Socioeconomic Emergency Preparedness Planning for Major Oil Spill Incidents

Fallat, Colin; Scholl, Jennifer; ,

Socioeconomic Emergency Preparedness Planning for Major Oil Spill Incidents

by Colin Fallat, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,
Jennifer Scholl, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

One component of major marine oil spill disaster preparedness planning that has been largely ignored are impacts on the social and economic environment. Santa Barbara County, California has implemented socioeconomic emergency preparedness planning as one element of oil spill diaster policy. The Santa Barbara County Socioeconomic Emergency Preparedness Plan is a condition of the county permit compliance program. The objective of socioeconomic emergency preparedness planning is to be able to respond to a major marine oil spill disaster according to established procedures. The plan sets forth a framework for socioeconomic diaster planning, establishes base case data sources to establish the historic social and economic environment of an area and recommends governmental and industry responsibilities in responding to short and long term socioeconomic impacts. The concept of socioeconomic emergency preparedness planning for marine oil spill incidents is a new concept in the diaster preparedness arena. As new technology is developed, Santa Barbara County's program will become better equipped to respond to oil spill incidents, and new research will further refine the level of understanding related to the socioeconomic impacts of oil and gas development in coastal areas.

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