Spill Response Equipment Research Articles

The role of surface and structural properties on the adsorptive behavior of vinyl-methyl decorated silica aerogel-like hybrids for oil/organic solvent clean-up practices

The uncontrolled release of oil and organic solvents into aquatic environment is becoming a growing concern for ecosystems. This underscores the need for the improvement and development of efficient functional sorbents.The primary objective of this work was to design vinyl/methyl-decorated silica aerogel-like hybrids as novel adsorbents for oil and organic solvents and to uncover the relationship between the physicochemical and microstructural changes induced by organic substitution in silica backbone and the adsorption performance of these hybrids. The silica hybrids were prepared in two series through co-condensation of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) or tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). Gradual vinyl substitution was used to monitor the changes in the physicochemical and morphological properties. These changes were investigated using a variety of complementary characterizations techniques such as 29Si-MAS-NMR, and small angle neutron/X-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS) analyses, and basic characterization techniques like FTIR, SEM, N2 porosimetry and contact angle measurements. The results confirmed significant structural changes in VT series as VTMS content increased, while it had only a limited effect on the network formation in VM series. In the VT series, the samples exhibited predominantly mesoporous characteristics, resulting in large specific surface areas (792–1021 m2/g). In the VM-series, the samples were mostly macroporous and appeared in a sponge-like monolithic form. Successful vinyl/methyl substitution led to good hydrophobicity (up to 147°) in each series and contributed to an excellent self-cleaning ability. Thanks to their lightweight structure and hydrophobicity, the samples VT-100 and VM-50 exhibited the highest adsorption capacities (up to 11.63 g/g for VM-50 and 10.92 g/g for VT-100) for most organic pollutants and demonstrated stable performance along 10 cycles. The free-standing monolithic structure, well-developed porous network, high hydrophobicity, easy-to-clean property, and superior adsorption performance establish these materials as prime candidates for oil spill remediation practices. Additionally, their potential applications extend to various sectors, including the textile industry for protective clothing, transportation for oil spill response equipment on ships and aircraft, marine and coastal protection to prevent contamination, as green building materials to reduce maintenance needs and enhance energy efficiency, and as protective materials for cultural heritage buildings.

Using basic equations in the assessment control of oil spill in Nigeria

The large scale (xyz) oil spillage of March 24, 1988 tested spill preparedness and response capabilities of both the industry and government which proved, individually and collectively, to be wholly insufficient to control an oil spill of the magnitude. The assessment of corporate preparedness for an oil spillage has been expressed principally in two ways. An assembly of spill response equipment is identified with or equated to a magnitude of spillage. On the other hand, the manufacturer’s stated performance is equated to response capacity. These publicized levels of preparedness have been proved wrong by many a spill internationally and in Nigeria in particular, making the methods of assessment inadequate and -unacceptable. This paper introduces a new measure, the response capacity factor, THE RESPONSE CAPACITY FACTOR, for preparedness assessment defined as the ratio of a reference time duration T (a function of the sensitivity and vulnerability of the site environment) to the estimated duration T during which a spilled quantity Q (associated with an operation site) would be fully recovered within the resources of or available to the organization. The factor is based on management objective for oil spill response, environmental sensitivity and the need for its protection. It recognizes that response capacity is a function of a series of variables notably geographical location and terrain, equipment and personnel resources. The RCF is expected to be a powerful tool for corporate planning (investment comparison, budgeting, staffing, training, operational control, etc.). The applications of the factor for oil-spill cooperatives and national (or regional) contingency planning are also discussed.

A Risk-Based Approach to the Sustainable Management of Spill Response Equipment

ABSTRACT> Spill response equipment is often kept for prolonged periods until required; such equipment would be operated continuously when deployed, often under harsh conditions detrimental to any equipment. Uncertainty in the reliability of response equipment bears significant risks to operational safety and incident management, especially in critical operations that have a widespread impact during an incident. A qualitative risk assessment was conducted on OSRL's equipment stockpile, considering their known history of breakdown (probability) and foreseeable impact (severity) during an incident. The resultant matrix categorises them into five different risk levels from low to very high. Response equipment is categorised in accordance with OSRL's prescribed service life, a set of guidance documents based on the organisation's operational experience and consultation with various manufacturers and other users, forming baseline data of the stockpile. Coupled with the results from the risk assessment conducted, it provides a wider understanding of response equipment from a risk-based perspective. The existing equipment risk profile is mapped out using the above method to provide a high-level overview to decision-makers. Upon discussion with stakeholders, the desired position on the risk profile can be achieved by replacing identified critical equipment or extending the service life of non-critical equipment. A risk-based approach allows a logical prioritisation of actions to be undertaken, in line with the organisation's strategy and enables decision-makers to make plans for a sustainable equipment reinvigoration program over a projected budget and period. With continual monitoring and assessment in place during planned maintenance, timely feedback can be provided to decision-makers on any changes to risk profile in the equipment stockpile; this not only helps in accurately updating the equipment condition, but also enables the early detection of equipment failure and prompts timely actions for resolution. Response equipment constitutes a valuable resource in response readiness; an evolved approach to the management of response equipment is discussed here and can be applied for Tier 1 and 2 response equipment to assure equipment reliability.

Potential impacts of offshore oil spills on polar bears in the Chukchi Sea.

Sea ice decline is anticipated to increase human access to the Arctic Ocean allowing for offshore oil and gas development in once inaccessible areas. Given the potential negative consequences of an oil spill on marine wildlife populations in the Arctic, it is important to understand the magnitude of impact a large spill could have on wildlife to inform response planning efforts. In this study we simulated oil spills that released 25,000 barrels of oil for 30 days in autumn originating from two sites in the Chukchi Sea (one in Russia and one in the U.S.) and tracked the distribution of oil for 76 days. We then determined the potential impact such a spill might have on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and their habitat by overlapping spills with maps of polar bear habitat and movement trajectories. Only a small proportion (1-10%) of high-value polar bear sea ice habitat was directly affected by oil sufficient to impact bears. However, 27-38% of polar bears in the region were potentially exposed to oil. Oil consistently had the highest probability of reaching Wrangel and Herald islands, important areas of denning and summer terrestrial habitat. Oil did not reach polar bears until approximately 3 weeks after the spills. Our study found the potential for significant impacts to polar bears under a worst case discharge scenario, but suggests that there is a window of time where effective containment efforts could minimize exposure to bears. Our study provides a framework for wildlife managers and planners to assess the level of response that would be required to treat exposed wildlife and where spill response equipment might be best stationed. While the size of spill we simulated has a low probability of occurring, it provides an upper limit for planners to consider when crafting response plans.

CANADA – UNITED STATES (SALISH SEA) SPILL RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS: A COMPARISON REVISITED

Abstract number: 2017-102The Salish Sea comprises the North American inland marine waters of Washington State and British Columbia; an international border between Canada and the United States intersects it. Planning for oil spills that threaten to cross the international border is under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as described in the Canada-United States Joint Marine Contingency Plan. As Canadian companies gain approval to construct new pipelines to move oil-sands-derived crude oil from the landlocked province of Alberta to the tidewater province of British Columbia, governments, agencies and citizens are publicly questioning whether current levels of oil spill preparedness and response equipment will be adequate for the increased tanker traffic from Canadian ports. These stakeholders may likewise be unaware of forthcoming spill prevention and response enhancements, by the Canadian government and industry, associated with new energy infrastructure projects.This paper will expand on a 2014 IOSC paper entitled CANADA – UNITED STATES (SALISH SEA) SPILL RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS: A COMPARISON,1 which was a snapshot of regulations, actual inventories and philosophies that made up the 2014 response picture for the south Salish Sea shared between Canada and the United States. In order to see the entire picture, the reader is encouraged to have both documents at hand.2 The updated paper reviews changes to American Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO) and Canadian Response organization (RO) equipment inventories, changes to the Canada Shipping Act 2001, Canada's new Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), United States newly implemented non-floating oil ORSO classification, Washington State's oil spill contingency plans and the future buildup of response equipment and personnel.

LONG TERM ICE EXPOSURE STUDIES FOR ENHANCING ARCTIC NEBA SCIENCE BASE

ABSTRACT #2017-097 The Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme has the goal to advance arctic oil spill response strategies and equipment as well as to increase understanding of potential impacts of oil on the Arctic marine environment. In 2013 a comprehensive review of investigations into environmental consequences of spilled oil and oil spill response technologies in the Arctic marine environment was performed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts. This review indicated that there is a significant science base for oil spill response decision-making in the Arctic already available and also listed recommendations for studies to enhance the science-base for Arctic Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA). To follow up on the reviews’ recommendations a unique long-term mesocosm experiment was executed to improve the scientific knowledge of the fate and biodegradation of oil and oil spill response residues in ice, as well as the environmental effects to ice associated ecology. Eight mesocosms were installed in the sea ice of the Van Mijenfjorden in Svea, Svalbard, Norway in February 2015 and remained in place until July 2015. The study was designed to monitor the long term fate, behaviour, persistence and biodegradation of the oil in ice together with the impact on the microbial communities, following different response scenarios. Additionally, under-ice phyto- and zooplankton communities were sampled and monitored for effects. The same exposures were replicated in the laboratory to measure the sensitivity and resilience of the polar cod. Over the five month period that the mesocosm experiment lasted, the following parameters were studied within the water column, through the ice layer and within the water-ice interface:Chemical composition of the oilBacterial populations and oil degrading microorganismsMicrobial activity and biodegradation activityZooplankton - survival, feeding and reproduction (under ice)Ice algae primary production Results from the studies and additional modelling activities have improved our understanding of what happens to oil once frozen into ice, how microbiology is reacting to oil in ice and what the exposure potential is of the ecology associated with the ice. This information enhances the NEBA science base and helps the response community in selecting a combination of response strategies that minimises the effects to people and the environment.

RASING RESPONDER COMPETENCY IN OIL SPILL RESPONSE TACTICS

In an ongoing effort toward continuous improvement and to strengthen the competencies of personnel assigned within the incident command organization to the Operations and Planning Section, including the Operations Section Chief, Chevron, in collaboration with Nuka Research, developed an Oil Spill Tactics Manual. This tactics manual is comprised of three main parts:Part 1: Oil Spill Operating Environment GuidePart 2: Oil Spill Response Tactics GuidePart 3: Oil Spill Response Equipment Selection Guide The objective of the Tactics Manual is to provide the user with a primer on oil spill response concepts, activities, and topics. The manual can be used in develop oil spill contingency plans, tactical response training and exercises, as well as quality ICS 204 Work Assignments during an incident. This paper describes our approach to developing a standard reference for oil spill response tactics that would complement the company's emergency management culture. The process began by analyzing knowledge and capability gaps across operations and developing a tool that specifically addressed those gaps. The tactics manual has been widely applied during training and exercises, highlighting the importance of socializing plans with their target audience.

Oil Spill Response Equipment Typing: An International Approach

Oil spill response equipment typing provides responders with necessary information to support selecting the best resource for the job. Simply stated, “kind and type” are the description and capability of an identified asset based on its capabilities, size, and use. “Kind and type” help guide Operations and Logistics personnel to a specific asset. Though the front-end argument for resource typing as an effective means of communicating capability for resource ordering has been a major focus, using “kind and type” also pays dividends on the back-end of the resource acquiring process when assets are summarized and tabulated to complete the Resource Summary or the ICS Form 209. Incident Commanders who do not insist on a strict “kind and type” routine may see misleading entries on their 209s. For example, mechanical recovery skimmers can be referred to as portable skimmers, OSRVs, skimming vessels, ocean skimmers and so on. Ultimately, on the ICS 209, the total number of all skimmers must be able to be categorized and counted so that the Effective Daily Recovery Capacity can be summarized. Correctly framing “kind and type” in the world of oil spill response equipment and personnel has been an elusive target. Several initiatives have paved the path to where we are today. Most recently, The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) release of Guidance for International Offers of Assistance in Response to Marine Oil Pollution Incidents, Appendix 12 Equipment Lexicon Glossary provides an internationally recognized equipment and personnel capability reference. Members of the response community in the Pacific Northwest have further refined the IMO Equipment Lexicon into regionally specific guidance, which is used to classify over 5,000 pieces of oil spill response equipment listed on the Western Response Resource List (WRRL). The WRRL is a web accessible response equipment database. The authors will describe the process of incorporating the IMO's Equipment Lexicon into the WRRL structure to create an enhanced list of “resources” and corresponding “kind and type” designations suitable for the equipment listed by resource owners. Additionally, the presenters will discuss how the enhanced WRRL can be used to; Locate and order response equipment during a drill or spill, Provide an overall picture of the region's response resources, Support the development and review of oil spill contingency plans, Assist in cost accounting, Track organization resources. For additional Information: www.wrrl.us/

Preparedness Decision Making in Offshore Oil and Gas - How much is enough?

ABSTRACT 2017-125: A key challenge in offshore oil spill contingency planning is determining how much preparedness is enough. In other words, planning what types and quantities of oil spill response equipment, resources, and expertise ought to be held in readiness and with what mobilisation and deployment times, just in case a major oil spill occurs. For the offshore oil and gas sector much of the information required to plan for a response to a major incident, such as the location of the spill source, oil type, potential release rate and volume, local climate and metocean conditions, and environmental sensitivities, is already known or can be predicted. In this paper a process for determining appropriate levels of preparedness for offshore oil spill risk is proposed and analysed outside the realm of specific national regulatory frameworks. It is suggested that the approach has validity across all jurisdictions and is consistent with the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC). The approach begins with detailed activity and location-specific oil spill risk assessment which produces information on response needs, which is subsequently used in strategic and tactical response planning processes to describe the necessary response equipment and resources. Once the response resource requirements are established, optimal preparedness arrangements can then be designed that are specific to the nature and scale of the risk and the availability/criticality of the required response resources.

The Next Generation of Planning for Offshore Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT 2017-333: In 2014, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) commissioned a study to inform an update of Oil Spill Response Plan (OSRP) regulations for offshore oil and gas facilities and pipelines at Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 254. The study, Oil Spill Response Equipment Capability Analysis, was conducted by a team led by Booz Allen Hamilton (Booz Allen), with support from RPS Group (formerly ASA Sciences), Environmental Research Consulting (ERC), and SEA Consulting. In close coordination with BSEE, the Booz Allen team reviewed eleven worst case discharge (WCD) scenarios in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Regions. The study, which involved literature reviews, oil spill modeling, and benchmarking against foreign and domestic regulatory regimes, concluded in February 2016, and highlighted many areas for improving the requirements for response capabilities in the OSRPs. This paper focuses on the key spill modeling methodologies, observations, and results in the Oil Spill Response Equipment Capability Analysis study, and its use of a concept of operations (CONOPS) for the application of various oil spill countermeasures in response to a WCD. The modeling results provided both new insights and reaffirmed many principles that have long guided oil spill response operations. The CONOPS systematically rolls them up into an offshore-based construct for employing multiple countermeasures in ways that will most effectively reduce oil contact with the environment. This effort did not attempt to quantify environmental impacts or provide guidance on applying countermeasures based upon a net environmental benefits analysis (NEBA) or spill impact mitigation analysis (SIMA). Decision-making for implementing the CONOPS will still require an additional overlying comparative analysis that evaluates the environmental, cultural, social and economic tradeoffs in order to find the preferred balance of spill countermeasures for a given planning scenario or incident. Regardless, the use of the construct (or CONOPS) as outlined in the study offers sound improvements for response planning involving very large spills in the offshore environment.

Aerial Application of Herding Agents can Enhance In-Situ Burning in Partial Ice Cover

ABSTRACT In situ burning (ISB) aided by herding agents is a promising tool for oil spill response in Arctic waters. An advantageous aspect of the herder mediated ISB approach is that the application of herders as well as the subsequent ignition of the slick could potentially be carried out from aerial platforms. This could obviate the need for personnel to conduct operations on the surface near the burn, as well as reduce the response time required to mobilize the spill response equipment, especially in challenging Arctic conditions. In the last decade, several laboratory and field-scale tests have been conducted to prove the efficacy of herder-assisted ISB operations, sometimes achieving burn efficiencies greater than 90 %. However, there have been no field tests of aerial herder application followed by ignition. This paper presents results from a series of field experiments performed in a custom-built test basin 50 km northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, in April 2015. A helicopter was employed to first apply herding agents (Siltech OP-40 or ThickSlick 6535) to Alaska North Slope crude oil slicks in simulated drift ice conditions, and then ignite the herded slicks using a Heli-torch. Two of five test burns yielded measurable outcomes, resulting in 70% - 85% removal of the test oil as it was drifting freely. Three of five test burns did not yield reliably measurable results, as wind action at the site prevented an accurate measurement of free-drifting burn efficiency. An unmanned aircraft, carrying prototypical payloads for herder spraying and in situ burn ignition was also tested. This is the first time successful aerial application of herders for ISB in the Arctic or elsewhere has been accomplished, and furthers the development of better tools for oil spill response in Arctic waters and beyond.

Coast Guard Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System (VOSS), Past, Present and Future of meeting Service spill response needs (containment, skimming, and pumping)

The Coast Guard Vessel of Opportunity Skimming (VOSS) has recently gone through a consolidation of pollution response equipment to modernize its spill equipment capability for oil spill (containment, skimming, and pumping) to meet the response needs of the future. This paper will review the history of Coast Guard VOSS implementation, deployment during Deep Water Horizon, VOSS consolidation of 15 sites in 2014–2015, and challenges facing Coast Guard VOSS capability gaps in the future. In the aftermath of the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill in 1989, the Coast Guard assessed gaps and deficiencies in the ability of government and private sector resources to fully and adequately respond to major oil spill events. At the time, major gaps were found in the private sector's ability to deliver emergency first response equipment in major port areas. These gaps were addressed by Coast Guard acquisition, pre-positioning and on-going maintenance of VOSS systems & other equipment. Regulatory regimes were created and the Coast Guard created a system for determining the ability of the private sector to respond to a worst case discharge (WCD) including Title 33 CFR Parts 154 and 155 requiring facility and vessel response plan holders to have plans and contracts for privately owned pollution response equipment sufficient to respond to a WCD. The regulations have resulted in the increased capacity of Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO) in the coastal areas of the continental United States. The Deepwater Horizon response in 2010 was the largest pollution response equipment deployment by private and government resources in the nation's history. Most Coast Guard VOSS systems were deployed in response to Deepwater Horizon. The growth of spill response equipment by the private sector and lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon VOSS spill deployment were utilized to support the consolidation of VOSS equipment in the continental United States while maintaining VOSS capacity in remote areas.

Aerial application of herding agents to advance in-situ burning for oil spill response in the Arctic: A pilot study

In-situ burning (ISB) aided by herding agents is a promising tool for oil spill response in Arctic waters. An advantageous aspect of the herder mediated ISB approach is that the application of herders as well as the subsequent ignition of the slick could potentially be carried out from aerial platforms. This could obviate the need for personnel to conduct operations on the surface near the burn, as well as reduce the response time required to mobilize the spill response equipment, especially in difficult Arctic conditions. In the last decade, several laboratory and field-scale tests have been conducted to prove the efficacy of herding agent mediated ISB operations, sometimes achieving burn efficiencies >90%. However, there have been no reports of aerial herder application followed by ignition. The objectives of this work were to evaluate a proof-of-concept level application of aerial herders and igniters for ISB operations in the Arctic, and to investigate the associated operational and technical challenges. This paper presents results from a series of field experiments performed in a custom-built test basin 50km northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, in April 2015. A helicopter was employed to first apply herding agents (Siltech OP-40 or ThickSlick 6535) to Alaska North Slope crude oil slicks in simulated drift ice conditions, and then ignite the herded slicks using a heli-torch. Burn efficiency (BE) for the confined field scale in-situ burn tests ranged from 59% to 94% using the gravimetric approach and 73% to 84% using the conservative aerial imagery approaches to evaluate the herder action. The moderately high BE values observed in the field-scale light ice-cover (~10%) conditions, establish the effectiveness and promise of aerial application of herders to assist ISB in the Arctic. This is a first account of successful aerial application of herders for ISB in the Arctic or elsewhere, and furthers the development of better tools for oil spill response in Arctic waters and beyond.

Hoverspill: a new amphibious vehicle for responding in difficult-to-access sites

ABSTRACT Oil spill experience often shows that response activities are hampered due to the absence of operative autonomous support capable of reaching particular sites or operate in safe and efficient conditions in areas such as saltmarshes, mudflats, river banks, cliff bottoms… This is the purpose of the so-called FP7 Hoverspill project (www.hoverspill.eu), a 3-year European project that recently reached completion: to design and build a small-size amphibious vehicle designed to ensure rapid oil spill response. The result is an air-cushion vehicle (ACV), known as Hoverspill, based on the innovative MACP (Multipurpose Air Cushion Platform) developed by Hovertech and SOA. It is a completely amphibious vehicle capable of working on land and on water, usable as a pontoon in floating conditions. Its compactness makes it easy to transport by road. The project also included the design and building of a highly effective integrated O/W Turbylec separator developed by YLEC. Spill response equipment will be loaded on-board based on a modular concept enabling the vehicle to carry out specific tasks with just the required equipment.

ALASKA'S APPROACH TO DETERMINING OIL RECOVERY RATES AND EFFICIENCIES

ABSTRACT The determination of effective daily recovery capacities for oil skimmers and pumps has been controversial and increasingly critical in recent years. Oil discharge events around the world have highlighted the importance of having effective oil spill response plans, equipment, and procedures in place and available for immediate activation. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has determined that the standard practice of using an effective oil recovery capacity equal to 20 percent of the equipment manufacturer's rated throughput capacity over a 24-hour period is not always realistic for predicting recovery capabilities during an oil spill response. Additionally, always using 20 percent does not give equipment manufacturers incentives to develop improved equipment, nor are plan holders motivated to use best available technology in their response systems. The development of ASTM International (ASTM) “F 2709–08 Standard Test Method for Determining Nameplate Recovery Rate of Stationary Oil Skimmer Systems” (hereafter called ASTM 2709–08) provided a starting point for the assessment of realistic oil recovery rates (ORR) and oil recovery efficiencies (ORE). The standard states, “This test method defines a method and measurement criteria to quantify the nameplate recovery rate (capacity) of a stationary skimmer system in ideal conditions.” The ADEC has worked with plan holders, oil spill response organizations, and oil shipping industry representatives to use the results of testing under ASTM 2709–08 (ideal conditions) as a baseline for determining ORR and ORE in realistic field conditions. This work has been based on a “systems approach” which takes into consideration the operating environments in which the skimmer will be used and the booms which will be used to concentrate and contain oil for skimming. The resulting “Request for Assessment of Skimmer System Efficiency” provides a means for plan holders to convey information which the ADEC can use to make a determination about the skimming system's recovery capabilities.

Advancing Oil Spill Response in Arctic Conditions: The Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme

ABSTRACT The oil and gas industry has made significant advances in being able to detect, contain and clean up spills in arctic environments. To further build on existing research and improve the technologies and methodologies for arctic oil spill response, nine oil and gas companies (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company, Shell, Statoil, and Total) established the Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Programme (JIP). The goal of the JIP is to advance arctic oil spill response strategies and equipment as well as to increase understanding of potential impacts of oil on the arctic marine environment. Officially launched in January 2012 at the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway, the JIP has six technical working groups (TWG) each focusing on a different key area of oil spill response: dispersants; environmental effects; trajectory modeling; remote sensing; mechanical recovery and in-situ burning (ISB). There is also a field research TWG to pursue opportunities for field releases for validation of response technologies and strategies. Each TWG is led by recognized subject matter experts with years of experience in oil spill response research and operations. This JIP is bringing together the world's foremost experts on oil spill response research, development, and operations from across industry, academia, and independent research centres. Research integrity will be ensured through technical peer review and public dissemination of results. This paper describes the scope and current progress of this Joint Industry Program (JIP).

CANADA – UNITED STATES (SALISH SEA) SPILL RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS: A COMPARISON

ABSTRACT The Salish Sea comprises the inland marine waters of Washington and British Columbia and is intersected by an international border between Canada and the United States. Planning for oil spills that threaten to cross the international border is under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard as described in the Canada-United States Joint Marine Contingency Plan. As Canadian companies gain approval to construct new pipelines in order to move oil sands from Alberta, Canada, to Vancouver, British Columbia, and westward, governments, agencies and citizens are publicly questioning whether current levels of oil spill preparedness and response equipment will be adequate for the increased tanker traffic from Canadian ports. This paper will be a single document that contains a snapshot of regulations, actual inventories and current philosophies that make up the 2014 response picture for the Salish Sea. It does not seek to denigrate either nation's response posture but rather to provide hard numbers as a common foundation for future discussions.

Cascading Spill Response Equipment in Washington State

Understanding the effects of cascading response equipment is an important component of oil spill planning and response. It is critical to understand both how long it takes for equipment to reach a particular location and to understand what sort of gaps are created if equipment is cascaded out of an area. The Washington State Department of Ecology created a model to help analyze equipment depths to be used when verifying planning standards and to analyze requests for in state equipment during out of state incidents.

Improving Planning Standards for the Mechanical Recovery of Oil Spills on Water

ABSTRACT As observed during several recent major oil spills, most notably the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the current regulatory planning standard for mechanical recovery equipment has been often scrutinized as an inadequate means for vessel and facility plan holders to calculate their oil spill equipment needs. Effective Daily Recovery Capacity, or EDRC, was developed during a negotiated rulemaking process following the enactment of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. During an IOSC 2011 Workshop sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the U.S. Coast Guard, there was general agreement among workshop participants that EDRC is not an accurate planning tool for determining oil spill response equipment needs. In addition, many attendees agreed that EDRC should account for the skimmer system as a whole, not individual skimmer components such as pump nameplate capacity. In 2012, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard initiated and completed a third-party, independent research contract to review the existing EDRC regulations and make recommendations for improving planning standards for mechanical recovery. The contractor's final report methodology is based on oil spill thickness as a fundamental component in calculating mechanical recovery potential, and it emphasizes the importance of response time on-scene and storage for recovered oil. This research provides a more realistic and scientific approach to evaluating skimmer system performance, and more accurately accounts for a wide range of operating conditions and external influences. The federal government, with input from the oil industry, OSRO community, and other interested stakeholders, now has a sound methodology to serve as a starting point for redesigning the current planning standard that more accurately reflects skimmer system performance.

Massachusetts First Responder Exercises: Preparing Local Communities for Oil Spill Response

As a result of the Buzzards Bay oil spill in 2003, and subsequent passage of the Oil Spill Act of 2004, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Department of Environmental Protection's (MassDEP) Oil Spill Program, has developed a comprehensive, 3-tiered program to protect coastal resources. The program includes three elements: 1) the development of 160 Geographic Response Plans (GRP) to protect environmentally sensitive areas, 2) the acquisition and distribution of 83 oil spill response equipment trailers to coastal communities and, 3) the development of a training and exercise program to better prepare local first responders, including fire departments, police departments, harbormasters and other town officials, to respond to oil spills that threaten environmentally sensitive areas in their communities. This training and exercise program has increased first responders competency and skills as they relate to oil spill response resulting in a higher degree of readiness and preparedness amongst first responders throughout coastal Massachusetts. The program follows standard Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation protocols with clearly defined goals and objectives. Each exercise includes personnel from multiple municipalities working together to achieve the common goal of protecting coastal resources. The objectives of each exercise include, 1) foster inter-agency planning and coordination by providing the opportunity for local responders to work with each other and with Federal and State responders. 2) deploy a GRP protective booming tactic during a simulated incident, 3) promote resource coordination among local responders by coordinating use of assets from participating towns and agencies, 4) improve local oil spill preparedness by deploying equipment from pre-positioned trailers, providing participants hands-on experience in the field, and 5) evaluate the effectiveness of the booming tactic and identify any modifications necessary. Participants utilize the Incident Command System (ICS), operating within a Unified Command structure, testing their ability to effectively communicate goals, objectives and tactics.