protection resources.
GRP have been developed in several regions of the U.S., including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In nearly all areas, the GRP (sometimes referred to as GRS, geographic response strategies) represent the consensus product of a planning effort involving state and federal oil spill response agencies, natural resource trustees, spill responders, industry, stakeholders, and the public.
Why develop GRP?
The initial phase of an oil spill response can be quite hectic. Multiple objectives must be met using available resources and responders. At the local level, residents and emergency responders are often the first ones to show up at the shoreline, eager to act before the spilled oil reaches sensitive shoreline environments.
The process of developing GRP brings together diverse groups in a non-emergency setting to discuss environmental sensitivities, protection priorities, response strategies, and response constraints. GRP development fosters local buy-in and creates realistic expectations for protecting sensitive areas from oil spill impacts.
GRP use standard terminology and tactics presented in a field-oriented format so that responders can easily recognize and implement the strategies. Because of this standardization, GRPs are an important tool for training and preparedness as well as response.
How are GRP used?
GRP are tactical plans that provide a set of “directions” to initial responders for how to protect environmentally sensitive areas and resources from oil impacts. GRP sites are selected based on several criteria, and response strategies are developed for those sites in advance of an oil spill. When local responders arrive at the scene, they now have an implementation to deploy pre-staged equipment at sensitive sites.
The Providence River GRP will be incorporated into the Southeastern Mass/Rhode Island Area Plan for oil spill and hazardous materials response. While these plans are NOT a mandate for site protection or response, they are available to government and private industry oil spill responders if needed.
How are GRP developed?
A collaborative Planning Group will oversee the Providence River GRP development. The group will begin by selecting candidate sites for the GRP area. Information will be compiled about candidate sites through sensitivity maps, local knowledge, site surveys, trustee agency input, and public comment.
A set of core oil spill response tactics will then be applied to each GRP site in order to meet the particular protection goals.
GRP are drafted, reviewed, and when possible field-verified. Field testing may result in modifications to the GRP. GRP can be tested during scheduled training exercises, unannounced readiness drills, or actual oil spills. An important part of the process is to keep these documents “evergreen” by updating them as needed.
For examples of similar GRPs developed in Massachusetts, visit the Cape and Islands GRP website.
For More Information...
Please contact Elise DeCola at Nuka Research and Planning Group.
