The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07
POLLUTION BY OIL
 REF FUSE INJURE ES COASTAL PROPERTY
Such Results Can Be Entirely Avoided, Bureau Of
 Mines Reports

 Ing and refuse oils, with consequent injury to shipping and riparian prop erty, can be practically if not en- tirely prevented, in the opinion of the bureau of mines.
 This decision was announced today, based on the preliminary report of a special committee which has been working on the problem for more than a year in response to legislation enacted by Congress. Invitations for an international conference on con trol of oil pollution will be sent out by the state department under au- thority of the same congressional resolution, as soon as the committee has rendered it's final report.
 Remedies suggested by the commit tee include control of waste from stream-side industrial plants, install lation of devices on ships to prevent eEress of oil waste, and provision of barges or other receptacles in har- bors for receipt of necessary refuse. Principal Sources.
 Study of tho origin of oil in the coastal waters, the report said, showed the principal sources to be:
 1. oil swept in from outside the thSee- mile limit.
 3 oil contaminated waters and oily material from oil burning and oil cargo ships.
 | Oil refuse from ship repair yards.
 {. oil waste and oil water mixtures from refineries and oil fields.
 $. Tarry matter of heavy oil from gas plants.
 $. oily material from other indus trial plants.
 f. oil waters from sewers.
 8. oil pollution from streams adja- cent to and connecting with coast and harbor waters.
 In addition to the direct economic loss from oil pollution, the report emphasized the increased fire hazard resulting to localities in which the condition existed, and the inestima- ble loss to birds and marine life, es- pecially to oysters, fish and crabs.
 Pollution was found at each of the 55 localities selected for study. the committee declared, but the worst condition was reported from the Schuylkill river, near Philadelphia; at Pensacola, Fla; in the Houston ship channel at Houston, Tex, and at Port Arthur, Tex.
 "Apparentiy the worst conditions prevailed during the latter part of the war and the period immediately following" the report continued, and attained maximum seriousness in 1920 or 1921. Since this time in nearly all localities visited by the committee, officials and other per sons duly informed indicated that an improvement has taken place. AS would be expected, conditions in general have been most serious in those localities where industrial activity has been greatest.
 Port Arthur worst.
 Port Arthur, Tex, probably is the worst oil polluted locality visited by the committee, but even here, pres cali n a- what better than those which former 1y existed.
 Tn general, pollution by oil at beaches along the Atlantic and gulf coasts has presented a very serious problem during the past few years. although present conditions repre- sent a great improvement over those that prevailed two years ago. Some comprehensive program, involving definite measures, undoubtedly IS the beaches shall be in proper con- dition for the public use.
 q, "The possible effects of oil pollu- tion on the public health cannot be ignored. The Toss of the use of bath ing beaches as a result of oil con- tamination must be regarded a more or less serious factor. depending upon the extent to which the public Is deprived of this means of recreation. The same may be said regarding boating, fishing and hunting. oily refuse may render the appearance of a locality unsightly. and thus tend to lower the hygienic standards of the community. The effect upon the edi- bility of sea food. and the possibility of oil retarding the normal oxidation of sewage must be carefully consid- cred. Attention Is called to the pos sible effect of oil in causing skin dis eases, and the nuisance created by the odors directly and indirectly sttrib- utable to oil pollution.
 Ut appears impracticable to state the degree to which these factors are at present affecting the public health, but 1t seem1 certain that the effect must be appreciable over long period of time.
 Install Separating Device.
 a- ..So far as oii-burning ships are concerned, 1t is believed that the most satisfactory ultimate solution Of the problem will involve the in- stallation of an oil-water separating device on each individual ship, and providing facilities in harbors for The collection and proper disposal of sludges and certain other oil wastes which tho separators will not handle.
 ''Of the devices proposed and now under development for eliminating oil burning ships as source of pol lutfon, none have been seen which to sdata can be unreservedly recom- ssmended for installation on board gen eral cargo vessels. One or two Of these devices are promising. but more 2 aexuerimental work is necessary. At tention has already been called to promising oil-water separator for 1n- stailation on tankers; and the need for immediate steps to develop de- vices and means for general appilca- tion to general cargo vessels was pointed out.
 z ''it seems probable that. sin Addi- ton to any oil-water separating de- vice, however effective, which may be installed on vessels, methods for collecting and properly disposinS of tank sludge and certain other oily refuse will have to be generally available in port If oil pollution from vessels is to be avoided.
 Tn the absence of separating ap- paratus aboard ship use of barges for collecting oil contaminated water and oil refuse, in connection with ade- quate facilities tor the proper treat ment and disposal of such wastes. would seem to offer the most inn mediately available means for coping with the situation after the vessel has arrived in port. It would be advisable to have apparatus for skimming and collecting from the surface of the water patches of free oil which some times result from accidents in spite sof all precautions"
 The report was signed by F. W. Lane of the bureau of mines, chair man: A. D. Bauer. oil expert of the bureau; H. r, Fisher. representing the American Petroleum institute, and P Of ha A arin tau