bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safeguarding the Public Interest: A Look At Government Policies That Affect the Opa 90 Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and Oil Spill Costs1
Authors: de Bettencourt Michael , Merrick Gary , Deal Timothy , Travis Bob 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
U.S. government policies concerning the management of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) may be responsible for increased costs of oil spill cleanup in the United States. By not requiring measures of effectiveness and efficiency, and by enforcing policies that are disincentives to cost control, the government may be encouraging increased oil spill removal costs.
The costs of an oil spill have increased substantially since the enactment of OPA 90, this despite improved spill response techniques and contingency planning. Rising costs have been attributed to:The government's acute sensitivity to public concerns about spill cleanupThe increased costs of natural resource damageThe inefficiency of spill response management
This paper discusses the steps necessary to curb rising cleanup costs by changing policies relative to the management of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund OSLTF and by instituting measurements of spill response efficacy. Section I of the paper describes the current state of OPA 90 and the OSLTF. Section II outlines measurement and evaluation of oil spill responses using a Best Response model currently being developed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Section III describes several disincentives currently in place under policies of the OSLTF managers that have an effect on allowing increased costs for oil spill response.
The Oil Spill Risk-Ranking Methodology
Authors: Dixon Caroline , Rath Robert H. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a methodology to semi-quantitatively compare and rank oil spill risk in various parts of the world from a wide variety of facilities and operations. A risk-based comparison of facilities is useful for identifying the greatest potential risks to the company, and establishing the appropriate priorities for response planning, training and exercises. Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd. (BHP), working with Risk Management Associates, has developed a methodology to semi-quantitatively rank facilities by the relative risk of a spill, and the potential business impact. Utilizing the oil spill risk-ranking methodology (OSRisk method), the relative risks of an oil spill are calculated in terms of the likelihood a release will occur, and the severity of the release, using the equation: Risk = Likelihood × Severity. A Facility Assessment Form has been developed to gather the necessary information from facilities located in different areas of the world. The OSRisk method provides tables and spreadsheets to simplify the risk-ranking calculation process using the data gathered.
Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Fine Sediments
Authors: Swannell Richard P. J. , Mitchell David , Jones D. Martin , Petch Stuart , Head Ian. M. , Lee Kenneth , Willis Alyson , Lepo J. E. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Bioremediation of oil contamination has been shown to be effective for cobble and sandy shorelines. To assess the operational limitations of this technology, this project studied its potential to treat buried oil in fine sediments. The effectiveness of bioremediation by nutrient enrichment with water-soluble mineral fertilizers was quantified experimentally with a randomised block design with three replicate blocks. Each block consisted of an untreated control plot, a plot treated with fertilizer alone, an oiled plot, and an oiled plot treated with fertilizer. The sediment in each plot was retained in mesh enclosures and buried at a depth of 0.15 m. Weathered and emulsified Arabian Light crude oil was applied to the appropriate plots at 3.7 kg.m−−2. Bioremediation success was monitored by examining in situ CO2 production rates; changes in residual hydrocarbons normalized to 17?(H), 21?H)-hopane; and response of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. Fertilizer treatments significantly increased the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (p = 0.0001) in the buried sediments. These conclusions were supported by in situ CO2 production data. Microbiological analyses showed that nutrient addition increased the numbers of hydrocarbon-degraders on the oiled plots tenfold. The results clearly showed that bioremediation can treat oil buried in fine sediment following a spill incident.
Environmental Defence: What More Can the Salvor Do?
Authors: Lacey Michael J. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Casualty response must be a team effort if it is to be successful. Equally, the hard decisions must be taken by the Salvage Master at the scene. This paper considers the ways in which the objectives of integrated response and efficient command decision making can be achieved in a spill situation.
The paper reviews the role of the Salvage Master, salvage strategies that aim to keep the pollutant in the ship, the integration of command and control functions in the light of the Salvage Master's central position, the questions surrounding responder liability, new developments in salvage contracts, and the role of the P&I Club in relation to the salvage function.
The paper explores these issues by reviewing a series of major salvage cases, including the Sea Empress, Nassia, and Nakhodka. The case studies provide an overview of each operation, consider the command and control issues and set out the lessons for the handling of future operations.
Using Remote-Sensing Technology (Color Infrared) To Locate Oil Spills At Lake Oologah, Oklahoma
Authors: Banipal Ben , Franklin Curtis , Rotan Dean , Franklin Richard 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Lake Oologah area of northeastern Oklahoma contains a large, mature, and declining oil field that has been active since the early 1900s. Many wells have been abandoned, but most of the abandoned wells have not been plugged or maintained according to state requirements. As a result, these wells are leaking crude oil to surrounding soils or directly into navigable waters of the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) and Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) have been working together to address the substantial environmental threats posed by hundreds of leaking oil wells at the approximately 26,000-acre Lake Oologah site.
Based on the large area and insufficient well location data, EPA requested that Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E&E) develop an innovative method to identify well and potential surface spill locations. E&E used a state-of-the-art remote-sensing color infrared (CIR) aerial survey to collect digital aerial imagery. The historical aerial data were reviewed to refine the locations of potentially leaking wells identified by the remote-sensing technology. The CIR data were orthorectified to prepare topologically correct maps and further processed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and thematic mapping software to identify oil-contaminated areas. To confirm the CIR data and overall technical approach developed for the project, EPA and E&E performed ground truthing for a small portion of the site to identify leaking wells and stressed vegetation. Following ground truthing, a specific color spectrum was assigned to these features, and the data were processed to predict the locations of oil contamination sources throughout the site. Based on these results, an overall aerial assessment of site contamination is being developed to identify potentially leaking wells and minimize labor-intensive ground truthing efforts.
Integrated Area Contingency Planning On The Clark Fork Watershed
Authors: Wolf Martha A. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Clark Fork and Flathead Basin Sub-Area consists of five counties in the state of Montana and the Flathead Nation. A section of pipeline running through the Flathead reservation was closed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, necessitating product removal from the pipeline in Missoula, Montana, shipment via train and truck over mountainous areas, and reinjection into the pipeline in Thompson Falls, Montana. The area also has hazardous material response issues demonstrating the need for an integrated hazmat and oil response plan. The Sub-Area Committee (sAC) consists of federal, state, tribal, local, and industry responders, planners and Natural Resource Trustees.
One week to the day after the first sAC meeting, a train derailment occurred in the designated area. Four cars containing chlorine, one car containing potassium cresylate, and one car containing sodium chlorate began leaking—resulting in one death, over 350 injuries, evacuation of the town of Alberton, closure of Clark Fork for all recreational activities, detour of air traffic and closure of 63 miles of Interstate 90 for 17 days. Thirty minutes after the Alberton derailment, another derailment occurred near Doxon, Montana (also in the planning area) releasing 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the Clark Fork River.
The plan consists of a core plan that contains the information vital to the response activities, and a volume that has all backup information that is not essential during the response. The plan is also in digitized format that runs off GIS maps. The maps contain all contacts, spill/release sources, available equipment, drinking water intakes, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, fish, wildlife and other sensitive environments. This plan is believed to be the tool that will insure smoother, more efficient responses in the future.
Using Computers To Manage Crisis Information Across An Organization
Authors: Fritz David E. , Stone John P. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Recognizing the importance of good communications in emergency response and crisis management (ER/CM), Amoco has built a communications infrastructure that provides crisis communications at several levels. It facilitates information flow from field response teams to supporting management while allowing interested company personnel to monitor the situation. The resulting system, known as the Crisis Management Information System (CMIS), is based on Lotus Notes 4.5 and can be accessed via Lotus Notes or a web browser from any site with access to Amoco's computer network. CMIS consists of data (Plans, Personnel, and Resource databases), actual crisis management capability (Incident database), and training (Exercise database). It is designed to provide universal access to timely and consistent information. Designed for the infrequent user, CMIS can be edited, updated, shared, or responded to with minimal training. CMIS has been successfully demonstrated in several recent real events and exercises. Opportunities for improvement have also been noted.
Technology: Are We Using It To Its Best Advantage?
Authors: Kitz Carl G. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region X has combined the immense storage capacity of CD-ROMs with interactive software to develop a user-friendly tool to provide quick and easy access to digital information for use by oil spill response teams. These CD-ROMs, created specifically for spill planning and response, provide responders with hypertext links and powerful search capabilities allowing uncomplicated access to response information, regulations, nationally recognized standards, and area maps. This format enhances response time by reducing the time needed to access critical information and the volume of materials carried to the site by responders. The CD disk produced contains the Region X Area contingency plan, and select reference materials such as the NCP, OPA 90, and digitized maps and color photographs.
Integrated Incident Management System
Authors: Vidrine Grant , Dietrick Larry , Lautenberger Carl , Hutton Charlene 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The North Slope of Alaska Oil Operators—ARCO, (Alaska), Inc.; BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc.; and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company—and their governing agencies—Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)—currently use some form of the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage oil spill incidents and exercises. Although the ICS principles are similar, the structure, terminology and forms are diverse.
The North Slope operators and regulatory agencies in Alaska are “thinking out-of-the-box” these days with the development of a new, all hazards, systems to maximize the use of resources on the North Slope. The new integrated Incident Management System (IMS) was designed to offer benefits such as standardized processes, forms and nomenclature, integrated organizational structures, common management/training, enhanced interactions, shared learning's, central coordination, standard Emergency Operation Center layouts, and access to equipment and personnel.
Caspian Region Challenges1
Authors: Tennant Kit 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Caspian Region is to all intents and purposes the birth place of the oil industry. Following the break up of the USSR and the ensuing conflicts much of the production facilities and infrastructure were not afforded a comprehensive maintenance and monitoring programme. With the independence of the oil producing states, the impetus of oil exploration and production has again gathered pace with many alliances being established between oil companies and between the oil industry and governments. The increase in production due to new fields and the improved production of existing fields has dictated that the methods of bulk crude oil transportation have had to be improved or put in place. Much of the focus on the oil transportation infrastructure has been on the renewal and repair of existing pipeline systems and proposals for new pipeline routes. Writing or updating existing contingency plans for pipeline routes as well as the coastline surrounding the Caspian Sea is also an area of great importance when considering the pristine nature of the aquatic environment. Further development in the Caspian Region is bringing together more oil industry players and governments. The contingency planning for such developments is in the fore of everyone's mind.
Rewriting The Regional Contingency Plan: Meeting The Needs of The Response Community
Authors: Ott Gary L. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The Regional Response Team (RRT) is tasked to develop and document regional goals and policies in one Regional Contingency Plan (RCP) in the format of the National Contingency Plan (NCP.) This poster presentation illustrates a four-part RCP. These four categories are based on the types of needs of the response community: strategic planning, administrative procedures, response policies, and RRT support to the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC).
French Response to the Katja Incident1
Authors: Cabioc'h Fanch , Cariou Gérard 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
On 7 August 1997 at 0h30, the Bahamas flag tanker Katja hit a berth in Le Havre harbor. Immediately 187 m3 of heavy fuel oil flowed out of the aft port fuel tank into the harbor. It took two hours to complete the mooring of the ship, during which it was impossible to close the basin. About 30 to 60 m3 drifted out of the harbor following the ebb current. The situation was difficult to assess and got worse because of the heavy fog which lasted four days and thus jeopardised any aerial survey for the first days, and as it was in the middle of the summer holiday season, half of the harbor employees were on vacation, sensitive tourist areas were full of holiday guests, and the media were in search of sensational stories. Cleaning operations took place in the harbor and on fashionable tourist beaches such as Deauville and Trouville, using national and local equipment and personnel.
The paper emphasises the problems encountered in the operations particularly when no sea survey is available and when close co-operation is required between administrations, “departements” and districts.
Oil Spill Management Systems for Shoreline Cleanup, Planning and Cleanup Cost Claim Support
Authors: Tyler Andrew , Rusin Jan , Lunel Tim , Wood Peter 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Data management during oil spill incidents is vital in ensuring that response staff are properly informed and an audit trail is maintained for future assessment of the response and support for cost claims. This paper describes the development of an integrated contingency planning, decision support and data management system that has benefited from application during a major spill. The system is able to store and visualise via GIS, the key data elements from the contingency plan. This data is then used within an expert system to provide decision support for cleanup activities and resource allocation costing. The data management databases generates field reporting forms which are reflected in the database so that information can be directly transferred into the computer on a daily basis. The resulting database is available on an on-going basis for response staff to access and at the end of incident, forms a definitive record of response activity and resource usage.
Response Action Planning for Oil Spills Using Arcview Gis
Authors: Barnes Steven S. , Coons Roy , Jensen David A. , Christensen Carl 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
ArcView GIS and digital ortho quarter-quad photos have been employed to integrate information into a comprehensive response action plan for oil spills in the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas. The plan describes staging areas, boat ramps, shoreline types, surface features, economically and environmentally sensitive areas, booming and recovery strategies, and disposal alternatives. Disposal alternatives for oily wastes and debris and recovered oil and water, including opportunities for recycling/reuse are also discussed. Digital ortho quarter-quad photos are used to depict sensitive areas, staging areas, containment boom and skimmer placement, and other features important in a response effort.
Assessment and Management of Risk Posed By Marine Oil and Chemical Transfer Facilities1
Authors: Burns George H. , Moon Sean M. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The objective measurement and evaluation of risk has become more important than ever as companies, organizations and agencies seek to improve effectiveness and efficiency. Risk assessment is a business activity which should not be left solely to estimation or other largely subjective means if improvement, quality and success are to be maximized. Since the early 1990s the U.S. Coast Guard has changed its business practices in order to become a “total quality, customer-focused” organization. The regular measurement of activities and results is now key to determining success in meeting organizational goals and missions, as well as satisfying customer needs and expectations. Risk management is an important part of this endeavor. In 1994, Marine Safety Office Huntington, West Virginia developed a very unique and useful risk assessment and management system to improve its effectiveness in dealing with marine transportation-related bulk oil and chemical facilities.
Effect of the T/B North Cape Oil Spill on the Surf Clam (Spisula Solidissima) in the Coastal Waters of Southern Rhode Island1
Authors: DeAlteris Joseph , Thompson Neil , Skrobe Laura , Mauseth Gary , Erickson Gerald 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
On 19 January 1996, the T/B North Cape grounded on the south shore of Rhode Island and spilled approximately 828,000 gallons of home heating oil. Storm waves mixed the oil into the water column, and currents transported the plume of contaminated water over an area of about 400 km2. Immediate post-spill observation of animals stranded on the beach within the impact area estimated 330,000 surf clams (Spisula solidissima), along with hundreds of thousands of crustaceans including lobsters and crabs.
Field studies of the impact of the oil spill on the surf clam resource within the impact area and an adjacent control, unimpacted area were conducted over a 2-year period. Mortality of surf clams within the impact area was high. Using the density estimates of the adjacent control area, it is believed that most of the surf clams killed in the impact area were stranded ashore. More interesting, however, has been the recovery of the surf clam resource in the impact area, as compared to the control area. Densities of young of the year surf clams in the impact area, as observed in the winter/spring of 1997, about 1 year after the spill were very high, greater than 400/km2 at one station. Control area mean densities of the same year class were less than 2/m2 at all stations. A second field sampling conducted about 2 years after the spill indicated surf clam densities were reduced to maximum of 100/m2 within the impact area, and between 0–1/m2 in the control area.
It is believed that the success of the post-spill set of surf clams in the impact area, as compared to the control area, is due to the loss of predators associated with the spill. Thus, with respect to the surf clams, this fishery resource has not only recovered, but has been enhanced by the spill.
Fate and Persistence of Long-Term Spilled Metula Oil in the Marine Salt Marsh Environment: Degradation of Petroleum Biomarkers
Authors: Wang Zhendi , Fingas Mervin F. , Sigouin L. , Owens Edward H. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Complete “total oil analyses” were performed on the 24-year-old spilled Metula oil samples collected during the 1998 field visit. Fingerprinting data clearly indicate, except those three samples collected from the East Marsh untreated plots (EE-GO, EE-CI and EE-C2) that were only moderately weathered, the spilled oil has undergone significant alteration in chemical composition after 24 years. There are no fundamental differences between heavily weathered and degraded West Marsh and treated East Marsh samples. However, the effect of the experimental tilling action has been to promote plant recolonization. This result indicates that the recolonization of the marshes almost certain would have been accelerated had tilling or mixing been conducted on these sites after the spill. Chemical analyses of the two asphalt pavement samples (WI-1 and WI-2) indicate extremely heavy degradation. For these two samples, complete spectrum of n-alkanes from C8 to C40 and greater than 98% of alkylated PAH homologues were lost, and even the highly biodegradation-resistant biomarker compounds were shown to be more or less altered. It is observed that biomarkers were generally degraded in the declining order of importance as follows: diasteranes &gt; C27 steranes &gt; tricyclic terpanes &gt; pentacyclic terpanes &gt; norhapanes ∼C29 αββ steranes.
Leaking Tank Experiments for Heavy Oils
Authors: Simecek-Beatty Debra , Lehr William J. , Lankford Jeffery 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
During oil spill incidents involving damaged tankers, the amount of product released may be uncertain. Many accidents occur under adverse conditions, so determining the volume lost by sounding the tanks may not be practical. In the first few hours, initial volume estimates often are based on visual observations of the resulting slick, a notoriously unreliable approach. Oils that have special characteristics, such as group V oils and Orimulsion®, that may or may not result in a surface slick, further complicate this problem. The Hazardous Materials Response Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA/HAZMAT) has developed a leaking tank module for its oil weathering software, ADIOS2. Because the present version of the model is not designed for heavy oils, NOAA/HAZMAT is undertaking a series of model-scale tests using releases of canola oil and Orimulsion®. These tests are an extension of leaking tank experiments done earlier for NOAA and for the U. S. Coast Guard, and are part of a joint research program by NOAA/HAZMAT and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center on the behavior of heavy oil products. This paper describes these tests and their possible application to new spill release models.