Table of Contents

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The Shoreline Assessment Process ......................................................... 1

The Flexibility of Shoreline Assessment Methods .................................. 5

“Geographic” Shoreline Assessments ...................................................... 6

“Topical” or “Hot-Spot” Shoreline Assessments ...................................... 6

Other Examples of Shoreline Assessments customized to

Spill Conditions........................................................................................ 8

Responsibilities of the Shoreline Assessment Team ............................ 11

Roles of the Shoreline Assessment Team ............................................. 13

Team Coordinator .................................................................................. 13

Field Team Leader .................................................................................. 14

Agency Representatives ......................................................................... 14

Operations Representative .................................................................... 15

Shoreline Assessment Activities ............................................................ 17

5.1 Aerial Reconnaissance Survey ..................................................... 19

5.2 Segmenting the Shoreline............................................................ 20

5.3 Developing Spill-Specific Cleanup Guidelines and

Endpoints ..................................................................................... 22

5.4 Pre-survey Planning and Team Assignments ............................... 29

5.5 Shoreline Surveys ......................................................................... 30

5.6 Submitting Reports to Planning Section ..................................... 31

5.7 Cleanup Evaluation/Effectiveness Monitoring ............................ 32

5.8 Post-Cleanup Inspections ............................................................ 33

5.9 Final Sign-off of Cleanup Activities .............................................. 34

Page

4

5
6

Contents

(cont’d)

Shoreline Survey Terminology, Codes, and Forms ............................................ 35

Field Survey Terms, Codes, and Forms ....................................................... 35

Information Flow and Formats .................................................................... 44

Planning for Shoreline Assessments ................................................................. 51

Pre-Impact Assessments .................................................................................... 53

References .......................................................................................................... 55

Appendices

A Shoreline Assessment Equipment Checklist

B Brief Descriptions of Shoreline Cleanup Methods

C Shoreline Descriptors, including Oil Behavior and Response Considerations

D Copies of Shoreline Assessment Forms, Form Explanations or Codes, Sketch

Map Form, and Field Estimators

E A Primer on Drawing Field Sketches

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8

9

Page
Contents

(cont’d) List of Figures Page

The Unified Command Structure (UCS) .............................................................. 3

Example of “Topical” cleanup guidelines for a shoreline type ............................ 8

Example of a shoreline division and segment map .......................................... 21

A hierarchy of endpoints for shoreline cleanup ................................................ 24

Shoreline oil terminology/codes for spills of black oil ...................................... 36

Shoreline oil terminology codes for spills of light, refined oil .......................... 37

Shoreline oiling summary form ......................................................................... 38

Short shoreline assessment form for medium-sized spills ............................... 39

Tarball shoreline assessment form .................................................................... 40

Wetlands shoreline assessment form................................................................ 41

Matrix for defining terms for shoreline oiling summaries ................................ 42

Example of shoreline assessment field sketch showing use of symbols ......... 44

Shoreline assessment information flow ............................................................ 45

Example of shoreline assessment report from the 1996 Buffalo 292 spill,

Galveston, Texas ................................................................................................. 47

Example of shoreline assessment report from the 1996 Cape Mohican spill,

San Francisco, California.................................................................................... 48

Example of shoreline oiling summary map from the 1996 Julie N spill in

Portland, Maine .................................................................................................. 49

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15
Acknowledgments

NOAA appreciates the contributions of the reviewers, Gary Sergy, Environment

Canada; Edward Owens, Owens Coastal Consultants; Buzz Martin, Texas General

Land Office; and Lieutenant James Hanzalik, U.S. Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team.
1

1 The Shoreline Assessment Process

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When spilled oil contaminates shoreline habitats, responders must survey the

affected areas to determine the appropriate response. Although general approvals

or decision tools for using shoreline cleanup methods can be developed during

planning stages, responders’ specific cleanup recommendations must integrate field

data on shoreline habitats, type and degree of shoreline contamination, and spillspecific physical processes. Cleanup endpoints must be established early so that

appropriate cleanup methods can be selected to meet the cleanup objectives.

Shoreline surveys must be conducted systematically because they are crucial components of effective decisions. Also, repeated surveys are needed to monitor the

effectiveness and effects of ongoing treatment methods (changes in shoreline oiling

conditions, as well as natural recovery), so that the need for changes in methodology, additional treatment, or constraints can be evaluated.

This manual outlines methods for conducting shoreline assessments and incorporating the results into the decision-making process for shoreline cleanup at oil spills.

During a spill response shoreline assessment is a function that is commonly conducted under the Environmental Unit within the Planning Section of the Incident

Command System (ICS). Further information regarding ICS and response structures

and roles can be found in the Field Operations Guide (FOG) (USCG 2000). Figure 1

highlights how the shoreline assessment function fits into a typical ICS structure.

Depending on the complexity of the spill response, the Technical Specialist role may

actually exist as a team. The teams are often made up of representatives from state

and federal resource agencies, the responsible party and the USCG or USEPA and

should be trained and knowledgeable in their roles. Members of the team can be 1)

Shoreline Assessment Coordinator and 2) Shoreline Assessment Team Leader or 3)

Team member.

Bringing their agency’s expertise, Shoreline Assessment Teams collect the data

needed to develop a shoreline cleanup plan that maximizes the recovery of oiled

habitats and resources, while minimizing the risk of injury from cleanup efforts.

Consideration should always be given to:
2

• Potential for human exposure, by direct contact or by eating contaminated

seafood;

• Extent and duration of environmental impacts if the oil is not removed;

• Natural removal rates;

• Potential for remobilized oil to affect other sensitive resources; and

• Likelihood of cleanup to cause greater harm than the oil alone.

Information from these assessments must meet the requirements of the cleanup

operation, being both timely and of uniform quality and content. Finally, the teams

must coordinate their field activities with the operational Divisions working in the

areas being assessed. This ensures that all operations are conducted safely and

that important information is exchanged.

The Shoreline Assessment Coordinator should be designated to manage the

teams and synthesize their field data into reports used by the Environmental Unit

and Planning Section to support the daily Incident Action Plan (IAP). The information and recommendations generated are used by the Planning Section and

implemented by the Operations Section in shoreline cleanup. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Scientific Support Coordinator

(SSC) can help identify and coordinate staff to form the teams.

Other positions in the response structure may be involved in shoreline assessment. One such position is the Field Observer. They are usually two-person teams

(sometimes called Rapid Assessment Teams) made up of representatives from the

U.S. Coast Guard and the State lead agency that quickly deploy to problem sites to

determine what is happening. The Field Observers report directly to the Situation

Unit Leader who in turn communicates their information to other units in Planning

and Operations. At least one of the Field Observers on the two-person team

should have an operations background, with the other member trained in shoreline

assessment.
3

Federal

RP State

Planning

Section

Operations

Section

Logistics

Section

Finance

Section

Information Officer

Safety Officer

Liason Officer

Investigators NRDA Reps. Agency Reps.

Shoreline

Assessment

Team

Shoreline

Assessment

Team

Division

Supervisor

Division

Supervisor

Situation

Unit

Environmental

Unit

Technical

Specialists

Shoreline

Assessment

Coordinator

Figure 1.

The Unified Command

Structure (UCS).

Shoreline Assessment

Teams and Technical

Specialists under the

Planning Section

collect information on

shoreline oiling

conditions to support

cleanup decision

making. They can be

involved in all phases of

the cleanup until

segments are signed

off as complete.

Shoreline assessment supports the response cleanup objectives and mandates of

the response operations, as directed and managed by the Incident Commanders.

Appropriate staff from all stakeholders in the spill response are involved in this

activity. Problems have arisen in the past when agency and responsible party (RP)

representatives were unavailable to support the response operational needs because

of their focus on natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) activities. Much of the

information collected during shoreline assessments applies directly to natural

resource damage assessments and is readily shared. The shoreline assessment data

must be collected quickly since it is necessary for operational decision-making.

Experience has shown that the dual objectives of NRDA and shoreline assessment

are best met when field surveys for these activities are well coordinated. A typical

ICS structure includes a NRDA Representative who works through the Liaison Officer

at the Command Staff level. The NRDA representative is responsible for coordinating NRDA needs and the activities of the Natural Resource trustees.
4

Information needs

 early in the spill

A commonly used acronym for all these activities is SCAT. This stands for Shoreline

Cleanup Assessment Team, a name first developed during the Exxon Valdez oil spill

(Owens & Teal 1990). SCAT programs have been adopted in many areas, particularly

Canada, where SCAT manuals have been developed for the Atlantic Coast, Great

Lakes, and British Columbia (Environment Canada 1992). The Texas General Land

Office has incorporated SCAT teams into its response organization. However, SCAT

has different connotations in different areas. Throughout this manual, we use

“shoreline assessment” instead of SCAT to describe a process consistent with the

basic objectives listed above.

The following sections of this manual describe the organizational and technical

aspects of conducting a shoreline assessment. This manual is designed to be used

as a field guide as well as a training tool.

At times, the needs or interests of private land users may not be fully addressed

during spill response, since emergency-response cleanup objectives are developed

specifically to protect natural resources and maximize recovery.

In the initial phase of a spill, the conditions may require immediate information on

shoreline oiling in order to deploy cleanup contractors to problem areas. The

Unified Command can direct Field Observers, who are organized under the Situation

Unit, to gather such information. As well as knowing accepted terminology and

cleanup guidelines, Field Observers must understand the key agency concerns about

a spill, such as the types of shoreline or resource issues that need to be addressed by

a Shoreline Assessment Team before the startup of cleanup activities. In some

cases, Field Observers can scout-out spill areas to identify sites where shoreline

assessment surveys are needed.
5

2 The Flexibility of Shoreline Assessment Methods

■ A systematic approach that uses standard terminology to collect data on

shoreline oiling conditions and support decision-making for shoreline

cleanup;

■ Flexible in terms of scale of the survey and detail of the data sets collected;

and

■ Multi-agency, with trained representatives from all interested parties, who

have authority to make decisions:

❐ Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC)

❐ Member of the NOAA Scientific Support Team

❐ State On-Scene Coordinator (SOSC)

❐ Resource managers (state and Federal agencies)

❐ Responsible party (RP)

❐ Landowners

The shoreline assessment process should be easily modified to fit the spill conditions; it should be as simple as possible, yet comprehensive enough to address all of

the issues and concerns of shoreline cleanup. It must not be a slow, cumbersome

process that keeps Planning and Operations waiting for key data. When delays occur,

Operations will be forced get the information it needs on its own, and thus the work

products of the Shoreline Assessment Teams will not be used. Two types of shoreline assessment are outlined below, representing a range of complexity. Many spills

will require some elements of both: detailed surveys of specific problem areas, and

application of general guidelines for cleanup of shorelines with simple cleanup

requirements.

What is a Shoreline

Assessment

Program?
6

This assessment approach generates site-specific recommendations on resource

protection and cleanup methodology.

■ Completing forms and sketches for each segment; and

■ Making detailed cleanup recommendations unique to each segment,

identifying specific locations to be cleaned.

■ Very small spills where all sites can be readily inspected by the same team;

■ Very large spills where many teams are required;

■ Sites where many different shorelines types have been oiled; and

■ Areas where full documentation of oiling conditions is required,

such as:

❐ Spill conditions where cleanup problems are not readily apparent (e.g.,

buried oil that must be located by digging, and when repeated surveys

are needed to ensure that removal is complete); and

❐ Areas with resource constraints that need to be specifically identified in

the field.

This assessment approach is based on the assumption that the Operations Division

Managers (who are responsible for directing the cleanup in a specific geographic

area using several types of resources, such as task forces) can successfully implement spill-specific cleanup guidelines, thus reducing the need for site-specific

surveys. Most often, this approach is appropriate when the degree of oiling is

relatively uniform or uncomplicated, or when the shoreline type is not particularly

sensitive, such as man-made structures. The cleanup guidelines should be detailed

enough to prevent confusion about their use. Terminology used in the guidelines

should reflect local usage (e.g., use “seaweed” rather than “brown algae” or “Fucus “ if

that is what the cleanup workers call it). Figure 2 is an example of general cleanup

guidelines.

■ Conducting familiarization surveys by the team to identify oiling conditions

and cleanup issues for each shoreline type or resource of concern;

■ Developing spill-specific cleanup guidelines for each shoreline type, to be

implemented in the field by Division Managers;

“Topical” or

“hot spot” shoreline

assessments

involve...

are used for...

“Geographic”

 Shoreline

Assessments

involve...
7

■ Meeting with Division Managers to make sure that they understand the

cleanup guidelines, what leeway they have in implementing them, and the

key issues of concern to the resource agencies;

■ Spot-checking cleanup operations for compliance with cleanup guidelines

and effectiveness toward achieving target cleanup endpoints; and

■ Responding to requests from Operations to resolve “hot spot” problems

encountered during cleanup activities.

■ Small-volume spills that spread over very large areas (such as stranding of

tarballs on Gulf of Mexico beaches);

■ Man-made shoreline types, such as seawalls, with few site-specific sensitive

resource issues; and

■ Cleanup work that continues for very long times because of chronic re-oiling

or seasonal changes in shoreline oiling.

The cleanup of the Buffalo 292 spill at Galveston, Texas in March 1996 was divided

into two phases: the first 12 days of the spill, when much of the oil stranded along

the upper Texas coast near Galveston; and the next several weeks, when tarballs

spread to the mid- and lower Texas coast, beyond Corpus Christi (Martin et al. 1997).

During the first phase, a full geographic shoreline assessment was effectively conducted. However, the approach changed when the tarballs stranded on remote

beaches with few structures, roads, or other landmarks to reference during surveys

and communications. Instead of filling out forms and making sketches, the team:

■ Established mile marker stakes at 1-mile intervals on the beach, with operational zones and shoreline segments then redefined in terms of the mile

markers;

■ Recorded the concentration and distribution of tarballs between the mile

markers, using standard terminology;

■ Used surveyors’ flags to mark buried oil locations for the cleanup crews;

■ Reported the shoreline impact descriptions by cellular phone to the Command Post (eliminating the need for face-to-face briefings); and

■ Generated tabular reports by the Team Coordinator that were submitted to

Planning and then Operations.

shoreline

assessments

customized to spill

conditions...

Tarball assessments

during the Buffalo 292

spill (Galveston)

are used for...

Other examples of

“Topical” or

“hot spot” shoreline

assessments (cont.)
8

GUIDELINES FOR HOT-WASH OF OILED RIPRAP/BULKHEADS

Julie N Spill, Portland, Maine

October 4, 1996

• Water temperature of hot wash not to exceed 40°C.

• Spray nozzle will be held at a distance of 6 inches or greater from

the surface. All spraying/flushing will be into water for collection.

• No attached seaweed will be sprayed with hot water.

• Once the water level reaches the seaweed, hot-water washing will

be terminated.

• Once hot-water washing is terminated, all released oil will be

recovered immediately. Cold-water flushing of the seaweed is

allowed when oil has accumulated in it.

• Removal of heavily oiled seaweed will be allowed in specified areas

identified by the Shoreline Assessment Team. If seaweed is to be

cut, the root attachment and a 12-inch stem will be left.

• Cold-water flushing will be conducted until no more oil is mobilized.

• Hot wash will be repeated until no free oil is released by the hot

wash and no more than a stain (can’t be scraped off with a fingernail) remains on the surface.

• Sorbents will be deployed along areas where sheens are being

released from the shoreline.

NOTE: These guidelines will be revised, as needed,

in response to changing conditions

as the oil weathers.

Figure 2.

Example of “topical”

cleanup guidelines for

a shoreline type.
9

Buried oil is a site-specific problem that must be delineated by labor-intensive

digging to determine the areal extent of the buried layers. The presence of buried oil

is noted on the shoreline survey form and delineated on a sketch map. However,

depending on the skill of the sketcher and the complexity of the segment, cleanup

crews may not be able to locate the buried oil by reading the forms and maps.

Another approach, used during both the Buffalo 292 spill in Texas and the 1993

Bouchard 155 spill in Tampa Bay, is to provide the survey team with surveyor’s flags to

mark the location of buried oil to be removed.

Buried oil during the

Bouchard 155 (Tampa

Bay) and Buffalo 292

(Galveston) spills
10
11

Teams must answer

these questions

■ Describe shoreline types, oiling conditions, and physical setting

■ Identify sensitive resources (ecological, recreational, cultural)

■ Determine the need for cleanup

■ Recommend shoreline cleanup methods and endpoints:

❐ specify generic and site-specific constraints for cleanup

activities

❐ determine the need for follow-up surveys if archaeological and

cultural resources are present

❐ establish cleanup priorities

❐ identify safety concerns for cleanup operations

❐ monitor cleanup effectiveness and effects, suggesting changes

where needed

❐ determine when cleanup operations are no longer effective

❐ conduct post-cleanup inspections before sign-off

■ Is cleanup necessary at this site?

■ Which cleanup methods are appropriate or recommended?

■ Which constraints are needed to protect sensitive resources?

■ What is the priority for cleanup at this site?

■ Are cleanup operations being conducted properly?

■ Is the cleanup method no longer effective, or causing collateral damage?

Do we need to try another method?

■ Are the targeted endpoints realistic and obtainable for the current spill

conditions?

■ Should cleanup operations be terminated at this site?

3 Responsibilities of the Shoreline Assessment Team
12
13

Team Coordinator

sets schedules and

priorities

leads development of

cleanup guidelines

4 Roles of the Shoreline Assessment Team

The Shoreline Assessment Team consists of a Coordinator (usually from NOAA’s

Scientific Support Team or the State counterpart), Team Leaders for each team, and

team members. Roles and responsibilities of each member are outlined below.

■ Coordinates Shoreline Assessment Team response activities

■ Conducts aerial reconnaissance survey to scope the shoreline oiling issues

■ Ensures that all teams have the necessary representation and all members

have the necessary training

■ Develops daily assignments for each team, according to the needs of the

Planning and Operations sections to meet the Unified Command response

objectives

■ Coordinates with natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) concerns on

shoreline assessment to optimize data sharing

■ Integrates cleanup concerns of the various resource agencies and managers

into the decision-making process

■ Arranges for equipment and transportation for the Shoreline Assessment

Teams through the Logistics Section

■ Leads development of cleanup endpoints considering shoreline type, ecological sensitivity, recreational use, and aesthetic requirements, etc.

■ Leads development of cleanup guidelines for implementing each cleanup

method for the impacted shoreline types, based on agency concerns

■ Develops a survey and reporting schedule to produce survey results in time

for incorporation into the Incident Action Plan (IAP)

■ Ensures that teams use proper terminology and apply guidelines uniformly

■ Receives reports from field teams and synthesizes them into a daily summary

in IAP format and is accessible to the field teams if problems arise

leads reporting

requirements
14

■ Helps team reach consensus and reports dissenting opinions when consensus is not reached

■ Briefs Planning and Operations chiefs on issues raised by the Shoreline

Assessment Teams, particularly where cleanup methods must be modified to

increase effectiveness or decrease impacts

■ Continues to lead evaluation of targeted cleanup endpoints and modifies

them as necessary

■ Officially recommends termination of cleanup actions to the Unified Command when:

1) cleanup endpoints have been reached,

2) actions are no longer effective, or

3) further cleanup would cause more harm than good.

■ Is the most experienced person on the Team

■ Manages the Team while it conducts field surveys

■ Completes forms and sketches in the field

■ Guides the Team toward consensus on cleanup recommendations, priorities,

special constraints, etc., and notes dissenting opinions

■ Briefs Team Coordinator on field survey results

■ Reports cleanup issues identified by the Team that need to be addressed

■ Recommends modifications to cleanup methods and target cleanup endpoints

■ Help collect data on oiling conditions and special agency considerations

■ Are experts in resource sensitivity and priorities for response considerations

■ Recommend site-specific constraints or precautions to be followed during

cleanup

■ Determine need for cleanup, considering cleanup guidelines and endpoints

■ Recommend cleanup methods, priorities, and endpoints

■ Identify need for surveys by archaeological or cultural resource specialists.

Agency Reps.

(local, state, and

federal)

Field Team Leader

Team Coordinator

(cont.)
15

Operations

Representative

■ Is often the FOSC representative from the U.S. Coast Guard, either from the

Marine Safety Office or one of the Strike Teams, or can also be provided by

the RP representative or the State

■ At times may include the Division Supervisor when the Team is in his/her area

of responsibility (note dashed line in Figure 1 between the teams and the

Division Supervisor)

■ Helps collect data on oil conditions

■ Evaluates appropriateness and operational feasibility of cleanup techniques

■ Identifies logistical constraints and solutions, and estimates the level of

effort needed

NOTE: Keeping the same individuals on a Team during the entire event ensures

continuity in reporting and describing oil distribution and types of oiling.
16
17

The following sections describe the full range of activities normally conducted as part

of the shoreline assessment process.

5.1 Reconnaissance survey

5.2 Segmenting the shoreline

5.3 Developing spill-specific cleanup guidelines and endpoints

5.4 Pre-survey planning and team assignments

5.5 Shoreline surveys

5.6 Submitting reports to the Planning Section

5.7 Cleanup evaluation/effectiveness monitoring

5.8 Post-cleanup inspections

5.9 Final sign-off of cleanup activities

The degree to which each activity is implemented depends on the complexity of the

spill. Flexibility is important; activities should be modified as appropriate to specific

spill conditions.

NOAA and others have developed various resources and tools to assist Shoreline

Assessment Teams in conducting each of these activities. Each section on an activity

includes a list of the tools or resources that can be used. These tools and resource

are briefly summarized below.

Shoreline Assessment Manual, 3rd edition: Describes the framework and

process for developing shoreline cleanup strategies, including the formation

of Shoreline Assessment Teams and the development of cleanup recommendations and target cleanup endpoints, standard methods for conducting field

surveys and collecting data, reporting activities, and inspection and sign-off

methods. The manual provides guidance, examples, and forms to assist

decision-making and documentation for shoreline assessment and cleanup.

The revised third edition was published by NOAA in August 2000.

Shoreline Assessment Job-Aid: A pocket-sized, laminated field guide used by

members of Shoreline Assessment Teams to assist them in recording accurate field observations in a concise, systematic, and standard format. It

consists of color photographic examples of all shoreline assessment terms,

shoreline types, and cleanup methods. The Job-Aid was produced by NOAA

in 1998.

5 Shoreline Assessment Activities
18

Environmental Considerations for Oil Spill Response (“Marine Manual”):

Provides information for making trade-off decisions in the selection of appropriate cleanup methods for specific habitats and oil types. Includes matrices

for shallow subtidal and shoreline intertidal habitats which classify cleanup

methods for five different oil types, according to their potential for causing

adverse habitat impacts. Developed jointly by NOAA, the American Petroleum

Institute (API), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency. In press.

Options for Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Freshwater Spill Response

(“Freshwater Manual”): Similar to the Marine Manual, but addresses spill

response in freshwater habitats. Prepared jointly by NOAA and API in 1995.

Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps: Provide detailed data on shoreline

habitats, sensitive biological and human-use resources, and life-history data

on biological resources. Most ESI maps for the U.S. continue to be updated.

Available in both hardcopy and digital formats.

Area Contingency Plan (ACP) Sensitive Areas Annex: Usually identifies sensitive

resources and protection and cleanup priorities based on Area Committee

input. Often a first responder’s tool that may also include other useful information such as access points, collection areas, boom requirements, and expert

and resource trustee contacts.

Facility Response Plans: Information related to the facility’s response strategies

for identifying and protecting sensitive resources.

Open-Water Oil Identification Job Aid for Aerial Observation: Field guide to

assist in aerial observations of floating oil.
19

5.1 Reconnaissance survey

Objectives

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

* Objective oiling descriptors (Chap. 6, Fig. 5) must be modified according to observations

made during aerial mapping.

■ Obtain overall perspective on shoreline types and degree of contamination

for a gross overview

■ Determine areal extent of oiling on the shoreline

■ Identify logistical constraints to shoreline access for both shoreline assessment and cleanup teams

■ Usually conducted by the Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator, although

someone with local-area knowledge can also be a valuable participant

■ Review Area Contingency Plan and ESI maps to become familiar with area

and resource concerns

■ Fly entire impact area (<400-500 feet at a max. 80-90 knots) in helicopter or

high-wing aircraft

■ Use GPS if available and topographic maps, nautical charts, and other maps

identified in the Area Plan to record

❐ flight path, including date and time,

❐ objective descriptors of shoreline oiling conditions,*

❐ location of floating oil, possibly affecting shoreline oiling

 conditions,

❐ references to photographs/video taken,

❐ access points for survey teams, especially in remote areas, and

❐ visit representative ground sites to confirm and scale the degree of

shoreline impacts and note special problems, such as potential for

burial of oil, that could affect cleanup decision planning.

Overflight Job-Aid

Shoreline Assessment Job-Aid

ESI maps

Area Contingency Plan Sensitive Areas Annex

Facility Response Plans
20

■ Divide the shoreline into units, called segments, for recording and tracking

survey data and making cleanup recommendations.

■ Usually conducted by the Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator, although

someone with local-area knowledge can also be a valuable participant.

■ When paper maps are used, 1:24,000-scale topographic maps provide consistent coverage and show access from land. When working from boats, nautical

charts may be preferred.

■ Base maps can be generated from digital databases, although they must have

enough detail, such as street names and landmarks, so the teams can locate

themselves in the field.

■ Remember that the scale on nautical charts is in nautical miles, not statute

miles as shown on vehicle odometers (1 nautical mile = 1.15 statute miles).

■ Mark segments based on similarity of geomorphology (refer to ESI maps) and

degree of oiling (ascertained from reconnaissance flight); local staff familiar

with area should be involved.

■ Segment boundaries should be readily recognizable in the field.

■ Size segments appropriate to spill conditions and total area of impact (often

0.2 to 2.0 km long) using various lengths. Because separate forms are completed for each segment, interval should not be so small that the number of

forms required becomes unmanageable for the size of the spill.

■ Use divisions or names already in use by cleanup operations, when possible.

Develop the segment-naming scheme with Operations so it is most useful.

■ Pre-number segments with alphanumeric code (e.g., BI-9 for segment number

9 on Block Island; or 1-A for the first segment in cleanup zone 1). Remember

that the spill responders may not be familiar with local geographic names.

ESI maps

Area Contingency Plan maps

Shoreline Assessment Manual

Objective

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

 5.2 Segmenting the shoreline
21

J

Y

K

G

H

O

Z

U

S

F

E

D

C

B

A

M

R

P

Q

L

T

N

X

Rocky Point

Tennessee

Pt

Bolinas

Pt

Angel

Island

Sausalito

Pt. Diablo

Stinson Beach

Muir Beach

Treasure

Island

YBI

Pt. Cavallo

1 2 3 4 5 1

2

3

1

2 1

4

3 2 1

1

2

3

4 5

1

2

1

3 2

4

Duxbury

Pt

1

2 3

4 5 1

2

3

4

5

6

6

5

4

3 2

1

1 2

3

4

5

2 Cliff House

SFO Zoo

Mussel Rock

3

1

San Pedro

Beach 3

Lands End

AA

2

prepared by NOAA

CAPE MOHICAN Incident

USE ONLY AS A GENERAL REFERENCE Graphics do not show precise amounts or locations of oil

Shoreline Division& Segment Map Date/Time: 04 NOV 96, 1300

122°20'W

37°45'N

38°0'N

37°50'N

37°40'N

37°35'N

122°40'W

Note: Division AA

added 04 NOV 1300

Figure 3. Example

of a shoreline

division and

segment map.

Figure 3 shows a map with segments delineated from the 1996 Cape Mohican spill,

San Francisco, California. The scale of the maps should be a function of the complexity of the area and the length of the segments. Different scales can be used for

different zones within the same spill-impact area. The final maps should be 8.5 x 11

inches to fit into field packs and be readily copied and faxed.
22

Objectives

Responsibility

Methods

The NOAA/API

response manuals

for freshwater and

marine spills are

good sources of

information on

cleanup methods,

applicable habitat

types, guidelines on

method selection,

and probable

biological

constraints and

environmental

effects. Consult

these manuals

when evaluating

cleanup methods.

■ Guide Operations in conducting a specific cleanup method to minimize adverse

environmental impact.

■ Provide Operations with environmental and safety constraints on conducting

cleanup activities in a specific habitat.

■ Identify resource-specific constraints on cleanup activities.

■ Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator, Federal and state agency representatives, major landowners, and Team Leaders.

■ Develop spill-specific cleaning objectives, guidelines, and target endpoints

(Appendix B briefly describes current cleanup techniques; Appendix C describes response considerations; examples of cleanup endpoints for different

shoreline types are provided in Figure 4).

■ Evaluate proposed cleanup methods for potential habitat or resource effects.

■ Identify time-critical and degree-of-use issues to be combined with cleanup

priorities and endpoints.

■ Identify sensitive resources associated with the oiled shorelines that may be

adversely affected by the proposed treatment methods (e.g., rich intertidal

biota on rocky shores where low-pressure ambient-water flushing will be used).

■ Note archaeological or cultural resources along the shoreline or in nearby

upland areas that could be disturbed by cleanup activities. Notify the State

Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), if necessary.

■ Write operational guidelines to minimize adverse impacts (e.g., restrict flushing

operations to times when the rich biota zones are underwater). Date the

guidelines in order to track revisions.

■ Develop detailed plans to monitor the effectiveness and/or biological effects of

a method, if needed.

■ Have the Shoreline Assessment Teams observe actual operations to confirm

the method’s use, i.e., that the cleanup method is necessary and is not more

damaging than the oil alone.

■ Modify cleanup guidelines as the oil changes from weathering, rendering the

technique ineffective, or when unacceptable impacts occur under actual use.

5.3 Developing spill-specific cleanup guidelines and endpoints
23

Shoreline Assessment Manual

Marine and freshwater response manuals

Responders can produce spill-specific cleanup guidelines more easily if the issues

were covered in the Area Contingency Plan and cleanup methods for these special

concerns identified ahead of time. However, the Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator should form a work group to evaluate cleanup options and make recommendations on other issues that arise during a spill. Besides reviewing published studies

and case histories, they can also look at on-site testing for effectiveness and environmental effects of the proposed method(s) under the spill-specific conditions.

Tools

Target cleanup endpoints are an integral part of spill-specific cleanup guidelines

used for emergency oil-spill response. Endpoints are selected based on cleanup

objectives to 1) minimize exposure hazards for human health; 2) speed recovery of

impacted areas; and 3) reduce the threat of additional or prolonged natural resource

impacts. These objectives lead to developing cleanup strategies that do not cause

more harm to the environment than good.

Ideally, cleanup efforts will return the resource to its baseline condition without

suffering further impact or affecting resources not initially impacted by the spill.

Aggressive and inappropriate cleanup techniques can make matters worse. Less

intrusive methods or natural recovery are often preferable. The best cleanup strategy

is often not the one that removes the most oil. Rather, it is the strategy that removes

oil that poses a greater risk of injury then would result from cleanup, and allows

remaining oil to be removed by natural processes.

Figure 4 shows a hierarchy of cleanup endpoints that reflect this concept. Although

the highest cleanup endpoint is removal of all visible oil, this is often impossible,

particularly if there is a background rate of oil deposition (e.g., natural oil seeps or

shipping traffic). In these cases, a more appropriate endpoint would be cleanup of

visible oil, but not exceeding the background amount. When shoreline cleanup to

achieve these endpoints is likely to cause added harm to the environment, three

additional endpoints may be considered:

Selecting Cleanup

Endpoints
24

Figure 4.

Hierarchy of

endpoints for

shoreline cleanup.

Use these guidelines to develop

spill-specific

cleanup endpoints

for terminating

active cleanup.

No visible oil:

not detectable by sight,

smell, feel

This endpoint is often used for sand beaches where oil removal can be

effective without delaying resource recovery.

Visual inspections are preferred over chemical analyses because it is

difficult to sample areas with high variability; time and costs of analysis;

and lack of guidelines on what levels are safe.

It may be appropriate to conduct limited sampling and analysis to

confirm the visual endpoint as safe for human use, such as on

recreational beaches.

Visible oil, but no more

than background

This endpoint is often applied where there is a significant background

rate of tarball deposition on the shoreline.

No longer releases

sheens that will affect

sensitive areas, wildlife,

or human health

This endpoint is used where sheening persists after cleanup efforts

become ineffective, or on sensitive habitats where further cleanup

efforts will cause more harm than natural removal. Residual sheening

should persist over a relatively short time period.

A sheen is an oil film ranging from barely visible to dull colors.

Sorbents effectiveness is usually limited in recovery of sheens.

Consider the amount and duration of sheening, and the distance to

sensitive resources, to determine if sheening poses a significant threat.

Consider the degree of exposure: high wave/tidal exposure speeds

removal, breaks up sheens; sheltered areas will sheen longer and

sheens will be more persistent.

Consider the degree and timing of use: temporary sheening may be

tolerated in areas or during periods of low use; even minor sheens may

not be tolerated in areas of high use, such as swimming beaches.

No longer rubs off on

contact

This endpoint is usually defined as oil removal to a stain or coat, or

weathering to the point that it is no longer sticky. It is appropriate for

hard substrates (rocky shores, seawalls, riprap, gravel) and vegetation

(salt marsh, mangroves).

The objective is to prevent oiling of fur, feathers, and feet of wildlife,

people, and property during contact with oiled surfaces.

Consider the degree and timing of use: high-use areas often require

higher cleanliness, whereas natural removal is allowed in low-use areas

where further cleanup efforts will be disruptive.

Oil removal to allow

recovery/recolonization

without causing more

harm than natural

removal of oil residues

This endpoint is used where further oil removal will result in excessive

habitat disruption (e.g., trampling of soft sediments and plant roots,

mixing oil deeper, extensive sediment removal, vegetation cutting) or

high biota mortality (e.g., from high-pressure, hot-water washing of

intertidal communities).

It is also used for areas with difficult access which limits the type of

cleanup which can be conducted along that shoreline segment.

Consider the potential for erosion from excessive sediment removal,

particularly where erosion/deposition patterns of the beach cycle will

re-work and clean sediments within an acceptable time frame.

Figure 4. Hierarchy of cleanup endpoints.
25

1. Oil removal to the point where the shoreline no longer generates sheens that

affect sensitive areas, wildlife, or human health;

2. Oil removal to the point where it no longer rubs off (e.g., becomes like a coat of

black paint); and

3. Oil removal to the point that allows recovery/recolonization without causing more

harm than leaving the oil in place.

Note that “visible” oil applies not only to oil on the surface, but also to buried oil

that must be exposed by digging trenches into the sediments.

Examples of cleanup endpoints used at previous oil spills for different shoreline

types are included below, to help you develop spill- and site-specific endpoints.

Each spill will have a unique combination of oil type, rate of natural removal, biological sensitivity, and human-use issues that may lead to different endpoints.

Exposed Rocky Shores and Wave-Cut Platforms (ESI = 1A and 2)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

Shoreline access is often difficult, dangerous, and limited to low tide and wave

conditions.

Rapid natural removal rates are expected, so these shorelines usually have lower

priority for cleanup. Thus, cleanup endpoints are seldom an issue because onshore

cleanup activities are not initiated.

High wave energy at these sites usually breaks up sheens, limiting the distance

sheens can spread and thus the areal extent of threat to sensitive resources.

Timing is often a critical component in allowing natural removal to proceed, particularly relative to the presence of migratory waterfowl, seabird nesting activity, and

breeding activities of marine mammals.

Limited removal of persistent residues that are affecting sensitive resources (e.g.,

sources of sheens very near active bird nesting colonies) may be considered.

Examples of Cleanup

Endpoints
26

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

Cleanup can be terminated when the shoreline no longer releases sheens that affect

sensitive wildlife.

On exposed rocky shores used as marine mammal haulouts, persistent oil should be

removed until the oil is no longer sticky, unless cleanup is too disruptive to animals

at the site.

Solid Man-Made Structures (ESI = 1B and 8B)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

Because these shoreline types often occur in developed areas with chronic sources of

pollutants or habitat degradation nearby, they usually have low biological sensitivity.

More intrusive techniques are considered because of their lower biological use and

the need to minimize human exposure in areas of high public use.

The lower part of the structure may have rich attached biota that should be protected

during use of intrusive techniques.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

In industrial areas, cleanup can be terminated when the shoreline no longer releases

liquid oil and heavy rainbow sheens when in contact with water. Sorbents are

deployed until sheening ceases.

In areas of high public use, more intensive cleanup should be conducted to remove

the oil until it no longer rubs off on contact (to no more than a stain) to minimize

human contact or oiling of boats. In areas of low public use, visible oil can remain as

stain and patches of coat.

Sand Beaches (ESI = 3 and 4)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

High public use on beaches usually requires a quick cleanup and high degree of

cleanliness.
27

The sand beach cycle is short, so reworked and relocated sediments often can be

rapidly returned to their normal distribution on exposed beaches. Wave action can

be an effective final “polishing” process, removing stain from sediments.

Oil on the surface of sand beaches is relatively easy to clean; however, difficulties

arise when the oil is buried because of the amount of sediment that must be removed.

If sand can be replaced by existing nourishment projects, more sediment removal is

generally allowed where oil must be quickly removed from public beaches.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

Cleanup can be terminated when no visible oil remains on the surface, except for

scattered tarballs or swash lines of minute tarballs which may occur as the sand is

reworked by the waves. All tarballs or tar patties that can be removed by reasonable

cleanup techniques, or that can be remobilized, should be removed. Remaining

tarballs and tar patties should be at or below normal background frequency. Increases in tarball frequency above background will require further cleanup.

Cleanup can be terminated when no oil layers are found in trenches dug into the

beach. Buried tarballs should be at or below background frequency.

Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches (ESI = 5) and Gravel Beaches (ESI = 6A)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

Beaches with a significant amount of gravel are relatively difficult to clean because

they have high potential for deep penetration and burial. Deeply penetrated oil can

be a chronic source of sheens for months or longer.

Because natural replenishment rates of gravel are slow, sediment removal is usually

minimal and natural removal is considered following gross oil removal.

The most difficult issue is removal of persistent, deeply penetrated oil because of the

degree of physical disruption to both the beach profile and sediment distribution

patterns. It is difficult to predict how long natural removal will take at a specific site.
28

Because gravel is mobilized mostly during storms, it could take months to years for a

beach to return to normal after extensive physical disruption.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

Cleanup can be terminated when all liquid oil in the sediments has been removed.

No more than a stain may remain on the gravel-sized sediments.

There should be no oil layers in pits dug by the inspection team. Occurrences of

buried tarballs should be at or below background frequency.

Riprap Structures (ESI = 6B)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

Riprap often occurs in developed areas with chronic sources of pollutants or habitat

degradation nearby.

More intrusive techniques are considered because of their lower biological use and

need to minimize human exposure in populated areas.

It is extremely difficult to completely remove oil from crevices and undersides of the

riprap because of their inaccessibility. Sometimes the structure must be replaced,

which can be highly intrusive.

With higher residues remaining, they can release sheens for weeks or longer.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

In industrial areas, cleanup can be terminated when the shoreline no longer releases

liquid oil or heavy rainbow sheens when in contact with water.

Visible oil can remain as stain and patches of coat on the outer surface of the structure. All flushable oil in the crevices and on the sides and bottom of individual

pieces of the riprap should be removed. It is not necessary to remove oil coat from

these surfaces.

Sorbents can be deployed to recover sheens where needed to reduce impacts to

sensitive resources.
29

In areas of high public use, more intensive cleanup is needed to remove the oil until

it no longer rubs off on contact (to no more than a stain) to minimize human contact

with the oil.

Exposed and Sheltered Tidal Flats (ESI = 7 and 9)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

The risks of physical disruption and mixing of the oil are very high, thus passive

cleanup (e.g., deploying sorbents) is often the only activity considered. Even then,

extreme care is needed. Since there is usually another shoreline type at the upper

intertidal zone, care is needed to prevent impacts to the lower tidal flat during

cleanup activities along the higher shoreline.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

Use of sorbents can be terminated when the shoreline no longer releases sheens

that will affect sensitive areas, wildlife, or human health.

Gross oil removal can be terminated when further cleanup efforts would result in

excessive habitat disruption, causing more harm than natural removal of oil residues.

Marshes (ESI = 10A and 10 B)

Cleanup Trade-off Issues

Natural removal rates are very slow. Heavy oil on vegetation is usually removed only

when the vegetation dies back and sloughes off.

Efforts generally focus on recovery of free oil trapped in the marsh and deployment

of sorbents to pick up sheens. Most types of active cleanup in the marsh can cause

significant habitat impact and slow recovery.

Heavy oil on marsh vegetation generally weathers to a dry coat within weeks, after

which it poses a lower threat of oiling wildlife using the marsh.

Examples of Cleanup Endpoints

Cleanup can be terminated when there is no more free-floating oil in the marsh.
30

■ Determine areas to be surveyed and logistical and team assignments.

■ Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator.

■ Revise the standard shoreline oiling codes and forms, if needed, to fit spill

conditions.

■ Select base maps showing the segment boundaries and names.

■ Form teams with appropriate membership.

■ Ensure that all team members have the required safety training. Each team

member must review and sign the site safety plan, and discuss specific safety

concerns related to shoreline assessment activities.

■ Determine logistical requirements for the teams and coordinate requests

through the Logistics Section.

■ Assign team leaders.

■ Assign survey areas (primary and backup) for each team, based on priorities,

logistics, local expertise, and ownership.

■ Distribute segment maps for primary and backup areas; distribute blank

forms, codes, sketch maps (see Chapter 7 for forms and codes).

 ■ Distribute field equipment (see checklist in Appendix A).

 ■ Brief team on survey objectives, logistics, and safety issues.

 ■ Discuss cleanup options guidelines and criteria for priorities.

 ■ Discuss reporting requirements and schedules.

 ■ “Calibrate” on the first day by having all team members visit a segment to-

 gether and agree on how the oiling descriptions will be applied.

Objective

Methods

Responsibility

5.4 Pre-survey planning and team assignments

Use of sorbents can be terminated when the shoreline no longer releases sheens

that will affect sensitive areas, wildlife, or human health.
31

Objectives

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

■ Collect data on shoreline types, oiling conditions, and ecological and humanuse resources for specific segments.

■ Reach agreement on cleanup recommendations for specific segments.

■ Confirm that recommendations are effective and beneficial to the environment (refer to list of questions in Chapter 3).

■ Shoreline Assessment Team.

■ Confirm segment boundaries.

■ Conduct survey to identify shoreline types and extent of oiling.

■ Describe the shoreline characteristics, surface oil conditions, buried oil

conditions, and special considerations (ecological, recreational, cultural)

using standard terms and codes.

■ Sketch the segment, if appropriate, focusing on the oil distribution and

special considerations.

■ Note presence of submerged oil in nearshore zone for spills of heavy oil.

■ Log and locate all photographs taken, and note the objective of each photograph.

■ Collect oil and/or sediment samples based on identified needs.

■ Discuss and agree on cleanup recommendations and priorities.

■ Complete the surveys each day in time to meet reporting deadlines.

Shoreline Assessment Job-aid

Shoreline Assessment Manual

5.5 Shoreline surveys

 Shoreline Assessment Manual

 Area Contingency Plan maps

 Facility Response Plan maps

Tools
32

Objective

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

5.6 Submitting reports to the Planning Section

■ Provide data needed to support shoreline cleanup decisions and operations.

■ Shoreline Assessment Team Leader.

■ Check all data for accuracy, completeness, and legibility.

■ Copy all forms, sketches, and field notes for the field team as needed; keep

originals on file.

■ Summarize cleanup recommendations by segment.

■ Debrief Shoreline Assessment Coordinator on special issues, problems, and

recommendations.

■ Create summary maps identifying segments to be cleaned, degree-of-oiling

categories, or other products as needed (see Chapter 6 for sample formats for

reporting results to Planning).

Shoreline Assessment Manual

NOTE: Shoreline Assessment Teams cannot direct cleanup contractors in the field,

although the teams can document unapproved cleanup methods or improper

techniques. The Coordinator will contact Operations staff, including division or

group supervisors in the area, if possible, to rectify the problem.
33

■ Evaluate field data routinely to monitor progress of cleanup activities and

assess the need for modifying cleanup methods or endpoints.

■ Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator, Federal and State agency representatives, major landowners, and Team Leaders.

■ Visit segments where cleanup activities are being conducted to ensure that

approved methods are being properly implemented.

■ Respond to requests from Operations for changes in approved cleanup methods to address specific problems or changes in oiling conditions that render

the approved methods ineffective.

■ Organize and conduct field testing and monitoring programs, if needed, during

evaluation or use of innovative cleanup methods.

■ Modify cleanup endpoints, as needed, with changes in oiling conditions or

timing.

■ Produce summary reports and documentation on special issues, problems,

and changes in recommendations related to shoreline cleanup methods and

endpoints.

Shoreline Assessment Manual

Marine and Freshwater Manuals

Area Contingency Plan

Objective

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

5.7 Cleanup evaluation/effectiveness monitoring
34

5.8 Post-cleanup inspections

■ Inspect segments that Operations declares ready for sign-off before final

approval.

■ Each Shoreline Assessment Team.

■ Operations notifies the Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator that a

segment is ready for inspection.

■ Inspect the segment against agreed-upon cleanup endpoints (preferably

using the same team that did the original survey). The original field sketch

can be very helpful for evaluating effectiveness of the cleanup.

■ Identify additional cleanup needed using standard shoreline assessment

terminology forms and sketches, or develop special forms for this purpose

(see Appendix D for sample forms).

■ Recommend segment for final inspection.

■ Recommend any longer-term monitoring or iterative procedures needed.

Shoreline Assessment Manual

Shoreline Assessment Job-Aid

Methods

Responsibility

Objective

Tools
35

■ Approve the termination of cleanup activities at each segment.

■ Sign-off Team (SOFT). Agencies must delegate sign-off authority to their

representatives on the team. We recommend that, if possible, the same

staff doing the shoreline assessments of an area be assigned to the SOFT.

■ A SOFT is designated, usually with one member each from the FOSC, the

SOSC, and the RP. Representatives from local agencies or land managers

may be added for specific properties or resource concerns.

■ The Team reviews cleanup endpoint guidelines and develops procedures

for interpreting them. These guidelines are revised, as needed, relative to

the oiling and resource conditions at the time of final inspection.

■ Operations notifies Planning that the segment has passed inspection by

the shoreline Assessment Team and is ready for final sign-off.

■ The SOFT inspects the segment against the cleanup endpoint guidelines,

approving those segments that meet the guidelines and recommending

further cleanup for those segments which do not.

■ A formal sign-off sheet for each segment is signed by each member.

■ The sign-off approval can specify maintenance activities (e.g., deploying

sorbent booms to recover oil sheens as long as sheens are being released,

or maintaining an area to remove tarballs as they wash ashore after

storms), but it is important that criteria for ending the maintenance

activity be clearly specified.

Shoreline Assessment Manual

Objective

Responsibility

Methods

Tools

5.9 Final sign-off of cleanup activities
36
37

6 Shoreline Survey Terminology, Codes, and Forms

Field survey terms,

codes, and forms

Using standard terminology to describe and report shoreline oiling conditions is the basic foundation of shoreline assessment. Ambiguous words,

such as “heavy” oiling, do not provide the necessary detail to document the

oiling condition or the need for and type of cleanup to be conducted. Figure

5 lists the terminology and codes to be used by Shoreline Assessment Teams

and demonstrates the need for trained teams who can consistently apply

these terms to spill-specific conditions. Appendix D includes field estimator

charts for uniformly applying percent cover estimates. The Shoreline Assessment

Job-Aid is a valuable field tool to help teams use proper terminology. All team

members must agree on how they will use these terms and codes for a

specific spill. Thus, a calibration field exercise, conducted jointly by all team

members, is always necessary.

You will need to modify these terms as appropriate for the spill. For example, most oiling descriptors have been developed for black oils. The

Shoreline Assessment Team at the 1996 North Cape spill had to modify the

descriptors for that spill of home heating oil (a light, refined oil that is

essentially No. 2 fuel oil; Figure 6). Appendix D contains copies of all forms

and terms.

We have used a range of forms to record the observations of shoreline

assessment teams. All of the forms use the standard codes and terminology

in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the Shoreline Oiling Summary Form, as modified

from the Exxon Valdez SCAT surveys and Environment Canada (1992). This

form is the most complex and usually requires a high level of training to

complete it properly. Operations staff also need specialized training to

interpret the data, although they usually see summary reports.
38

Figure 5.

Shoreline oil

terminology/codes for

spills of black oil.

Oil Distribution Surface Oiling Descriptors - Width

C Continuous 91 - 100% Very Narrow < ____ m

B Broken 51 - 90% Narrow >____ - <____ m

P Patchy 11 - 50% Medium >____ - <____ m

S Sporadic 1 - 10% Wide < ____ m

T Trace <1%

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Thickness

PO Pooled Oil (fresh oil or mousse > 1 cm thick)

CV Cover (oil or mousse from >0.1 cm to <1 cm on any surface)

CT Coat (visible oil <0.1 cm, which can be scraped off with fingernail)

ST Stain (visible oil, which cannot be scraped off with fingernail)

FL Film (transparent or iridescent sheen, or oily film)

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

FR Fresh Oil (unweathered, liquid oil)

MS Mousse (emulsified oil occurring over broad areas)

TB Tarballs (discrete accumulations of oil <10 cm in diameter)

PT Patties (discrete accumulations of oil >10 cm in diameter)

TC Tar (highly weathered oil, of tarry, nearly solid consistency)

SR Surface Oil Residue (non-cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments,

characterized as soft, incipient asphalt pavements)

AP Asphalt Pavement (cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments)

NO No Oil

DB Debris: logs, vegetation, rubbish, garbage, and response items such as booms

Subsurface Oiling Descriptors

SAP Subsurface asphalt pavement (cohesive)

OP Oil-Filled Pores (pore spaces are completely filled with oil to the extent that

the oil flows out of the sediments when disturbed). May also consist of

weathered oil, such as a buried lens of asphalt pavement.

PP Partially Filled Pores (pore spaces partially filled with oil, but the oil does not

flow out of the sediments when disturbed)

OR Oil Residue (sediments are visibly oiled with black/brown coat or cover on

the clasts, but little or no accumulation of oil within the pore spaces).

OF Oil Film (sediments are lightly oiled with an oil film, or stain, on the clasts)

TR Trace (discontinuous film or spots of oil, an odor, or tackiness)

NO No Oil (no evidence of any type of oil)

Sediment Types

R Bedrock outcrops S Sand (0.06-2 mm)

B Boulder (>256 mm in diameter) M Mud (silt and clay, <0.06 mm)

C Cobble (64-256 mm) RR Riprap (man-made permeable rubble)

P Pebble (4-64 mm) SW Seawalls (impermeable)

G Granule (2- mm)
39

Figure 6.

Shoreline oil

terminology/codes for

spills of light, refined

oil.

Surface Oil Distribution (on sediments and nearshore water)

C Continuous 91 - 100% cover

B Broken 51 - 90%

P Patchy 11 - 50%

S Sporadic 1 - 10%

T Trace <1%

Surface and subsurface Oiling Descriptors - THickness

SM Smell No visible oil; detectable only by smell

FL Film Feels greasy when sediments are rubbed

SH Sheen Visible sheen on water surfaces

CT Coat Visible coating of oil

PO Pooled Liauid oil accumulated on surface

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Color

None Brown

Shiny Yellow

Rainbow Red

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Width

N Narrow < 1 m

M Medium > 1 to <3 m

W Wide > 3 m; estimate width if possible

Sediment Types

R Bedrock outcrops S Sand (0.06-2 mm)

B Boulder (>256 mm in diameter) M Mud (silt and clay, <0.06 mm)

C Cobble (64-256 m) RR Riprap (man-made permeable rubble)

P Pebble (4-64 mm) SW Seawalls (impermeable)

G Granule (2-4 mm)

Sheen on Water Descriptors

Approx. Layer-Thickness Approx. Volume per Area

mm inches liters/km2 gallons/nm2

barely visible 0.00004 0.000002 50 40

silver sheen 0.00007 0.000003 100 75

first color trace 0.0001 0.000004 200 150

bright colors 0.0003 0.00001 400 300

dull colors 0.001 0.00004 1200 1000

dark colors 0.003 0.0001 3600 3000

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Width (modify for spill-specific conditions)

Very Narrow < ____m

Narrow >____-<____m

Medium >____-<____m

Wide < ____m
40

Figure 7.

Example of a

completed Shoreline

Assessment Form,

updated from a form

developed by Owens

and Teal (1990) and

used by Environment

Canada (1992). Forms

in Figures 7 and 8 are

completed for the

same hypothetical

survey conditions.
41

Figure 8 is a shorter form that allows field teams to circle the appropriate descriptors, minimizing the need to fill-in information and encouraging the use of standard

terms. This form is most useful when the oiling is very uniform or simple.

Figure 8.

Example of a

completed Shoreline

Assessment Form for

a hypothetical survey.
42

You may need to report summary statistics on the number of shoreline miles by

degree-of-oiling categories. Use the descriptors in Figure 5, if possible. However, if

you must use terms such as “heavy” and “moderate,” use survey data to define them

objectively. Figure 10 shows a matrix that can be used to generate summary oiling

Figure 9a.

Example of a

completed Tarball

Shoreline Assessment

form for a hypothetical

survey. This form is

appropriate for spills

where shoreline oiling is

primarily in the form of

tarballs.
43

Figure 9b.

Example of a

completed Wetland

Assessment Form for

a hypothetical survey

of a wetland.
44

Example

Figure 10.

Matrix for defining

terms for shoreline

oiling summaries

(modified from

Environment Canada

1992). Modify this

matrix, especially the

intervals for width of

oiled areas, for specific

spill conditions.

 Width of Oiled Areas

Wide Medium Narrow Very

Narrow

>6 m 3 - 6 m 0.5 - 3 m <0.5 m

O

i

Continuous

l

91 - 100% Heavy Heavy Moderate Light

D

i

Broken Heavy Moderate Light Light

s

51 - 90%

t

r

i

Patchy Moderate Moderate Light Very Light

b

11 - 50%

u

t

i

Sporadic Light Light Very Light Very Light

o

1 - 10%

n

Trace Very Light Very Light

<1%

Very Light Very Light

descriptors, in terms of what is defined as “heavy,” “medium,” “light,” and “very light”

for a specific spill. These summary descriptors are derived by combining the width of

the oiled area and the surface oil distribution for each shoreline segment. The

Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator should complete this matrix when statistics

and maps with summary oiling descriptors are needed. However, these terms should

NOT be used by the Shoreline Assessment Teams during their field surveys. Terms

such as heavy, moderate, light, and very light are only for final summaries and maps.

>3 m 1 - 3 m 0.5 - 1 m

Use a summary oil descriptor to report the surface oil conditions along the shoreline on maps and tabular summaries. These descriptors are:

■ Heavy

■ Moderate

■ Light

■ Very Light

We have assigned these summary oiling descriptors based on the Oil Category

Width and the Surface Oil Distribution, as defined in the Shoreline Oil Terminology/

Codes (Fig. 5). The Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator should obtain consensus on which combinations of oil width and distributionare used field by the
45

Remember that SCAT forms are not always needed and usually are not included in

the reports generated for Planning and Operations. They are useful as a trigger for

reminding the Assessment Team members of the types of observations they need to

make during their surveys, as well as for detailed documentation of the shoreline

oiling conditions. Operations is mostly interested in the final products of the

survey: a description of the shoreline type and oiling conditions, the recommendation for cleanup, the cleanup method to be applied, and any site-specific guidance

on how to proceed. These are the priority results that must be transmitted to

Operations.

The Shoreline Terminology/Codes sheet in Figure 5 lists the common terms and

abbreviations for describing the oil, sediments, and other features on the forms and

sketch maps. The team walks the segment to collect field data while a team member

records observations on the oiling conditions. It is very important to accurately

measure or estimate the dimensions of each type of oil.

Areas containing surface oil are shown on a field sketch of the shoreline segment

and described on the survey form. The oil locations, which can be designated by

letters, are described systematically on the sketch. To investigate buried oil, trenches

must be dug and measurements recorded of the degree and depths of subsurface oil.

Number each trench and show each location on the sketch, using solid or open

triangle symbols to distinguish oiled from clean trenches.

Sketches are a very important component of the field survey data. Figure 11 shows

a sample field sketch that accompanies the field form completed in Figures 7-9.

Sketches are better than photographs at characterizing overall conditions. Sketches

help reviewers put the tabular data on oiled area and type into perspective, which

assists decision-making. They documemt conditions better than photographs,

videotapes, or statistics, and they allow better temporal comparisons. The sketches

are particularly useful for spills when Shoreline Assessment Teams change over time.

They can be used during post-cleanup inspections of segments to identify the

locations of oil that were to be removed, and become the blueprint against which the

Field sketches are

important

Shoreline

Terminology/Codes

Shoreline Assessment Team to define heavy, moderate, light, and very light oiling.

These descriptors are used only in summaries and not in the field by the Shoreline

Assessment Team.

47

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ffjrffjfgifjvgffffffffd

jfnvfffhhffbbvkghd

Trjjrgjjhlrllrrdfcbx

jrrrghfgnfgnfgnkbv

,kgffgnfrnfgfffvvbbv

fgkjrglfnlfnkfcvn

fkgfknfnnflfdgb

fglkfkf

Lmbffkfbkfbbbbvb

fjnfnfnkjsdggsbbnb

ffnbnfbnnkdsn

fbnkfbkfbnvbvbbvvb

fDkkfdbnbknff

dfgiofgriirgnbcvbvbvb

fvFnkfnfkbn

Sfdggtjhfgknfkf

fmfffkfgkfkkfnkk

dlrep[rg[prn,f

fdgnfnfgnfkfk

ffkkfknfbkn

fbmlfb

Fllflfmfmfmlfhfd

fkfbkbkbkfbk

fkkgfkgfkfrhfhhhh

fdlmfmfmbhDhdg

fdfkknfbknkgk

fbkkbknnkf

f0jefddvnlnfnf

dvklkfvkkfvkh

Maps Statistics

SITUATION

UNIT

Sfdg

Glkfr

Nofd

Cfjdn

Olkf

KLf

NBldf

Ospfk

Rvn

Hdsffdds

47

83

933

50

12

263

95

9

Bdgfd

954836

727

95857

90384

96

95743

396

1058

Njdddg

873

9

295

067

875

96

3

309

Tabular

Summary

SCAT Field Forms

Incident

Action

Plan

UNIFIED

COMMAND

OPERATIONS

SECTION

Cfjdn

gfsg

nnng

hjnf

flbbfn

dfZSfjbgdnFmbmkbmFkbKfkfb

bJbfbnFbnFnbbkmkxfkfbb

gvfbb fg;lfblF;

l.fd;lfb fdffkk

Cfjdn

gfsg

nnng

hjnf

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bJbfbnFbnFnbbkmkxfkfbb

gvfbb fg;lfblF;

l.fd;lfb fdffkk

Work

Orders

Figure 12.

Shoreline assessment

information flow.

Information flow and

formats

effectiveness of the cleanup can be compared. Appendix E is a primer on drawing

field sketches.

The objective of the shoreline surveys should always be remembered: to collect the

information needed by decision-makers to formulate and approve shoreline cleanup

plans. From these surveys, an Operations Section manager or supervisor should be

able to use the data to develop a detailed cleanup plan, including equipment and

manpower needs. Government agencies should be able to use this data, along with

natural resources information, to develop cleanup priorities, identify site-specific or

temporal constraints, and understand and approve the proposed cleanup plan.

The shoreline assessment results must be concisely and promptly reported to the

Planning Section so that they can be incorporated into the IAP in a timely manner

and distributed to other users (Figure 12).

■ The Shoreline Assessment Team reviews the observations and cleanup

recommendations for each segment for accuracy and completeness. Each

team member signs each form.
48

■ The Shoreline Assessment Team Leader compiles all the survey forms for

the day and submits them to the Team Coordinator. The Team Leader

verbally debriefs the Team Coordinator on the results, issues, etc.

■ The Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator compiles the survey results

into summaries by cleanup Division, in a format suitable for incorporating

information for the IAP.

The Team Coordinator also verbally debriefs the Planning and Operations

Section Chiefs on issues identified by the field teams. At this time, Operations

can identify issues for the Shoreline Assessment Team to address. The original

field forms must be summarized, and often two types of data summaries are

needed: a tabular summary by segment or Division for the IAP; and graphic and

tabular summaries for display by the Situation Unit. The Unified Command can

specify the format of the tabular summary. Figures 13-14 show examples of

reporting summaries used in the past. The types of data that should be included in any format are:

Date: For some spills, changing conditions will require repeat surveys, so the

date of the survey is very important.

Segment Number(s), Name, Division Number: Use the appropriate terms to

refer to the shoreline segment. Group segments by Division.

Summary of oiling conditions: The oiling condition can rapidly change. You

need to describe the oiling condition when the cleanup recommendation was

made. The cleanup supervisor can determine whether the cleanup recommendation is no longer applicable and request a new assessment.

Cleanup recommendations: Use standard terms, as listed in the cleanup

descriptions in Appendix B.

Site-specific constraints: Clearly identify these as to location and refer to

unambiguous conditions in the field (e.g., do not allow cleanup crews to enter

marshes).

You can graphically represent shoreline assessment data on maps and as statistical

summaries. Use maps to show the distribution of oiled shoreline and the degrees

of oiling. Figure 15 shows a shoreline oiling map prepared for the 1996 Julie N spill

SCAT forms always

contain this

information
49

Figure 13.

Example of shoreline

assessment report

from the 1996 Buffalo

292 spill, Galveston,

Texas.

Operational Period: 3-21-96/2100 to 3-22-96/2100

Shoreline segments visited: (See attached maps for segment locations)

Fort Point (FP)

Big Reef Park (BR1, BR2, BR3, BR4)

South Jetty (BR5)

NE Pelican Island (PI)

Pelican Island, Sea Wolf Park (SP1, SP2, SP3)

Goat Island (GI1, GI2)

North Ferry Landing (NFL1, NFL2)

Shoreline segments requiring no cleanup action at this time (barring future impact).

Many of the segments visited by SCAT on 3-20-96 require no cleanup action at this time. 

SP1 - Oily film and trace tarballs in swash zone. RECOMMENDATION: No cleanup

recommended.

SP2 - Trace to sporadic tarballs in swash zone. RECOMMENDATION: No cleanup

recommended.

SP3 - No oil present.

FP - One spot of rip-rap near Big Reef impacted. 10 yds long, broken <5% coverage 200 yards

due west from interchapter of Seawall Blvd. and shoreline. RECOMMENDATION: No

cleanup recommended, but watch for oiling on front and back of rip-rap with tidal change

over next 2 days.

Shoreline segments requiring cleanup action. See attached reports for more detail. 

BR1 - Reimpacted, sporadic mousse and tarballs with 10-15% coverage, no subsurface impact. 

No cleanup activity present. RECOMMENDATION: Revisit by cleanup crew doing

manual recovery, revisit daily.

BR2 - Reimpacted, continuous to sporadic with 10% coverage of film, mousse, and tarballs, no

subsurface impact. No cleanup activity present. RECOMMENDATION: Revisit by

cleanup crew doing manual recovery, revisit daily.

BR3 - Continuous to patchy oiling with 20% coverage more evenly dispersed as compared to

yesterday, no subsurface impact. Small cleanup crew (approx. 15 people) present. 

RECOMMENDATION: Continue cleanup.

BR4 - 10-15% coverage, continuous to sporadic, no subsurface impact. Cleanup activity in

progress. RECOMMENDATION: Continue cleanup operations.

BR5 - Oil still leaching from South Jetty, snare being deployed and tended. 

RECOMMENDATION: Maintain snare on both south and north side of South Jetty with

frequent tending to ensure effective capture of oil leaching from riprap.

EB - No oil, but some type of film is present on surface, (maybe organic), some snare is starting

to float up on East Beach near the jetty. RECOMMENDATION: Visit by cleanup crew for

manual recovery of snare and other oily debris washing up.

P1 - Trace to sporadic tarballs stranded in water and upper intertidal zone, film cover in wide to

medium width with 100 yds of patchy tarballs trapped within, no subsurface impact. 

RECOMMENDATION: Manual removal with snare placed in swash zone.

SCAT was performed at low to mid tide. High tide may relocate observed oil.

202 ICS 3/80 Prepared by: Approved by (Incident Commander):

in Portland, Maine. Standardize definitions for the shoreline oiling categories

(modify your definitions from Fig. 10). Use computer mapping software to tabulate

the number of kilometers (or miles) of shoreline by oiling degree and cleanup status.

These are important measures for reporting the progress of the cleanup.

While it is clear that Shoreline Assessment Teams should not direct cleanup contractors in the field, the team can meet with the Operations Division Supervisor when

conducting surveys in his/her division. The team can invite the Operations Division

Supervisor to:
50

■ accompany them on their survey (which is unlikely for most spills because of

time demands on the Division Supervisor);

■ accompany them on a quick walk-through after the survey is completed,

going over the team’s recommendations; or

■ meet after the survey to go over their recommendations.

Direct communication with the Shoreline Assessment Team gives the Division

Supervisor immediate feedback and a better understanding of the agency concerns,

the details of which are lost as the survey reports are filtered through the IAP and the

chain of command. However, this means that the Shoreline Assessment Team must

be very concise during their debriefing with the Division Supervisor and not burden

that individual with unnecessary technical detail.

Figure 14.

Example of shoreline

assessment report

from the 1996 Cape

Mohican spill, San

Francisco, California.

SCAT Cleanup Priorities and Methods Page 1

SEGMENT NAME: Ocean Beach

DIVISION: O

OIL TYPE: Tarballs

OIL EXTENT: 1 m wide by 4.7 miles long

OIL LOCATION: The high tide zone along the entire length of

Ocean Beach

CLEANUP TECHNIQUES:

Small crew needed with a lawn roller and

sorbent pads. The roller wrapped in pads

picks up the tarballs from the beach. Tarballs

mixed with vegetative debris in wrack line. 

The federally threatened snowy plovers

(birds) have been oiled. A National Park

Service representative should be on-scene

during cleanup. Recommend 1 crew for

manual removal.

SEGMENT NAME: Muir Beach

DIVISION: S

OIL TYPE: Tarballs

OIL EXTENT: 1 m wide by 1,600 m long

OIL LOCATION: In the high tide swash of the sand beach

CLEANUP TECHNIQUES:

Manual removal of tarballs. Rakes, shovels,

and plastic bags required. Need 6 men.

SEGMENT NAME: China Beach

DIVISION: H-2

OIL TYPE: Tarballs

OIL EXTENT: Entire length of beach

OIL LOCATION:

CLEANUP TECHNIQUES:

Trace tarballs scattered on beach. No

further cleanup required. Ready to be

examined for sign-off.
51

43°39'30"N

 70°14'0"W 70°15'0"W 70°16'0"W 70°17'0"W 70°18'0"W 43°38'0"N

43°39'0"N

43°40'0"N

Portland

South

Portland

43°38'30"N

295

77

Tanker JULIE N 

Shoreline Oiling Map

prepared by NOAA

Incident

USE ONLY AS A GENERAL REFERENCE Graphic does not represent precise amounts or locations of oil

Date/Time: 04 OCT 96, 1000

CJH

Gulf Oil

Terminal

Portland

Pipeline

Pier 1

Portland

Pipeline

Pier 2

Bath Iron

Works

Pier 2 &

Drydock

Bath Iron

Works

Ship

Repair

Facility

Maine

State

Pier

Portland

Fish Pier

& Fish

Exchange

Star

Enterprise

Terminal Northeast Petroleum

Terminal

Merrills

Marine

Terminal

Mobil Oil

Terminal

Rolling

Mills

Terminal

International

Terminal

3A

2B

Congress Ave. Bridge

Long Creek

2E

2D

2A

2C

2xx

2xx

3B

Zone 2

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 1

(vessel)

3C

Zone 4

Zone 5

1

2F

Heavy — Continuous black oil on entire intertidal zone (ITZ)

Medium — Discontinuous black oil on part of ITZ

Light — Stain, dark patches on part of ITZ

Shoreline Zone boundaries

Zone 1

Zone 2 2.75 0.90 3.6 7.25

Zone 3 3.6 0 0.6 4.20

Zone 4 0.4 0.2 1.6 2.20

Zone 5 000

Totals: 6.75 1.1 5.8 13.65 mi.

Heavy Medium Light TOTAL

(vessel) Marsh Oiling

Heavy 3 mi.

Medium 1 mi.

Light 4 mi.

Figure 12. Example shoreline oiling summary map, from the 1996 Julie N spill in Portland, Maine.

41

Figure 15. Example of shoreline oiling summary map, from the 1996 Julie N spill in Portland, Maine.
52
53

7 Planning for Shoreline Assessments

You are encouraged to plan ahead for shoreline assessments through the

Area Committee. The Area Contingency Plan can identify the personnel,

process, and logistics to be used for shoreline assessments before a spill

occurs. It can also pre-approve the use of cleanup methods for special

problem areas. This kind of pre-planning should include:

■ Identifying Shoreline Assessment Team Coordinator (NOAA SSC or

state counterpart); and

■ Identifying a pool of state and Federal personnel who can represent

their agencies’ concerns and be available to do shoreline assessments for the duration of a spill. These personnel must be trained in

shoreline processes, terminology, and cleanup methods.

■ Adopt a Shoreline Survey Evaluation Form.

■ Develop a strategy for segmenting shorelines in your area on maps or

charts.

■ Pre-approve the use of cleanup methods for each shoreline type.

Form workgroups to identify special cleanup concerns (e.g., cutting of

oiled seaweeds, use of shoreline cleaning agents, recovery of submerged oil), research the cleanup options, and make recommendations on their use for inclusion in the Area Plan.

■ Develop general guidelines for cleanup endpoints.

■ Decide how to transition Shoreline Assessment Teams into Sign-off

Teams;

■ Identify and acquire shoreline assessment equipment.

■ Identify the need for air boats, boats, or special vehicles, particularly

in remote areas.

■ Identify the types of communications needed by field teams (e.g.,

radios, cellular phones).

Process

Logistics

Define the Roles

 in the Area Plan
54
55

Many times we are called to respond to the threat of an oil spill, such as when a

grounding occurs close to shore or when an offshore slick threatens a coastline.

In such cases, we often have time to develop useful spill-specific contingency

plans.

An important part of planning for potential shoreline impacts is shoreline assessment. Pre-impact assessments focus primarily on identifying priority resources at risk and recommending the necessary preparedness actions in order

to protect those resources in the event of an oil release. The use of a Shoreline

Assessment Team, as identified for normal shoreline cleanup assessment, is an

appropriate way to accomplish pre-impact shoreline assessment.

■ Collecting data on shoreline types, and ecological and human-use resources

along the entire coastline at risk.

■ Identifying access and staging locations;

■ Identifying any natural or preferred collection points;

■ Identifying any areas that should be pre-cleaned of wrack or other debris; and

■ Evaluating and recommending protection options, requirements, and

priorities.

It is the responsibility of the Unified Command to scale the risk associated with

potential spill scenarios and make a judgment call as to the level of pre-assessment

effort that is warranted.

8 Pre-Impact Assessments

Pre-impact Activities
56
57

Environment Canada. 1992. Oilspill SCAT manual for the coastlines of British

Columbia. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Technology Development Branch, Conservation and Protection, Environment Canada. 245 p.

Martin, R.D., I. Byron, & R. Pavia. 1997. Evolution of shoreline cleanup assessment

team activities during the Buffalo 292 oil spill. In Proceedings of the International Oil

Spill Conference, April 7-10, 1997, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, p. 33-39. API Publ. 4651.

Wash. DC: American Petroleum Institute.

NOAA & American Petroleum Institute. 1994. Options for minimizing environmental

impacts of freshwater spill response. Seattle: Hazardous Materials Response and

Assessment Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 130 p. +

appendices.

NOAA & American Petroleum Institute. In press. Environmental considerations for

oil spill response. Seattle: Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Owens, E., & A. Teal. 1990. Shoreline cleanup following the Exxon Valdez oil spill:

Field data collection within the S.C.A.T. program. In Proceedings of the 13th Arctic

and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar, June 6-8, 1990, Edmonton, Alberta,

Canada, p. 411-421. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Emergency Sciences Div., Environment Canada.

USCG (U.S. Coast Guard). 1996. Field operations guide: Incident Command System

(ICS). ICS-OS-420-1. Wash. DC: Office of Response, U.S. Coast Guard.

9 References
58
59

Appendix A: Shoreline Assessment Equipment Checklist

Survey Gear

❒ Maps or charts of the survey area

❒ Clipboards and rubber bands

❒ Pencils, erasers, waterproof markers

❒ Field forms (code sheets, shoreline form, sketch sheets, photo logs)

❒ Field estimation charts (sand size, gravel size, percent cover)

❒ Field notebooks (waterproof)

❒ Segment map sheets

❒ Base sketch maps, if available

❒ Shovels

❒ Camera (35 mm) and color print film (ASA 64 and 100); extra

batteries

❒ Videocamera and video tapes, if required; extra batteries

❒ Photo scale (15 cm)

❒ Tape measure (30 m) and ruler

❒ Range finder

❒ Hand-held GPS

❒ Compass, preferably Brunton

❒ Field pack

❒ Communication device (e.g., radio or cellular phone)

❒ First-aid kit

Personal Gear

❒ Good rain gear

❒ Knee-high, rubber boots or hip waders

❒ Work gloves

❒ “Tar-off” towelettes or similar hand cleaner

❒ Hat

❒ Sunscreen

❒ Drinking water

❒ Personal Flotation Device (PFD) if traveling by water/helicopter

❒ Personal day pack
60
61

Introduction

Appendix B: Brief Descriptions of Shoreline Cleanup Methods

Shoreline Cleanup Methods

This section describes methods currently in use during cleanup of oil

spills in marine environments and habitats. For each method the

following is provided: a summary of the objective in using the method,

a general description of the method, applicable habitat types, conditions under which the methods should be used (constraints commonly applied to the use of the method to protect sensitive biological

resources), and the environmental effects expected from the proper

use of the method. Some of the methods listed require special authorization for use during a spill; appropriate agencies must be contacted

about the need for special approvals.

A problem which occurs after all major oil spills is that there is a large

quantity of oily wastes and debris that is generated and must be dealt

with as part of the response action. A cleanup strategy that minimizes

the impact to all sensitive aspects of the environment and minimizes

the amount of oily wastes is the most optimal. History has shown that

oily wastes or debris that have been buried inappropriately can result

in formation of leachates that contaminate surface and groundwater

resources. Each cleanup option should be examined with the problem

of waste generation and disposal in mind.

Additional information and guidance for the application of shoreline

cleanup methods appropiate for each shoreline type can be found in

the “Marine Manual” and the “Freshwater Manual” jointly published

by NOAA, the American Petroleum Institute, and others. In these

manuals different cleanup methods are classsified by shoreline and oil

types according to their potential for causing habitat impact. The

matrixes in these manuals are a good starting point for identifying

appropriate cleanup methods for specific spill conditions.
62

Natural

Recovery

Objective

Description

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Applicable

Habitat Types

Waste Generation

No attempt is made to remove any stranded oil, when there is no effective method

for cleanup or to minimize impact to the environment. Oil is left to degrade naturally.

No action is taken, although monitoring of contaminated areas is required.

All habitat types.

When natural removal rates are fast (e.g., gasoline evaporation or high energy

coastlines), when the degree of oiling is light, access is severely restricted or dangerous to cleanup crews, or when cleanup actions will do more harm than natural

removal.

This method may be inappropriate for areas used by high numbers of mobile animals (birds, marine mammals) or endangered species.

Same as from the oil alone.

None.
63

Barriers/

Berms

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

To prevent entry of oil into a sensitive area or to divert oil to a collection area.

A physical barrier other than a boom is placed across an area to prevent oil from

passing. Barriers can consist of earthen berms or filter fences. When it is necessary

for water to pass because of water volume, underflow or overflow dams are used.

At the mouths of creeks or streams to prevent oil from entering from offshore, or to

prevent oil from being released from the creek into offshore waters. Also, on beaches

where a high berm can be built above the high-tide line to prevent oil from overwashing the beach and entering a sensitive back-beach habitat (e.g. lagoon).

When the oil threatens sensitive habitats, and other barriers are not feasible. To

protect sensitive areas when cleaning adjacent shorelines.

Responders must minimize disturbance to sensitive areas, such as shorebird nesting

sites on beaches. Placement of dams and filter fences could cause excessive physical

disruptions to the site, particularly in wetlands.

May disrupt or contaminate sediments and adjacent vegetation. The natural beach

or shore profile should be restored (may take weeks to months on gravel beaches).

Sediment barriers will become contaminated on the oil side and filter fence materials will have to be disposed of as oily wastes.
64

Physical Herding

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

To free any oil trapped in debris or vegetation on-water; to direct the movement of

floating oil towards containment and recovery devices; or to divert oil away from

sensitive areas.

Plunging water jets, water or air hoses, and propeller wash can be used to dislodge

trapped oil and divert or herd it to containment and recovery areas. May emulsify the

oil. Mostly conducted from small boats.

In nearshore areas where there are little or no currents, and in and around manmade structures such as wharves and piers. In streams where oil is trapped by debris.

In low-current or stagnant water bodies, to herd oil towards recovery devices. In high

current situations to divert floating oil away from sensitive areas, or dislodge oil from

debris.

When used near shore and in shallow water, must be careful to not disrupt bottom

sediments or submerged aquatic vegetation.

May generate high levels of suspended sediments and mix them with the oil, resulting in deposition of contaminated sediments in benthic habitats.

None.
65

Manual Oil

Removal/Cleaning

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

To remove oil with hand tools and manual labor.

Removal of surface oil with hands, rakes, shovels, buckets, scrappers, sorbents,

pitchforks, etc., and placing in containers. No mechanized equipment is used.

Includes underwater recovery of submerged oil by divers with hand tools, for

example.

Can be used on all habitat types.

Light to moderate oiling conditions for stranded oil or heavy oils that have formed

semi-solid to solid masses that can be picked up manually. Also can be used in

areas where roosting or birthing animals cannot or should not be disturbed.

Foot traffic over sensitive areas (wetlands, tidal pools, etc.) should be restricted or

prevented. There may be periods when shoreline access should be avoided, such

as during bird nesting.

Minimal, if surface disturbance by crew movement and waste generation is

controlled.

May generate significant quantities of oil mixed with sediment which must be

properly disposed of or treated. Decontamination of hand tools may produce oily

wastewater that must be treated properly. Worker personal protective gear is

usually disposed of daily or decontaminated and the resulting oily wastewater

treated properly.
66

Mechanical Oil

Removal

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

To remove oil from shorelines and bottom sediments with mechanical equipment.

Oil and oiled sediments are collected and removed using mechanical equipment

such as backhoes, graders, bulldozers, dredges, draglines, etc. Requires systems for

temporary storage, transportation, and final treatment and disposal.

On land, wherever surface sediments are both amenable to and accessible to heavy

equipment. For submerged oil, used in sheltered areas where oil accumulates. On

water, used on viscous to solid oil.

When large amounts of oiled materials must be removed. Care should be taken to

remove sediments only to the depth of oil penetration, which can be difficult when

using heavy equipment. Should be used carefully where excessive sediment removal

may cause erosion.

Heavy equipment may be restricted in sensitive habitats (e.g., wetlands, soft substrate) or areas containing endangered species. Will need special permission to use

in areas with known cultural resources. Dredging in seagrass beds or coral reef

habitats may be prohibited. The noise generated by the mechanical equipment may

also be a constraint.

The equipment is heavy, with many support personnel required. May be detrimental

if excessive sediments are removed without replacement. All organisms in the

sediments will be affected, although the need to remove the oil may make this

response method the best overall alternative. Resuspension of exposed oil and finegrained oily sediments can affect adjacent bodies of water.

Can generate significant quantities of contaminated sediment that must be cleaned

or landfilled. The amount of waste generated by this cleanup option should be given

careful consideration by response planners when reviewing potential environmental

impacts of the oily wastes, debris, and residues.
67

Sorbents

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Objective

Waste Generation

To remove surface oil by absorption onto oleophilic (oil-attracting) material placed

in water or at the waterline.

Sorbent material is placed on the floating oil or water surface to allow it to sorb oil, or

alternatively, the material can be used to wipe or dab stranded oil. Forms include

sausage boom, pads, rolls, sweeps, snares, and loose granules or particles. These

products can be either synthetic or natural substances. Efficacy depends on the

capacity of the particular sorbent, energy available for lifting oil off the substrate, and

stickiness of the oil. Recovery of all sorbent material is mandatory. Loose particulate

sorbents must be contained in a mesh or other material.

Can be used on any habitat or environment type.

When oil is free-floating close to shore or stranded on shore. The oil must be able to

be released from the substrate and absorbed by the sorbent. Often used as a secondary treatment method after gross oil removal and in sensitive areas where access is

restricted. Selection of sorbent varies by oil type; heavy oils only coat surfaces,

requiring a high surface area to be effective, whereas lighter oils can penetrate

sorbent material.

Access for deploying and retrieving sorbents should not be through soft or sensitive

habitats or affect wildlife. Sorbent use should be monitored to prevent overuse and

generation of large volumes of waste. Sorbents should not be used in a fashion that

would endager or trap wildlife. Sorbents left in place too long can break apart and

present an ingestion hazard to wildlife.

Physical disturbance of habitat during deployment and retrieval. Improperly deployed or tended sorbent material can crush or smother sensitive substrates.

Sorbents must eventually be collected for proper disposal so care should be taken to

select and use sorbents properly, and prevent generation of large amounts of lightlyoiled sorbents. Recycling should be emphasized rather than disposal.
68

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

Vacuum

To remove oil pooled on a shoreline substrate or subtidal sediments.

A vacuum unit is attached via a flexible hose to a suction head that recovers free oil.

The equipment can range from small, portable units that fill individual 55-gallon

drums to large supersuckers that are truck- or vessel-mounted and can generate

enough suction to lift large rocks. Removal rates from substrates can be extremely

slow.

Any accessible habitat type. May be mounted on barges for water-based operations,

on trucks driven to the recovery area, or hand-carried to remote sites.

When oil is stranded on the substrate, concentrated in trenches or trapped in vegetation. Usually requires shoreline access points.

Special restrictions should be established for areas where foot traffic and equipment

operation may be damaging, such as soft substrates. Operations in wetlands need to

be very closely monitored, with a site-specific list of restrictions developed to prevent

damage to vegetation.

Minimal, if foot and vehicular traffic is controlled and minimal substrate is damaged

or removed.

Collected oil and or oil/water mix will need to be stored temporarily prior to recycling

or disposal. Oil may be recyclable; if not, it will require proper disposal. Large

amounts of water are often recovered, requiring separation and treatment.
69

Debris Removal

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Waste Generation

To remove contaminated debris from the shoreline or water surface.

Manual or mechanical removal of debris from the shore or water surface. Can include

cutting and removal of oiled logs.

Can be used on any habitat or environment type where access is safe.

When driftwood and debris are heavily contaminated and provide a potential source

of chronic oil release. When it may create aesthetic problems, be a source of contamination for other resources in the area, cause clogging problems in the skimmer,

or create safety problems for responders. Used in areas of debris accumulation on

beaches prior to oiling to minimize the amount of oiled debris to be handled.

Foot traffic over sensitive areas (wetlands, spawning grounds) needs to be restricted.

May be periods when access should be restricted (spawning periods, influx of large

numbers of migratory waterbirds).

Physical disruption of substrate, especially when mechanized equipment must be

deployed to recover a large quantity of debris.

Will generate contaminated debris (volume depends on what, and how much, is

collected, e.g., logs, brush). Unless there is an approved hazardous waste incinerator

that will take oily debris, burning will seldom be allowed, especially on-site burning.

However, this option should still be explored, especially for remote locations, with

the appropriate state or federal agencies who must give approvals for burning.
70

Sediment

Reworking/Tilling

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

To enhance the rate of degradation, by breaking up oily sediments and

surface oil deposits, increasing the surface area, and mixing deep subsurface

oil layers to the surface.

The oiled sediments are roto-tilled, disked, or otherwise mixed using mechanical equipment or manual tools. Along beaches, oiled sediments may

also be pushed to the water’s edge (surf washing) to enhance natural cleanup

by wave activity. The process may be aided with high-volume flushing of

gravel.

On any sedimentary substrate that can support mechanical equipment or

foot traffic.

On sand to gravel beaches with subsurface oil, where sediment removal is

not feasible (due to erosion or disposal problems). On sand beaches where

the sediment is stained or lightly oiled. Appropriate where oil is stranded

above normal high waterline.

Avoid use on shores near sensitive wildlife habitat, such as fishspawning areas or bird-nesting or concentration areas because of the potential for release of oil and oiled sediments into adjacent bodies of water.

Should not be used in shellfish beds.

Due to the mixing of oil into sediments, this method could further expose

organisms that live below the original layer of oil. Repeated mixing over time

could delay reestablishing organisms. Refloated oil from treated sites could

contaminate adjacent areas.

None.

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
71

Vegetation

Cutting/Removal

To remove portions of oiled vegetation or oil trapped in vegetation to

prevent oiling of wildlife or secondary oil releases.

Oiled vegetation is cut with weed wackers, blades, etc., and picked or raked

up and bagged for disposal.

Habitats composed of vegetation such as wetlands, seagrass beds, and kelp

beds.

When the risk of oiled vegetation contaminating wildlife is greater than the

value of the vegetation that is to be cut, and there is no less-destructive

method that removes or reduces the risk to acceptable levels.

Operations must be strictly monitored to minimize the degree of root

destruction and mixing of oil deeper into the sediments. Access in birdnesting areas should be restricted during nesting seasons. Cutting only the

oiled portions of the plants and leaving roots and as much of the stem as

possible minimizes impact to plants.

Vegetation removal will destroy habitat for many animals. Cut areas will

have reduced plant growth, and in some instances, plants may be killed.

Cutting at the base of the plant stem may allow oil to penetrate into the

substrate, causing subsurface contamination. Along exposed sections of

shoreline, the vegetation may not recover, resulting in erosion and habitat

loss. Trampled areas will recover much more slowly.

Cut portions of oiled plants must be collected and disposed.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
72

Flooding

To wash oil stranded on the land surface to the water’s edge for collection.

A perforated header pipe or hose is placed above the oiled shore or bank.

Ambient-temperature water is pumped through the header pipe at low

pressures and flows downslope to the water. On porous sediments, water

flows through the substrate, pushing loose oil ahead of it, or floating oil to

the water’s surface and transporting the oil down the slope for pickup. On

saturated, fine-grained sediments, the technique becomes more of a flushing

of the surface.

All shoreline types where the equipment can be effectively deployed. Not

effective in steep intertidal areas.

In heavily oiled areas when the oil is still fluid and adheres loosely to the

substrate, and where oil has penetrated into gravel sediments. This method

is frequently used with other washing techniques (low- or high-pressure,

cold-to-hot-water flushing).

Special care should be taken to recover oil where nearshore habitats contain

rich biological communities. Not appropriate for muddy substrates.

Habitat may be physically disturbed by foot traffic during operations and

smothered by sediments washed down the slope. Oiled sediment may be

transported to shallow nearshore areas, contaminating them and burying

benthic organisms.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
73

Low-Pressure,

AmbientWater Flushing

To remove fluid oil that has adhered to the substrate or man-made structures,

pooled on the surface, or become trapped in vegetation.

Ambient-temperature water is sprayed at low pressures (<10 psi), usually from

hand-held hoses, to lift oil from the substrate and direct it to the water’s edge

for recovery by skimmers, vacuum, or sorbents. Can be used with a flooding

system to prevent released oil from re-adhering to the substrate downstream of the treatment area.

On substrates, riprap, and solid man-made structures, where the oil is still

fluid. In wetlands and along vegetated banks where oil is trapped in vegetation.

Where fluid oil is stranded onshore or floating on shallow intertidal areas.

May need to restrict use so that the oil/water effluent does not drain across

sensitive intertidal habitats and mobilized sediments do not affect rich

subtidal communities. Use from boats will reduce the need for foot traffic in

soft substrates and vegetation. Flushed oil must be recovered to prevent

further oiling of adjacent areas.

If containment methods are not sufficient, oil and oiled sediments may be

flushed into offshore areas. Some trampling of substrate and attached biota

will occur.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

Biological Constraints

When to Use

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
74

High-Pressure,

AmbientWater Flushing

Objective To remove oil that has adhered to hard substrates of man-made structures.

Similar to low-pressure flushing except that water pressure is 100-1,000 psi.

High-pressure spray will more effectively remove sticky or viscous oils. If

low-water volumes are used, sorbents are placed directly below the treatment area to recover oil.

On bedrock, man-made structures, and gravel substrates.

When low-pressure flushing is not effective at removing adhered oil that

must be removed to prevent continued oil release or for aesthetic reasons.

When a directed water jet can remove oil from hard-to-reach sites.

May have to restrict flushing so that the oil does not drain across sensitive

habitats. Flushed oil must be recovered to prevent further oiling of adjacent

areas.

Attached animals and plants in the direct spray zone will be removed. May

drive oil deeper into the substrate or erode shorelines of fine sediments if

water jet is improperly applied. If containment methods are not sufficient,

oil and oiled sediments may be flushed into offshore areas. Some trampling

of substrate and attached biota will occur.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method.

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
75

Low-Pressure,

Hot-Water

Flushing

Objective To remove non-fluid oil that has adhered to the substrate or man-made structures,

or pooled on the surface.

Hot water (90°F up to 170°F) is sprayed with hoses at low pressures (<10 psi) to

liquefy and lift oil from the substrate and direct it to the water’s edge for recovery by

skimmers, vacuums, or sorbents. Used with flooding to prevent released oil from readhering to the substrate.

On bedrock, sand to gravel substrates, and man-made structures.

Where heavy, but relatively fresh oil is stranded onshore. The oil must be heated

above its pour point, so it will flow. Less effective on sticky oils.

Avoid wetlands or rich intertidal communities so that hot oil/water effluent does not

contact sensitive habitats. Operations from boats will help reduce foot traffic in soft

substrates and vegetation. Flushed oil must be recovered to prevent further oiling of

adjacent areas.

Hot-water contact can kill all attached animals and plants. If containment methods

are not sufficient, oil may be flushed into downstream areas. Some trampling of

substrate and biota will occur.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method.

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
76

High-Pressure,

Hot-Water

Flushing

To mobilize weathered and viscous oil strongly adhered to surfaces.

Hot water (90°F [32°C] up to 171°F [77°C]) is sprayed with hand-held wands at

pressures greater than 100 psi (720 kpa). If used without water flooding, this

procedure requires immediate use of vacuum or sorbents to recover the oil/

water runoff. When used with a flooding system, the oil is flushed to the water

surface for collection by skimmers, vacuum, or sorbents.

Gravel substrates, bedrock, and man-made structures.

When oil has weathered to the point that warm water at low pressure no longer

effectively removes oil. To remove viscous oil from man-made structures for

aesthetic reasons.

Use should be restricted so that the oil/water effluent does not drain across

sensitive habitats (damage can result from exposure to oil, oiled sediments,

and hot water). Should not be used directly on attached algae nor rich, intertidal areas. Released oil must be recovered to prevent further oiling of adjacent

areas.

All attached animals and plants in the direct spray zone will be removed or

killed, even when used properly. Oiled sediment may be transported to shallow

nearshore areas, contaminating them and burying benthic organisms.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
77

When to Use

Steam

Cleaning

To remove heavy residual oil from solid substrates or man-made structures.

Steam or very hot water (171°F [77°C] to 212°F [100°C]) is sprayed with

hand-held wands at high pressure (2000+ psi [14,400 kpa]). Water volumes

are very low compared to flushing methods.

Man-made structures such as seawalls and riprap.

When heavy oil residue must be removed for aesthetic reasons, and when

hot-water flushing is not effective and no living resources are present.

Not to be used in areas of soft substrates, vegetation, or high biological

abundance directly on, or below, the structure.

Complete destruction of all organisms in the spray zone. Difficult to recover

all released oil.

Depends on the effectiveness of the collection method. Usually sorbents are

used, generating significant waste volumes.

Environmental Effects

Biological Constraints

Applicable Habitat

Types

Description

Objective

Waste Generation
78

Sand Blasting

To remove heavy residual oil from solid substrates or man-made structures.

Use of sandblasting equipment to remove oil from the substrate. May include

recovery of used (oiled) sand in some cases.

On heavily oiled bedrock, artificial structures such as seawalls and riprap.

When heavy oil residue must be cleaned for aesthetic reasons, and even steamcleaning is not effective.

Not to be used in areas of soft substrate, vegetation, or high biological abundance

directly below, or adjacent to, the structures.

Complete destruction of all organisms in the blast zone. Possible smothering of

downstream organisms. Unrecovered, used sand will introduce oiled sediments into

the adjacent habitat.

Will need to recover and dispose of oiled sand used in blasting.

Biological

Constraints

Objective

Applicable

Habitat Types

When to Use

Environmental

Effects

Waste Generation

Description
79

Objective

Applicable

Habitat Types

When to Use

Environmental

Effects

Waste Generation

Dispersants

To reduce impact to sensitive shoreline habitats and animals that use the water

surface by chemically dispersing oil into the water column.

Dispersants reduce the oil/water interfacial tension, thereby decreasing the energy

needed for the slick to break into small particles and mix into the water column.

Specially-formulated products containing surface-active agents are sprayed (at

concentrations of 1-5 percent by volume of the oil) from aircraft or boats onto the

slicks. Products can be applied undiluted or mixed with water. Some agitation is

needed to achieve dispersion.

Water bodies with sufficient depth and volume for mixing and dilution.

When the impact of the floating oil has been determined to be greater than the

impact of dispersed oil on the water-column community.

Use in shallow water could affect benthic resources. Consideration should be

made to avoid directly spraying any wildlife, especially birds or fur-bearing marine

mammals.

Until sufficiently diluted, the dispersed oil may adversely impact organisms in the

upper 30 feet (10 meters) of the water column. Because dispersion will only be

partially effective, some water-surface and shoreline impacts could occur.

None.

Description

Biological

Constraints
80

Objective

Description

Applicable

Habitat Types

When to Use

Biological

Constraints

Environmental

Effects

Waste Generation

Emulsion-Treating

Agents

To break or destabilize emulsified oil into separate oil and water phases. Can be

used to prevent emulsion formation, increasing oil recovery rates, extending the

window for dispersant application, or making burning possible.

Emulsion-treating agents are surfactants that are applied to emulsified oil at low

concentrations (0.1-2 percent). They can be injected into skimmer reservoirs to break

the emulsion as it is skimmed from the water. They can be sprayed (similar to

dispersants) directly onto slicks to break or prevent emulsions, although this type of

application has not been used operationally.

On all water environments where emulsified oil is present.

Where storage capacities are very limited, to separate the recovered, emulsified oil

and water so that the water can be treated and discharged. On floating slicks, where

emulsified oil can reduce skimmer efficiency.

There is insufficient information to evaluate biological constraints.

Because this is a new method, there are few data available to evaluate environmental

effects. Effective dosages are one to two orders of magnitude lower than dispersants. Environmental concerns include the potential for increased oil content of

separated water; whether the oil will be more readily dispersed; and how the treated

oil will behave upon contact with skimming equipment, birds, mammals, and

shorelines.

May enable recycling of oil/water mixtures by breaking down emulsions.
81

Objective

Description

Applicable

Habitat Types

When to Use

Biological

Constraints

Environmental

Effects

Waste Generation

Elasticity

Modifiers

To impart visco-elastic properties to floating oil, thereby increasing skimming rates.

The product is applied as a liquid, slurry, or solid onto the oil. Some mixing is

required and is usually provided by the water spray during application. Treated oil is

rendered visco-elastic (gelatinous, or semi-solid), but still fluid; there is no chemical

change in the oil. The primary purpose is to increase skimmer efficiency removal

rates while minimizing water recovery amounts. Increases the efficiency of some

skimmers, but may clog other skimmers and pumps.

On all water environments where oil can be contained for skimming. Not for use

near wetlands nor debris because of increased adhesive properties of the treated oil.

When skimmer efficiency is low. Must be used with booming or other physical

containment. Not for use on heavy oils, which are already highly viscous.

Not suitable for vegetated shores or where there is extensive debris mixed in the oil.

Should be avoided when birds or other wildlife cannot be kept away from the treated

oil.

May increase the smothering effect of oil on organisms; therefore, the treatment

should be considered only where recovery of the treated oil is likely.

If skimming efficiency is increased, will reduce the volume of water in oil/water

collections. Effects on recycling of oil treated with elasticity modifiers is unknown.
82

Objective

Description

Applicable

Habitat Types

When to Use

Biological

Constraints

Environmental

Effects

Waste Generation

Herding Agents

To collect or herd oil into a smaller area and thicker slick in order to increase recovery. Can be used to herd oil away from sensitive areas or to help keep oil contained

when it is necessary to move a boom.

These agents, which are insoluble surfactants and have a high spreading pressure,

are applied in small quantities (1-2 gallons per lineal mile) to the clean water surrounding the edge of a fresh oil slick. They contain the oil, prevent spreading, but do

not hold the spill in place. Hand-held or vessel-mounted systems can be used. Must

be applied early in spill, when oil is still fluid.

On all still water environments.

Potential use for collection and protection. For collection, used to push slicks out

from under docks and piers where it has become trapped, or in harbors where the

equipment is readily accessible for use early in the spill. For protection in lowcurrent areas, use to push slicks away from sensitive resources such as wetlands.

Not effective in fast currents, rough seas, or rainfall.

Not suitable for use in very shallow water or fish-spawning areas.

Direct acute toxicity to surface-layer organisms possible, though available products

vary greatly in their aquatic toxicity.

Same as for manual oil recovery.
83

Solidifiers

To change the physical state of spilled oil from a liquid to a solid.

Chemical agents (polymers) are applied to oil at rates of 10-45 percent or

more, solidifying the oil in minutes to hours. Various broadcast systems,

such as leaf blowers, water cannons, or fire suppression systems, can be

modified to apply the product over large areas. Can be applied to both

floating and stranded oil. Can be placed in booms, pillows, sausages, etc.

and used like sorbents, although this type of solidifier application has not

been used operationally.

All water environments, bedrock, sediments, and artificial structures.

When immobilization of the oil is desired, to prevent refloating from a

shoreline, penetration into the substrate, or further spreading. However, the

oil may not fully solidify unless the product is well mixed with the oil, and

may result in a mix of solid and untreated oil. Generally not used on heavy

oil spills which are already viscous.

Must be able to recover all treated material.

Available products are insoluble and have very low aquatic toxicity. Unrecovered solidified oil may have longer impact because of slow weathering rates.

Physical disturbance of habitat is likely during application and recovery.

If skimming efficiency is increased, solidifiers may reduce the volume of

water collected during oil recovery. Effects on recycling oil treated with

solidifiers is unknown. Most solidifier producers state that treated oil can

pass leachate tests, allowing disposal in landfills.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
84

Shoreline Cleaning

Agents

(Surface Washing

Agents)

To increase the efficiency of oil removal from contaminated substrates.

Special formulations are applied to the substrate, as a presoak and/or flushing

solution, to soften or lift weathered or heavy oils from the substrate to enhance

flushing methods. The intent is to lower the water temperature and pressure

required to mobilize the oil from the substrate during flushing. Some agents will

disperse the oil as its washed off the beach, others will not.

On any habitat where water flooding and flushing procedures are applicable.

When the oil has weathered to the point where it cannot be removed using ambient

water temperatures and low pressures. This approach may be most applicable

where flushing effectiveness decreases as the oil weathers.

When the product does not disperse the oil into the water column, the released oil

must be recovered from the water surface. Use may be restricted where suspended

sediment concentrations are high, near wetlands, and near sensitive nearshore

resources.

The toxicity and effects on dispersability of treated oil vary widely among products.

Selection of a product should consider the toxicity of the product.

Because treated oil must be recovered, waste generation is a function of recovery

method, which often includes sorbents.

Objective

Description

Applicable Habitat

Types

When to Use

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
85

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Nutrient

Enrichment

(Biostimulation)

To accelerate the rate of oil hydrocarbon degradation due to natural microbial

processes using a form of bioremediation that adds nutrients (generally nitrogen and

phosphorus) that stimulate microbial growth.

If nutrients are a limiting factor (as measured using the interstitial pore water) in an

area where shoreline oiling has occurred, water-soluble nutrients can be applied by a

spray irrigation system. Nutrients should be applied daily if the impacted area gets

completely submerged by tides and waves and if maximum biostimulation is desired. If the impacted area gets submerged only during spring tides, the frequency of

nutrient addition will be determined by the intertidal zone water coverage. Using

slow-release granular or encapsulated nutrients or oleophilic fertilizer (which adheres to the oil residue on the surface) should require less frequent addition, but

time-series monitoring of interstitial pore water nutrient levels is needed to ensure

target levels are being maintained, especially throughout the depth of the impacted

intertidal zone.

Any shoreline habitat type where access is allowed and nutrients are deficient

On moderate- to heavily-oiled substrates, after other techniques have been used to

remove free product on lightly-oiled shorelines, where other techniques are destructive or ineffective; and where nutrients limit natural attenuation. Most effective on

light to medium crude oils and fuel oils (asphaltenes tend to inhibit rapid biodegradation). Less effective where oil residues are thick. Not considered for gasoline

spills, which evaporate rapidly.
86

Avoid using ammonia-based fertilizers at highly elevated concentrations because unionized ammonia is toxic to aquatic life. Nitrate is an equally good nitrogen source,

minus the toxicity. Sodium tripolyphosphate is a better phosphorus source than

orthophosphates because it is more soluble in seawater. If nutrients are applied

properly with adequate monitoring, eutrophication should not be a problem. Only

nutrient additives proven to be nontoxic and effective in either the laboratory or the

field should be used in the environment. Contact toxicity of oleophilic nutrients may

restrict their use as other chemicals in the product could be more toxic to aquatic

organisms in the presence of oil.

Detrimental effects to shoreline from foot or vehicle traffic caused by workers applying nutrients (unless nutrients are sprayed from a vessel or aircraft).

None.

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
87

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

To accelerate natural microbial degradation of oil by using a form of bioremediation

that adds high numbers of oil-degrading microorganisms.

Formulations containing specific hydrocarbon-degrading microbes are added to the

oiled area because indigenous hydrocarbon degraders are low in number, or, those

that are present cannot degrade the oil effectively. Since microbes require nitrogen

and phosphorus to convert hydrocarbons to biomass, formulations containing

these oil degraders must also contain adequate nutrients.

Research studies conducted with bioengineered organisms or organisms enriched

from different environments, grown in the laboratory to high numbers, and applied

to an oiled beach to stimulate rapid biodegradation, have failed to prove conclusively that seeding is effective.

Bioaugmentation appears less effective than biostimulation because: 1) hydrocarbon degraders are ubiquitous in nature and, when an oil spill occurs at a given site,

the influx of oil will cause an immediate increased response in the hydrocarbon

degrading populations; but, 2) if nutrients are in limited supply, the rate of oil

biodegradation will be less than optimal; thus, 3) supplying nutrients will enhance

the process initiated by the spill, but adding microorganisms will not, because they

still lack the necessary nitrogen and phosphorus to support growth.

There is insufficient information on impact or effectiveness of this method to make

a judgment on applicable habitat.

There is insufficient information on impact or effectiveness of this method to make

a judgment on when to use it.

Natural Microbe

Seeding

(Bioaugmentation)
88

Avoid using products containing ammonia-based fertilizers at elevated concentrations because un-ionized ammonia is toxic to aquatic life. Nitrate is an equally good

a nitrogen source, minus the toxicity. If the product containing nutrients is applied

properly with adequate monitoring, eutrophication should not be a problem; but,

toxicity tests should be evaluated carefully, as other chemicals in the product could

be toxic to aquatic organisms.

Detrimental physical effects to shoreline from foot or vehicle traffic caused by

workers applying bioaugmentation products (unless nutrients are sprayed from a

vessel or aircraft).

None.

Biological Constraints

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
89

Objective

Description

When to Use

Applicable Habitat

Types

Biological Constraints

To remove oil from the water surface or habitat by burning it in place.

Oil floating on the water surface is collected into slicks at least 2-3 mm thick and

ignited. The oil can be contained in fire-resistant booms, or by natural barriers

such as ice or the shore. On land, oil can be burned when it is on a combustible

substrate such as vegetation, logs, and other debris. Oil can be burned from

non-flammable substrates using a burn promoter. On sedimentary substrates, it

may be necessary to dig trenches for oil to accumulate in pools to a thickness

that will sustain burning. Heavy oils are hard to ignite but can sustain a burn.

Emulsified oils may not ignite nor sustain a burn when the water content is

greater than 30 to 50 percent.

On most habitats except dry muddy substrates where heat may impact the biological

productivity of the habitat. May increase oil penetration into permeable substrates.

Use in marshes should be undertaken using special precautions. Not suitable for

woody vegetation such as mangroves and hardwood swamps.

On land, where there is heavy oil in sites neither amenable nor accessible to physical

removal and it is important to remove the stranded oil quickly. In wetlands and mud

habitats, a water layer will minimize impacts to sediments and roots. Many potential

applications for spills in ice. There are many operational and public health limitations.

The possible effect of smoke on wildlife and populated areas should be evaluated.

In-situ Burning
90

Temperature and air quality effects are likely to be localized and short-lived. Toxicological impact from burn residues have not been evaluated. On-water, burn residues

are likely to sink. On land, removal of residues is often necessary for crude and heavy

oils. Limited data on burning oiled wetlands indicate recovery of wetland vegetation

will depend on season of burn, type of vegetation, and water level in the marsh at

time of burn.

Any residues remaining after burning will need to be collected and landfilled, but

with an efficient burn will be a small fraction of the original oil volume.

Environmental Effects

Waste Generation
91

Appendix C: Shoreline Descriptors, including Oil Behavior and

Response Considerations

EXPOSED ROCKY CLIFFS ESI = 1A

DESCRIPTION

• The intertidal zone is steep (greater than 30° slope), with very little width.

• Sediment accumulations are uncommon and usually ephemeral, because waves remove the

debris that has slumped from the eroding cliffs.

• There is strong vertical zonation of intertidal biological communities.

• Species density and diversity vary greatly, but barnacles, snails, mussels, seastars, limpets, sea

anemones, shore crabs, polychaetes, and macroalgae are often very abundant.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil is held offshore by wave reflecting off the steep cliffs.

• Any oil that is deposited is rapidly removed from exposed faces.

• The most resistant oil would remain as a patchy band at or above the high-tide line.

• Impacts to intertidal communities are expected to be short-term in duration. An exception

would be where heavy concentrations of a light refined product came ashore very quickly.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Cleanup is usually not required.

• Access can be difficult and dangerous.

EXPOSED, SOLID MAN-MADE STRUCTURES ESI = 1B

DESCRIPTION

• This shoreline type consist of solid man-made structures such as seawalls, groins, revetments,

piers, and port facilities.

• They are constructed of concrete, wood, or metal.

• Often there is no exposed substrate at low tide, but a wide range of habitats may be present .

• They are built to protect the shore from erosion by waves, boat wakes, and currents, and thus

are exposed to rapid natural removal processes.

• Attached animals and plants are sparse to moderate.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil is held offshore by waves reflecting off the steep, hard surface in exposed settings.

• Oil readily adheres to the dry, rough surfaces, but it does not adhere to wet substrates.

• The most resistant oil would remain as a patchy band at or above the high-tide line.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Cleanup is usually not required.

• High-pressure water spraying may be conducted to: remove persistent oil in crevices; improve

aesthetics; or reduce leaching of oil.
92

EXPOSED WAVE-CUT PLATFORMS ESI = 2

DESCRIPTION

• The intertidal zone consists of a flat rock bench of highly variable width.

• The shoreline may be backed by a steep scarp or low bluff.

• There may be a beach of sand- to boulder-sized sediments at the base of the scarp.

• The platform surface is irregular and tidal pools are common.

• Small amounts of gravel can be found in the tidal pools and crevices in the platform.

• These habitats can support large populations of encrusting animals and plants, with rich tidal

pool communities.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil will not adhere to the rock platform, but rather be transported across the platform and

accumulate along the high-tide line.

• Oil can penetrate in beach sediments, if present.

• Persistence of oiled sediments is usually short-term, except in wave shadows or where the oil

has penetrated sediments at the high-tide line.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Cleanup is usually not required.

• Where the high-tide area is accessible, it may be feasible to remove heavy oil accumulations

and oiled debris.

FINE-GRAINED SAND BEACHES ESI = 3A

DESCRIPTION

• These beaches are generally flat and hard-packed.

• Though they are predominately fine sand, there is often a small amount of shell hash.

• There can be heavy accumulations of wrack present.

• They are utilized by birds and turtles for nesting and feeding.

• Upper beach fauna are generally sparse, although amphipods can be abundant; lower beach

fauna can be moderately abundant, but highly variable.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Light oil accumulations will be deposited as oily bands along the upper intertidal zone.

• Heavy oil accumulations will cover the entire beach surface; oil will be lifted off the lower

beach with the rising tide.

• Maximum penetration of oil into fine-grained sand is about 10 cm.

• Burial of oiled layers by clean sand within the first week after a spill typically will be less than

30 cm along the upper beach face.

• Organisms living in the beach sediment may be killed by smothering or lethal oil

concentrations in the interstitial water.

• There may be declines in infauna, which can affect important shorebird foraging areas.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• These beaches are among the easiest shoreline types to clean.

• Cleanup should concentrate on removing oil and oily debris from the upper swash zone once

oil has come ashore.

• Activity through oiled and dune areas should be limited, to prevent oiling of clean areas.

• Manual cleanup, rather than road graders and front-end loaders, is usually advised to

minimize the volume of sand removed from the shore and requiring disposal.
93

• All efforts should focus on preventing the mixture of oil deeper into the sediments by vehicular

and foot traffic.

• Mechanical reworking of lightly oiled sediments from the high-tide line to the upper intertidal

zone can be effective along outer beaches.

SCARPS AND STEEP SLOPES IN SAND ESI = 3B

DESCRIPTION

• This shoreline type occurs where sandy bluffs are undercut by waves or currents and slump.

• They normally form along embankments of sandy dredge material and at cutbanks in rivers;

they also form where tidal creeks intercept old sandy beach ridge deposits.

• Some scarps are fronted by narrow beaches, if the erosion rates are moderate and episodic.

• Trees growing at the top of these slopes are eventually undercut and the debris can accumulate

at the base of the scarp.

• Biological utilization by birds and infauna is low.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Any stranded oil will concentrate at the high-water line and may penetrate sandy sediments.

• Oil will adhere to the dry surfaces of any woody debris accumulated at the base of the scarp.

• There is little potential for burial except when a major slumping of the bluff occurs.

• Active erosion of the scarp will remove the oil.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• In most cases, cleanup is not necessary because of the short residence time of the oil

• The need for removal of oiled sediments and debris should be carefully evaluated because of

the potential for increased erosion.

• Closely supervised manual labor should be used so that the minimal amount of material is

removed during cleanup.

MEDIUM- TO COARSE-GRAINED SAND BEACHES ESI = 4

DESCRIPTION

• These beaches have relatively steep beach faces and soft substrates.

• Coarse-sand beaches can undergo rapid erosion/deposition cycles, even within one tidal cycle.

• The amount of wrack varies considerably.

• They are utilized by birds and turtles for nesting and feeding.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Light oil accumulations will be deposited as oily bands along the upper intertidal zone.

• Heavy oil accumulations will cover the entire beach surface; oil will be lifted off the lower

beach with the rising tide.

• Maximum oil penetration is about 20 cm.

• Burial of oiled layers by clean sand within the first week after a spill can be up to 50 cm.

• Organisms living in the beach sediments may be killed by smothering or lethal oil

concentrations in the interstitial water.

• There may be declines in infauna, which can affect important shorebird foraging areas.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Coarse sand sediments are less traffikable, increasing the risk of mixing oil into the substrate by

foot and vehicular traffic.

• Cleanup should concentrate on removing oil and oily debris from the upper swash zone once

oil has come ashore.

• Traffic through oiled and dune areas should be limited, to prevent oiling of clean areas.
94

ˆ• Manual cleanup, rather than road graders and front-end loaders, is advised to minimize the

volume of sand removed from the shore and requiring disposal.

• All efforts should focus on preventing the mixture of oil deeper into the sediments by vehicular

and foot traffic.

• Mechanical reworking of lightly oiled sediments from the high-tide zone to the upper intertidal

zone can be effective along outer beaches.

MIXED SAND AND GRAVEL BEACHES ESI = 5

DESCRIPTION

• These beaches are moderately sloping and composed of a mixture of sand and gravel.

• Because of the mixed sediment sizes, there may be zones of pure sand, pebbles, or cobbles.

• There can be large-scale changes in the sediment distribution patterns depending upon season,

because of the transport of the sand fraction offshore during storms.

• Because of sediment desiccation and mobility on exposed beaches, there are low densities of

attached animals and plants.

• The presence of attached algae and animals indicates beaches that are relatively sheltered, with

the more stable substrate supporting a richer biota.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• During small spills, oil will be deposited along and above the high-tide swash.

• Large spills will spread across the entire intertidal area.

• Oil penetration into the beach sediments may be up to 50 cm; however, the sand fraction can be

quite mobile, and oil behavior is much like on a sand beach if the sand exceeds 40 percent.

• Burial of oil may be deep at and above the high-tide line, where oil tends to persist, particularly

where beaches are only intermittently exposed to waves.

• In sheltered pockets on the beach, pavements of asphalted sediments can form if there is no

removal of heavy oil accumulations, because most of the oil remains on the surface.

• Once formed, these asphalt pavements can persist for many years.

• Oil can be stranded in the coarse sediments on the lower part of the beach, particularly if the oil

is weathered or emulsified.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Remove heavy accumulations of pooled oil from the upper beachface.

• All oiled debris should be removed.

• Sediment removal should be limited as much as possible.

• Low-pressure flushing can be used to float oil away from the sediments for recovery by

skimmers or sorbents. High-pressure spraying should be avoided because of potential for

transporting contaminated finer sediments (sand) to the lower intertidal or subtidal zones.

• Relocation of oiled sediments from the high-tide zone to the upper intertidal zone can be

effective in areas regularly exposed to wave activity (as evidenced by storm berms). However,

oiled sediments should not be relocated below the mid-tide zone.

• Tilling may be used to reach deeply buried oil layers in the middle zone on exposed beaches.

GRAVEL BEACHES ESI = 6A

DESCRIPTION

• Gravel beaches are composed of sediments ranging in size from pebbles to boulders. The

gravel-sized sediments can be made up of shell fragments.

• They can be very steep, with multiple wave-built berms forming the upper beach.

• Attached animals and plants are usually restricted to the lowest parts of the beach, where the

sediments are less mobile.
95

• The presence of attached algae, mussels, and barnacles indicates beaches that are relatively

sheltered, with the more stable substrate supporting a richer biota.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Deep penetration and rapid burial of stranded oil is likely on exposed beaches.

• On exposed beaches, oil can be pushed over the high-tide and storm berms, pooling and

persisting above the normal zone of wave wash.

• Long-term persistence will be controlled by the depth of penetration versus the depth of

routine reworking by storm waves.

• On the more sheltered portions of beaches, formation of asphalt pavements is likely where

accumulations are heavy.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Heavy accumulations of pooled oil should be removed quickly from the upper beach.

• All oiled debris should be removed.

• Sediment removal should be limited as much as possible.

• Low- to high-pressure flushing can be used to float oil away from the sediments for recovery by

skimmers or sorbents.

• Relocation of oiled sediments from the high-tide zone to the upper intertidal zone can be

effective in areas regularly exposed to wave activity (as evidenced by storm berms). However,

oiled sediments should not be relocated below the mid-tide zone.

• Tilling may be used to reach deeply buried oil layers in the upper to-mid-tide zone on exposed

beaches.

RIPRAP ESI = 6B

DESCRIPTION

• Riprap is composed of cobble- to boulder-sized blocks of granite, limestone, or concrete.

• Riprap structures are used for shoreline protection and channel stabilization (jetties)

• Attached biota are sparse.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil adheres readily to the rough surfaces of the blocks.

• Deep penetration of oil between the blocks is likely.

• Uncleaned oil can cause chronic leaching until the oil solidifies.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• When the oil is fresh and liquid, high pressure flushing and/or water flooding may be

effective, making sure to recover all liberated oil.

• Heavy and weathered oils are more difficult to remove, requiring scrapping and/or hot-water

flushing.

• In extreme cases, it may be necessary to remove heavily oiled blocks and replace them.

EXPOSED TIDAL FLATS ESI = 7

DESCRIPTION

• Exposed tidal flats are broad intertidal areas composed primarily of sand and minor amounts

of shell and mud.

• The dominance of sand indicates that currents and waves are strong enough to mobilize the

sediments.

• They are usually associated with another shoreline type on the landward side of the flat,

though they can occur as separate shoals; they are commonly associated with tidal inlets.
96

• Biological utilization can be very high, with large numbers of infauna, heavy use by birds for

roosting and foraging, and use by foraging fish.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil does not usually adhere to the surface of exposed tidal flats, but rather moves across the flat

and accumulates at the high-tide line.

• Deposition of oil on the flat may occur on a falling tide if concentrations are heavy.

• Oil does not penetrate water-saturated sediments.

• Biological damage may be severe, primarily to infauna, thereby reducing food sources for birds

and other predators.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Currents and waves can be very effective in natural removal of the oil.

• Cleanup is very difficult (and possible only during low tides).

• The use of heavy machinery should be restricted to prevent mixing of oil into the sediments.

SHELTERED ROCKY SHORES ESI = 8A

DESCRIPTION

• These are bedrock shores of variable slope (from vertical cliffs to wide, rocky ledges) that are

sheltered from exposure to most wave and tidal energy.

• Wide shores may have some surface sediments, but bedrock is the dominant substrate type

• Species density and diversity vary greatly, but biota are often very abundant.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil will adhere readily to the rough rocky surface, particularly along the high-tide line, forming

a distinct oil band.

• Even on wide ledges, the lower intertidal zone usually stays wet (particularly when algae

covered), preventing oil from adhering to the rock surface.

• Heavy and weathered oils can cover the upper zone with little impacts to the rich biological

communities of the lower zone.

• Where surface sediments are abundant, oil will penetrate into the crevices formed by the

surface rubble, forming persistent pavements.

• Where the rubble is loosely packed, oil will penetrate deeply, causing long-term contamination

of the subsurface sediments.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Low-pressure flushing at ambient temperatures is most effective when the oil is fresh.

• Extreme care must be taken not to spray in the biologically rich lower intertidal zone or when

the tidal level reaches that zone.

• Cutting of oiled, attached algae is not recommended; tidal action will eventually float this oil

off, so sorbent booms should be deployed.

SHELTERED, SOLID MAN-MADE STRUCTURES ESI = 8B

DESCRIPTION

• These structures are solid man-made structures such as seawalls, groins, revetments, piers, and

port facilities.

• Most structures are constructed of concrete, wood, or metal, and their composition, design, and

condition are highly variable.

• Often there is no exposed beach at low tide, but a wide variety habitats may be present.

• Attached animal and plant life can be moderate to high.
97

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil will adhere readily to the rough surface, particularly along the high-tide line, forming a

distinct oil band.

• The lower intertidal zone usually stays wet (particularly if algae covered), preventing oil from

adhering to the surface.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Cleanup of seawalls is usually conducted for aesthetic reasons or to prevent leaching of oil.

• Low- to high-pressure flushing at ambient water temperatures is most effective when the oil is

fresh. Hot water is needed for heavy or weathered oils.

SHELTERED TIDAL FLATS ESI = 9A

DESCRIPTION

• Sheltered tidal flats are composed primarily of mud with minor amounts of sand and shell.

• They are present in calm-water habitats, sheltered from major wave activity, and are frequently

backed by marshes.

• The sediments are very soft and cannot support even light foot traffic in many areas.

• They can be sparsely to heavily covered with algae and/or seagrasses.

• They can have very heavy wrack accumulations along the high-tide line.

• There can be large concentrations of shellfish, worms, and snails on and in the sediments.

• They are heavily utilized by birds and fish for feeding.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil does not usually adhere to the surface of sheltered tidal flats, but rather moves across the

flat and accumulates at the high-tide line.

• Deposition of oil on the flat may occur on a falling tide if concentrations are heavy.

• Oil will not penetrate the water-saturated sediments, but could penetrate burrows and root

cavities.

• Biological damage may be severe.

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• These are high-priority areas for protection since cleanup options are very limited.

• Cleanup is very difficult because of the soft substrate; many methods may be restricted.

• Deluge flooding and deployment of sorbents from shallow-draft boats may be helpful.

VEGETATED LOW RIVERINE BANKS ESI = 9B

DESCRIPTION

• This shoreline type consists of either low banks with grasses or low eroding banks with trees

and tree roots exposed to the water.

• The banks are flooded occasionally by high water.

• These shorelines are generally found in fresh or brackish water localities.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• During low water stages there could be little impact, with the oil coating a narrow band of

sediment at the water level.

• During high water, the oil will cover and coat the grasses and base of the trees.

• May cause loss of the grasses, but the trees should survive unless oil penetrates and persists in
98

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Low-pressure flushing of oiled areas is effective in removing moderate to heavy accumulations

of oil from along the banks.

• Sorbent and containment boom should be placed on the water side of the cleanup operations to

contain and collect oil outflow.

• Low- to high-pressure flushing can be used to remove oil from tree roots and trunks, if deemed

necessary in high-use areas.

SALT- AND BRACKISH-WATER MARSHES ESI = 10A

DESCRIPTION

• These marshes contain vegetation which tolerates water salinity down to about 5 ppt.

• Width of the marsh can vary widely, from a narrow fringe to extensive areas.

• Sediments are composed of organic-rich muds except on the margins of barrier islands where

sand is abundant.

• Exposed areas are located along waterbodies with wide fetches and along busy waterways.

• Sheltered areas are not exposed to significant wave or boat wake activity.

• Resident flora and fauna are abundant with numerous species with high utilization by birds,

fish, and shellfish.

PREDICTED OIL BEHAVIOR

• Oil adheres readily to intertidal vegetation.

• The band of coating will vary widely, depending upon the water level at the time oil slicks are

in the vegetation. There may be multiple bands.

• Large slicks will persist through multiple tidal cycles and coat the entire stem from the hightide line to the base.

• If the vegetation is thick, heavy oil coating will be restricted to the outer fringe, although lighter

oils can penetrate deeper, to the limit of tidal influence.

• Medium to heavy oils do not readily adhere to or penetrate the fine sediments, but can pool on

the surface or in burrows and root cavities.

• Light oils can penetrate the top few centimeters of sediment and deeply into burrows and mud

cracks (up to one meter).

RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS

• Under light oiling, the best practice is to let the area recover naturally.

• Natural removal processes and rates should be evaluated prior to conducting cleanup.

• Heavy accumulations of pooled oil can be removed by vacuum, sorbents, or low-pressure

flushing. During flushing, care must be taken to prevent transporting oil to sensitive areas

down slope or along shore.

• Cleanup activities should be carefully supervised to avoid vegetation damage.

• Any cleanup activity must not mix the oil deeper into the sediments. Trampling of the roots

must be minimized.

• Cutting of oiled vegetation should only be considered when other resources present are at great

risk from leaving the oiled vegetation in place.
99

Appendix D

Copies of Shoreline Assessment Forms,

Form Explanations or Codes, Sketch Map Form, and Field

Estimators
SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM for _____________________________ Spill Page ___ of ___

August 2000

1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date (dd/mm/yy) Time (24h standard/daylight) Tide Height

Segment ID: L/M/H

Segment Name: hrs to hrs H/M/L

Survey By: Foot / Boat / Helicopter / Overlook /_______ Sun / Clouds / Fog / Rain / Snow / Windy

2. SURVEY TEAM No. ___ Name Organization Phone Number

3. SEGMENT Total Length ______m/yd Length Surveyed ______m/yd Differential GPS Yes/No

Start GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG ______________ deg. ______________ min

End GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG ______________ deg. ______________ min

4. SHORELINE TYPE Select only ONE Primary (P) and ANY Secondary (S) types present

Rocky Cliffs Riprap

Exposed Man-made Structures Exposed Tidal Flats

Wave-cut Platforms Sheltered Rocky Shores

Fine-Medium grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Man-made Structures

Coarse-grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Tidal Flats

Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches Wetlands

Gravel Beaches Other ______________________________

5. OPERATIONAL FEATURES Oiled Debris? Yes / No Type______________ Amount__________ bags

Direct backshore access? Yes / No Access restrictions _____________________________________________ _____

Alongshore access from next segment? Yes / No Suitable backshore staging? Yes / No

6. SURFACE OILING CONDITIONS Begin with "A" in the lowest tidal zone

Tidal Oil Cover Oil Oil

Zone Zone Length Width Distr. Thickness Character

ID LI MI UI SU m /ft m /ft % PO CV CT ST FL FR MS TB TC SR AP No

7. SUBSURFACE OILING CONDITIONS Use letter of Zone location plus Number of trench, e.g., "A1"

Trench

Tidal

Zone

Trench

Depth

Oiled

Interval Subsurface Oil Character WaterTable

Sheen

Color

Clean

Below?

No. LI MI UI SU cm / in cm-cm/in-in OP PP OR OF TR No cm / in B,R,S,N Yes/No

8. COMMENTS Cleanup Recommendations; Ecological/Recreational/Cultural Issues/Wildlife Obs.

Sketch: Yes / No Photos: Yes / No (Roll#_____Frames_____) Video Tape: Yes / No (Tape#______)
SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM EXPLANATIONS August 2000

Calibration IS VERY IMPORTANT! Do a calibration exercise to make sure that all teams are

consistently using the same terminology and estimations.

Units: Use either metric (m, cm) or English (yd, ft, in). Circle the units used.

Tide Height: Circle the two letters indicating the progression of the tidal stage during the survey.

Segment/Survey Length: Always record both lengths on the first survey, especially where the SCAT

team creates the segments in the field. On repeat surveys, always enter in the Survey Length,

especially if only part of the segment is surveyed.

Start/End GPS: Use of decimal degrees is preferred, but be consistent among teams.

SURFACE OILING CONDITIONS

Zone ID: Use a different ID for each different oil occurrence, e.g., two distinct bands of oil at mid-tide

and high-tide levels, or alongshore where the oil distribution changes from 10 % to 50%. Describe each

different occurrence on a separate line.

Tidal Zone: Use the codes to indicate the location of the oil being described, as in the lower (LI), mid

(MI), or upper (UI) intertidal zone, or in the supra (SU) tidal zone (above the normal high tide level).

Distribution: Enter the estimated percent of oil on the surface, or codes for the following intervals:

C Continuous 91-100% cover

B Broken 51-90%

P Patchy 11-50%

S Sporadic <1-10%

T Trace <1%

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Thickness: Use the following codes:

PO Pooled Oil (fresh oil or mousse > 1 cm thick)

CV Cover (oil or mousse from >0.1 cm to <1 cm on any surface)

CT Coat (visible oil <0.1 cm, which can be scraped off with fingernail)

ST Stain (visible oil, which cannot be scraped off with fingernail)

FL Film (transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film)

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

FR Fresh Oil (unweathered, liquid oil)

MS Mousse (emulsified oil occurring over broad areas)

TB Tarballs (discrete accumulations of oil <10 cm in diameter)

TC Tar (highly weathered oil, of tarry, nearly solid consistency)

SR Surface Oil Residue (non-cohesive, oiled surface sediments)

AP Asphalt Pavements (cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments)

No No oil (no evidence of any type of oil)

SUBSURFACE OILING CONDITIONS

Oiled Interval: Measure the depths from the sediment surface to top/bottom of subsurface oiled layer.

Enter multiple oil layers on separate lines.

Subsurface Oiling Descriptors: Use the following codes:

OP Oil-Filled Pores (pore spaces are completely filled with oil)

PP Partially Filled Pores (the oil does not flow out of the sediments when disturbed)

OR Oil Residue (sediments are visibly oiled with black/brown coat or cover on the

clasts, but little or no accumulation of oil within the pore spaces)

OF Oil Film (sediments are lightly oiled with an oil film, or stain on the clasts)

TR Trace (discontinuous film or spots of oil, or an odor or tackiness)

Sheen Color: Describe sheen on the water table as brown (B), rainbow (R), silver (S), or none (N).
SHORT SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM for ________________________ Spill Page __ of __

August 2000

1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date (dd/mm/yy) Time (24h standard/daylight) Tide Height

Segment ID: L/M/H

Segment Name: hrs to hrs H/M/L

Survey By: Foot / Boat / Helicopter / Overlook /_________ Sun / Clouds / Fog / Rain / Snow / Windy

2. SURVEY TEAM No. ____ Name Organization Phone Number

3. SEGMENT Total Length ______m/yd Length Surveyed ______m/yd Differential GPS Yes/No

Start GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG ______________ deg. ______________ min

End GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG ______________ deg. ______________ min

4. SHORELINE TYPE Select only ONE Primary (P) and ANY Secondary (S) types present

Rocky Cliffs Riprap

Exposed Man-made Structures Exposed Tidal Flats

Wave-cut Platforms Sheltered Rocky Shores

Fine-Medium grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Man-made Structures

Coarse-grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Tidal Flats

Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches Wetlands

Gravel Beaches Other _____________________________________

5. OPERATIONAL FEATURES Oiled Debris? Yes / No Type_______________ Amount__________ bags

Direct backshore access? Yes / No Access restrictions ________________________________________________

Alongshore access from next segment? Yes / No Suitable backshore staging? Yes / No

Zone ID_________________ Description of oil in: Supra / Upper / Mid / Lower Tidal Zone (circle oil location)

Oil Band Surface Oil Surface Oil Surface Oil Subsurface Oil

Dimensions Distribution Thickness Type Penetration Burial

<1% Film Fresh Oil <1 cm / in Clean Layer

Width: ________ m/ft 1-10% Stain Mousse/Tar 1-5 cm / in _____ cm / in

11-50% Coat Tarballs/Patties 5-10 cm / in

Length: ________ m/ft 51-90% Cover Surface Oil Residue >10 cm / in Oiled Layer

91-100% Pooled Asphalt Pavement ____ cm / in _____ cm / in

_________% ______ cm / in Other____________

Zone ID_________________ Description of oil in: Supra / Upper / Mid / Lower Tidal Zone (circle oil location)

Oil Band Surface Oil Surface Oil Surface Oil Subsurface Oil

Dimensions Distribution Thickness Type Penetration Burial

<1% Film Fresh Oil <1 cm / in Clean Layer

Width: ________ m/ft 1-10% Stain Mousse/Tar 1-5 cm / in _____ cm / in

11-50% Coat Tarballs/Patties 5-10 cm / in

Length: ________ m/ft 51-90% Cover Surface Oil Residue >10 cm / in Oiled Layer

91-100% Pooled Asphalt Pavement ____ cm / in _____ cm / in

_________% ______ cm / in Other___________

8. COMMENTS Cleanup Recommendations; Ecological/Recreational/Cultural Issues; Wildlife Obs.

Sketch: Yes / No Photos: Yes / No (Roll#_____Frames_____) Video Tape: Yes / No (Tape#______)
SHORT SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM EXPLANATIONS August 2000

Calibration IS VERY IMPORTANT! Do a calibration exercise to make sure that all teams are

consistently using the same terminology and estimations.

Units: Use either metric (m, cm) or English (yd, ft, in). Circle the units used.

Tide Height: Circle the two letters indicating the progression of the tidal stage during the survey.

Segment/Survey Length: Always record both lengths on the first survey, especially where the SCAT

team creates the segments in the field. On repeat surveys, always enter in the Survey Length,

especially if only part of the segment is surveyed.

Start/End GPS: Use of decimal degrees is preferred, but be consistent among teams.

Shoreline Type: Use a "P" to indicate the primary shoreline type for the entire segment or sub-segment

being surveyed. Use an "S" to indicate the presence of other, secondary shoreline types. Provide more

explanation in the Comments section, where necessary.

Zone ID: Use a different Zone ID for each different oil occurrence, e.g., two distinct bands of oil at midtide and high-tide levels, or alongshore where the oil distribution changes from 10% to 50%. Describe

each different occurrence in a separate block. Use as many blocks (and sheets) as needed for each

segment.

Tidal Zone: Circle the location of the oil being described in the block, as being in the lower, mid, or

upper intertidal zone, or in the supra-tidal zone (above the normal high tide level).

Surface Oil Distribution: Enter the estimated percent of oil on the surface, or circle the intervals.

Surface Oiling Thickness: Use the following terms:

Film (transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film)

Stain (visible oil, which cannot be scraped off with fingernail)

Coat (visible oil <0.1 cm, which can be scraped off with fingernail)

Cover (oil or mousse from >0.1 cm to <1 cm on any surface)

Pooled Oil (fresh oil or mousse > 1 cm thick)

Surface Oiling Type: Use the following terms:

Fresh Oil (unweathered, liquid oil)

Mousse (emulsified oil occurring over broad areas)

Tar (highly weathered oil, of tarry, nearly solid consistency)

Tarballs (discrete accumulations of oil <10 cm in diameter)

Patties (discrete accumulations of oil >10 cm in diameter)

Surface Oil Residue (non-cohesive, oiled surface sediments)

Asphalt Pavements (cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments)

No Oil (no evidence of any type of oil)

Subsurface Oil Penetration: Circle the average depth of oil penetration from the surface, in either cm

or inches, as measured in trenches dug into the sediment throughout the zone being described.

Subsurface Oil Burial: Use this column when there is a clean layer of sediment overlying an oiled layer.

Subsurface Oiling Descriptors: In the Comments Section, use the following terminology to describe the

degree of oiling of subsurface sediments:

Oil-Filled Pores (pore spaces are completely filled with oil)

Partially Filled Pores (the oil does not flow out of the sediments when disturbed)

Oil Residue (sediments are visibly oiled with black/brown coat or cover on the

clasts, but little or no accumulation of oil within the pore spaces)

Oil Film (sediments are lightly oiled with an oil film, or stain on the clasts)

Trace (discontinuous film or spots of oil, or an odor or tackiness)
TARBALL SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM for _______________________ Spill Page __ of __

August 2000

1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date (dd/mm/yy) Time (24h standard/daylight) Tide Height

Segment ID: L/M/H

Segment Name: hrs to hrs H/M/L

Survey By: Foot / Boat / Helicopter / Overlook /_________ Sun / Clouds / Fog / Rain / Snow / Windy

2. SURVEY TEAM No. ____ Name Organization Phone Number

3. SEGMENT Description of Shoreline Surveyed:

Total Length: m/yd Length Surveyed: m/yd Differential GPS? Yes / No

Start GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG _______________ deg. _______________ min

End GPS: LAT ______________ deg. ______________ min LONG _______________ deg. _______________ min

4. SHORELINE TYPE Select only ONE Primary (P) and ANY Secondary (S) types present

Rocky Cliffs Riprap

Exposed Man-made Structures Exposed Tidal Flats

Wave-cut Platforms Sheltered Rocky Shores

Fine-Medium grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Man-made Structures

Coarse-grained Sand Beaches Sheltered Tidal Flats

Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches Wetlands

Gravel Beaches Other______________________________________

5. TAR BALL DESCRIPTION AREA 1 AREA 2 AREA 3

Tar Balls Observed?

Oiled Debris Observed? (Describe below)

Yes / No

Yes / No

 Yes / No

 Yes / No

 Yes/No

 Yes/No

Tidal Zone

Where the area of tarballs is located LI / MI / UI / SU LI / MI / UI / SU LI / MI / UI / SU

Length

Approximate alongshore length of shore in

which tarballs/oiled debris are observed m/yd m/yd m/yd

Width

Across-shore width of the band on the shore

in which tarballs/oiled debris are observed m/yd m/yd m/yd

Average Number of Tar Balls within Area

(e.g., 2/yd2 within band; 3 per 100 yds alongshore; 6 total within area, etc.) Be specific.

Average Size of Tar Balls cm/in cm/in cm/in

Size of Largest Tar Ball cm/in cm/in cm/in

Type of Tar Balls Weathered/Fresh

Sticky? Yes/No

Weathered/Fresh

Sticky? Yes/No

Weathered/Fresh

Sticky? Yes/No

Tar Balls Collected? Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

6. COMMENTS Cleanup Recommendations; Ecological/Recreational/Cultural Issues; Wildlife Obs.

Sketch: Yes / No Photos: Yes / No (Roll#______Frames_______) Video Tape: Yes / No (Tape#_______)
TARBALL SHORELINE ASSESSMENT FORM EXPLANATIONS August 2000

Calibration IS VERY IMPORTANT! Do a calibration exercise to make sure that all teams are

consistently using the same terminology and estimations.

Tide Height: Circle the two letters indicating the progression of the tidal stage during the survey.

Description of Shoreline Surveyed: Fill in this field when only part of a segment is surveyed. Be as

specific as possible (e.g., from Berry Creek to 1 mile north).

Total/Surveyed Length: Always record both lengths on the first survey, especially where the SCAT

team creates the segments in the field. On repeat surveys, always enter in the Length Surveyed,

especially if only part of the segment is surveyed.

Start/End GPS: Use of decimal degrees is preferred, but be consistent among teams.

Shoreline Type: Use a "P" to indicate the primary shoreline type for the entire segment or sub-segment

being surveyed. Use an "S" to indicate the presence of other, secondary shoreline types. Provide more

explanation in the Comments section, where necessary.

TAR BALL DESCRIPTION

This section is divided into "Areas". Use a different Area to describe changes in: presence/absence,

size, or concentration of tar balls.

Tar Balls Observed? It is important to indicate if no tar balls are observed.

Oiled Debris Observed? If yes, describe type, location, and degree oiling for oiled debris under

Comments. Use the following descriptors for type:

wrack unattached vegetation that can be important feeding areas for shorebirds

logs large pieces of wood that can not be readily removed by hand

trash man-made materials (e.g., plastic, glass, paper) that can be removed by hand

sorbents sorbent pads, rolls, boom, etc. used during the spill response

peat degraded organic material that has been eroded; includes coffee grounds

Tidal Zone: Check off the location of the area of tarballs being described, as in the lower (LI), mid

(MI), upper (UI), or supra (SU) tidal zone.

Length and Width: Enter the dimensions where tar balls of uniform average size and density are

observed. If no tar balls are observed, enter the dimensions of the area surveyed. Also, indicate the

location of the tar balls as being in the lower (LITZ), mid (MITZ), or upper (UITZ) intertidal zone, or in

the supra-tidal (SUPRA) zone (above the normal high tide level).

Average Number of Tar Balls within Area: Enter the estimate of the number of tar balls in the

surveyed area. Options include:

Total number - use where so few tar balls are present that they can be readily counted

Concentration - enter as an average, range, or max per unit area (e.g., 1-2/yd2, 3-5 max)

Average Size of Tar Balls: Visually estimate the most common or frequent size of tar balls in the

surveyed area. Enter a range if tar ball sizes are not uniform. Indicate units by circling.

Tar Balls Collected? Provide details in the Comments Section. Indicate of all or only part of the

observed tar balls were collected. Indicate units by circling.
WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM for _______________________________________ Spill Page __ of __

August 2000

1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date (dd/mm/yy) Time (24h standard/daylight) Tide Height

Segment ID: L/M/H

Segment Name: hrs to hrs H/M/L

Survey By: Foot / Boat / Helicopter / Overlook /_____________________ Sun / Clouds / Fog / Rain / Snow / Windy

2. SURVEY TEAM No. ____ Name Organization Phone Number

3. SEGMENT Total Length ____________ m/yd Length Surveyed ____________ m/yd Differential GPS Yes/No

Start GPS: LAT _________________ deg. _________________ min LONG _________________ deg. _________________ min

End GPS: LAT _________________ deg. _________________ min LONG _________________ deg. _________________ min

4. WETLAND CHARACTER Physical Setting:

Wetland Type: Salt Marsh / Fresh Marsh / Mangrove / Hardwood Bottomland / Other___________________________

Dominant Vegetation Type/Species:

5. OPERATIONAL FEATURES Oiled Debris? Yes / No Type___________________________ Amount_________ bags

Direct backshore access? Yes / No Alongshore access from next segment? Yes / No Access only via boat? Yes / No

Suitable back- or alongshore staging? Yes / No Can substrate support foot traffic? Yes / No

Access restrictions: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. SURFACE OILING CONDITIONS Enter oil on substrate vs vegetation on different lines, using S or V

after the Zone ID (e.g., AS for sediment, AV for vegetation). Indicate each on the cross-section below.

Tidal Oil Cover Oil on Plants

Zone Zone Length Width Distri. Oil Thickness Oil Character (e.g. all, trunks,

ID LI MI UI SU m /ft m /ft % PO CV CT ST FL FR MS TB TC SR AP No stems, leaves)

7. SUBSURFACE OILING CONDITIONS Describe in Comments Section and indicate on the cross-section below.

8. COMMENTS Cleanup Recommendations; Ecological/Recreational/Cultural Issues; Wildlife Observations.

Sketch: Yes / No Photos: Yes / No (Roll#_______Frames_______) Video Tape: Yes / No (Tape#_______)

SHOW: high tide, low tide, buried

oil, Zone ID, other significant

features

HT

LT

CROSS-SECTION SKETCH

 Supratidal Intertidal Subtidal
WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM EXPLANATIONS August 2000

Calibration IS VERY IMPORTANT! Do a calibration exercise to make sure that all teams are

consistently using the same terminology and estimations.

Units: Use either metric (m, cm) or English (yd, ft, in). Circle the units used.

Tide Height: Circle the two letters indicating the progression of the tidal stage during the survey.

Segment/Survey Length: Always record both lengths on the first survey, esp. where the SCAT team

creates the segments in the field. On repeat surveys, always enter in the Survey Length, esp. if only

part of the segment is surveyed. Make a sketch when dealing with irregular wetland shapes.

Start/End GPS: Use of decimal degrees is preferred, but be consistent among teams.

SURFACE OILING CONDITIONS

Zone ID: Use a different ID for each different oil occurrence and differentiate between oil on the

substrate (S) and vegetation (V). Describe each different occurrence on a separate line.

Tidal Zone: Use the codes to indicate the location of the oil being described, as in the lower (LI), mid

(MI), or upper (UI) intertidal zone, or in the supra (SU) tidal zone (above the normal high tide level).

Distribution: Enter the estimated percent of oil on the surface, or codes for the following intervals:

C Continuous 91-100% cover

B Broken 51-90%

P Patchy 11-50%

S Sporadic <1-10%

T Trace <1%

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Thickness: Use the following codes:

PO Pooled Oil (fresh oil or mousse > 1 cm thick)

CV Cover (oil or mousse from >0.1 cm to <1 cm on any surface)

CT Coat (visible oil <0.1 cm, which can be scrapped off with fingernail)

ST Stain (visible oil, which cannot be scrapped off with fingernail)

FL Film (transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film)

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

FR Fresh Oil (unweathered, liquid oil)

MS Mousse (emulsified oil occurring over broad areas)

TB Tarballs (discrete accumulations of oil <10 cm in diameter)

TC Tar (highly weathered oil, of tarry, nearly solid consistency)

SR Surface Oil Residue (non-cohesive, oiled surface sediments)

AP Asphalt Pavements (cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments)

No No oil present in Zone ID

Oil on Plants: Describe what part of the vegetation is oiled. Terms will vary depending on vegetation

type (e.g., stems for marshes, trunks for trees). 

Subsurface Oil Conditions

Describe in Comments Section 8, using the following terminology and codes:

OP Oil-Filled Pores (pore spaces are completely filled with oil)

PP Partially Filled Pores (the oil does not flow out of the sediments when disturbed)

OR Oil Residue (sediments are visibly oiled with black/brown coat or cover on the

clasts, but little or no accumulation of oil within the pore spaces)

OF Oil Film (sediments are lightly oiled with an oil film, or stain on the clasts)

TR Trace (discontinuous film or spots of oil, or an odor or tackiness)

Cross-Section Sketch: Draw entire intertidal and supra-tidal zone, showing the oil relative to normal

high tide (important to determine re-mobilization and potential for natural removal).

Appendix E

A Primer on Drawing Field Sketches
A Primer on Drawing Field Sketches

Step 1

Step 2

The field sketch is an important component of the shoreline assessment process for two

principal reasons: (1) it provides a focused picture of the oil distribution within the entire

segment, or subsegment, on a single piece of paper (or image); and (2) it adds discipline to

the field observation process, because it forces the person doing the sketch to make detailed

mental notes of all the relevant features.

Once you arrive at the segment, imagine yourself held aloft 200 feet by a balloon as you

quickly walk around the entire segment. This will give you a mental overview of the

spatial distribution of all the relevant features in the segment that should be included in

the sketch.

Determine the dimensions of the segment and dig trenches to look for subsurface oil.

Divide the duties among team members (e.g., one to sketch, one or two to pace or tape

distances). Pace (or tape) the length and width of the intertidal zone and the size of

some of the more conspicuous features, such as groins or seawall segments. Using a

pencil, lightly sketch these measurements on the field sheet in Figure E-1 below. Orient

the longest dimension along the long axis of the paper. Add scale and north arrow (use

English or metric units, as dictated by the situation).

Figure E-1. Example of field sketch map dimensions and scale.
Step 3

Step 4

Lightly sketch in the outline of the intertidal zone or habitat being surveyed. Show in

final form (i.e., heavy pencil marks) the areal distribution of the oil, using a hatched

pattern. The oil distribution should be the most conspicuous feature on the sketch, as

shown in Figure E-2 below.

Identify critical elements of the sketch, using the following symbology:

Figure E-2. Example of a field sketch map with outline of surveyed area.
Step 5

Step 7

Step 6

Fill in the rest of the details of the sketch, showing highlights of the morphology (e.g.,

beach berms, tidal channels); conspicuous features, such as fences, large logs, and

seawalls that would help identify the site; zones of vegetation; and access points, such

as roads and parking areas.

(Optional) Where appropriate, draw a topographic cross-chapter of the intertidal zone,

showing significant topographic breaks (e.g., beach berm crests) and oiled zones.

Make sure that the form is completely filled in with site location, date and time of survey,

and names of survey team members. Review the checklist on the left side of form.

Figure E-3 is an example of a completed beach sketch. Figure E-4 is an example of a

field sketch map for a detailed survey of subsurface oil at the Exxon Valdez spill site.

The exact location of the subsurface oil was surveyed in and identified with permanent markers (i.e., stakes just above high-tide line), because of the expense of removing the overburden.
Figure E-3. Example of a complete beach sketch.
Figure E-4. Example of a field sketch map for subsurface oil survey at Exxon Valdez.