bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PREVENTION AND ABATEMENT OF MARINE POLLUTION IN TUNISIAN COMMERCIAL PORTS
Authors: Hazelton Robert H. , Sargent Robert M. , Gundlach Erich R. , Boussetta Mohamed Anis , Djebara Ahmed Ben , Fadhel Sahbene Ben 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
In addition to having ports that ship and receive oil and other commercial products by sea, the Republic of Tunisia is exposed to potential spills from vessels that are routed close to shore as they transit the Mediterranean. This paper summarizes a study that was conducted to evaluate Tunisia's commercial ports' oil spill contingency plans, response equipment, and response management systems, for the purposes of increasing the spill response capability of the Tunisian Office of the Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP) and bringing each plan up to criteria established by Tunisia's 1996 oil spill legislation and international standards. The four ports evaluated were Bizerte, Tunis-Goulette-Radès (TGR), Sfax, and Zarzis.
Interviews and discussions were conducted with representatives of the OMMP, the Agency for Environmental Protection (ANPE), the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Enterprise (ETAP), the Tunisian Navy and Merchant Marine, the Directorate General of Energy, the state-owned oil transportation company (TRAPSA), and selected private sector oil companies. The equipment review entailed analysis of existing equipment in each port, potential spill size and location, time to respond, and environmentally sensitive areas needing protection.
Specific recommendations were made for improving the readiness posture of Tunisia's commercial ports and for the purchase of additional spill-response equipment and services. Implementation of these recommendations will result in a significantly improved capability on the part of the private and public sector users of Tunisia's commercial ports to respond effectively to marine oil spills, should one occur.
This paper highlights the readiness capability of each port and the extent of oil transportation activities, and provides recommendations to improve response via equipment purchases, improvement of the existing response management system, implementation of a training and exercise program, and changes to the port contingency plans.
LOGISTICS FOR THE CONDUCT OF CONTROLLED OIL SPILL EXPERIMENTON BIORESTORATION OF FRESHWATER WETLANDS
Authors: Grenon Stéphane , Jarry Vincent , Longpré Darcy , Lee Kenneth , Venosa Albert D. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The St. Lawrence River, situated between Canada and the United States, provides a major transport route in North America for the transport of millions of tons of crude oil, condensates, and refined products each year. In addition, as one of the largest rivers in the world, it is of major ecological significance. For example, over 55,000 hectares of wetlands are found along the St. Lawrence alone. These areas provide habitat for wildlife, the nurseries for fisheries, and control coastal erosion are highly vulnerable to oil spills. Furthermore, as traditional oil spill cleanup methods may be ineffective or cause more damage, emergency responders are considering less intrusive methods such as biorestoration as operational countermeasures. A biorestoration experiment was designed to measure the effectiveness of this method in the St. Lawrence River. To conduct this experiment, 1,200 liters of crude oil were to be spilled in a controlled manner over an experimental zone of 750 m2 in a marsh area.
To obtain regulatory approvals from governmental agencies, environmental groups and, more importantly, to avoid the “not in my backyard” protests from the local communities, site selection, emergency planning, contingency measures, and especially community meetings, were all necessary steps towards the acceptance of the project. This controlled spill was done in June 1998 without any incident. Sampling of the experimental site will be completed in the fall of 2000.
This paper aims to provide insights on the steps needed to gain acceptance from concerned citizens for the conduct of a controlled oil spill experiment.
SENSITIVE AREAS PLANNING FOR INLAND SOUTH FLORIDA: WEB AND GIS TOOLS
Authors: Zengel Scott , Hayes Miles O. , Michel Jacqueline , Robertson Anna , Francendese Leo , Benggio Brad 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
A sensitive areas plan has been developed for inland South Florida, a region with considerable natural resources at risk and significant oil production, storage, and transport. The plan consists of several Web-based tools and a sensitive-areas geographic information system (GIS). Each component of the plan is briefly described below, and several examples are provided. The Web and GIS tools currently are under review by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region IV and other project participants. Future plans include distributing the plan on compact disk (CD) and over the Internet. The digital format of the sensitive areas plan, and its future availability on CD and the Internet, should enhance the distribution and use of the information by spill planners and responders, making it easier to transport, access, and update. The sensitive areas plan for inland South Florida should serve as a useful model for developing inland plans in EPA Region IV and elsewhere, and should assist spill planning and response efforts in sensitive inland environments in South Florida and elsewhere.
BEHAVIOR OF CHEMICALLY DISPERSED OIL IN A WETLAND ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Page Cheryl A. , Autenrieth Robin L. , Bonner James S. , McDonald Thomas 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted at a wetland research facility, investigating the behavior of chemically dispersed oil (CDO) using an oil spill dispersant. The research site is located on the San Jacinto River near Houston, Texas. The experimental treatments included oiled control, “high-dose” CDO (1:10 dispersant-to-oil ratio, DOR), “low-dose” CDO (1:20 DOR), as well as an unoiled control. Fourteen 5 m x 5 m plots were used for the experiment, four plots for each oiled treatment and two plots for the unoiled control. The treatments were assigned to plots using a randomized complete-block design. Twenty-one liters of Arabian medium crude oil was applied systematically to each plot. For the CDO treatments, the premixed dispersant-plus-oil solution was first added to containers of river water (either 1:10:200 or 0.5:10:200 dispersant-oil-water ratios), and the resulting solution was applied systematically to the respective plots. This method of CDO application was designed to simulate the movement of a dispersed-oil plume into a wetland environment. Sediment samples were taken over a 99-day period, using a 5-cm diameter-coring device. The GC-MS results for both target saturate and target aromatic hydrocarbons were normalized to 17?, 21?-(H)hopane to separate biotic and abiotic removal mechanisms and to minimize spatial heterogeneity. Target compound analyses indicated no significant differences in the biodegradation rates for the three oil treatments. There were, however, significant differences in the amount of oil initially flushed (physical removal) from the plots of both CDO treatments as compared to the oiled-control treatment.
OIL SPILLS AND CRIMINAL SANCTIONS: AN INSURER'S PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Hobbie Richard , Garger Andrew J. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Criminal sanctions are an acceptable deterrent used to combat deliberate dumping of oil and other intentional environmental misconduct. Since insuring against intentional criminal acts is against public policy, pollution insurers have not provided coverage. The growing use of strict liability and negligence statutes by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other law enforcement agencies, and the corresponding lower culpability level necessary for criminal liability, however, have resulted in insurance coverage being developed for certain criminal liabilities.
New issues are now facing the responsible party (RP) and its insurer as a result of this increased use of criminal sanctions. When a spill occurs, the vessel operator, management, and crew need to be aware that they may be a target of a criminal investigation. They may need to assert their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Assertion of Fifth Amendment rights, however, could hinder a cleanup response and also could be considered “lack of cooperation with responsible officials,” which could result in a breach of a vessel's liability limits under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). The cost of providing a defense also may become an issue. It may be necessary to appoint several attorneys to represent divergent vessel and crew interests.
The Certificate of Financial Responsibility system under OPA 90 also may be jeopardized by the prosecution of criminal liabilities for environmental crimes by the DOJ. Under OPA 90, a guarantor/insurer has certain defenses to claims arising from a spill, including the willful misconduct of the insured. Willful misconduct established by a criminal prosecution may allow an insurer to recover from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF).
Some of the inequities in the use of criminal sanctions against RPs eventually may be addressed by legislation. Unless there is legislation that results in major changes, however, the use of criminal sanctions must be considered by a RP and its insurer when planning oil spill response strategies and responding to a spill. This paper will examine the issues involved.
STRATEGY TO COOPERATE AND MINIMIZE FINANCIAL LIABILITY
Authors: Waldron Jonathan K. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
This paper analyzes the various factors that an owner or operator must consider in responding to a pollution incident to ensure that the limits of liability are maintained and to minimize response costs. Recent court cases on monitoring costs are analyzed and Unified Command strategies are discussed to minimize such costs. The importance of response cooperation is discussed with a focus on maintaining limits of liability. Strategies are analyzed and related to response activities to facilitate the cost recovery of removal costs in excess of liability limits from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) after the response is completed. Other cost control matters are analyzed such as response contracts, actions related to response contractor management, and demobilization costs. In summary, the paper outlines a pre-spill strategy that can quickly be implemented during a pollution incident to maximize response effectiveness while to the greatest extent possible minimizing the significant financial risks associated with a fast-paced pollution incident.
SUSTAINABLE SHIPPING: THE BENEFITS OF THE “SAFETY CULTURE” FAR OUTWEIGH THE COSTS
Authors: Ornitz Barbara E. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
An important challenge for the maritime industry is whether those involved in the transport of oil will embrace the concept that the “safety culture,” which includes protection of the environment, is “good business.” Ship owners/operators and others in the maritime business will adopt the safety culture when they believe in a “continuous and never-ending improvement process as a means to promote productivity and profitability.” Sustainable shipping requires the prevention of costly accidents and activation of “best response,” thus reducing environmental impacts if oil spills happen.
Proactive safety management, creation of a quality system with accountability in each link, training of qualified mariners, and using the appropriate response technologies are examples of policy considerations needed to implement this culture. These policy goals should replace short-term thinking of profit maximization and crisis reaction. Safety saves dollars.
Oil spills result in tangible, direct losses of life; injuries; and damage to the environment, cargo, and vessel. Direct costs measure only part of the total. Indirect and hidden costs are harder to quantify. They include, for example, reduced worker morale and productivity, eroding customer base, and in this litigious age, Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs), economic loss claims, increased insurance costs, fines, imprisonment of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and loss to the corporation for their services, public notoriety, lost opportunity, and many other similar losses. The indirect and hidden costs equate to an increase in direct costs, using a conservative multiplier of 2.7 to 1. Estimates of the total cost of all categories for all vessels involved in marine incidents annually are between $581 million to $1 billion. (Conversely, high quality safety management yields cost savings annually for industry of between $500 million and $1 billion, or an average for individual companies of $200,000). True cost accounting (measuring all costs—external, internal, hidden) translates to a better bottom line.
GENERAL NOAA OIL MODELING ENVIRONMENT (GNOME): A NEW SPILL TRAJECTORY MODEL
Authors: Beegle-Krause J. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment (GNOME) is a standard Eulerian/Lagrangian spill-trajectory model designed to meet the needs of planners and expert responders through three different user modes: Standard, GIS Output, and Diagnostic. Spills are modeled by Lagrangian Elements (LEs or splots) within continuous flow fields. GNOME supports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Hazardous Materials Response Division (HAZMAT) standard for Best Guess and Minimum Regret trajectories by providing information about where the spill is most likely to go (Best Guess solution) and the uncertainty bound (Minimum Regret solution).
The public, including spill responders, industry, and students, can use GNOME in Standard or GIS Output mode to prepare spill scenario-related products and for intuition building. These GNOME modes require a Location File that contains a regional trajectory model with a Mini-Expert System to aid in setting up the model. The Mini-Expert System sets up the trajectory model based on user input via dialog boxes. Information sources also are provided to help users answer the dialog questions.
Responders can use GNOME's Diagnostic mode to quickly set up custom trajectory models for any area, as HAZMAT does during spill response. GNOME's Diagnostic model can accept circulation patterns from any hydrodynamic model (from two-dimensional steady-state to three-dimensional time-dependent models) with proper formatting.
GNOME allows all users to save their work in files and create QuickTime movies. In GIS Output and Diagnostic modes, users can export the model results to GNOME Analyst to convert the data from LEs or splots to oil-concentration contours. Both the splots and contours can be exported to a GIS system (HAZMAT provides an ArcView extension). HAZMAT presently is creating Location Files for U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA priority locations with a design philosophy to allow users significant control over the model setup without requiring extensive spill modeling experience. GNOME, all Location Files, and documentation are available for download from NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration Web site1 under Aids for Oil Spill Responders.
EPA REGION IX'S FUELS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Authors: Calanog Steve , Zuroski Donn 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Fuels Management Approach “raises the bar” for regulators and the oil industry. It is a concept that includes all aspects of the “life cycle of oil,” from E&P through consumption. Oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response issues are addressed within this concept.
There are major gaps or overlaps in the regulatory framework, misunderstanding and confusion regarding regulators' duties, and significant inconsistencies in regulatory implementation. While regulators have similar concerns regarding fuels management, little has happened to resolve these issues.
Industry is evolving at an amazing pace through mergers, downsizing, and major oil companies selling assets to smaller operations. The result has been increased numbers of abandoned oil wells, facilities in disrepair, and problems associated with an aging infrastructure. This has impacted regulators' resources as well, and they have become increasingly ineffective because of their lack of coordination and understanding of the oil industry.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuels Management Program (FMP) is based on the philosophy that regulators must develop a new strategy to keep pace with industry changes. The FMP utilizes a holistic approach to the environmental problems related to the oil industry. The program goals are to (1) improve interagency coordination and communication, (2) identify agencies' key issues that could be resolved through partnerships, etc., and (3) identify the universe of problem petroleum sites in Region IX.
To accomplish these goals, however, the FMP must level the playing field by establishing (1) a baseline understanding of the oil industry by regulators, (2) a baseline understanding of the roles and responsibilities of these agencies by all stakeholders, and (3) a forum to discuss fuels management, resources, and technical issues.
The EPA FMP includes workshops and outreach activities for both regulators and industry. This paper discusses the development of the FMP, results of recent workshops, and future involvement of the oil industry.
PREDICTING THE AQUATIC TOXICITY OF CRUDE OILS
Authors: Gala William R. , Rausina Gary A. , Ammann Michael J. , Krause Paul 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Aquatic toxicity information is critical to provide scientifically defensible estimates of ecological impact and natural resource injury to aquatic organisms resulting from a petroleum spill. For most crude oils, the availability of aquatic toxicity information is a significant data gap. As part of Chevron's oil-specific properties summary sheet project, a series of marine fish (silversides, top smelt) and invertebrate (mysid shrimp) acute toxicity tests on five crude oils with extensive chemical analysis (e.g., VPH C6–C9, CROSERF VOCs, EPH C10–C32, PAHs) of exposure concentrations have been performed. Acute toxicity studies were conducted under standard test guidelines. ASTM D 6081 procedures were used to prepare individual water extracts, also called water-accommodated fractions (WAFs), of each test concentration to which the test organisms were exposed. WAF preparation and testing was done in tightly closed containers with minimal headspace to reduce volatilization and maintain stable exposure levels of dissolved hydrocarbons as much as possible. Also, WAFs were replenished daily with fresh test solution. Since toxicity results are expressed as the mean exposure concentration of a particular subset of the petroleum compounds in the WAF that resulted in 50% lethality in the test species, the LC50 values in μg/L will vary depending on which subset is used to describe the effect of the oil on the aquatic organisms. Additionally, since the aquatic organisms are exposed to a mixture of hydrocarbons in the WAF, LC50 values expressed as one subset's concentration are not independent of the presence of other petroleum constituent types. The results indicate that generally invertebrates (i.e., mysid) are more sensitive than fish. LC50s expressed as total polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed the least variability—96-hour LC50s for total PAHs ranged from 19–36 μg/L and 30–128 μg/L for mysid and fish, respectively.
THE OIL SPILL FIELD OPERATIONS GUIDE (FOG)-NEW AND IMPROVED1
Authors: Plourde Kristy , Cameron Jean R. , Huyck Vickie 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The original oil spill Field Operations Guide (FOG) was a product of the Standard Oil Spill Response Management System (STORMS) Task Force comprised of representatives of the U. S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), other states, the petroleum industry, oil spill response organizations, and local government. The STORMS Task Force produced this first version of the “oilized” Incident Command System (ICS) FOG and Incident Action Plan (IAP) forms in 1994 and made subsequent revisions in 1995 and 1996. With 2 more years of ICS experience and facilitated by the States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, a new group of representatives from federal and state governments, the petroleum industry, and oil spill response professionals met to review and update the 1996 FOG and IAP forms in October 1998. The overall goal was to remain consistent with the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) yet reflect the experience gained using ICS at actual oil spills and drills. The group met quarterly over an 18-month period, working collaboratively to reach a consensus on numerous changes. Some of the changes included adding an Environmental Unit to the Planning Section, revising the planning cycle diagram for the oil spill IAP process, and revising the IAP forms as appropriate to reflect the way oil spills are managed. All significant revisions/improvements will be highlighted in this paper and poster.
CHARACTERIZATION OF OIL-MINERAL AGGREGATES
Authors: Lee Kenneth , Stoffyn-Egli Patricia 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Oil associates with fine mineral particles in an aqueous medium not only as molecules adsorbed on mineral surfaces, but also as a discrete phase to form microscopic oil-mineral aggregates (OMA). On the basis of recent studies, OMA formation now is believed to be instrumental in the natural recovery of oil spill impacted shorelines and in the efficacy of cleanup techniques such as surf washing. A better understanding of the nature and properties of OMA will help predict the fate of oil spilled in the aquatic environment.
This work describes the various instruments and methods currently available for the detection and identification of OMA. Three types of OMA have been characterized by microscopy techniques: droplet, solid, and flake aggregates. Droplet aggregates are oil droplets (usually a few μm in diameter) surrounded by individual or aggregated mineral particles. Solid aggregates are a mixture of oil and minerals blended into microscopic bodies of various shapes. Flake aggregates are thin sheets reaching several millimeters across in which mineral and oil are arranged in a regular pattern.
Energy from breaking waves facilitates OMA formation. Once formed, OMA appear to be very stable structures the buoyancy of which depends on the ratio of oil to mineral in each individual aggregate.
Image Archival and Access: Critical Support for the Mission
Authors: Kaperick John 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Every organization has images of incidents they've been involved with, including 35 mm slides, photographs, negatives, digital camera files, graphics from this presentation or that, PowerPoint files, etc. What does an organization do with these after the fact? Is there a central repository? Who takes care of them? How do I find them again? These are very valid questions whether an organization has been involved in incidents for one year or twenty-five years. NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (NOAA OR&R) has been taking pictures of incidents since December 1976 at the ARGO MERCHANT oil spill in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Since that time, roughly 20,000 pictures have been taken. Before 1995, there was very little organization and even sketchier access to the images. Today, more than 14,000 are available as digital files and can be searched through the use of an image database. The process of getting from very little access to near full access has been daunting at times but is well worth the effort.