The news media frequently request information on the long-term effects 

 of a spill. To the extent possible, this information should be provided to 

 the media. This is important since many people believe that if wildlife are 

 not affected immediately after a spill occurs, then the spill will not have 

 any effect. The public seldom considers the long-term aspects. 



Another important factor in an oil spill situation is the surge of com- 

 passion among the public, particularly young people. Literally hundreds feel 

 compelled to go to the scene and "save the birds." Often these volunteers 

 are quite willing to wade into the murk and mire to gather and help clean 

 oil-soaked birds. 



However well-meaning such gestures are, 95 to 100 percent of the birds 

 cleaned by amateurs die in captivity or shortly after release; however, sur- 

 vival rates of 50 percent or higher have been achieved by experienced per- 

 sonnel working with limited numbers of birds of some species under certain 

 circumstances. In addition, it has not yet been clearly demonstrated that 

 a significant number of released birds survive for more than a short period 

 of time. During the next oil spill, it may be useful to develop and dissem- 

 inate information relating to the complexities of rehabilitating oil-soaked 

 birds, and the factors that limit success. 



Choosing the most effective persons for inclusion on an oil spill response 

 team is as important as insuring that the membership of that team is aware 

 of the urgent need to keep the public informed of developments. 



One or more team members should devote their time to meeting the informa- 

 tion needs of the media and the public. Appropriate officers in charge should 

 be designated to which public statements can be attributed. Periodic state- 

 ments should be made to the press on behalf of the coordinator, and assistance 

 should be provided to media representatives at the scene with regard to obtaining 

 food and lodging. The team members should also provide any other services 

 that are necessary to assist the coordinator, whether he be from the FWS or 

 some other agency. The most important factor here is access to and support 

 of the operational team leader. 



We should not be concerned with who serves as "the lead agency" in an 

 oil spill disaster situation. We should be concerned only that the public 

 demand for accurate and timely information is met. The oil spill contingency 

 plan should clearly state the need for coordination of agency information 

 output; i.e., the Fish and Wildlife Service should not comment on why the 

 spill happened, nor should the Coast Guard comment on estimates of wildlife 

 involved. It may be desirable in major spills to establish a central informa- 

 tion source, which reflects all aspects of the spill. In the case of the 

 recent Argo Merchant oil spill off Cape Cod, the number of different statements 

 from different sources was staggering. We cannot stop self-styled "experts" 

 from making comments to the press, but we can advise the media, through tech- 

 niques in the contingency plan, that there will be a coordinated flow of 

 information from the scene. 



In this regard, all of the regional public affairs officers of the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service, as well as Washington office staff, are aware that they 

 are to consider themselves available for assignment. 



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