Resources and UnderSea Threats (RUST) Database: An Assessment Tool for Identifying and Evaluating Submerged Hazards within the National Marine Sanctuaries

Recent incidents within our National Marine Sanctuaries and throughout our country have directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to begin to look proactively at catastrophic oil and other chemical releases from submerged sources. Integrating data from federal, state, and private sources, the Resources and UnderSea Threats (RUST) database was developed to inventory and determine, through analysis, the scope of this potential threat. This paper describes the development, structural content, and data analysis tools incorporated. Although RUST was developed initially for use by sanctuary resource protection managers, its application has relevance to the broader response community.