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Part 2 Project Identification and Prioritization
Pages 25-36

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From page 25...
... The workshop participants are experts, but they were not asked to research, suggest, and vet detailed project ideas, so those ideas should not be taken as ready-to-use investments. As was stated throughout the workshop, the project ideas themselves were not as important to the value of the workshop as the role they served as a tool to show the processes by which participants conceived and weighed considerations for investment prioritization.
From page 26...
... Stop putting and petrochemical industry stakeholders, infrastructure in low-lying areas the government, and the public, up front – Make both short-term and long-term infrastructure investments – Conduct more preplanning Need to move into the future Building up data and analysis Embracing technology and modernization Balancing regulations versus incentives carefully – Adopt wider and more varied use of sensors – Improve monitoring capabilities – Invest in next-generation monitoring – Invest in R&D to continuously improve – Build up data and analysis to inform better technology decision-making – Build up baseline data – Future regulations and incentives need – Bolster data and information collected careful consideration and constant through forward-looking research monitoring – Smarter regulation of the petroleum industry is key to a resilient Gulf FIGURE 2-1 Overview of workshop-wide and scenario-specific key takeaways stated by some participants.
From page 27...
... The Call to Overcome Long-Standing Obstacles Address basic survival, which is still at risk in the Gulf region and is a fundamental priority. Workshop participants said that priority must be placed on investments that restore basic needs to the population post-storm, emphasizing first that every individual has access to clean drinking water.
From page 28...
... It is even better if housing can be made more resilient through stronger building codes and building materials. Finally, providing special identification cards for workers who have to support a disaster response will facilitate their ability to do their jobs, facilitating their access to job sites within the impacted zones.
From page 29...
... After Hurricane Ida, remote sensors provided a robust hazards warning system and enabled the reconstruction of events. Examples of sensors that are priorities to be used in greater numbers include, but are not limited to, the following: • Flood sensor systems on roadways to indicate flooding and flash flooding • Sensors on fuel tanks, or smart tanks, to indicate earlier when repairs are needed • Remote sensors that enable measurement of disaster-related conditions such as water levels, wind speed, and debris, installed on electricity and communications infrastructure at key locations of interest • Networks of staff gauges, which measure water levels, to augment wireless sensors and enable large-scale flood reporting • Sensors on gas-powered electricity generators that monitor carbon monoxide emissions • Sensor networks that monitor pipelines and spills, indicating, for example, near surface pollutants at estuaries Invest in Next-Generation Monitoring This includes such things as remote sensing and autonomous technologies, in addition to the sensors described above, and also increased and better use of drones, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
From page 30...
... To avoid this pitfall, it is important to continually assess projects' effectiveness and hold partners accountable; otherwise, this can become subsidizing nonlocal business with little or no benefit to the community. OBSERVATIONS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS: PROTRACTED OIL SPILL SCENARIO Necessity of Community Engagement Engage Community Early in Decision-Making for Better Decisions and Stakeholder Buy-In Workshop participants said that to be effective, projects must be led locally whenever possible, and anyone impacted by the project must be informed about it and invited to comment on it.
From page 31...
... Finally, the improved fund is vital, but it should be treated as a stopgap measure that is used if the responsible party goes bankrupt and cannot meet all obligations. Focus on Prevention Remove aging and abandoned infrastructure, such as the 18,000 miles of unused pipelines, to reduce risk and prevent future environmental degradation and pollution.
From page 32...
... Bolster Data and Information Collected Through Forward-Looking Research Workshop participants said that the research should include long-term epidemiology studies to understand impacts on human health; more research into modeling seismic activity to predict where landslides may occur; assessments of the potential impacts of landslides on wells to determine which are most at risk and need additional reinforcement to prevent leaks; and an ability to determine, with greater accuracy and more authority, information about a spill, such as the volume and impact of the spill, in ways that cannot be challenged by competing interests. Smarter Regulation of the Petroleum Industry with Better Enforcement Is Key to a Resilient Gulf Workshop participants said that attention and investments should support and implement smarter regulation, from stricter permitting -- which should include requirements for recovery plans, better monitoring, and funds set aside for cleanup -- to stronger government enforcement authorities and expertise to compel the responsible party to clean up in a timely manner.
From page 33...
... mandates for corporations Invest in predictive modeling and forecast movement of oil and dispersants Expand and/or refine the mandated cleanup fund paid for by the petroleum industry Develop better, faster public information-sharing campaigns to improve public trust Implement stricter industry owner permitting requirements Treat fuel stations as "anchor" institutions, prioritizing them for backup power Use flood sensor networks to map flooded areas Other Harden, bury, or elevate electrical infrastructure Infrastructure Protect, harden, and/or elevate water infrastructure Functions Transition to 5G with hardened towers and battery backups Develop a public education/emergency preparedness campaign, including likely impacts to infrastructure and what actions individual should take, when, and how Invest in R&D for new oil spill barrier construction Study impacts of climate change on infrastructure Identify and map infrastructure systems, and make this information available in a GIS (geographic information system) tool
From page 34...
... 34 INVESTING IN RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO Domain High-Priority Project Ideas Conduct a community-wide needs assessment before cutting services in the wake of declining local budgets Expand broadband access, start with coastal areas Develop a data center for citizen and community data Develop a Strategic Water Reserve Society's Needs Develop plans for the communication of science, including messaging to and awareness for the public Rebuild and repair transportation infrastructure anticipating future floods Develop incentives for green technology and disaster-resistant building materials Conduct baseline studies for community health and needs, especially in underserved communities Reevaluate and streamline Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) processes in general, for example, housing, flood insurance, incentives Fund and overhaul FEMA flood maps for long-term planning in a changing environment Conduct research on alternative oil response technologies to prevent and/or mitigate adverse impacts Regrade roads with more adaptive materials, for example, porous materials, living streets Incorporate community engagement into planning for communities and schools Develop and implement training and education programs to improve economic mobility Conduct long-term studies on the impacts of oil spills, including comparisons of protracted oil spills versus those similar to Deep Water Horizon Create and expand programs to support local industries after disasters Environmental Build and protect natural protection such as coastal systems, reefs, wetlands, Protection and sea grasses Design and implement restoration projects for wetlands and disturbed habitats Conduct epidemiological health studies to assess chronic impacts of pollutants on coastal communities Change construction standards beyond the 100-year flood zone Develop projects to improve the health of ecosystems to make more resilient coasts and barriers Increase applications of remote sensing to monitor the impacts on air, land, and water Improve geospatial data use and sharing for mitigation and early response Change Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leasing to include cradle-to grave infrastructure and account for equity Invest in R&D product development of environmentally friendly biodegradable dissolvents and surfactants
From page 35...
... PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION 35 Domain High-Priority Project Ideas Create and enhance protection systems for wastewater plants against flooding Reassess the fisheries management process to allow sufficient time for recovery Increase community resilience by providing mental and physical health support services


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