bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approaches to Nontank Vessel Contingency Planning1
Authors: DeCola Elise G. , Robertson Tim L. , Robertson Roy , Crews Lori , Munger Mike
Published: January 2013

Tank vessels that carry oil as cargo are subject to a number of international, national, and local regulations requiring that the vessel owners plan for and be prepared to respond to oil spills. By comparison, nontank vessels such as freighters, passenger ships, and fishing vessels typically have not been subject to the same level of oil spill prevention and response requirements. However, a number of recent, high-profile nontank vessel oil spills have heightened public awareness of the oil spill risk posed by nontank vessels. In response to such events, several US states have implemented regulations requiring nontank vessels to prepare oil spill contingency plans similar to those required for tankers and tank barges. This paper considers several different approaches to oil spill contingency planning for nontank vessels, focusing on the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada. The authors compare the requirements in place in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, and make recommendations to promote a parallel planning process along the Pacific coast of North America.
Risk-Based Principles for Oil Spill Response (OSR) System Design
Authors: Chernoplekov Alexei N. , Cox Tony
Published: January 2013

Russia is today starting to go for oil and gas offshore. After a history of serious oil spills on land, the situation regarding Oil Spill Response (OSR) in Russia has become rather complicated and several “confusing” Russian Government Decrees were issued. These Decrees require a potential polluter to justify to Regulators that it has allocated sufficient OSR capability to “localize” any spills of a prescribed amount (e.g. 1500 t for any marine terminal) within 4 hours offshore and 6 hours onshore. This requirement can be completely unrealistic in some circumstances. However, in the design of an OSR system, one can provide a satisfactory justification of sufficiency on the basis of some newly established risk engineering principles, which allow one to re-interpret the requirements of the Decrees in a rational manner. These OSR design principles have been developed on the basis of Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA), in line with modern HSE Management System goal-oriented approaches. In QRA, oil spill source terms (amount spilled, discharge rate) are not prescribed, but calculated for each spill scenario. Moreover, QRA naturally leads to a logical basis for defining Tier 1 & Tier 2 design oil spill accidents. It is recommended that Areas of Special Value (ASV) be defined (with the agreement of regional administrations) as the targets of protection, thus establishing the goal for OSR operations and introducing a natural measure of performance of the OSR system. Thus to design an OSR system means to define the minimum OSR capability which would prevent design oil spills from reaching any ASV.
Integrating Trustee Issues into a Balanced Response: Working Toward a Common Goal1
Authors: Parker-Hall Heather A. , Hampton Steve , Haas James
Published: January 2013

In February 2002, a Unified Command (UC) comprised of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), and other state and federal agencies tested a sample of oil taken from the water near the wreck SS Jacob Luckenbach. Oil from this fifty-year-old wreck, submerged in 176 feet of water 17 miles off San Francisco, matched oil that had impacted thousands of birds and miles of shoreline since November 2001. It also matched oil from mystery spills in this area dating back to 1992. Now that the source of this extensive pollution was found, the next step seemed simple: remove the oil from the vessel. Yet there were many issues surrounding this vessel and its location that required significant cooperation with many agencies and trustees. The Luckenbach is an historic property, protected by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). It is submerged in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary - one of the most biologically productive regions off the California coast and home to many sensitive resources including several listed species. The UC realized that dialogue with and among the natural resource trustee agencies was crucial to planning balanced operations that would remove the pollution source while providing the utmost protection available to the resources at risk A task force was formed that allowed trustees to engage in discussions about the tradeoffs of initiating removal as quickly as possible while balancing the risk of harm that any incidental release during operations may cause to their resources of concern. One of the most exciting benefits of this cooperative effort was the shift in thinking beyond just responding to the incident to advanced planning of a response that would best enhance restoration and long-term recovery. In many responses, it is not always clear that everyone has the same priorities: the USCG may focus on recovering oil and mitigating damage, the responsible party wants to minimize costs, and the trustees want to protect and restore their resources. In this case, the trustees and USCG were clearly working together toward common goals: removing a source of chronic oil pollution while minimizing environmental impacts from the response.
Biodegradability of Orimulsion in Saltwater and Freshwater Environments1
Authors: Venosa Albert D. , Feldhake David J. , Holder Edith L. , Koran Karen M.
Published: January 2013

Shake flask and respirometer experiments were executed to test the biodegradability of Orimulsion in freshwater and saltwater. For each experimental setup, two concentrations of the Orimulsion and the appropriate bacterial inoculum were added to artificial seawater and freshwater solutions, and the concentrations of Orimulsion hydrocarbons were monitored with time. Respirometers were used to monitor oxygen (O2) uptake and carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution to determine when to sample the shake flasks. Sampling of shake flasks occurred periodically by sacrificing triplicate flasks for each treatment. Residual hydrocarbons were extracted with dichloromethane and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The respirometry flasks were sacrificed on the last shake-flask sampling event and similarly evaluated for residual hydrocarbon content and for Microtox toxicity. Data reported confirm literature citations that Orimulsion is indeed biodegradable, at least to some extent. In the 10 g/L freshwater treatment, normal and branched alkanes present were degraded by 83.6% and PAHs by 59.8% after 183 days of incubation. In saltwater, the extent of alkane and PAH degradation was 93.5% and 81.4% after 183 days. Implications for cleanup are discussed.
Hawaii Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps and the Spatial Accuracy of ESI Mapping Methodology
Authors: Plank Colin , Nixon Zach , Lord Christine
Published: January 2013

Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps and digital databases have been generated for the Hawaiian Islands. ESI atlases integrate the most recent data available in three general categories: shoreline habitats, biological resources, and human-use resources, to provide spill responders with a synopsis of critical information. The new Hawaii atlas was prepared using standardized ESI data collection and analysis methods. For the first time, the spatial accuracy of the ESI shoreline classification method has been quantitatively measured using GPS. Shoreline classification methodology consisted of low-altitude overflights during the 2.5 hours preceding and following low-tide. Aerial classifications were then checked on the ground throughout the study area. USGS 7.5 minute basemaps were used in the field and shoreline segmentation annotation was transcribed from scanned field maps to a digital shoreline provided by the State. ESI surveys in August of 2000 resulted in nineteen shoreline classes for the Hawaiian chain. The GPS field study was conducted simultaneously with shoreline classification. During GPS surveys boundaries between ESI shoreline segments were located in the field and their position recorded with a hand held GPS. The coordinates of the segment boundary as located on the final ESI map were compared to those recorded with the GPS. Data for over 60 locations were analyzed statistically using three commonly accepted error-reporting methodologies. A Root Mean Squared (RMS) error of 33.5 meters, a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 28 meters, and a 95% error bound of 58.2 meters were found. Error occurred unsystematically and was attributed to various factors, including inaccuracies in basemap shorelines, human error in the field and cartography, and error expected when mapping natural gradations as discreet points.
Synfuel: A Marine Transportation Risk Assessment
Authors: Stroh Lincoln D.
Published: January 2013

Coal synthetic fuels have attractive tax incentives. The primary consumers of the coal synthetic fuels (synfuel) are power plants and coke plants. Some of these synfuels consist of approximately 99% coal and 1% oil emulsion. Unfortunately, these synfuels produce sheens in the marine environment when accidentally released. The sheens prompt a Coast Guard response with pollution fines and costly mitigation efforts. There are no current regulatory requirements for the marine transportation of synfuel. Treating the synfuels as an oil product from a marine transportation perspective would be cost prohibitive; treating the synfuels as coal may not be conducive to the marine environment; somewhere between the two extremes lies an economically, environment-friendly solution. In the absence of regulatory guidance, the Coast Guard initiated a twoday risk assessment to evaluate the risks of synfuel to the marine environment. The risk assessment focused on the marine transportation related (MTR) processes of loading, unloading, fleeting and transporting synfuel. Standards of Care were developed by a 25-member workgroup of industry representatives and regulators. The Standards of Care will be voluntarily selfimposed by industry to prevent and respond to releases of synfuels, which sheen in the marine environment. Those companies not adhering to the Standards of Care will receive little or no consideration from Coast Guard Captains Of The Port when violations of the Clean Water Act are investigated.
Visual Materials for Oil Spill Responders: The Florida Power & Light Experience
Authors: Coakley Louis “Coke”
Published: January 2013

The use of visual materials is critical for oil spill responders to evaluate the magnitude of potential oil spill impacts. Florida Power & Light has developed extensive visual resources to prepare and support oil spill responders. These resources come in both electronic and hard copy formats. This paper describes these resources including digital aerial photos, surface photos, digital ortho-photos, satellite imagery, surface and aerial digital video, and a host of mapping products (NOAA Nautical Charts, State Boater Guides, etc.). The paper also addresses how these resources are obtained, updated and have been utilized at Corporate and US Coast Guard oil spill drills. Florida Power & Light has fourteen oil storage facilities that have extensive visual resources available to responders. Most of these facilities have up to 200 digital photos that are georeferenced and available to responders in electronic and hard copy photo albums. The incorporation of digital video has also greatly improved responders understanding of area characteristics and deployment opportunities.
Display of Site Characteristics VIA Poster Illustration for Oil Storage Facilities: Florida Power & Light Cases
Authors: Coakley Louis “Coke”
Published: January 2013

Florida Power & Light has completed the development of posters for its nine bulk oil storage facilities that graphically illustrate various site characteristics important in preparing and responding to an oil spill event. Initiated in 2001, the large three-by-five foot size posters provide extensive and valuable information in a concise visual format that minimizes the necessity to utilize numerous support documents. The posters incorporate oil storage facility area information including environmentally sensitive areas, shoreline types, bathymetry, currents, area infrastructure (roads, pipelines), digital and ortho-photos, and historical wind conditions. In addition, the posters provide oil spill preparedness maps using stochastic results (multi-trajectory runs) from FPUs SIMAP oil spill model. These consolidated maps show potential oil impact areas and dissolved aromatic concentration plumes over various timeframes from the beginning of the spill. Booming strategy and equipment deployment site maps are additional items. Finally, the posters provide important graphical and textual information concerning Incident Command System (ICS) strategic objectives, organizational chart, spill response contacts and phone numbers, and tide data.
Oil as the Target: Reviewing the Government's Response to a Major Oil Spill Resulting from a Terrorist Attack
Authors: Hewett Larry W. , Gafkjen Jeff , Deal Tim
Published: January 2013

If the events of September 11th tell us nothing else, they clearly illustrate that our decades old response planning scenarios and response capabilities need to be re-evaluated. Intentional acts and terrorist incidents are designed to result in maximum impact. Had the terrorists chosen an oil storage facility as their target for mass destruction, how prepared would the National Response System be to mount the proper response in order to minimize the impact? This paper seeks to answer that question by first describing just such a scenario and the Federal government's role in managing the consequences. The emerging role of government agencies that do not typically respond to oil spills would join forces with core members of the National Response System (NRS) by way of the Federal Response Plan (FRP). This paper explores gaps in the integration of the FRP and the National Oil and Hazardous Materials Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) and proposes solutions that help bridge those gaps.
The Strange Case of the M/V Julia Woods1
Authors: Lloyd Anthony S.
Published: January 2013

On October 19th, 2001, a crop dusting airplane over-flew the M/V Julia Woods near Rosedale, MS, while spraying a substance directly on the vessel; a commercial tow comprised of 17 open hopper coal barges plying a federal waterway. Starker, there were reports that crewmembers on deck were directly exposed to the substance released. The ensuing response involved many agencies and the owner of the commercial tow. For this incident, the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) and the interagency relationships it describes provided the framework to deal with the “potential terrorist incident.” Discussing the response and management of this provocative act will aid efforts to improve and adapt current practices into the emerging national homeland security strategy for consequence management. The Wall Street Journal discussed in detail Zacarias Moussaoui Atta's actions in the months leading up to the September 11th attack on America, specifically noting his interest in crop dusting aircraft.2 A shocked nation watched as the FAA grounded the airplanes for weeks after the attacks, and the government toiled to assess the validity of the threat. Thus, when an “actual” or “potential terrorist incident” occurred in Marine Safety Office (MSO) Memphis’ territorial area of jurisdiction, the unit, acting as the Federal on Scene Coordinator (FOSC), responded to resolve the consequences of the contemptible act. Due to the absence of reliable information concerning the threat, the U.S. Coast Guard responded using the best operational judgment available and the interagency response tools (tactics, plans and procedures) in the NCP. The M/V Julia Woods’ response provides an excellent opportunity to discuss strengths and weaknesses of the current system. Importantly, the interagency coordination and response proved a flexible effective mechanism for dispatching resources to remote sites to achieve the objectives of the FOSC. Additionally, a unified command (UC) concept contributed to the success of the response as agencies succeeded in meeting public information demands during the response. On the other hand, a lack of a common intelligence system, disjointed plans, and weaknesses in creating and maintaining a common operational picture hampered the motivated interagency team's efforts.
Response Readiness and Safety Awareness in a Tier 3 Organization1
Authors: Weng Ho Yew
Published: January 2013

East Asia Response Pte Ltd is an organization based in Singapore and funded by major oil companies to respond to Tier 3 oil spills in the Asia Pacific Region. We have a large stockpile of Oil Spill Response equipment including aerial dispersant spraying capability. The call up of this equipment is not frequent. However, the infrequent call up presents a major challenge to us. The key challenges are:Maintaining a very high level of safety awareness.

Routine activities are mainly maintenance and equipment testing. It is a major challenge to maintain a continuous high level of safety awareness in this environment. All Responders need to be prepared for the harsh conditions when they are called out. Responding to an oil spill in heat and rain in the tropics can stretch human endurance to the limit. In Singapore, priorities and response strategies can also change rapidly. Additionally, there is the pressure to get the job done, sometimes working long hours. The key drivers to our safety program are Risk Assessment (RA) and personal health. The risks associated with each major or new task are analyzed and processes / procedures are put into place to minimize or eliminate potential incidents. Funding will be appropriated where needed. RA has helped us understand each task better and is a way of life in the Base. For example, an RA was conducted when we had to renew our berth fenders. The exercise identified the most suitable time to carry out the renewal from the tide tables, how to manage the risk of a passing vessel creating too much water disturbance and the coordination required between those working on the wharf and at the fenders. We started a program to train external personnel whom we would call upon to supplement our staff during an incident. We need to train these personnel to work to our safety standards. An efficient Responder needs to be healthy and fit. We organize various programs in the Base like health talks by a specialist, gym memberships and participation in national health events to help Responders keep fit.Developing training scenarios to maintain a high level of response readiness.

We developed a list of realistic exercises around Singapore for our Responders to practice. These exercises give us the luxury of assessing scenarios during non-response period and developing strategies on containment and recovery. Some of the exercises completed are: the booming of Sentosa, a major tourist attraction, and other sensitive areas as well as night navigation exercises to familiarize our boat skippers with potential changes in sea conditions and a changing coastline due to major reclamation work in Singapore.
An Update on Techniques and Technologies which are Available for Responders in Response to Potential Spills of Emulsified Fuel (Orimulsion®)
Authors: Hvidbak Flemming
Published: January 2013

Since the introduction of the emulsified fuel, ORIMULSION®, to the power generation market in the early nineties, significant work has been undertaken studying the behaviour of response to, and potential cleanup techniques for a possible spill of this fuel. The studies have in particular been carried out by sponsorships funded by BITOR, the producer of ORIMULSION®, but an important part has also been sponsored by US and Canadian government agencies. One of the most recent contributions is the report, “Spills of Emulsified Fuels, Risks and Response” a project under the US National Research Council (NRC). To date there have been no significant spills of ORIMULSION® to enable full scale use, under real life cleanup conditions, of the various conventional and new techniques and technologies, which have been developed and tested for the purpose. However, several developments and tests over the past decade and especially over the past three years, sponsored by BITOR, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and Environment Canada (EC), combined with a sound portion of experience with the response to spills of heavy oil, make it most relevant to present a hands-on review of the available response options. Since ORIMULSION® has a surfactant added in the form of its emulsifying surfactant, a spill at open sea may be considered a spill of a pre-dispersed oil. Consequently, the preferred offshore response methodology would be to monitor the naturally dispersed bitumen plume. Therefore, this paper will mainly cover monitoring and response to near-shore and dockside spills in salt-, brackish-, and fresh water, which might call for a clean-up effort, as well as shoreline protection and clean-up.
Remote Detection of Submerged Orimulsion with a Range-Gated Laser Fluorosensor
Authors: Brown Carl E. , Marois Richard , Myslicki Gregory E. , Fingas Mervin F. , Mackay Ron C.
Published: January 2013

Bituminous fuels (in the form of water-based emulsions) are increasingly being used as fuel sources in many countries. When spilled in a marine environment, these emulsified fuels initially disperse and then, under certain circumstances, coalesce to become highly adhesive to beaches and shorelines. These fuels may either float or submerge, depending on the salinity of the water into which the spill occurs. Similar situations are known to occur with some conventional heavy fuels, as was the case with the Erika incident off the coast of France. Technologies to detect these neutrally buoyant and/or submerged fuels are urgently needed. The remote detection of submerged oil is a daunting task. The majority of sensors commonly used for the detection of surface oil slicks are of no use for the detection of submerged oil. Environment Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard have recently undertaken a series of bench-scale studies to develop technologies for the real-time remote detection of neutrally buoyant and/or submerged fuels in the marine environment. The unique capabilities of “active sensors” such as laser fluorosensors are being evaluated for the subsurface detection of heavy petroleum products. The detection of submerged Orimulsion by laser-induced fluorescence has been demonstrated at a distance of 81 m (265 feet) in a small test tank. Further experiments are underway to confirm the real-time detection of submerged Orimulsion, initially on the ground, and then through airborne tests.
Injury to Birds and Diamondback Terrapins Resulting from the Chalk Point Oil Spill, Maryland
Authors: Michel Jacqueline , Hinkeldey Heidi , Meade Norman , McGowan Peter
Published: January 2013

A pipeline spill of 126,000 gallons of a mixture of No. 6 and No. 2 fuel oils into the Patuxent River on 7 April 2000 affected over-wintering waterfowl, resident birds, and diamondback terrapins, as well as intertidal habitats, fish and shellfish, benthic habitats, and muskrats. The final estimate of bird impacts was the sum of the numbers of birds collected dead, dying in rehabilitation, and estimated to have died after release and in the field. The result was an estimated 495 total birds killed, with 67 known dead. The total terrapin mortality was estimated by projecting: a) the number of terrapin-years lost from mortality of adults and juveniles killed directly (estimated to be 122 animals) by the spill, b) the estimated number of young that would have been born and survived to adults from those directly killed, and c) increased hatchling mortality. The final estimate of direct terrapin mortality was 616 lost discounted terrapin-years (DTYs), while lost production from the next generation contributed 3,793 lost DTYs. The loss due to increased hatchling mortality was 836 DTYs. The total injury to Patuxent River diamondback terrapins was estimated to be a loss of 5,245 DTYs.
Development of Multi-Hazard Contingency Plans and Tools for the National Marine Sanctuary System1
Authors: Symons Lisa C. , Morris Jim
Published: January 2013

In the last few years, incidents such as the crash of Alaska Air Flight #261, the M/V Cape Mohican and SS Jacob Luckenbach spills and over 600 groundings a year in the Florida Keys have highlighted the need for coordinated, multi-hazard contingency planning to safeguard the marine, historical and cultural resources protected by the National Marine Sanctuary System. American waterways are a critical component of heightened homeland security; including the waters encompassed by marine protected areas. The challenge has been to develop consistent contingency plans that address a broad range of hazards from oil spills to hurricanes across 13 sites that are widely divergent in size, geographic location and type of resources. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is larger than Yellowstone National Park and protects habitat ranging from coastal dunes to deep-ocean trenches while Fagatele Bay in American Samoa encompasses a coral reef inlet less than one square mile in size. Thunder Bay in Lake Huron and the U.S.S. Monitor sites focus on historical and cultural resources while habitat of humpback whales is the primary concern for the Hawaiian Islands sanctuary. Because of site diversity, regulations and prohibited activities vary widely. Jurisdictional issues are complex with nearly half of the sites incorporating state waters and shorelines. In 2001, NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries initiated a project to develop and build a suite of contingency plans and tools. This web-based contingency plan and tool set, hosted on a secure Intranet, is called Sanctuaries Hazardous Incident Emergency Logistics Database System (SHIELDS). SHIELDS gives resource managers efficient access to numerous NOAA databases, GIS systems, charts and images providing on-demand information for making critical decisions about environmental tradeoffs during a response.
Practical Initiative by Pemsea / Earl to Promote OPRC in East Asia
Authors: O'Driscoll Declan
Published: January 2013

The issue of sustainable development is critical for the future prosperity of East Asia. The Region has seen rapid economic progress in recent years but at a cost to the environment. There is significant oil tanker traffic through the seas of East Asia as oil is transported from the Middle East to North Asia. In recent years, there have been a number of significant spills in the region. The oil industry has been active in establishing resources in the region, including East Asia Response Limited, to help with the response to oil spills. A GEF/UNDP/MO initiative PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) has been developing and promoting strategies and action plans to ensure better environmental management in East Asia. This can be best achieved by building partnerships amongst all the concerned stakeholders, public and private, at local, national and regional levels. Strengthening the technical and management expertise in environmental issues, including oil spills, of local government officials within the region is a key element in ensuring long term sustainable development. The private sector can play a very useful role in helping to build this expertise. East Asia Response and PEMSEA have been collaborating closely to improve the oil spill response knowledge and expertise of local officials in the region. Delegates to jointly held training courses have come from Brunei, Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The courses have allowed us a valuable opportunity to present to the delegates the oil industry's approach to oil spill response. Topics, such as the tiered response concept, contingency planning and net environmental benefit analysis have been well received. Delegates will now be better able to promote oil spill response preparedness and response capability in their home country, thereby, contributing to the sustained development of their economy.
Sensitivity Mapping – With Flare! An Internet Approach to Environmental Mapping
Authors: Laflamme André , Percy Roger J.
Published: January 2013

During emergencies the ready availability of information on the location and vulnerability of resources at risk is crucial to a successful response and in preventing or minimizing further environmental impacts. Environment Canada, Atlantic Region, has developed over a number of years a computer based GIS mapping system for managing and analyzing environmental information. This stand-alone user friendly mapping application has recently moved to the web; allowing broader access by federal, provincial and industry partners in the spill response field. Enhancements have been made that facilitate better coordination and exchange of data among partners. It incorporates a unique shoreline classification system which can be viewed in concert with biological, human use and logistical data. It includes a spill logging function to manage situation reports, maps, resource summaries, photographs and trajectory model outputs. The system allows thematic layers to be displayed on either topographic maps or hydrographic charts and possesses links to other sites that allow real-time display of weather and ocean current data useful in a response. With an open architecture concept the web mapping system is readily modified; partners are able to digitize on-line and to update their own databases shared on the system. Mapped data for the northeastern United States is also included in the package to facilitate joint response to trans-boundary pollution incidents. Although this paper will highlight the unique features of the web mapping application for planning and responding to environmental emergencies, other partners are using the system for conducting environmental assessments, inland management projects, or planning for nuclear emergencies around the globe.
LASER FLUOROSENSOR DEMONSTRATION FLIGHTS AROUND THE SOUTHERN COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND
Authors: Brown Carl E. , Fingas Mervin F. , Marois Richard
Published: January 2013

Several oil spill remote sensing flights were conducted by Environment Canada off the Southern coast of Newfoundland, Canada in late February, early March 2004. These flights were undertaken to demonstrate the capabilities of the Scanning Laser Environmental Airborne Fluorosensor (SLEAF) in real-life situations in the North Atlantic and Newfoundland coastal regions in late winter weather conditions. Geo-referenced infrared, ultraviolet, color video and digital still imagery was collected along with the laser fluorosensor data. Brief testing of a Generation III night vision camera was also conducted. Flights were conducted in the shipping lanes around the Newfoundland coast, out to the Hibernia and Terra Nova oil platforms and over known oil seep areas. Details of the analysis of laser fluorescence data collected during these flights will be presented along with a summary of the remote sensing flights.
HARMONIZING REQUIREMENTS FOR OILS, NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES, AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN SPILL PREPAREDNESS REGULATIONS1
Authors: Yoshioka Gary , Coder Ellinor , Morin Isabelle , Landry Mark , Davis Barbara , Beasley Lynn
Published: January 2013

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) enforces regulations for vessel response plans and marine transportation-related facility response plans for oil. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces similar regulations for response plans for non-transportation-related facilities. Proposed USCG rules would require response plans for hazardous substances designated under the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Other USCG regulations implement provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, known as MARPOL 73/78. Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 addresses petroleum pollution, while Annex II identifies and addresses Noxious Liquid Substances (NLSs). The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 gives the USCG authority to require response plans for NLSs under the CWA. There is some overlap, however, in the substances that are listed as NLSs and those that are categorized as oils or designated as CWA hazardous substances. Adding NLSs to the list of substances requiring a response plan has several implications for spill prevention, preparedness, and response programs. Some facilities currently have response plans for oils and may have response plans for CWA hazardous substances in the future. Some NLSs may be hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and response plans for those NLSs must be consistent with spill notification and response requirements under CERCLA. EPA and USCG On-Scene Coordinators must consider these overlapping listings when deciding on the appropriate removal actions for discharges. Facility owners and operators will need to consider their existing response plans when preparing response plans for NLSs. Under the CWA all response plans must be consistent with the National Contingency Plan and Area Contingency Plans.
ADMINISTRACION DE PLANES DE CONTINGENCIA–CASOS DE ÉXITO EN COLOMBIA
Authors: Garcia Diego Fernando Echeverri , Diaz Jaime Alberto Herrera
Published: January 2013

Actualmente en Colombia se viene implementando la metodología de Administración de Planes de Contingencia para derrames de hidrocarburos (APC) como esquema estratégico para garantizar el funcionamiento y operatibilidad de estos Planes.

La metodología APC desarrollada por Varichem de Colombia ha permitido a aquellas compañías que la han implementado, obtener altos niveles de gestión y desempeño sobre su plan de contingencia, obteniendo además un modelo administrativo integral que favorece el cumplimiento de los objetivos planteados y el desarrollo de programas de mejoramiento continuo para garantizar la Operatibilidad del plan de contingencia y de todos los elementos que lo constituyen. A través de la APC se garantiza la socialización del plan de contingencia, el entrenamiento integral de las brigadas de combate, la disponibilidad total de todos los equipos de contingencia y la integración adecuada de los sistemas de respuesta.

En Colombia empresas como Petrobras—UNCOL han sido participes de los beneficios y alcances que pueden obtenerse a través de la APC. En menos de dos años de gestión con la APC se han logrado consolidar brigadas integrales de respuesta a emergencias, altos niveles de socialización e integración del plan de contingencia, desarrollo de proyectos específicos enfocados al mejoramiento de cada área, bodegas de respuesta 100% operativas y con equipos totalmente disponibles y una positiva conciencia de la importancia del plan de contingencia sobre las operaciones normales de la compañía.

La APC puede significar una nueva tendencia en gestión y planeación y se espera que en el corto plazo más resultados evidenciables ratifiquen su conveniencia para la industria.
THE DYNAMICS OF ORIMULSION IN WATER WITH VARYING ENERGY, SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE
Authors: Fingas Merv , Fieldhouse Ben , Wang Zhendi , Landriault Mike
Published: January 2013

Orimulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion of Venezuelan bitumen. Orimulsion was found to behave predictably in salt (33°/oo NaCl) and fresh water, driven by buoyancy to rise in salt water and sink in fresh water; but behaviour in brackish water (20°/oo NaCl) was difficult to predict. Temperature has also been indicated as having an influence on Orimulsion behaviour. The current study extended experimentation down to lower temperatures, and a variety of mixing energies.

This study resulted in new information on the behaviour of Orimulsion spills in salt, fresh, and brackish water with salinity values of 20 and 33 degrees at temperatures of 5 and 15 degrees Celsius. Energy was varied by adjusting the applied rotational field and measurement with thermal probes. Depletion rates and characteristics were determined by adding Orimulsion to a 300-L tank of water, taking a time series of samples, and determining the concentration of bitumen and the particle size distribution. Changes in bitumen concentration and particle size distribution as a function of time were also measured. Using these data, simple equations were developed to describe and predict the concentration of bitumen in the water column as a function of time. Similarly nomograms showing the amount of oil on the bottom and on the water surface are presented.
SOURCE IDENTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN SPILL (2002) FROM QUEBEC BY THE MULTI-CRITERION ANALYTICAL APPROACH AND LAB SIMULATION OF THE SPILL SAMPLE
Authors: Wang Zhendi , Hollebone B. , Yang C. , Fingas M. , Landriault M.
Published: January 2013

This paper describes a case study of an oil spill into Canal Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec in 2002. In response to this specific oil identification need, a lab spill simulation was designed to obtain simulated spill samples from the suspected source samples. The integrated multi-criterion approach using GC/MS and GC/FID was then applied for fingerprinting and identifying the spill oil samples. The distribution patterns of hydrocarbons in the spill and suspected source samples were recognized and compared. Analysis of oil-characteristic biomarkers and the extended suite of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were performed. A variety of diagnostic ratios of “source-specific marker” compounds for interpreting chemical fingerprinting data were determined and analyzed. Finally, the major components in suspected source samples were identified. The detailed chemical characterization data highlight that: (1) the spilled oil 264 is diesel fuel, while the suspected source sample 265 is an emulsified Bunker C type fuel; (2) another suspected source sample 266 is a de greaser-type “pine oil” product; (3) the synthetic spill sample from 265 and 266 has a completely different GC profile and chemical composition from the spill sample 264. No component of sample 266 was found and recognized in sample 264.
OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE BTC PIPELINE SYSTEM IN TURKEY
Authors: Gundlach Erich R. , Cekirge Murat , Castle Robert , Reid Hamish , Sutherland Paul
Published: January 2013

The BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) Project includes a 42 in (107 cm) crude oil pipeline extending west from the Caspian Sea across Azerbaijan (433 km, 260 mi), through Georgia (250 km, 150 mi), and then southward through eastern Turkey (1076 km, 645 mi) to a new marine terminal at Ceyhan on the Mediterranean Sea. In Turkey, the pipeline crosses significant mountainous terrain (>2800 m, 8,500 ft), several major rivers as well as five fault zones. The marine terminal includes 7 storage tanks and a 2.7 km (1.6 mi) jetty able to handle two 300,000-dwt tankers simultaneously. The system is designed to transport 1 million barrels per day (∼145,000 t/day).

The oil spill contingency plan is designed to protect sensitive areas, catchment basins, and to prevent the migration of spilled oil. Sensitive features were determined by pre-construction surveys and risk analyses, and updated by additional fieldwork focusing on the potential movement and impacts of spilled oil. Response guidelines based on risk and logistics determined the location of equipment depots and the level of equipment necessary to recover Tier 2 spill volumes. Pipeline equipment and depots are selected to rapidly recover spilled oil and to prevent its downslope and downstream movement. The marine response strategy focuses on protection of adjacent lagoons by on-water containment at the berthing area using an oil spill response vessel (OSRV), tugboats, and other workboats, and various lengths and types of booms, skimmers and storage capabilities.
TRAINING, TESTING, DEMONSTRATING COMPETENCY AND AUDITING A DRILL OR SPILL RESPONSE: DRILLTRAC
Authors: Storey Elin , Pilkey-Jarvis Linda
Published: January 2013

The State of Washington developed DRILLTRAC, a training and competency program for managing oil spills and drills. DRILLTRAC represents an organizational commitment to stand-up a well qualified team at spills of all levels in order to fulfill a fundamental trust responsibility to protect public health, safety and the environment. The agency intends to hold itself to the same high standards that are expected from the regulated community. In addition, through the development of a well qualified team, the agency will be able to assist those unregulated spillers with providing an initial spill management team. DRILLTRAC consists of training and testing, required performance demonstrations at drills and spills, seeded staff to coach performance, response auditing and finally training and outreach to the community. The Program centers around a manual that is based on the 2000 Field Operations Guide (FOG), but is greatly enhanced with coaching tips, information flow diagrams and guidance on what actions need to be taken between the meetings. The manual is available on-line. During the first month it became available, the manual was downloaded over a thousand times. Some of the key training points under DRILLTRAC are:How do you ensure adequate staffing?How do you resolve conflict within unified command?How are critical decisions made by unified command documented?How does a trustee organization ensure that the interests of the state are consistently and adequately protected through the incident command system?How do you develop and measure an aggressive response?How do you ensure that the process being followed leads to the development of an aggressive, objective driven Incident Action Plan?How do you ensure consistent drill evaluation and drill design?

This paper will discuss the development of the program, the goals and some of the points of organizational resistance in the implementation. DRILLTRAC builds confidence, accountability and mutual trust in spill management. It is mission driven for the state of Washington.
RESEARCH NEEDS IN OIL SPILL RESPONSE
Authors: Newman Kimberly S. , Manen Carol-Ann , Kinner Nancy E.
Published: January 2013

As funding for spill research and development (R&D) has declined in recent years, partnerships among relevant federal and state agencies, industry and academia have increased in importance. In order to encourage thinking about spill R&D, develop agreement on research needs and foster these partnerships, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), a cooperative program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH), hosted a three day workshop in November 2003 to identify applied science needs that could improve decision making across the continuum of oil spill preparedness, response and recovery. The emphasis was on research that could decrease the impact of spills on NOAA trust resources or enhance the recovery of the impacted resources.

More than 30 experts in the areas of spill processes, response techniques and habitat restoration participated in the three day workshop. The group included scientists from federal and state agencies, industry and academia. The goals of the workshop were to identify knowledge gaps in the area of spill response and restoration and determine the best approach for addressing these gaps.

Starting with six categories: Fate and Transport of Released Materials; Effects of Spills and Spill Response on Organisms; Effects of Spills and Spill Response on Habitats; Social and Economic Concerns and Needs; Quantitative Metrics for Use in Injury Determination and Restoration; and Restoration Methods, the participants identified over 80 areas of need, including a broad category of communication, and evaluated them with respect to their technical feasibility and potential impact on resource recovery.
DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM IN OIL SPILL DISPERSANT OPERATIONS1
Authors: Rubini Jeffrey H.
Published: January 2013

Governments and industry, both national and international, contend that dispersants are an effective and practical response option under certain circumstances. However, a comprehensive training and education program in dispersant operations used to establish a baseline of understanding among responders and stakeholders is lacking.

Dispersant operations have played a positive and significant role on numerous oil spills in both national and international waters, yet a curriculum in dispersant operations remains a minor component of oil spill response course curricula. This may suggest that decision makers, responders and ultimately the public and environment are being shortchanged of alternative response technology training and education, which essentially fails to meet the needs of regional response teams, area committees, natural resource trustees, and the general oil spill response community's future decision makers.

Supported through case study analyses and critical argumentation, this paper presents an oil spill dispersant operations curriculum that governments and industry, both national and international, can adapt.
CALIFORNIA'S GNOME TRAJECTORY INITIATIVE TO DETERMINE BEST ACHIEVABLE PROTECTION FOR SENSITIVE SHORELINE RESOURCES FROM VESSEL OIL SPILLS
Authors: Jochums Carl , Watabyashi Glen , Parker-Hall Heather
Published: January 2013

California has initiated a new approach to create an objective standard and regulate best achievable protection (BAP) for sensitive shoreline protection from vessel spills. The Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) and California's Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act (SB 2040) mandate BAP as the standard for preparedness and response. BAP poses the critical response planning questions: “How much response resources should industry provide?” and “In what timeframes should those resources be deployed?” Prior California regulations intended to achieve BAP by relying on vessels to identify hazards, trajectories, environmental consequences, and response resource plans, produced less than optimal results in many instances. Though effective in theory, this approach resulted in fuzzy consequences and vague arrangements for adequate response. Because it was neither clear what sites would be protected (and what response resources would be required) nor at what time, and because it was consequentially not clear what response resources would be engaged to execute protection, drilling C-plans became obtuse. This in turn fostered “paper tiger” OSROs and resulted in an uneven playing field for business competitors. In Californias new approach, OSPR used many of the original concepts to identify BAP by using the NOAA GNOME oil spill model for generic vessel risk threats for California ports and along the California coast. This paper explains the theory, steps, and details. As a result of this process, BAP has been defined in terms of specific site deployments at specific time intervals and presented in tables in regulation. This new approach provides a number of benefits and solutions to the difficult issues in the former approach, including a standard for BAP.