Presentation
How Clean is Clean When Considering Background Oiling?
SessionMeet the Poster Authors
DescriptionCleanup targets for oiled shorelines are typically established in consideration of shoreline use, sensitivities, and natural attenuation processes. Trace oiling on many sand beaches, where public use is common, is usually not desirable or acceptable; however, areas subject to deposition of naturally occurring tar balls or in close proximity to shipping and oil transport corridors may have normal traces of oil. Fingerprinting analyses of hydrocarbons in trace oiling can help to distinguish a spilled product from natural background oil in many but not all cases. Removal of all traces of oil, and in particular oil that does not match a specific spill event, can be never-ending. A key consideration for a spill management team (decision-makers and environmental unit) is to gain an understanding of background oiling, sources, variability, and management. Recommendations for establishing cleanup targets (endpoints) and ensuing monitoring must be developed with this understanding and in context of spill impact mitigation analysis. Example case studies include New Carissa (1999), Cosco Busan (2007), Deepwater Horizon (2010), Huntington Beach (2021), and Pampilla Peru (2022).
Sampling and offsite chemical fingerprinting potentially is a slow and expensive technique to distinguish spill-specific oil(s) from background during a response. Laboratory and field research has determined that Oil Detection Canines can be used for this purpose, thus providing a very rapid and inexpensive tool to distinguish stranded oils.
Sampling and offsite chemical fingerprinting potentially is a slow and expensive technique to distinguish spill-specific oil(s) from background during a response. Laboratory and field research has determined that Oil Detection Canines can be used for this purpose, thus providing a very rapid and inexpensive tool to distinguish stranded oils.
Event Type
Poster
TimeMonday, May 13th5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
LocationExhibit Hall G
Preparedness
Prevention
Remediation
Response
Restoration