Geographic Response Plans (GRPs)

The illustration above shows how a boom might be deployed to reduce oil spill impacts in a cove. The photograph on the right shows a boom being deployed across a river. Boom can also be used to contain or collect spilled oil.

Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) are site-specific response plans for oil spills to water. They include response strategies tailored to a specific beach, shore, or waterway and meant to minimize impact on sensitive areas threatened by the spill. Each GRP has two priorities, which are to:

• Identify sensitive natural, cultural or significant economic resources; and
• Describe and prioritize response strategies.

GRPs are developed in partnership with Washington State Department of Ecology, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, USCG and EPA as part of the Region 10 Response Team (RRT) and Northwest Area Committee (NWAC). Currently, all coastal and some selected inland water areas in Washington and Oregon are covered by 34 GRPs. 

Marine GRP updates:

The public comment period for the Outer Coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca GRPs ended on March 28* (deadline extended two weeks), 2008. To learn more about the update process, please visit our Marine GRP Workshops page.

In spring 2008, Ecology and US Coast Guard will start the update process for the North Puget Sound and San Juan Islands GRPs.  Public Workshops will be held in Friday Harbor, Eastsound, Mount Vernon and Bellingham.

Inland GRP updates:

We have completed the initial public comment process and have developed a draft set of strategies for the Snohomish segment of the Snohomish River Watershed (WRIA 7). Subsequent to completion of this segment, we will continue with the Skykomish segment and Snoqualmie segment to complete WRIA 7. Further WRIAs will be undertaken dependent upon funding, contractor and stakeholder participation and the number of strategies that are developed.