Petty Officer 2nd Class Heather Clark, of the National Strike Force’s Gulf Strike Team, takes notes while Petty Officer 1st Class Karen Sinkey, of the National Strike Force’s Pacific Strike Team, uses binoculars to do a shore assessment in Arthur Kill near Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2012. Clark and Sinkey are part of an assessment team formed by the Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response Unified Command who’s primary mission is to mitigate pollution resulting from Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Heather Clark, of the National Strike Force’s Gulf Strike Team, uses a McGill net to sample product found in Great Kill near Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2012. The sample is taken and later sent to the Marine Safety Laboratory in New London, CT., where the sample will be tested in an attempt to identify the source. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Olsen, with the National Strike Force's Pacific Strike Team, and Petty Officer 1st Class Kenny Tucker with the Gulf Strike Team, conduct damage assessments of vessels in Great Kills Harbor in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2012. Responders with the Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response Unified Command are working to identify potential pollution concerns as a result of Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Andrew Ksenzulak.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Olsen, with the National Strike Force's Pacific Strike Team, conducts a damage assessment of vessels in Great Kills Harbor in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2012. Responders with the Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response Unified Command are working to identify potential pollution concerns as a result of Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Andrew Ksenzulak.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Olsen, with the National Strike Force's Pacific Strike Team, conducts a damage assessment of vessels in Great Kills Harbor in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2012. Responders with the Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response Unified Command are working to identify potential pollution concerns as a result of Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Andrew Ksenzulak.
Agencies engaged in the unified response effort are:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New York Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- Local governments in impacted areas
The Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response is requesting any person who sees pollution to contact the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802. These reports will help responders identify, reduce and remove these environmental threats.
Any oiled wildlife should be reported to the Tri-State Bird Research and Rescue at (302) 737-9543. Oiled wildlife should only be handled by trained professionals for the safety of the wildlife and public.