NC State Experts Can Offer Insight into Gulf Oil Spill

The recent British Petroleum oil spill will have a major environmental impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and beyond. North Carolina State University experts can address issues pertaining to the spill, from how ocean currents may carry it beyond the Gulf, to how long and difficult the clean-up process may be, as well as effects on tourism and the economy.

Dr. Thomas Birkland, the William T. Kretzer professor of public policy, 919/513-7799, mobile 518/229-8814 or tom_birkland@ncsu.edu, is an expert on disasters and environmental policy, and has extensively studied oil spills including Exxon Valdez. He can discuss the government’s response to the oil spill including factors that delayed response time and the changes to law on oil spills since the Exxon Valdez spill.

Dr. Gene Brothers, associate professor of parks, recreation and tourism management, 919/515-3699 or gene_brothers@ncsu.edu, is an expert on tourism and can address the implications of the oil spill for tourism along the Gulf Coast and on the N.C. coast.

Dr. David Eggleston, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/515-7840 or eggleston@ncsu.edu, is an expert on marine fisheries ecology and conservation. He can address potential impacts of the Gulf oil spill on the crabs, oysters and fish populations in the affected areas.

Dr. Craig Harms, associate professor of clinical sciences, 252/222-6339 or craig_harms@ncsu.edu, is an expert on aquatic wildlife. He can discuss the impact of the spill on marine wildlife, including endangered species such as sea turtles.

Dr. Ruoying (Roy) He, associate professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/513-0249 or ruoying_he@ncsu.edu, is an expert on coastal circulation dynamics. He can discuss ocean circulation in the Gulf and how it will affect the spill.

Dr. Chris Osburn, assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/515-0382 or chris_osburn@ncsu.edu, is  an aquatic biogeochemist who studies the sources and transformations of organic matter in river, estuarine, and coastal marine environments. He can discuss the environmental impact of the spill on the salt marshes along the Gulf Coast.

Linda R. Taylor, lecturer in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, 919/513-3972 or lr_taylor@ncsu.edu, can speak about the training and certifications required for those who work to clean up oil spills, as well as what that training entails.

Dr. Roger von Haefen, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics, 919/924-3935 or rhhaefen@ncsu.edu, believes that there may be a modest rise in gas prices due to the oil spill,  and that there will be a major lawsuit brought against BP that may rival the Exxon Valdez lawsuit.

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