bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Carissa Oil Spill: Challenges to Oil Spill Source Identification
Authors: Moffatf Gary 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
High resolution gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry (GCMS) were used as fingerprinting techniques in this study to link oil spilled from the New Carissa to oil taken from oil impacted locations. Analyses included normal and isoprenoid alkanes, hopanes, and steranes, as well as a range of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS). The oil spilled from the New Carissa was initially thought to be limited to bunker oils. Therefore, chromatograms of these samples and selected ion monitoring (SIM) chromatograms of the components and their combinations were compared, and obvious mismatches were rejected.
Initial comparisons seemed simple; however, as with the spill response itself, factors that most often are insignificant began to affect the chemical analyses. Complications and technical challenges using conventional fingerprinting methods arose for several reasons. Likely reasons are (1) the spilled oil weathered on continued exposure to environmental conditions; (2) burning could cause changes to the chemical fingerprint; and (3) potential inhomogeneity of the spill because of multiple fuel sources in five fuel tanks at the bottom of the vessel. The PAH fingerprint had limited resistance to weathering. Therefore, the hopane fingerprint was selected for its resistance to weathering and potential screening power. Preburn and postburn New Carissa oil was characterized using principal component analysis (PCA) to determine if new and seemingly unrelated tarballs could be derived from the New Carissa spill. Response personnel will benefit from the lessons learned about potential complications of oil identification and subsequent determination of origin.
OHMSETT 2000: FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Authors: Nolan Kathleen , Schmidt William , Lane James 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
During fiscal year 2000, a series of, boom, skimmer, pump, and dispersant tests were performed at OHMSETT, the national oil spill response test facility. Spill response technology development and training sessions were also conducted. These projects were conducted by government organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center and the U.S. Navy Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (USN ?FESC); research organizations such as Environment Canada, S.L. Ross Environmental Research, and the University of New Hampshire (UNH); and other private companies.
The USCG and the National Spill Control School of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi continued training sessions on the handling of oil spill response equipment. The USCG Research and Development (R&D) Center sponsored a test on viscous oil pumping systems, and another test for the development of fast-water oil spill containment and cleanup equipment. The NFESC conducted an evaluation of four high-speed skimmers that involved testing in waves with light fuel oils. Private companies utilized the tank and its simulated beach system to test their new containment boom designs and multi-skimmer units for oil retention and recovery capabilities. UNH returned to gather performance data on a new rapid current oil barrier design. Each of these projects has been significant in advancing oil spill response technology.
EVOLUTION OF A WORLD-CLASS TANKER ESCORT SYSTEM
Authors: Mitchell Vincent B. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) in Valdez Alaska is responsible for overseeing the prevention, preparedness, and response activities for the safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound. Since the inception of SERVS in 1989, escort vessels have accompanied laden tankers through Prince William Sound from the Valdez Marine Terminal to the Gulf of Alaska, a distance of approximately 70 miles. The tankers pass through the pristine Prince William Sound, which encompasses over 2,500 square miles, with fjord-like topography and a subarctic climate.
The evolution of the tanker escort system began with the emergency order issued by the state of Alaska in 1989 immediately after the grounding of the Exxon Valdez. A fleet of 12 vessels, each singular in purpose, was quickly developed: three dedicated pairs of escorts (comprised of an escort response vessel and tug), response barge standby vessels, and four dedicated docking tugs. The emphasis was more on oil spill response than prevention, and there was little interchangeability between vessels and their missions.
In subsequent years, a variety of factors has caused changes to the escort system and vessel mix. These included the Disabled Tanker Towing Study, Prince William Sound Risk Assessment Promulgation of Federal Escort Requirements, oil spill response responsibility in the Gulf of Alaska, tanker vapor recovery, reduction in pipeline throughput, and weather restrictions. Additionally, industry instituted voluntary measures such as ice scouts and sentinel standby escorts for inbound tankers in ballast have affected the escort system, in addition to the experience gained in the operation the system.
As the escort system matured, there was a marked emphasis and focus on oil spill prevention, fleet modernization, and multipurpose vessels to increase capabilities while maximizing efficiencies. Alyeska/SERVS embarked on a dedicated strategy to upgrade the specialized vessel fleet of 12 vessels to a fleet composed of fewer multipurpose vessels. This strategy encompassed a technological and operational enhancement of the fleet, significantly improving the prevention posture while maintaining the necessary response capabilities.
Today, the Alyeska/SERVS escort fleet consists of nine multipurpose vessels. The cornerstones of the escort fleet are the two 10,192 horsepower Voith Schneider enhanced tractor tugs and the three 10,192 horsepower ? drive Prevention and Response Tugs, all specifically designed, constructed, and outfitted for tanker escorting. The combination of these vessels for tanker escorting utilizes complimentary best available technology to ensure the safe transit of tankers through Prince William Sound.
OFFLOADING NORNE OIL (WAXY OIL) FROM STORAGE TANKS ON THE NOFO OIL SPILL RESPONSE VESSELS
Authors: Johannessen Bjørn Olaf , Holmemo Sigmund 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The oil from the Norne field at the Norwegian continental shelf presented new challenges to the Norwegian oil spill contingency. Because of its high wax content and high pour point, under some conditions the oil could not be collected with the weir skimmers that traditionally are used in Norwegian offshore oil spill contingency. An intensive development project was carried out through which new recovery concepts were developed for the collection of this oil.
Having found a satisfying solution to the oil recovery problem, there were concerns with the ability to offload Nome oil from the storage tanks on the Norsk Oljevernforening For Operatorselskap (NOFO) oil spill response vessels. Det Norske Vertias (DNV) was contracted to assess the offloading capability of four of the vessels in the NOFO pool. Because of the oil's unique properties, it was not trusted that standard methodology for calculating pressure drop in pipes and fittings would provide satisfying accuracy for this oil. Therefore, a pumpability test was conducted on a full-scale copy (somewhat simplified) of one of the offloading systems, in which pressure drops and pumping rates were measured using 30 m3 of emulsified Nome oil. Based on the test findings, a modified method for estimating pressure drop in pipes pumping the Nome oil was established, taking into account the highly non-Newtonian behavior of the oil. The new method was later applied to estimate Nome offloading capacity from a number of tanks on four NOFO vessels.
This paper describes the work conducted and the methodology that was established for estimating offloading capability. As an example, the results obtained applying the method to one of the oil spill response vessels are outlined.
BACKGROUND FLUORESCENCE VALUES AND MATRIX EFFECTS OBSERVED USING SMART PROTOCOLS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO
Authors: Henry Charlie , Roberts Paulene O. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
For a 6-month period between May and September 1999, the staff and crew of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research ship R/V Ferrel augmented their activities to support a baseline fluorometry study for NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R). During the study period, scientific data were collected at more than 50 stations in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The study was designed, in part, to assess the Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART) program. SMART is a joint U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and NOAA monitoring program that provides near real-time feedback to the Unified Command during dispersant applications to mitigate marine oil spills.
Using fluorometers to accurately measure dispersed oil concentrations is not a trivial task. Detector response values vary because of oil composition and oil weathering; dispersed oil is not in true solution; and natural waters contribute matrix effects and background fluorescence. It was the latter two that were investigated. Because seawater is a complex mixture of dissolved chemicals, particulates, and living plants and animals, archiving samples for future analysis relative to background fluorescence is problematic. Each contributes to background fluorescence and matrix effects when dispersed oil is present in the sample. Since water samples change with storage, only near real-time analyses are valid; therefore, using an at-sea laboratory like the NOAA's Ferrel was essential to the study design.
Results suggest that the adverse flouorometry effects observed for open-ocean environments were within typical quality-objective goals. Therefore, the range of seawater composition changes observed in this investigation had very little effect on the ability to detect dispersed oil and meet the SMART mission objectives.
COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF OIL, DISPERSANT, AND DISPERSED OIL TO TEXAS MARINE SPECIES
Authors: Fuller Chris , Bonner James S. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Dispersants are one class of chemical response agents currently approved for use on offshore oil spills. However, questions persist regarding potential environmental risks of nearshore dispersant applications. To address these questions, the relative toxicity of weathered crude oil, dispersant, and weathered crude oil plus dispersant were compared. This study included one luminescent marine bacteria (Vibrio fisheri), two marine vertebrate (Cyprinodon variegatus and Menidia beryllina), and one invertebrate test species (Mysidopsis bahia). Both the vertebrate and invertebrate species were tested under spiked (short episodic) exposure regimes and 96-hour continuous exposure regimes using protocols developed by the Chemical Response to Oil Spills: Ecological Effects Research Forum (CROSERF) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively. Toxicity to the marine bacteria was evaluated after a 15-minute exposure using the Microbics Microtox® system. Results showed no significant variance between the relative toxicity of solutions prepared with weathered crude oil only and weathered crude oil plus dispersant when evaluated with the vertebrate and invertebrate test species. However, oil only solutions were shown to be significantly more toxic to Vibrio fisheri than oil plus dispersant solutions. Data also indicated that constant exposures were significantly more toxic than declining exposures, which is generally consistent with time weighted exposure response evaluations. Microtox® data was comparable to both vertebrate and invertebrate test results suggesting that the method is suitable for toxicity field screening.
OIL REMOVAL OPERATION—YUIL NO.1 AND OSUNG NO.3
Authors: Shim Yoo-Tack , Lee Jae-Gon , Kim Uk 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
This information paper describes the operation principle and method of the oil removal operation carried out by the Korean government in 1998 for two wrecks that had sunk off the south coast of Korea in 1995 and 1997, causing major oil spill incidents. Not only did the oil spill damage the marine environment around Korea and Japan, but it also caused huge damage to the fish farms around the area. It was estimated that the cargo and fuel oil remaining on board was over 1,000 tons. The Korean government therefore decided to remove the remaining oil to eliminate further risk of oil spill and instructed the Korea Marine Pollution Response Corp. (KMPRC) to carry out the operation for the two wrecks. KMPRC successfully removed the oil in 137 days. The operation was extremely difficult since the oil had to be removed from 70 m underwater without affecting the marine environment, which had many fish farms nearby. As the operation used the best underwater equipment and newest technology, this information paper is submitted for reference to those countries that will conduct similar operation in the future.
EMISSIONS FROM MESOSCALE IN SITU OIL (DIESEL) FIRES: EMISSIONS FROM THE MOBILE 1998 EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Fingas Mervin F. , Lambert Zhendi Wang Pat , Ackerman Francine , Li Ken , Goldthorp Mike , Fieldhouse Ben , Whiticar Steve , Campagna Philip , Turpin Rodney , Nadeau Royal , Schuetz Steve , Morganti Mike , Hiltabrand Robert A. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
A series of mesoscale burns were conducted in 1998 to assess fire-resistant booms, twelve of these were used to study emissions from diesel oil burns. Extensive sampling and monitoring were conducted to determine the emissions at nine downwind ground stations, one upwind ground station, and at six side stations. Particulates were measured using high-volume samplers and real-time particulate analyzers. Particulate samples in air were taken and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Water under the burns was analyzed; small amounts of PAHs were found. The burn residue was analyzed for PAHs as well. PAHs were at about the same concentration in the residue than in the starting oil, however, there is a slight differential concentration increase in some higher molecular weight species in the residue. Combustion gases including carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid aerosols, and sulphur dioxide were very low and in some cases undetectable. Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions were measured in Summa canisters. Over 100 compounds were identified and quantified; most concentrations were too low to be considered a health risk. It was concluded that small burns of this size (burn area about 25 m2) are too small to pose a health hazard.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: NATIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN, SUBPART J PRODUCT SCHEDULE (40 CFR 300.900)
Authors: Nichols William J. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manages the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan Final Rule, Subpart J Product Schedule (40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 300.900), which lists dispersants, surface-washing agents (SWAs), bioremediation agents, surface-collecting agents, and miscellaneous oil spill control agents that may be used in response to oil spills on land and on or near waters of the United States, depending on the product and its proper application. Over the last few years, alternative oil spill response methods have been gaining in acceptance and use in the field among first responders, industry, state and federal agencies, Congress, and the entire oil spill response community. EPA sets policy and guidance for the proper use and authority to use these products. Manufacturers and vendors of these products have become more aware of this acceptance evidenced by the frequency that EPA is contacted to provide information on the listing process and EPA policy regarding their use. The number of applications to add new products to the Subpart J Product Schedule has increased over the last year. Subpart J is very prescriptive and specific in directing manufacturers to perform the proper test within the proper protocols, yet many applications are rejected or need modification because of errors in testing procedures or data reporting.
This paper will address the data needed to list a product under each category and will clarify issues related to the Product Schedule. It will also address the policies that EPA uses to enforce the Subpart J regulation. The author has managed the Product Schedule for over 3 years, and his experience and expertise regarding the issues surrounding alternative countermeasures will be covered as well. Dispersants, SWAs, chemical sorbents, and other technologies have sparked controversy and confusion in all regions and areas of the United States, and in some cases internationally. Many research efforts have added to the baseline knowledge we have about dispersants and bioremediation agents' toxicity, efficacy, and proper use, but conflicts still arise as that data is interpreted and applied in the field. The reader will have a better understanding of why and how alternative countermeasures are required to be listed and describe the authority to use them based on EPA policy.
DEVELOPMENT AND WATER TANK TESTS OF SBS (SUGI BARK SORBENT)
Authors: Saito Masaki , Ishii Nobuyoshi , Ogura Suguru , Maemura Shinji 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
In order to provide a resource for responses to marine oil spills with reduced costs and lowered secondary environmental loads we began to develop an oil absorbent made from organic waste material in 1997. After some screening it was found that the fiber of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D.Don) bark has the potential to be an excellent oil absorbent due to its hydrophobic and oleophilic properties. As bark fiber can be enclosed in cotton nets or sheets, the product is composed entirely of organic materials, thus decreasing its toxicity during incineration after use as compared with polymeric materials. In laboratory experiments SBS demonstrated equivalent absorbency (picking up at least 11 times its own weight in bunker C) as conventional polypropylene sheets. The drier and larger the bark fibers of the SBS, the better the absorbency was. In water tank experiments, we also confirmed that some types of SBSs such as S25, S50, B6S14 and M50 were successful in recovering oil in situations with small waves and currents.
ON THE VALUE OF SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSING HUMAN HEALTH RISK AND POTENTIAL NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES
Authors: King Virginia , Kealy Mary Jo 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
During an emergency response to an incident, it is both possible and frequently advantageous to simultaneously address human health risk and injury to natural resources. Integration plays an important role in the overall outcome and success of a response effort for an emergency incident. The primary focus during an emergency incident for the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) is traditionally the reduction of risk to human health. As such, historical response activities have somewhat failed to incorporate other risks, mainly the risk of injury to natural resources. This paper discusses the value of considering incorporation of natural resources potentially affected by the incident early on in the response process. Integration of the delegated interests of all the stakeholders, including the natural resource trustees, into the planning of response actions can serve to accomplish restoring the natural resources that were injured as well as reduce the human health risks associated with the incident. The only means of accomplishing these goals simultaneously is to incorporate all objectives, when possible, through effective communication and coordination of all parties. This paper draws on the authors' experience from over 100 emergency response actions to identify the key factors for the successful integration of restoration into response.
DETERMINING THE SCALE OF RESTORATION FOR A FISH KILL IN THE ALAFIA RIVER, FLORIDA1
Authors: DiPinto Lisa , Penn Tony , Iliff John , Peterson Charles 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
In December 1997, a phosphogypsum stack wall failed at a phosphoric acid/ fertilizer production facility in Mulberry, Florida, releasing 50–56 million gallons of acidic process water into the Alafia River, a major tributary of Tampa Bay. The process water lowered the pH along 35 miles of the river to levels ranging from approximately 2.3 in the freshwater portion to 3–4 in the lower 10-mile estuarine portion. This release resulted in a significant fish kill and injuries to other natural resources and services.
This paper describes the fish kill assessment and the determination of restoration type and scale to offset the fish injuries. The assessment team quantified the fish kill as total biomass lost, defined as the sum of direct mortality plus the foregone future production, as loss of somatic growth of those individuals that were killed. The team identified creation and/or enhancement of fish habitats as the preferred alternatives to provide fish production of the species that were injured, which is an established approach to compensate for acute, species-specific losses. Case-specific analytic techniques were used to estimate secondary productivities from the preferred habitats. Based on the productivity data, the assessment team calculated the scale of the habitat projects that, over the course of their lifetimes, would provide the same amount of biomass that was lost. While the injuries were the result of a hazardous substance release, as opposed to an oil spill, the methods used for injury determination and restoration scaling are directly applicable to an oil spill scenario.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES ON AND OFFSHORE: AN ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Authors: Grasso Jeanne M. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Criminal enforcement of environmental laws has evolved rapidly in the past few years. Recent environmental prosecutions have targeted subtle conduct in innovative and aggressive ways by using expansive theories of liability beyond those contained in environmental statutes. Prosecutions for criminal negligence also are becoming more common. Because of aggressive federal and state efforts targeting environmental crimes, it is time for companies to take a hard look at their corporate policies and environmental compliance records to help ensure that they do not become a target of a criminal prosecution. This paper will review recent criminal environmental cases and discuss ways in which companies can best protect themselves and prepare for an environmental criminal investigation of their companies, officers, and employees.