Spill response is the first opportunity to minimize natural resource injuries by ensuring that response actions are implemented in an environmentally sound manner. POLARIS personnel have extensive experience in addressing the scientific issues surrounding effective countermeasures and cleanup, habitat prioritization and protection, shoreline assessment and identification of appropriate cleanup techniques, as well as third-party claims for affected fisheries, private properties, tour operators, pleasure boats, beaches, and other tourist attractions. POLARIS scientists routinely develop study plans, sampling approaches, statistical analysis and support for interpretation of data for chemical analytical source allocation and ecological or human health risk analyses.