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EPA ‘clean-up’ guide
MarinePollutionBulletin of accelerated biodegradation; the continued assessment of the effect of dispersants on shorelines; improvements on manual clean-up; the use of sorbents as a polishing technique only; and the advantages and disadvantages of doing nothing to oiled shorelines, and how a rational decision on the matter might be made. The workshop was sponsored by the Arctic Petroleum Operators Association, and was the sixth to have been presented by Dr Ed Owens, of the American WoodwardClyde consultants. Two workshops are currently being planned for 1980.
Beached Chemicals Alert A special watch has been mounted along the south coast of England after containers containing arsenic trichloride began appearing on Sussex beaches and the south coastline of the Isle of Wight. The chemical containers were at first thought to be from the cargo of the Greek cargo ship Aeolian Sky which sank in the English Channel off Portland last November, but this now seems unlikely. More than 20 containers have been recovered but it is uncertain how many more are missing. If exposed to the air, the chemical emits lethal fumes.
Fraser River Public Inquiry The Fraser River, which through its salmon runs is a significant fishery resource fiver, is to be the subject of a public inquiry concerning sewage discharged from the port and delta city of Vancouver (population approx. 1 200 000). The inquiry will be concerned with appraisal of the existing provincial effluent objectives as applied to the city sewerage and treatment system. The inquiry is a component of the long-term approach to pollution control in western Canada where, after initial implementation of effluent controls in the 1970s, assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of those controls is now under way. D. ELLIS
Undersea 'Reservoir' Layers of sub-oceanic rock near the Galapagos Islands have formed an undersea 'dustbin' that could form a disposal site for toxic chemicals and nuclear waste. American geologists working on the drilling ship Giomar Challenger recently reported that pictures made by a borehole televiewer at a depth of 3000 m showed the upper basalt layer of the oceanic crust in this area of the Eastern Pacific appears to be upside down, and the basalt is lying in distinctive 'pillow' shapes below massive lava flows. This cap of solid rock, combined with an added cap of flintstone, forms the unusual phenomenon of an underpressured geothermal reservoir. The scientific team pumped 15 m 3 (4000 gallons) of water into the rock reservoir in only 40 min. In addition, the well was naturally drawing 0.15 m 3 (40 gallons) per min down the hole into what amounts to an a q u i f e r - a rock that can hold liquids. 6O
£5m to Fight Pollution British Petroleum is expanding its emergency oil spill contingency plan, by hiring more full-time specialists, doubling the size of its equipment pool, and establishing a permanent water-front base on the south coast of England. BP's spending will be increased in 1980 to £5 million. Some of the extra cash will go on oil-spill activities connected with the company's offshore production of oil in the North Sea. Over £2 million will go on research into dealing with oil pollution problems, such as heavy fuel oils and oil/water emulsions. The new centre will be responsible for training people to handle oil emergencies and with developing oil retaining and recovery equipment.
Black Year A report by the UK Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS) states that oil pollution around the British and Irish coasts reached an all-time high in 1978, with more than 500 spills. In 14 of the larger spills, including the Eleni V and Amoco Cadiz, over 10000 seabirds were damaged, of which about 1000 were rescued. Worldwide, during the year, more than 206 million US gallons of oil were spilled or burned in accidents at sea.
'Earthcare' Expansion The US Sierra Club recently endorsed an expansion of the International Earthcare Centre, to incorporate a large new information network. The new service will be developed in phases, in which networking will be arranged with key information sources both in the US and elsewhere. The centre will collect or identify fugitive policy documents concerning tropical deforestation, marine resources, acid rain, toxic wastes and cropland loss. The Earthcare centre will spend this year compiling information in these and other areas, and when the service is fully operational in 1981, the centre will be in a position to generate briefs, conduct searches, and provide current information.
EPA 'Clean-up' Guide A comprehensive manual to guide teams dealing with an oil spill clean-up operation has been released by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The publication, entitled 'Manual for the Protection and Cleanup of Shorelines', is in two volumes. Volume 1, 'Decision Guide', gives details on how to gather information on a spill, assess the type and extent of it, and decide which actions are appropriate. Volume 2, 'Implementation Guide', presents background information on all characteristics, and detailed instructions on protection and clean-up operations. The manual can be obtained from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in Springfield, Virginia.
Beached Chemicals Alert A special watch has been mounted along the south coast of England after containers containing arsenic trichloride began appearing on Sussex beaches and the south coastline of the Isle of Wight. The chemical containers were at first thought to be from the cargo of the Greek cargo ship Aeolian Sky which sank in the English Channel off Portland last November, but this now seems unlikely. More than 20 containers have been recovered but it is uncertain how many more are missing. If exposed to the air, the chemical emits lethal fumes.
Fraser River Public Inquiry The Fraser River, which through its salmon runs is a significant fishery resource fiver, is to be the subject of a public inquiry concerning sewage discharged from the port and delta city of Vancouver (population approx. 1 200 000). The inquiry will be concerned with appraisal of the existing provincial effluent objectives as applied to the city sewerage and treatment system. The inquiry is a component of the long-term approach to pollution control in western Canada where, after initial implementation of effluent controls in the 1970s, assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of those controls is now under way. D. ELLIS
Undersea 'Reservoir' Layers of sub-oceanic rock near the Galapagos Islands have formed an undersea 'dustbin' that could form a disposal site for toxic chemicals and nuclear waste. American geologists working on the drilling ship Giomar Challenger recently reported that pictures made by a borehole televiewer at a depth of 3000 m showed the upper basalt layer of the oceanic crust in this area of the Eastern Pacific appears to be upside down, and the basalt is lying in distinctive 'pillow' shapes below massive lava flows. This cap of solid rock, combined with an added cap of flintstone, forms the unusual phenomenon of an underpressured geothermal reservoir. The scientific team pumped 15 m 3 (4000 gallons) of water into the rock reservoir in only 40 min. In addition, the well was naturally drawing 0.15 m 3 (40 gallons) per min down the hole into what amounts to an a q u i f e r - a rock that can hold liquids. 6O
£5m to Fight Pollution British Petroleum is expanding its emergency oil spill contingency plan, by hiring more full-time specialists, doubling the size of its equipment pool, and establishing a permanent water-front base on the south coast of England. BP's spending will be increased in 1980 to £5 million. Some of the extra cash will go on oil-spill activities connected with the company's offshore production of oil in the North Sea. Over £2 million will go on research into dealing with oil pollution problems, such as heavy fuel oils and oil/water emulsions. The new centre will be responsible for training people to handle oil emergencies and with developing oil retaining and recovery equipment.
Black Year A report by the UK Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS) states that oil pollution around the British and Irish coasts reached an all-time high in 1978, with more than 500 spills. In 14 of the larger spills, including the Eleni V and Amoco Cadiz, over 10000 seabirds were damaged, of which about 1000 were rescued. Worldwide, during the year, more than 206 million US gallons of oil were spilled or burned in accidents at sea.
'Earthcare' Expansion The US Sierra Club recently endorsed an expansion of the International Earthcare Centre, to incorporate a large new information network. The new service will be developed in phases, in which networking will be arranged with key information sources both in the US and elsewhere. The centre will collect or identify fugitive policy documents concerning tropical deforestation, marine resources, acid rain, toxic wastes and cropland loss. The Earthcare centre will spend this year compiling information in these and other areas, and when the service is fully operational in 1981, the centre will be in a position to generate briefs, conduct searches, and provide current information.
EPA 'Clean-up' Guide A comprehensive manual to guide teams dealing with an oil spill clean-up operation has been released by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The publication, entitled 'Manual for the Protection and Cleanup of Shorelines', is in two volumes. Volume 1, 'Decision Guide', gives details on how to gather information on a spill, assess the type and extent of it, and decide which actions are appropriate. Volume 2, 'Implementation Guide', presents background information on all characteristics, and detailed instructions on protection and clean-up operations. The manual can be obtained from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in Springfield, Virginia.