Identifying and mapping sensitive resources for Inland area planning

Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is required to evaluate oil storage facilities to determine (1) which should be defined as those that could cause "significant and substantial harm" to environmentally sensitive areas in the event of a release, and (2) the appropriateness of facility response plans in addressing potential environmental threats. Accordingly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been assisting USEPA in developing guidelines, data structures, and maps for sensitive resource assessment using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The recommended approach for developing sensitivity maps and databases include a shoreline-habitat mapping technique used for estuarine, lacustrine, and large river settings. Shoreline type is mapped and ranked on a scale of 1 to 10, from least to most sensitive to oil spill impacts. A watershed approach is used to differentiate among small rivers and streams. Stream reaches are mapped according to a system that relates oil behavior and effects to stream characteristics, such as gradient, discharge, and water turbulence. Data on sensitive biological and human-use resources include both spatial and temporal components. The focus is on water-associated species, riparian vegetation, and all wetland types, not just threatened and endangered species. Standardized formats for hard copy maps and screen presentation will facilitate use by response organizations.