Historical Spill Research Articles

Risk Assessment of Oil Spills along the Coastline of Jiaozhou Bay Using GIS Techniques and the MEDSLIK-II Model

With the increasing global reliance on maritime oil transportation, oil spills pose significant environmental hazards to coastal ecosystems. This study presents a comprehensive quantitative framework for assessing oil spill risks along the Jiaozhou Bay coastline in China. The research begins with an analysis of historical spill data to construct representative oil spill simulation scenarios. The advanced MEDSLIK-II oil spill prediction model is then employed to simulate oil spill trajectories under these scenarios, focusing on key parameters such as oil thickness and mass to evaluate the hazard levels associated with each scenario. Subsequently, the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) is utilized to assess the vulnerability of coastal zones, while Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are employed for a spatial analysis and visualization of the results. The case study, covering a 26.87 km stretch of the Jiaozhou Bay coastline, reveals 10 high-risk zones with a total length of 8561.2 m. These areas are predominantly characterized by saltwater marshes, brackish water marshes, and inundated low-lying areas, with ESI rankings of 9 and 10, accounting for 24% of the 339 analyzed segments. The modeling results indicate that in the simulated scenarios, oil spills originating from the Huangdao Oil Port and Qianwan Port pose the greatest risks, with potential impacts extending up to 12 km and 15 km along the coastline, respectively. The study highlights the importance of considering multiple factors, including oil spill trajectories, coastal geomorphology, and ecological sensitivity, in comprehensive risk assessments. The proposed framework demonstrates potential for adaptation and application to other coastal regions facing similar oil spill risks, contributing to the advancement of coastal management practices worldwide.

Where will the next oil spill incident in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria occur?

Oil spill incidents are almost a daily occurrence within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with far-reaching environmental, economic and social consequences. This study aimed at understanding the spatial and temporal context of the problem as a panacea for forecasting likely locations of oil spill incidents within the region. About 76.77% of crude oil spilt in the Niger Delta is lost to the environment with only about 23% of the crude oil recovered from the environment. This represents a very worrying statistic in terms of the known and unknown negative impacts of oil spills. Space Time Pattern Mining (STPM) tools were adapted to explore and interrogate historical spill data. Time series forecasting was then used for forecasting possible locations of future oil spills within the region. Results show that there is a pattern of oil spill occurrences in the Niger Delta with statistically significant hotspots identified in Rivers State, Bayelsa State and Delta State. The forecast root mean square error (RMSE) and forecast validation RMSE are −1.016328 and 1.035992 respectively. This suggests an ability of the model to fairly predict likely locations of future oil spills. This was further verified by counting the number of spills that occur within any area based on the predicted likelihood of spill occurrence. This study has shown that STPM tools can be deployed to understand the occurrence and prediction of oil spill incidents. This will ultimately aid in the deployment of scarce management resources to where they are most needed.

Forensic Analysis of Residual Oil along Abu Ali Island, Saudi Arabia

Extensive asphalt pavements have persisted along >25 km (km) of shoreline on Abu Ali Island, on the Arabian (Persian) Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, reportedly stranding as a result of the 1983–1985 Nowruz oil spills. A study was conducted in October 2020 to support development of a remediation plan. Cross-shore transects were surveyed at 100 m intervals and 1434 shovel test pits were dug to determine oil type, thickness, and depth of burial. Oiling of any description was observed at 76% of the pits. Using 15 diagnostic biomarker ratios, only 5 of the 94 oiled samples from Abu Ali Island in 2020 likely contain other oils. Data on historical spills were identified from the literature. Based on chemical biomarker data for potential source oils in the northern Arabian (Persian) Gulf, the diagnostic ratio for the biomarkers 18a-22,29,30-Trisnorneohopane (Ts) and 17a(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorhopane (Tm) for the 94 samples only matched one Iraq crude oil. No large individual spills of Iraq crude oil were identified in the literature or spill databases, although releases of both Kuwait and Iraq crudes were reported for the 1991 Gulf War oil spills. However, oil residues from Abu Ali did not match most prior samples of Saudi shoreline oiling from the Gulf War oil spills, which largely consisted of spilled Kuwait crude. Though we cannot definitely conclude that the majority of the residual oil on Abu Ali Island delineated during the 2020 survey is oil from the Nowruz oil spills, because there is no source oil from these spills, we use a weight of evidence approach to say that it is highly likely that the majority of the residual oiling is from the Nowruz spills.

Planning and Responding to a Petrochemical Disaster in the North American Inland Seas

The Great Lakes represent the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world along a 1,500 mile international boundary between the United States and Canada. A source of drinking water for 35 million people and a hub of unique biodiversity, a major petrochemical spill would be devastating. With the increase in pipeline activity due to regional tar sands drilling and the navigationally challenging waterways hosting an increasing stream of petrochemical commerce, risk to the Lakes is higher than ever. Given the Lake's closed-system nature and their geographic remoteness relative to current US and Canadian government and private sector assets, the current response posture is inadequate. As the primary maritime spill response agency in the United States, the US Coast Guard retains the mantle of prevention and planning for a Great Lakes petrochemical disaster. This paper seeks to examine the historic, current, and future states of the Great Lakes' oil-spill risk, in light of increased maritime commerce and recent spill “near-misses” regarding submerged pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. The US Congress and the US Coast Guard have identified that the Great Lakes are not prepared for a large scale spill. Current resourcing levels and technology are insufficient, especially given the challenge of responding while the Lakes are frozen for a substantial portion of the year. With resources focused on the prospect of disaster in salt water regions, the “inland seas” of the Great Lakes receive too little attention. After identifying the evolution of Great Lakes spill prevention and response policy, this paper will apply the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon spill as a case study into what spill response would look like on the Great Lakes. Given the authors' expansive experience as an operator during that historic spill and current commander of one of two US oil spill response assets in the Great Lakes, this paper will also identify remaining challenges to an effective spill response policy, and conclude with recommendations on how to tackle the response issues identified. The US Congress recently established the US Coast Guard's National Center of Expertise for the Great Lakes and one of their primary tasks is to analyze the effect of a spill in freshwater and develop an appropriate response plan. By attempting to identify critical gaps, this paper seeks to advance government and industry's ability to posture the region swiftly in the face of a growing threat and assist in the Center's work.

Geographic Response Plans: Preparing for Inland Oil Spills in California Waterways

ABSTRACT #1141189 Emergency regulations governing the development of oil spill contingency plans in California, along with financial responsibility for inland facilities, pipelines, refineries and railroads, became effective in 2015, with final regulations being adopted in January of 2019. With the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW's) Office of Spill Prevention and Response's (OSPR's) authority for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response being extended to inland waters of the State, the need to develop Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) for priority watersheds with higher risk of an oil spill became a top priority. Given the successful history with developing, implementing, and maintaining the California marine Area Contingency Plans (ACPs), OSPR has implemented a similarly effective GRP program. GRPs are driven primarily by access to sites along river systems and lakes where response activities are feasible. The process of developing GRPs for the State has consisted of: 1) developing a consistent document framework based on recently developed GRPs including the Region 10 Regional Response Team (RRT) and Northwest Area Committee (NWAC) GRPs in the Pacific Northwest, the Feather River GRP developed by Union Pacific Railroad in California, as well as previously developed GRPs by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona); 2) implementing a Statewide GRP Steering Committee (SGSC) consisting of State, federal and local agencies, industry, oil spill response organizations (OSROs), an environmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and a tribal representative; and 3) developing partnerships with industry representatives, and federal, State and local agencies, including first responders [Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and others] to ensure critical local expertise and information is incorporated in each, individual GRP. With the emerging trend of oil by rail transportation; historical spill threats from pipelines, fixed facilities, and truck transportation; and the promulgation of emergency regulations extending OSPR's oil spill preparedness activities to inland waters, the development of GRPs for at-risk watersheds became critical.

Surface-Dwelling Aquatic Insects in Low-Energy Freshwater Environments Are Highly Impacted by Oil Spills and the Surface Washing Agent Corexit EC9580A Used in Oil Spill Response.

Physical impacts of diluted bitumen (dilbit) and the application of surface washing agents (SWAs) in freshwater have not been characterized for aquatic invertebrates. These compounds are known to reduce surface tension in feather and fur microstructures of birds and mammals, and are thus likely to affect the buoyancy of surface-dwelling aquatic insects. We evaluated impacts of fresh dilbit and a SWA on water striders (Metrobates sp.), which are surface-dwelling organisms that rely on fine-hair microstructures to remain buoyant. We report nominal sheen thickness values that cause 50% immobility in 48 h as determined from exposure studies in outdoor tanks. A comparison of our data with those from historic oil spill volumes in Canada and the United States in the past 12 yr indicates that our reported nominal sheen thicknesses could have been reached or exceeded in 99% of historic spills when scaled to a small reference lake. The addition of Corexit EC9580A, a SWA approved for marine use in Canada, led to 100% immobility in striders within minutes, both in combination with oil and alone. Our study reveals an acute sensitivity to Corexit EC9580A and dilbit by surface-dwelling insects and may be driven by disruption of mechanisms of buoyancy. We highlight a need to evaluate physical impacts, typically excluded from standard toxicity testing, within the context of spill impact mitigation assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1298-1307. © 2020 SETAC.

Ecotoxicity of Pore Water in Meadow Soils Affected by Historical Spills of Arsenic-Rich Tailings

This study was carried out in Złoty Stok, a historical centre of gold and arsenic mining. Two kinds of soil material, containing 5020 and 8000 mg/kg As, represented a floodplain meadow flooded in the past by tailings spills and a dry meadow developed on the plateau built of pure tailings, respectively. The effects of soil treatment with a cattle manure and mineral fertilizers were examined in an incubation experiment. Soil pore water was collected after 2, 7, 21, 90, and 270 days, using MacroRhizon samplers and analyzed on As concentrations and toxicity, and assessed in three bioassays: Microtox, the Microbial Assay for Risk Assessment (MARA), and Phytotox, with Sinapis alba as a test plant. In all samples, As concentrations were above 4.5 mg/L. Fertilization with manure caused an intensive release of As, and its concentration in pore water of floodplain soil reached 81.8 mg/L. Mineral fertilization caused a release of As only from the pure tailings soil. The results of bioassays, particularly of Phytotox and MARA, correlated well with As concentrations, while Microtox indices depended additionally on other factors. Very high toxicity was associated with As > 20 mg/L. Despite an effect of “aging”, pore water As remained at the level of several mg/L, causing a potential environmental risk.

Distribution of oil spill response capability through considering probable incident, environmental sensitivity and geographical weather in Vietnamese waters

ABSTRACTVarious occurrences of marine incidental oil spills in the Vietnamese waters require effective high response system. The probability of oil spill, environmental sensitivity, and geographical weather conditions were simultaneously considered to calculate the distribution of the oil spill response capability (OSRC). In this contribution, 13 important factors (3 priority protected areas, marine traffic, max. amount spill, industrial installation, offshore activities, historical spill, distance to spill, sea state, tidal current, visibility and sea-water temperature) of 8 oil spill response (OSR) areas were investigated and calculated by using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP). The results were reflected the highest OSRC in Vung Tau area, peaking about 1,457 tons of the amount of Vietnam national marine OSRC. The study suggested the new scientific platform for the distribution of areal OSRCs to mitigate the damage of future marine incidental oil spills to marine ecosystems, coastal resources, humans, and socio-economy.

Geographic Response Plans: Preparing for Inland Oil Spills in California Waterways

California emergency regulations governing the development of oil spill contingency plans and financial responsibility for inland facilities, pipelines, refineries and railroads became effective in 2015, with final regulation adoption scheduled for the fall of 2016. With the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Office of Spill Prevention and Response's (OSPR) authority for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response being extended to inland waters of the State, the need to develop Geographic Response Plans (GRP) for sensitive watersheds having relatively high oil spill risk has become a top priority. Previously developed GRPs in California have focused on waterways shared with Nevada and have not considered oil spill response, per se. Given the successful history with developing, implementing, and maintaining the California marine Area Contingency Plans (ACP), OSPR intends to implement a similarly effective GRP program. GRP's will be driven primarily by access to sites along river systems and lakes where response activities are feasible. Current efforts are underway to complete a Feather River GRP. The Feather River GRP has been vetted through the regional Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) which is comprised of first responders, railroad representatives, and federal, State, and local government agencies. The process of developing GRP's for the State will consist of: 1) developing a consistent framework based on the Feather River GRP, as well as previously developed GRPs; 2) implementing a Statewide GRP Steering Committee; 3) developing partnerships with industry representatives, and federal, State and local agencies, including first responders (LEPC's and others) to ensure critical local expertise and information is incorporated. With the emerging trend of oil by rail transportation, historical spill threats from other sources, and the promulgation of emergency regulations extending OSPR's oil spill preparedness activities to inland waters, the development of GRP's for at-risk watersheds is critical. The purpose of this poster is to provide an overview of the efforts to produce GRP's to provide oil spill response strategies for inland waters Statewide.

Con Edison's Success in Reducing Risk: Applying Real-World Lessons Learned to Broaden Spill Planning and Response Programs and Build Personnel Competencies

ABSTRACT Con Edison's service territory covers more than 1,000 miles of inland and coastal shoreline in one of the most heavily regulated and scrutinized areas of the Unites States: New York City. In November 2009, the company experienced a catastrophic failure of a large transformer at a high-voltage electric substation, resulting in approximately 200 gallons of dielectric oil impacting the Bronx River. While the volume of oil was relatively small, the duration of the cleanup lasted nearly one month with costs of approximately $1.75 million, plus a nearly $1 million compliance order issued by New York State for violation of state regulations. Following this event, and through a study of all historical spill incidents, it was clear that the primary risk of spills to the environment came from the more than 30 million gallons of oil contained in the company's high-voltage transformers and oil-filled electric transmission and distribution system, which were not covered by existing Facility Response Plans developed as part of implementing OPA 90. Given these results, the company sought to refine existing spill response program elements to further reduce risks and enhance environmental stewardship. Using the existing Spill Management Team (SMT) model in the OPA 90 program, a company-wide SMT approach was created to better prepare for and reduce the risks associated with potential spills from all company sources. The team consists of more than 50 personnel from the various business units of the company, providing direct access to a wide spectrum of skill-sets and specialties. In addition, the company has developed Oil Spill Contingency Plans (OSCP)—also covered under OPA 90—with detailed response tactics for over 300 locations. On the heels of the program implementation, a large spill of dielectric oil from an underground high-voltage electric distribution line resulted in more than 2,000 gallons impacting the Hutchinson River. While the impact to the waterway was greater than in the 2009 event, the response duration was only 6 days with clean-up costs just over $300,000 with no state issued compliance order, a significant improvement. This result was due, in large part, to implementation of the OSCP and SMT programs. Through these experiences, the many benefits of establishing a company-wide SMT and the OSCP's were realized, including developing spill response and Incident Command System expertise, refined coordination, and improved cost management. These efforts have significantly reduced the company's spill risk exposure by improving response capabilities.

Endocrine status of a migratory bird potentially exposed to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A case study of northern gannets breeding on Bonaventure Island, Eastern Canada

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused the death of a large number of seabirds in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. However, the long term consequences of oil exposure on migratory birds overwintering in this area have received limited attention. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of oil contamination (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) on the circulating status of prolactin and corticosterone, two hormones that influence reproductive success in birds, in Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) breeding on Bonaventure Island, Eastern Canada. Using light-based geolocators, it was found that 23.5% of Northern gannets from Bonaventure Island overwintered in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010–2011; the remainder of this population overwintered along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. PAH concentrations (eight compounds) in gannet blood cells were all found to be under the method limits of quantification, which could be the result of the ability of seabirds to metabolize these compounds and the time elapsed between oil exposure and blood sampling. Corticosterone and prolactin levels as well as body mass did not differ between the two major birds' wintering sites. Moreover, levels of both these hormones did not vary from early to late incubation period. Present results suggest that if Bonaventure Island-breeding Northern gannets had been exposed to oil in the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of this historical spill, this exposure could not be associated with changes in hormonal status and body mass in breeding individuals.

SUNKEN OIL AND THE REMOVAL OF OIL FROM SUNKEN WRECKS

ABSTRACT Following the technical triumph of removing most of the oil from the sunken wreck of the PRESTIGE, interest and expectations have been raised in equal measure. Since 2005 there have been a number of incidents worldwide involving sunken wrecks containing oil, as well as a smaller number of pollution cases in which oil spilled from ships has sunk due to its high specific gravity. The response to such incidents poses unique challenges and reference is made to ITOPF'S database of historical spills in order to demonstrate how attitudes and the policies for dealing with these cases have changed. The problems posed by oil in wrecks or on the seabed straddle the disciplines of ship salvage and conventional spill clean-up. Whilst the technology used in recovering such oil differs, the rationale for determining whether or not certain measures have merit is in large part based on an assessment of what is technically reasonable. These principles are reflected in the development of the IOPC Funds’ technical guidelines for the removal of oil from sunken wrecks. This paper explores the evolution of response policy with reference to key shipping incidents involving sunken wrecks and sunken oil. In the course of this review, the conflicts between public expectations and technical limitations are highlighted.

Geochemical Controls on Contaminant Uranium in Vadose Hanford Formation Sediments at the 200 Area and 300 Area, Hanford Site, Washington

Long‐term historic spills of uranium at the 300 Area fuel fabrication site (58,000 kg of disposed uranium over 32 yr) and at the 200 East Area BX tank farm (7000 kg of spilled uranium in one event), both within the Hanford formation in the Hanford Site, Washington State, were investigated by subsurface sampling and subsequent microscale investigations of excavated samples. The 200 Area sediments contained uranyl silicate mineralization (sodium boltwoodite) in restrictive microfractures in granitic clasts, in the vadose zone over a narrow range in depth. Well logging and column experiments indicated that tank wastes migrated deeper than observed in core samples. The 300 Area sediments included metatorbernite and uranium at low concentrations associated with detrital aluminosilicates, along with other mineral phases that could accommodate uranyl, such as uranophane and calcium carbonate. The association of contaminant uranyl with Hanford formation sediments provided a persistent source of uranium to groundwater. The results of both studies suggest that the formation of secondary solid uranyl‐bearing phases influences the subsequent release of uranium to the environment and that our understanding of these processes and individual waste sites is incomplete.

THE TRAJECTORY RECOVERY ANALYSIS PLANNER (TRAP): A TOOL FOR MODELING THE POTENTIAL SUCCESS OF RESPONSE PLANS1

ABSTRACT A new approach to modeling potential success of skimmers and booming strategies has been developed to aid planners in assessing the use of limited resources in their response plans. The Trajectory Recovery Analysis Planner (TRAP) extends the approach of NOAA's Trajectory Analysis Planner (TAP) to provide a way for oil spill response planners to assess the likely effectiveness of their response plans across a wide variety of possible spill scenarios. As a real spill could happen in a wide variety of conditions, multiple response scenarios need to be simulated on a wide variety of oil spill trajectories. Each trajectory represents a different historical spill start time with random initial tide phase and corresponding weather conditions at that time, based on past records for the location. For each trajectory, an approximation of the weathering of the oil is calculated, and booming and skimming operations are simulated. The response simulations take into account many of the limitations of actual response operations, including daylight hours, equipment shortages, wave height failure, skimmer travel times, skimmer encounter rates, and skimmer efficiencies. The result is a wide variety of data about the simulated response. TRAP provides statistics summarizing those results. These results can give planners a realistic expectation of the likely success of their planned operations under both helpful and adverse conditions. The results also provide a summary of the shortcomings in the plan, allowing planners to determine where the weaknesses in their plans lie, including the reason for booming strategy failure, and less that expected skimmer recovery. The plan can then be altered and processed again, resulting in information about how those alterations might improve or degrade a response. The types of questions that can be addressed are: Is it better to have more small skimmers, or fewer large ones? Which booming strategies are most effective? Does boom need to be pre-positioned to speed the installation of a given strategy? TRAP thus gives planners a tool with which to quickly and easily explore a wide variety of possible response plans, and help determine where precious resources are best assigned.

Public Health Consequences From Hazardous Substances Acutely Released During Rail Transit—South Carolina, 2005; Selected States, 1999-2004

On January 6, 2005, two freight trains collided in Graniteville, South Carolina (approximately 10 miles northeast of Augusta, Georgia), releasing an estimated 11,500 gallons of chlorine gas, which caused nine deaths and sent at least 529 persons seeking medical treatment for possible chlorine exposure. The incident prompted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to review data from its Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system and update an analysis of 1993-1998 railroad events. The HSEES system is used to collect and analyze data concerning the public health consequences (e.g., morbidity, mortality, and evacuations) associated with hazardous-substance--release events that occur in facilities or during transportation. This report describes the event in South Carolina, which is not part of the HSEES system, and two others from HSEES, and summarizes all rail events reported to HSEES from 16 state health departments during 1999-2004. Local government agencies, employers, and first responders can help reduce morbidity and mortality from transit-associated hazardous-substance releases by examining historical spill data for planning purposes, developing emergency response plans, undergoing proper hazardous materials (HazMat) training, and reviewing epidemiologic investigation data.

Cargo Ship Bunker Tanks: Designing to Mitigate Oil Spillage

Recent collision and grounding accidents have increased public and industry awareness of the risks of oil spills from bunker tanks. This paper summarizes historical spill data for freighters, and provides case histories for representative collision, allision, and grounding casualties. Arranging double-hull protection around the bunker tanks is one means for mitigating the risk of spillage. The location and size of the fuel oil tanks also influences the likelihood and expected volume of oil spills. The relative effectiveness of these alternatives are explored using probabilistic oil outflow analysis techniques collision of Alexia and Enit— Gult of Mexico, 1995

Abstract: Massive U. S. Crude Oil Losses, 1901-1933: Examples from Caddo-Pine Island and Smackover Fields 

ABSTRACT Oil spills of a few hundred thousand barrels or greater rank as the modern world's top fifty losses. These oil losses are fairly-well documented as compared to the crude oil losses of pre-1940s United States and other world production regions. Massive overproduction events coupled with rule of capture law plus technical limitations resulted in early 20th-century crude oil losses unprecedented in history. Great crude oil loss occurred due to earthen storage leakage and failure, evaporation, discarded emulsions, fires and well blowouts. There was practically no cleanup of any spillage, thus oil and associated saltwater remained as long-term influences on ecosystem recovery. Documentation of historic field development, including oil and saltwater production, storage and documented spillage, is used as the basis for field observations and imagery study. Historic spill analysis must take into account associated saltwater losses, as saltwater damage dominates old field landscapes. Caddo-Pine Island Field, LA, and Smackover Field, AR, share similar landscapes and climates yet vary some in their oilfield waste histories. Caddo-Pine Island Field's largest single oil loss occurred over 9 months (December 1918-August 1919) during heavy oil overproduction in the Pine Island district. A minimum of 3 million barrels of oil was lost. Smackover Field suffered heavy long-term chronic heavy oil loss starting in 1922. The field held 18 million barrels of heavy oil in earthen storage by 1925; recovery of the last 8 million barrels was not completed until 1933. Up to 25 million barrels of oil were lost in the field's first twelve years of production. The most pronounced landscape patterns are those dominated by major saltwater loss--most obvious is the extensive erosion and redeposition in drainage areas, very slow vegetative recovery, and major vegetative change with recovery. Areas of primarily oil loss are less obvious, as landscape damage is much less severe. Remnant asphaltic deposits are present in areas of largest heavy oil loss.

STATE-OF-THE-ART OR JUNK SCIENCE? THE NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT MODELS1

ABSTRACT In May 1996, the Department of the Interior (Interior) issued final natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) regulations enabling trustees to use new computer models in determining claims against parties responsible for spills. The new regulations incorporate a number of advances in the fields of computer technology, data management, data visualization, and graphic user interfaces. The models integrate spill simulation capability with a national coastal geographic information system (GIS) and expansive databases of chemical and petroleum characteristics, resource valuation, and restoration costs. The development and issuance of the regulations have been the focus of much attention and controversy. Interior heralds the models as “state-of-the-art” procedures, whereas other groups attack the models as “junk science.” This paper briefly examines the principal arguments both supporting and attacking the new models. It also provides the results of model application to a database of real-world historical spill events in coastal and marine environments. Finally, model output is compared to damage claims developed using other simplified procedures (i.e., compensation formulas) in the state of Washington.

CLEAN COASTAL WATERS COST PARTICIPATION FORMULA

ABSTRACT Clean Coastal Waters, Inc.'s (CCW) cost participation formula (COSTPART™) is a computerized formula which calculates the cost allocation of CCW operations and equipment purchases to member companies. Costs are allocated on the basis of oil volumes handled during specific oil-handling activities such as terminal transfers, production operations, and pipeline operations. The formula accounts for the relative risks of spill occurrence for the various activities, using a relative risk analysis of historical spills resulting from activities similar to those performed by CCW members. COSTPART is statistically based and has been adapted for use on IBM-compatible personal computers.

AN ANALYSIS OF OIL SPILLS DURING TRANSPORT

ABSTRACT This paper examines transportation-related oil spills reported to various systems maintained and operated by the federal government. These systems contain up to 15 years of historical spill data covering 26,500 incidents involving more than 8 billion gallons of spilled petroleum and petroleum products. These data were used to develop a risk assessment for various modes of transportation. Highway transport resulted in the most spills, while pipelines were responsible for the greatest quantity of product spilled. Preliminary exposure rates for transportation modes were developed as a first step toward development of predictive models. Exposure factors were developed relating highway spills to gasoline production, and vessel spills to crude production and imports. Less satisfactory exposure factors were developed for railroads and pipelines.