About OSPR
Scientific Branch

The overall goal of the OSPR is to protect the States marine waters and its related ecosystems, and the economic market and non-market values of these resources from the effects of oil spilled onto the marine waters of the State. Oil spill response includes containment, treatment, removal, cleanup and abatement, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, habitat restoration, and natural resource injury determination and damage assessment.

When an oil spill occurs, the Scientific Branch (Branch) participates in the response option decision process, determines and quantifies injury to the natural resources damaged by the spill, determines in consultation with other trustees the value of any damages or losses, and identifies appropriate restoration mitigation and compensation measures. Aside from actual response activities, the Branch also oversees the operation of a coastal network for wildlife rescue Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), cleaning, and rehabilitation in response to a spill, and coordinates the exotic species survey under the Ballast Water Management Act. The Branch also manages and operates the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center in Santa Cruz that was designed to address oiled sea otters and perform wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

The Scientific Branch is responsible for surveys and inventories of marine resources and habitats for environmental resource mapping and natural resource damage assessment purposes. In addition, the Branch evaluates the effects of new response techniques and provides scientific evaluations of various response options. It provides essential input on natural resources at risk to Federal, State and Local Area oil spill response plans and reviews all Contingency Area Plans. The Scientific Branch manages the Department's Analytical Laboratory Facilities and acts as an advisor to the OSPR Administrator on environmental enhancement fund projects. Finally, the Branch reviews wildlife rehabilitation plans including habitat restoration that are submitted to the Director in response to a spill.

Analytical Laboratory Support Services
Dispersants
Invasive Species
Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDA)
Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center
Sea Otter Research
BRAC/CERCLA