bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMMUNICATING STUDY RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC TEAMS IN LARGE SPILLS
Authors: Lehr William
Published: August 2014

A large oil spill is not simply a physical phenomenon. Those communicating scientific information about a major incident need to be keenly aware of the political, media, and legal consequences of any scientific communications, something the author learned while co-leading two expert teams during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to (1) estimate the flow rate by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and (2) determine the early fate of the oil (Oil Budget Calculator or OBC).

Unlike past experience at smaller incidents, reports to the unified command were often transmitted to third parties such as politicians, single-issue lobbies, and various media. Assumptions about the receiver's technical background and neutrality that were valid for unified command were often not applicable to these other groups. This resulted in sound scientific conclusions being sometimes misunderstood, misreported or misused. Resources then had to be dedicated to correcting the misinformation, an often more difficult task than generating the information itself.

Based upon this experience, the following lessons learned are recommended:(1)Carefully pick scientific team members based upon not only expertise but also the ability to function within group constraints and unified command rules. The eccentric scientist can be a valid stereotype but emergency events require each individual to subordinate his/her personal ego to team goals. Special interest groups and media organizations may attempt to enlist individual team members to their cause, causing discord within the group. The PIV team members in particular were subject to media invitations to disclose inner discussions and divisions among the members.(2)Vet results not only with Unified Command but also with team members by written agreement prior to public release. Private squabbling over obscure technical points, typical between academic researchers, will be magnified by the press if made public before the points are resolved.(3)Carefully write scientific conclusions to lessen the risk that individuals and organizations may misinterpret or spin the results to their own interest. Both the PIV and OBC teams suffered some misinterpretation of their results by non-scientists, a consequence that might have been reduced if the result limitations had been more clearly identified and explained in laymen terms.
Dispersant-Related Oil Spill Response Communication Tools: Toward an Enhanced Approach to Conveying Complex Topics in an Approachable Manner
Authors: Coolbaugh Thomas , DeMicco Erik , Kennedy Emily
Published: August 2014

During the response to the Macondo Well release in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, it became evident fairly quickly that there was a potential disconnect between existing scientifically-based information relating to the use of oil spill dispersants and the information that was readily available to the general public, the media, and government officials.

At best, both sets of information were aligned and provided a valuable perspective to those who sought an increased understanding of the workings of oil spill response tools. At worst, there was a large misalignment and the information that was available to the public did not accurately reflect the known science of what dispersants have been designed to achieve. In this latter case, conclusions about dispersant use may have been formed incorrectly, providing a backdrop upon which individuals were not able to develop an informed opinion regarding the use of dispersants.

In the case where incomplete and potentially unbalanced information is used to inform the public, it is possible that negative effects will result, i.e., opinions may be formed based on fear of the unknown, causing a delayed or less than optimal decision making process. While it is recognized that decisions made during a spill response may be challenging and may involve an environmental trade-off, an informed public can be a valuable asset during the stages of an emergency response when the pros and cons of the specific response options are being debated. To assist with an informed dialog, it is important to have materials available that accurately reflect the scientific principles upon which they are based, but without requiring extensive study of their details for a general understanding of their primary assumptions and conclusions.

This paper summarizes recent efforts to develop readily available materials that can provide a better understanding of the use of dispersants during an offshore oil spill response. These efforts have been focused on developing simple yet effective tools which describe dispersants within the framework of an oil spill response tool box and the scenarios in which these tools may be used for the most positive environmental effect.
SHORELINE PLANNING AND RESPONSE IN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: Owens Edward H.
Published: August 2014

Many existing or developing offshore production areas and transportation routes are in the Arctic or in marine areas that have seasonal ice. In many respects, the shoreline types of cold-climate or ice-dominated regions are similar to those of ice-free environments. Our knowledge and understanding of shore zone materials and coastal landforms from warmer regions is applicable to these environments in most respects, with the addition of ice and snow and the presence of arctic tundra, glaciers and ice sheets. Oil behaves differently in cold climates depending on the source of the oil, the oil character, and the presence and character of ice and/or snow. A shoreline would be protected from direct contact by oil when ice is present in the shore zone. Ice is impermeable so that oil deposited on the surface remains there unless there are cracks in the ice, the ice conditions are floes grounded on the shore, or during the formation of shore fast ice. Shoreline cleanup methods are not significantly different and no more difficult that in warmer, ice-free regions, except on ice and low-lying arctic tundra. The key challenges for a shoreline response in ice-dominated environments typically are associated with remoteness, safety and logistics. As a result, the emphasis for shoreline cleanup strategies is on in situ treatment techniques that require minimal equipment and manpower resources and generate little or no waste.
Preventing a Nationally-Significant Oil Spill on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland
Authors: McGrath CDR Gabrielle G.
Published: August 2014

As the Arctic becomes more heavily populated and more open to commercial shipping operations, the threat of an oil spill increases. On the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, both fixed and mobile oil rigs drill for the region's highly lucrative natural oil resources. This region also happens to be one of the most dangerous shipping areas in the world. The cold Labrador Current travels south from the Arctic bringing with it icebergs calved from the glaciers along the Western Greenland coast. As these icebergs travel south, they intersect directly with the transatlantic shipping lanes following the Great Circle route just south of Cape Race, Newfoundland. The cold waters of the Labrador Current interact with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to create extensive regions of fog with little to no visibility. As the Arctic Ocean becomes more accessible to shipping, vessels will not only transit this region travelling east and west, but also north and south to new production areas in the Arctic. Any vessel entering or exiting the Northwest Passage must transit through this region. An oil spill caused by an explosion on one of the Grand Banks' oil rigs, an allision of an iceberg with one of the rigs, or a collision of a commercial tank vessel with an iceberg are just a few of the possible scenarios that could cause a devastating incident in this region. Pervasive fog limiting aerial and satellite coverage, the diverse seabird, fish, and marine mammal population, and the presence of sea ice and icebergs during more than half of the year would result in one of the most challenging responses in the world. Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers have conducted extensive preparations for an oil spill response in this region. However, a more far-reaching response plan must be created through consultation between government and industry stakeholders, using lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico to prepare for an internationally-significant event. With the opening of the Arctic Ocean and the increase in the shipping and offshore drilling in this area, a comprehensive plan must be developed before an internationally-significant oil spill occurs.
Mutual Interests, Mutual Training, Results in Mutual Aid and Respect
Authors: Wieliczkiewicz Edward J
Published: August 2014

In a crisis situation responders from different organizations may find each other's priorities and goals in conflict. By training to a common standard, we create an environment where adversarial conflicts are replaced with open discussions. We may disagree on the path, but in the end it is in everyone's best interest to have a common, well understood goal. After 2010, it became apparent to me that agencies and industry did not always share a common understanding of the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The result would be conflicting agendas, potential mistrust and a perception that responders did not have control of the emergency.

This paper will describe the method that Alaska's North Slope responders used in 2012 to extend the practice of spill response teams training together to the Incident Management Teams and the benefits that resulted from this approach. Our goal was to strengthen the response posture of Alaska's North Slope through an aggressive training program involving multiple industry and agency partners in a year-long series of classroom and field opportunities, working together as members of the same team. A common national curriculum delivered by a team of certified instructors allowed participants to develop or reinforce a common understanding of the NIMS based principles and processes. At the end, teams would participate in a 3 day long field exercise (using a scenario they had never seen before) involving responder and equipment deployment based on plans developed by the Unified Command. Rarely does a training product actually end up as a plan implemented in the field. Because the scenario was not rehearsed, this reality check ensured everyone took their duties seriously. Responders would implement tactics, request and expect supplies, and the consequences of the team's actions would result in a success, or failure, that could affect the reputation of all the parties involved.

Program participants included personnel from six oil companies (including UK based personnel), U.S Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, State of Alaska, North Slope Borough, Alaska Cleans Seas and a myriad of North Slope Spill Response Team.

Key benefits included a common understanding of NIMS ICS at all levels, building relationships, a mentoring environment allowing inexperienced participants to build competency and expertise, and meeting portions of contingency plan readiness requirements.

The program helped reinforce Alaska's North Slope responder's reputation for world class response capability.
Developing Cleanup Endpoints for Inland Oil Spills
Authors: Whelan Ann , Clark Josie , Andrew Gary , Michel Jacqueline , Benggio Bradford
Published: August 2014

Achieving consensus on cleanup endpoints for inland oil spills can be difficult. They tend to be more stringent than those applied to spills in the marine environment and often require more intensive cleanup methods with the risk of increased ecological impacts. There are limited data on which to evaluate net environmental benefit considerations, weighing the consequences between ecological versus human-use priorities. Inland habitats often lack some of the dynamic physical processes (such as waves and tidal fluctuations) that can speed the rate of natural removal of oil residues. The direct human uses of inland habitats, such as for drinking water, recreation, industrial use, and irrigation, require a higher degree of treatment than may be required in the marine environment to avoid human health and socio-economic impacts. Spills in close proximity to where people live, work, or recreate also often require treatment to a higher level. Inland spills can affect smaller water bodies where there are slower rates of dilution and degradation. There may be large-scale differences in water levels during the response, causing oil to be stranded well above normal levels where it can pose hazards to wildlife as well as humans using these areas. Many states perform risk assessments and develop endpoints for sediment quality and/or surface and groundwater guidelines that must be met as part of the remediation phase after the emergency response is completed. Case studies are used to illustrate these issues. Guidelines are provided for developing appropriate cleanup endpoints for inland oil spills and selection of appropriate treatment methods to reach them.
New Tools for the SCAT Program: An Innovative Approach to Assimilating Newer Responders into the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique Program
Authors: Parker Heather A. , Clark Josie , Martin Brad H. , Pilkey-Jarvis Linda , MacDonald Brian
Published: August 2014

As less experienced responders join spill response operations, concurrent with the loss of experienced responders to retirements and fewer large spills, the need for tools that capture and promote the best practices of spill response functions becomes imminently critical. Better, more practical tools help less-experienced responders assimilate not only the basics of the planning assignments but also provide them with guidance gained from seasoned responders. The Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) program within the Incident Command System (ICS) is one assignment that often sees a number of less experienced participants. In many instances, responders participate on SCAT Field Teams and are not adequately exposed to planning or managing the overall SCAT program. Most SCAT tools are oriented towards field work, or focus only on single components of the SCAT process (e.g. treatment recommendations, endpoints). Comprehensive guidance that unites the elements of planning for SCAT, that highlights timing, integration into ICS and best management practices has previously not been available. The Northwest Area Committee (NWAC) in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States created a SCAT Task Force in 2012, comprised of Federal and State agencies, industry and experienced consultants, to develop “smarter” checklists and innovative tools that assist responders from “pre-SCAT” activities through the Treatment Endpoints and Sign Off process, within the ICS framework. Through a collaborative process, this Task Force developed a suite of unique products designed to guide new and less experienced responders to walk through the process of establishing a comprehensive SCAT program and empower them with best practices learned over many years of spill response experience, including those gleaned from some of the larger responses around the United States in the last ten years. This paper will describe this NWAC suite of SCAT checklists and products in greater detail, and describe how they might be used in other regions to help less experienced responders expedite their working knowledge in performing the range of SCAT program tasks, responsibilities and functions.
SHORELINE RESPONSE - A PARADIGM SHIFT
Authors: Owens Edward H. , Dubach Helen C. , Castle Robert W.
Published: August 2014

From time to time an event or a series of events can produce a change in strategic thinking or operating practices. One outcome of the Deepwater Horizon response was to learn from the process by which the shoreline response program was developed while the majority of planning and operational effort was directed towards the multi-faceted and intensive on-water program to recover or eliminate oil on the water before it could reach the coastal zone to minimize the impacts of the spill. This emphasis is typical of most marine and coastal spill response operations even though the duration of on-water operations may be a few days or weeks, whereas the onshore phase typically extends over weeks, months, or even years. The chronic nature of the Deepwater Horizon spill resulted in the on-water phase lasting for several months so that resources that typically would have transferred over to shoreline operations within a short time frame (days to a few weeks) remained committed to offshore and nearshore operation well into the summer of 2010.

Shoreline cleanup is arguably the most intensely scrutinized and potentially expensive, in terms of time and effort, part of any response. Pre-planning shoreline cleanup in detail can be very challenging. Notwithstanding the types and volumes of oil, primary factors affecting shoreline cleanup strategy include potential oil pathways, shore types, seasonal coastal ecosystem and individual resource sensitivities, stakeholder involvements, and tactical cleanup options and restrictions. Few organizations have dedicated resources for shoreline cleanup: these must be identified and mobilized for a specific scenario (shore type, oil character, volume, etc.). However, a readiness to respond rapidly and expertly to oil on shore is critical as cleanup actions typically are most effective and efficient immediately following deposition, before oil is remobilized, buried or weathers to a state more difficult to clean.

These preplanning challenges often mean that crucial details in a shoreline response plan are developed while oil is heading towards or even is onshore. The development of a Shoreline Response Program (SRP) addresses these challenges. The model SRP is a paradigm shift in the sense that it represents a change in some basic assumptions for spill response planning and first-phase response operations related to shorelines.
The IMO/IPIECA Global Initiative: Expanding Government and Industry Cooperation into New Regions
Authors: Coolbaugh Thomas , Bonneville Elisabeth , Depraz Sophie , Murphy Helen , Taylor Peter
Published: August 2014

As oil industry exploration and production activities and global marine shipping patterns have evolved, there is recognition of the potential for increased levels of oil spill risk in specific regions. In response to this, the IPIECA/IMO Global Initiative (GI) Programme is undergoing a period of broad expansion into regions where these increased activities may have the biggest potential impact. These same regions tend to show a need for improvement: consistency in the application of international legislation; effectiveness of regional agreements and national plans; and industry arrangements in order to minimize the likelihood of a significant incident and to mitigate the consequences. As is the case in the existing GI regions, the overall objective of any proposed new regional initiatives is to strengthen the cooperation between government and industry on oil spill related issues and to improve the capacity of countries to protect their marine and coastal environments and resources through the full implementation of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC).

Three active and functional GI regional programmes have been established between 2003–13, covering (i) the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Central Eurasia, (ii) West, Central and Southern Africa and (iii) South East Asia. The establishment and successes of these programmes are described, along with on-going work in this field in the Mediterranean Sea.

As a result of increased oil and gas activity, IPIECA and IMO have identified East Africa as a “high priority” region for future GI activities. In 2013, IPIECA has commissioned a report to outline the existing level of oil spill risk from upstream and shipping activities and assess the existing preparedness and resource capabilities of government and industry within the region. The current status of this effort will be reviewed.

The possible development of a GI programme for coastal China that would provide spill preparedness and response technical workshops in China will be reviewed with particular emphasis on a 2012 agreement between the Chinese Maritime Safety Agency, IPIECA, and the IMO.
The Global Initiative for South East Asia
Authors: Guevarra Joselito
Published: August 2014

The South East Asian region's risk for oil spills has been increasing for the past three decades. This is primarily due to the ever-increasing shipping traffic, especially tankers, bringing oil from the Middle East to customers mainly in China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Another factor is the growth in the exploration and production activities of international and domestic oil companies. Of particular relevance is the expansion of oil exploration into remote areas where oil spill response preparedness is very challenging.

Through the years, the lack of credible legal frameworks and the disjointed approach have hampered the development of the critical elements of a robust oil spill response system such as national oil spill plans, training and exercise programs, ratification of the relevant international conventions, and mutual aid or bilateral agreements between neighboring countries.

The Global Initiative for South East Asia (GI SEA), a collaborative effort between IPIECA and IMO (International Maritime Organization), aims to provide the governments of the Southeast Asian countries with the facility to work together with the oil industry to improve the state of oil spill preparedness and response. GI SEA is a direct response for a credible and effective oil spill preparedness and response system that takes into account each country's individual requirements and the region's needs. The Programme is built on the core principles of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) and implemented by the combined efforts of government and industry.

This paper will present information on the current state of preparedness of selected South East Asian countries and the region as a whole. It will also describe the process of the formation of the GI SEA, including the major challenges of achieving consensus, building support, funding, and developing the individual country plans to suit their needs. It is also the intention to discuss the current and future activities of GI SEA.
Brazil Case Study - Tactical Response Plans and Voo's Program - A New Approach to Shoreline Protection Preparedness
Authors: Fantinato Lucas , Ranierin Adriano , Martins Pedro , Lutz Gustavo
Published: August 2014

In the past, Brazilian Oil Spill Response Plans focused on the definition of response strategies in offshore environments, but were insufficient when it came to shoreline protection.

After the occurrence of major oil spill accidents around the world and events of great repercussion in Brazil and with the intensification of oil and gas E&P activities in locations close to the coast and near environmentally sensitive areas in the country (such as Camamu-Almada and the Jequitinhonha basin), the need for additional nearshore response studies became of the utmost importance.

Recently developed documents address the environmental characterization of the coast and indicate the appropriate response strategies, but a more action-oriented approach is needed.

For that purpose, based on the best practices in shoreline protection worldwide, a methodology is being implemented so as to provide consistent preparedness support for the protection of nearshore resources.

The methodology uses the Brazilian licensing mandatory documents in order to identify the appropriate level of protection preparedness for each of the vulnerable segments of shoreline within the domain of the E&P activity.

Once the proper level of preparedness has been identified, the method indicates how to attain such result by presenting a set of tools, such as: TRP (Tactical Response Plan), VoOs (Vessel of Oportunity) Program, Advances Bases and Full Deployment Exercises.

This paper provides an overview of the methodology, followed by a case study in Brazil which helps illustrate how the level of preparedness is determined and how the proposed tools help achieve such result. Therefore, it allows assessing the effectiveness of this new approach in the country.

Considering Brazil's growing E&P potential, the long extent of its coastline and the abundance of sensitive resources alongshore, the methodology should be applied to other E&P projects developed in the country.
What Makes a Good Response?
Authors: Purnell Karen , Zhang Ann
Published: August 2014

What defines a successful response to an incident? Is it dependent upon satisfying potential critics; does it depend on money saved or received in compensation; is it defined by avoiding or mitigating pollution damage; or is it all of the above?

Once an incident has occurred the success or otherwise of the response can be predicted based on relatively few key variables. In this paper. For example:Preparedness & Training – i.e. the extent to which a country is prepared for an incident and whether the roles and responsibilities of individuals expected to be involved in the response are clearly defined.Location of the incident – i.e. the country, the culture and reaction to the incident; whether it has occurred off-shore or near-shore etc.Port of Refuge – i.e. whether or not a clear process for dealing with a casualty is pre-established.Trust & Respect – i.e. the extent to which trust exists between the various parties involved in an incident and the level of knowledge and expertise needed to engender respect.Co-operation – i.e. the extent to which parties are willing to co-operate and work together; the degree of realism about what can be achieved, and the level of confidence exhibited by those with ultimate responsibility.Communication – i.e. the effectiveness of the command structure and the lines of communication between parties; willingness to communicate.Cost-control/accountability – i.e. attitude towards cost control and effective use of resources.Compensation – i.e. whether adequate systems are in place to compensate victims of oil pollution damage promptly and fairly; compensation versus punitive fines.3 Ps (Politicians, Press, Public) – i.e. the degree to which these are allowed to drive the response.Willingness to Learn – i.e. the extent to which past incidents are used to inform potential future incidents; realism during exercises and debriefs.

This paper will draw upon incidents that ITOPF has attended in its 45 year history to identify patterns of behaviour and the degree to which these variables can influence the outcome of a response. Recognition of the relative importance of these variables ought to form the basis of learning in order to improve the chances of a positive outcome in future incidents.
BioBind - Airborne clean-up of oil pollution at sea with biogenic oil binders
Authors: Siewert Marcus , Powilleit Martin , Saathoff Fokke
Published: August 2014

The success of oil spill response operations is mainly dependent on the response time and the weather and sea state conditions. That's where the research project “BioBind” is setting the focus: To develop an oil spill response system fast to apply and sea state independent. Within this project a network of eight different partners from universities, research institutes and medium sized companies work from summer 2011 to summer 2014. The paper provides an overview on the oil spill response research project “BioBind” and focuses on a large scale field experiment carried out in summer 2013 with the RV “E.M.Borgese” at the Baltic Sea.
Effect of Salinity on the Effectiveness of Solidifiers for Crude Oil Spill Remediation
Authors: Sundaravadivelu Devi , Suidan Makram T. , Venosa Albert D. , Rosales Pablo I.
Published: August 2014

A laboratory investigation was conducted to test the effectiveness of solidifiers with fresh water and artificial seawater using Prudhoe Bay Crude oil. Experiments were designed to study the effects of salinity, solidifier type, solidifier-to-oil mass ratio (SOR), mixing energy and beaker size using five solidifiers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing a protocol for testing the effectiveness of solidifiers in a laboratory setting. This involves measuring the amount of free oil remaining in the water after the solidified product is removed using an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. For these experiments, 0.25 mL of oil was added to salinized beaker containing 80 mL of water. Milli-Q water and sterile GP2 seawater were used as the exposure media. The mass of the solidifier was changed depending on the SOR. Each of the solidifier was added to a slick of crude oil on water. After stirring the mixture for 30 minutes, the solidifier was removed. The water with the remaining oil was transferred from the beaker to 250 mL separatory funnel. The solution in the funnel was extracted three times with 20 mL of dichloromethane and the final volume adjusted to 60 mL. The extracted samples were analyzed for oil content with an Agilent 8452 ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. All experiments were carried out in triplicate. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the data collected, which helped quantify the main and interactive effects of the variables. Salinity of the water was mostly found to be an insignificant factor. Results indicated that SOR and solidifier type are the most important variables affecting removal efficiency.
Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic
Authors: Trigatti Larry , Bjerkemo Ole-Kristian , Everett Mark
Published: August 2014

This paper describes the background, approach, challenges and results of the development of the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic signed May 2013 by the eight member states of the Arctic Council at Kiruna, Sweden. The Arctic Council established an interdisciplinary task force in May 2011 to develop the Agreement. The Task Force included participants from the Arctic states, Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council, observers, industry representatives, and invited experts. The Task Force met five times over nearly a one year period. The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen cooperation, coordination and mutual assistance among the Parties on oil pollution preparedness and response in the Arctic in order to protect the marine environment by pollution from oil. The Agreement applies to oil pollution incidents that occur in or may pose a threat to any marine area over which a State whose government is a Party exercises sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction, including in its internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, consistent with international law. An Operational Guideline to the Agreement was developed by the Arctic Council's standing Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (EPPR) work group to provide tactical operating procedures for: notification; requests for assistance; provision of assistance; coordination and cooperation in response operations, including in areas beyond the jurisdiction of any State; movement and removal of resources across borders; procedures for conducting joint exercises and training; and a variety of other topics.
Implementing U.S. Arctic Policy: An Analysis of Federal Recommendations
Authors: Guidon Samantha , Leroux Celeste
Published: August 2014

We outline U.S. Arctic policy recommendations, goals, and strategic plans promulgated by federal entities in recent years, then analyze the policies and determine the most commonly referenced policy recommendation. This analysis is valuable in the interest of identifying an overall direction for Arctic policy as suggested by the selected federal entities in the United States. We then delve into the oil and gas industry presence in the U.S. Arctic outer continental shelf and the existing federal permitting process by conducting a case study of Shell's 2012 Arctic offshore exploration activities in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. We conclude with an assessment of key policies and recommend next steps for implementation.
Advance Fast Water Spill Response Tactics
Authors: Cook Mark D
Published: August 2014

Alaska rivers and streams present many distinct challenges for spill response due to the remoteness of the environment of the 800 miles of Trans Alaska Pipeline traverses through Alaska. The Glacial and non Glacial streams and rivers seasonally produce current velocities that vary from 2 ft/s to 12 ft/s for operating conditions to respond to the event of a spill that may potentially enter them.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company has 5 different programs that the Emergency Preparedness Compliance Team actively employs. These Programs have contributed to developing innovative advanced fast water booming containment and recovery tactical responses to potential oil spill scenarios. These programs are the Pipeline C-Plan Equipment & PM Committee, Pipeline Training Academy, Exercise and Lessons Learned, Vessel Operating Committee, and LPS Safety Programs that affect Oil Spill Response. These programs have a strong focus on safety.

The development of faster boom has increased the capability of booming extremely fast water that was not achievable in the past. The further development of midstream anchoring systems and shoreline anchor systems has advanced the capabilities of booming rivers that were previously not achievable. There are difficult challenges of fast water river systems that do not present slow or back water eddies for containment and recovery. They have now become achievable using partial deployment of portable light weight dams across a small segment of the river profile to produce these opportunities for recovery. Helicopter slinging operations using the Harbour Buster System to remote rivers of Alaska have also proven to be effective and tested for response capabilities.

The techniques used are equally applicable to all regions of the world and have been presented to a network of OSRO's. The presentation will present the development of empirical data gathered from different river velocities and conditions. Using this research data will help predict and calculate boom requirements in each unique condition for Operations and Task Forces in tactical response. Profiling river hydrology is essential to the success of containment and recovery. The profiling assessment will identify key elements for operational and tactic decisions in choosing the optimal location for making diversion and containment boom sets for recover efforts for spill response.
Developing Location-based Oil Spill Waste Management Plans
Authors: Metcalf Stuart
Published: August 2014

The management of waste arising from offshore and in particular on-shore oil spill response activities can often incur more cost and resources than the responses themselves. Careful pre-planning can deliver more efficient and effective implementation, minimising both impact and cost and providing the opportunity for improved stakeholder engagement and media interaction.

Current practice necessarily focuses much effort and resource on two goals:the development of comprehensive plans to prevent oil releases from offshore oil exploration and production facilitiesdetailed planning of effective responses if they do arise.

In many cases, detailed planning for the management of wastes appears to have been left largely until after a release has occurred. This is understandable when a vessel is the source of the spill as none of the critical variables can be defined in advance. However, when releases originate from offshore oilfield infrastructure it is possible to define many of these variables with reasonable accuracy and to use them as the basis for detailed and focused pre- incident planning, yet oil spill planners still seem to have been reluctant to address this issue. This is possibly due to the inherent complexity, cost and lack of perceived benefit of pre- incident waste management planning – it is hoped this paper will stimulate rethinking of this approach.

A significant number of the factors which influence the preparation of an effective waste management plan derive from the impacted location, (forecast using trajectory modelling). This information (shoreline substrate, clean up techniques, logistics, resources etc.) can be used to develop models that estimate waste arising from individual sections of shoreline - these can then be consolidated with data from other shoreline sections to determine waste stream types and quantities on a local and regional basis. Options for reuse/recycling/treatment and disposal and the resources required can also be assessed, allowing the development of strategies for delivery of the selected options. Assessments can also be made of the need/benefit for providing stockpiles of materials and/or equipment.

Considering key issues before an incident arises enables these to be reviewed more comprehensively in a non-crisis situation. The development of models facilitates review of alternative scenarios and quick adjustment to the plans if an actual release occurs and more accurate details become available. The approach proposed can be applied to any geographical location. The paper outlines this process, examples of the results and the benefits of its adoption.
Using Risk Based Decision Making to Select Personal Protective Equipment for Oil Spill Responders
Authors: Weems Laura Hartline , Husum John T. , Garner Val
Published: August 2014

Typically, personal protective equipment (PPE) is the primary control measure employed during emergency response operations. PPE and administrative controls rise to the forefront of oil spill response activities due to inherent delays and feasibility issues involved in the implementation of effective engineering controls. Response organizations, possibly due to a failure to assess the hazards appropriately, overprescribe PPE in an attempt to ensure both compliance and protection; however, this approach may actually increase the risk of injury or illness. Choosing and implementing PPE as a response control measure is never a “one-size-fits- all” solution. The proper selection of PPE requires a risk assessment that takes into account the responders, working conditions, tasks and their associated hazards. Moreover, as the work and conditions change, a reassessment is necessary.

This paper outlines a summary of the methodology for conducting an evaluation of the conditions and choosing the appropriate PPE by assessing the hazards associated with the work environment. The process consists of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) combined with a Risk Assessment (RA) in order to develop a complete Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Oftentimes, the JHA is done without the RA leading to the inappropriate selection of PPE as the JHA alone does not consider the potential hazards created by the use of PPE. Additionally, as the work, environment, or responder conditions change, or if there is an indication that the control measures are not working as intended (e.g., several responders have heat-related injuries), the JSA process is repeated to ensure that control measures are still current and effective.

This methodology will create an effective PPE program by 1) ensuring that the selected PPE is the best suited for that particular job; 2) attempting to reduce responder discomfort; 3) potentially reducing waste and disposal of PPE; and 4) maximizing responder efficiency and effectiveness by avoiding unnecessary stress.

All of this information and support appendices have been published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in a document titled: Recommended Practice 98, Personal Protective Equipment Selection for Oil Spill Responders (2013) available through API at: http://www.techstreet.com/api/products/1862449.
Strategies for Assessing Human Health Impacts of Crude Oil Releases
Authors: Harrill Joshua A. , Wnek Shawn M. , Pandey Ram B. , Cawthon Dave , Nony Paul , Goad Phillip T.
Published: August 2014

Oil spills create unique challenges in regards to the assessment of potential exposures to response workers and members of the public, and in assessing the potential environmental impacts of the release. This presentation discusses the use of breathing zone air samples taken above or in the direct vicinity of freshly released product for the establishment of air (personal and ambient) monitoring strategies. Air samples collected directly in the vicinity of freshly released and weathered product can provide critical information regarding the potential for work-site and off-site community exposure monitoring. The relative levels in air of volatile organics emitted from fresh product can be used to focus analytical sampling efforts on those constituents with the greatest potential for exceeding occupational exposure levels and community exposure guidelines, and which have the potential for impacts on human health. Finally, analytical methods for evaluation of air samples should include reporting of tentatively identified compounds (TICs), as the primary constituents of crude oil are often not included as target analytes in commonly-employed analytical methods and will likely vary based on the type of crude oil released.
ESTIMATING MECHANICAL OIL RECOVERY WITH THE RESPONSE OPTIONS CALCULATOR
Authors: Mattox Andrew , DeCola Elise , Robertson Tim
Published: August 2014

Forecasting the actual effectiveness of mechanical oil spill response forces is known to be very difficult. Frequently, linear calculations such as estimated daily recovery capacity (EDRC) are used to predict the volume of oil that a response system can recover. While EDRC provides a standard approach to estimating on-water oil recovery based on a percentage of the skimming efficiency, this approach does not account for all of the real-world factors that may impact the actual recovery capacity of a given response force.

We have developed a method using the Response Options Calculator (ROC) program to estimate the on-water recovery capacity for a defined response force under various oil spill scenarios, incorporating transit times, spill timing, seasonality, and simplified environmental conditions. This provides more realistic recovery estimates than EDRC, and can be developed using a publicly available modeling tool that does not require a technical background.

This paper describes our recent experience applying the ROC to a series of hypothetical oil spills along the Pacific Coast of the U.S. and Canada. We explore the capabilities and limitations ROC, and explain the method we have developed. Our treatment includes a discussion of factors such as secondary storage, transit times, spill timing, seasonality and daylight, as well as model shortcomings and how to interpret the final outputs. The results produced by the ROC analysis may be used to inform oil spill contingency planning, response readiness assessments, and risk management.
Applying International Standards in Response to Oil Spills in Remote Areas
Authors: Reynolds Kelly
Published: August 2014

It is accepted international practice that the level of effort invested in oil spill contingency planning and preparedness should be related to the best available, location-specific risk evaluations. Accordingly, high risk and/or highly sensitive areas often see greater degrees of planning and pre-incident resource allocation than low risk areas. High risk areas typically include navigational ‘choke points’ for shipping or approaches to ports; highly sensitive areas would include areas of intense coastal tourism, mari-culture, or natural resources (e.g. coral reefs or mangroves). Naturally, levels of preparedness vary between countries for a variety of reasons including availability of resources (i.e. funding) or priorities. Whilst logical, this approach to contingency planning leaves open a gap in response capacity in so far as incidents do still occur from time to time in what are normally thought of as extremely low risk areas. Good examples are the infrequent, yet still important, incidents that occur from passing vessel traffic on long-distance, inter-continental routes. Other examples are incidents from scheduled shipping routes servicing remote areas or even passenger vessels visiting remote locations such as the Arctic or the Antarctic.

Because remote areas are often characterised by a general lack of infrastructure and because local authorities in remote locations typically do not have appropriate funds, training and manpower to deal with unexpected oil spill incidents, the intensity and quality of emergency response and post-incident follow-up tends to depend on the involvement of outside parties. The question arises, what is appropriate “international practice” in response operations in terms of the types/methods of work undertaken, the termination standards applied, health and safety issues, and post-incident follow-up, such as monitoring studies. The intent of this paper is to discuss the meaning of “international standards” for oil spill response in the context of remote operations. Practical examples will be drawn from remote spills world-wide, including incidents in Tristan da Cunha (in South Atlantic), Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea.
Development of the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator Training Guidebook
Authors: Levine Ed , Tarpley John , Drury Alice , Jellison Kyle , Lomnicky John
Published: August 2014

This paper provides an overview of the Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) Training Guidebook and describes the knowledge and skills necessary for the SSC position.

This Guidebook provides a principal set of knowledge and skills that a well-rounded SSC needs to successfully perform their duties. It describes technical skills and indicates opportunities for employees to acquire them. The Guidebook does not replace informal strategies, such as mentoring or on-the-job training, but incorporates all such informal strategies with more organized methods into a single document.

We have included an introduction and background to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), and the role of the Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC). We identify the SSC mandates, missions, and duties; establish the need for the Guidebook by describing the complexities of the job, anticipated turnover due to retirements, need for consistency across the country, increased need for bench depth, and NOAA Corps rotational assignments.

The process employed to design and implement the Guidebook is explained, along with the rational for the design elements and content. Included are relevant examples from the Guidebook. A discussion on the use and implementation for new SSCs and the anticipated outcome from implementing this type of formalized and documented indoctrination process and training program are offered.

This new Guidebook is more than a simple checklist. One goal of this revision is to be engaging for new SSCs. To achieve that goal, SSCs themselves wrote this Guidebook from the perspective of the new SSC, explaining the benefits of the Guidebook's elements specifically for a new SSC. Workgroup members analyzed the previous versions to identify the assumptions about knowledge and skills of the new SSC when they are hired, and the expected improvements in knowledge and skills that will be gained once they have been completed.