Freestone responds to the scene of a variety of contaminant releases to the environment. Our scientists are called upon to assist a business or agency with evaluating a release that has occurred and to provide support with site investigation and remediation. Typically, our response may be requested following a spill at a railyard or along a highway, and will involve documenting the spill removal effort after first-responders have control of the scene.

Freestone supports the planning efforts and emergency response teams fielded by the Emergency Response Division (ERD) of NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration. In this capacity, our scientists help ERD facilitate spill prevention, preparedness, and response at national and local levels. Expertise is provided in response counter measures and technologies.

We help maintain NOAA’s Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®). This online mapping tool integrates both static and real-time data, such as Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps, ship locations, weather, and ocean currents, in a centralized, easy-to-use format for environmental responders and decision makers.

ERMA enables a user to quickly and securely upload, manipulate, export, and display spatial data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) map.

Developed by NOAA and the University of New Hampshire with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Department of Interior, ERMA provides environmental resource managers with the data necessary to make informed decisions for environmental response.

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