Chemistry for Contingency Planning: Managing Invasive Pests and Oil Spills in the Subarctic

High-latitude regions experience unique contaminant exposure scenarios when compared to temperate regions, due to long, cold, dark winters. Permitting and response decisions in Alaska are often extrapolations from research findings conducted in lower latitudes, where contaminant attenuation, fate/transport, and toxicological effects can vary considerably. This talk will highlight several applied research studies on this topic that are useful for contingency planning, including pesticide persistence and oil spill toxicology. Several local working groups and committees in Alaska will be discussed that address policy implications of contingency plans for invasive pest management and oil spill response.