2026 SOS Gloucester

October 19-23, 2026

NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) in Gloucester, MA

Application Timeline

• Application window: July 20-August 21

  • See "Apply Here" below for application form

• Status Notification: week of August 24 (estimated)

• Final Roster: week of September 8 (estimated)

Science of Oil Spills (SOS) classes help spill responders increase their understanding of oil spill science when analyzing spills and making risk-based decisions. They are designed for new and mid-level spill responders. These multi-day trainings cover topics including:

• Fate and behavior of oil spilled in the environment
• An introduction to oil chemistry and toxicity
• A review of basic spill response options for open water and shorelines
• Spill case studies
• Principles of ecological risk assessment
• A field trip
• An introduction to damage assessment techniques
• Determining cleanup endpoints

Most examples provided in the class relate to oil spills that have occurred in coastal and marine environments; however, much of this information applies regardless of the spill location (e.g., inland vs. coastal).