Surveying oil on the shoreline

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139225335.009

4 - Surveying oil on the shoreline

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2013

Edward H. Owens and

P. Douglas Reimer

Edited by

John A. Wiens

Show author details

John A. Wiens: Affiliation:
PRBO Conservation Science, California and University of Western Australia, Perth

Book contents

Get access

Summary

Introduction

Responding rapidly to oil that has reached shorelines is critical for minimizing risk to people and a host of other organisms, including many that have limited mobility. The coastal zone and tidal shorelines are among the most productive ecosystems and are sensitive spawning habitats for many marine animals. They are also traditional commercial and subsistence food sources and are recreation and tourist destinations. For spill response efforts to be effectively prioritized and targeted over a large area, it is necessary to determine where oil has stranded and where resources or activities are most at risk. The challenge is greater when a spill occurs in a remote area, as was the case with the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

In this chapter, we describe how the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) process was created in 1989 to meet this challenge. We show how responses were mobilized, how shorelines were surveyed, and how guidelines and recommendations to deal with oil on the shorelines were generated and implemented. We conclude with lessons learned that may help streamline and focus responses to other oil spills or environmental accidents.

Type: Chapter
Information: Oil in the Environment
Legacies and Lessons of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
, pp. 78 - 97

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139225335.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Baker, J.M. (1999). Ecological effectiveness of oil spill countermeasures: how clean is clean?Pure and Applied Chemistry 71(1): 135–151.CrossRef Google Scholar

Bragg, J.R. and Yang, S.H. (1995). Clay-oil flocculation and its role in natural cleansing in Prince William Sound following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Fate and Effects in Alaskan Waters. Wells, P.G., Butler, J.N., and Hughes, J.S., eds. Philadelphia, PA, USA: American Society for Testing and Materials; ASTM Special Technical Publication 1219; ISBN-10: 0803118961; pp. 178–214.CrossRef Google Scholar

Cramer, M.A., Owens, E.H., Howes, D.E., and Sergy, G.A. (1991). Spill response manuals for the coasts of British Columbia. In Proceedings of the Fourteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 12–14, 1991, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 551–577.Google Scholar

Gillfillan, E.S., Page, D.S., Parker, K.R., Neff, J.M., and Boehm, P.D. (2001). A 10-year study of shoreline conditions in the Exxon Valdez spill zone, Prince William Sound, Alaska. In Proceedings of the 2001 International Oil Spill Conference (Prevention, Behavior, Control, Cleanup), March 26–29, 2001, Tampa, Florida. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Technical Publication 14710; pp. 559–567.Google Scholar

Hayes, M.O. and Michel, J. (1999). Factors determining the long-term persistence of Exxon Valdez oil in gravel beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38(2): 92–101.CrossRef Google Scholar

Howes, D.E., Harper, J., and Owens, E. (1995). British Columbia Physical Shore-Zone Mapping System. Victoria, BC, Canada: British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Resource Inventory Committee, Coastal Task Force.Google Scholar

International Maritime Organization and United Nations Environment Programme (2009). Regional Information System: Part D: Operational Guides and Technical Documents, Section 13: Mediterranean Guidelines on Oiled Shoreline Assessment. Valletta, Malta: International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC); Project ME/XM/6030–08–11.[(EN).pdf]Google Scholar

Irvine, G.V., Mann, D.H., and Short, J.W. (2006). Persistence of 10-year old Exxon Valdez oil on Gulf of Alaska beaches: The importance of boulder-armouring. Marine Pollution Bulletin 52(9): 1011–1022.CrossRef Google Scholar

Jacques, T.G., O’Sullivan, A.J., and Donnay, E. (1998). Polscale: A Guide, Reference System and Scale for Quantifying and Assessing Coastal Pollution and Clean-up Operations in Oil-polluted Coastal Zones. Brussels, Belgium: European Commission, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; May 29, 1998; ISBN-10: 9282818152; ISBN-13: 9789282818152.Google Scholar

Jahns, H.O., Bragg, J.R., Dash, L.C., and Owens, E.H. (1991). Natural cleaning of shorelines following the Exxon Valdez spill. In Proceedings of the 1991 International Oil Spill Conference (Prevention, Behavior, Control, Cleanup), March 4–7, 1991, San Diego, California. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Technical Publication 4529; pp. 167–176.Google Scholar

Kerambrun, L. (2006). Surveying Sites Polluted by Oil – An Operational Guide for Conducting an Assessment. Brest, France: Cedre (Centre de documentation, de recherche et d’expérimentations sur les pollutions accidentelles des eaux).Google Scholar

Lee, K., Stoffyn-Egli, P., and Owens, E.H. (2001). Natural dispersion of oil in a freshwater ecosystem: Desaguadero Pipeline Spill, Bolivia. In Proceedings of the 2001 International Oil Spill Conference (Global strategies for prevention, preparedness, response, and restoration), March 26–29, 2001, Tampa, Florida. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Publication 14710; pp. 1445–1448.Google Scholar

Lee, K., Stoffyn-Egli, P., and Owens, E.H. (2002). The OSSA II pipeline oil spill: natural mitigation of a riverine oil spill by oil-mineral aggregate formation. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin 7(3–4): 149–154.CrossRef Google Scholar

Leschine, T.M., McGee, J., Gaunt, R., van Emmerik, A., McGuire, D.M., Travis, R., and McCready, R. (1993). T/V Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Federal On Scene Coordinator’s Report. Washington DC, USA: United States Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard; Report DOT-SRP-94–1; National Technical Information Service Order Number PB94–121845 (Volume 1).Google Scholar

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (2007). The UK SCAT Manual (Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique): A Field Guide to the Documentation of Oiled Shorelines in the UK . Moore, J., ed. Southampton, UK: Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), Counter Pollution and Response; Corp 119.Google Scholar

Neff, J.M., Owens, E.H., Stoker, S.W., and McCormick, D.M. (1995). Shoreline oiling conditions in Prince William Sound following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Fate and Effects in Alaskan Waters. Wells, P.G., Butler, J.N., and Hughes, J.S., eds. Philadelphia, PA, USA: American Society for Testing and Materials; ASTM Special Technical Publication 1219; ISBN-10: 0803118961; pp. 312–346.CrossRef Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. (1979). Prince Edward Island: Coastal Environments and the Cleanup of Oil Spills. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada, Environmental Impact Control Directorate; Economic and Technical Review Report EPS 3-EC-79–5.

Owens, E.H. (1983). The application of videotape recording (VTR) techniques for coastal studies. Shore & Beach 51(1): 29–33.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. (1987). Estimating and quantifying oil contamination on the shoreline. Marine Pollution Bulletin 18(3): 110–118.CrossRef Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. (1990). Suggested improvements to oil spill response planning following the Nestucca and Exxon Valdez incidents. In Proceedings of the Thirteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 6–8, 1990, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 439–450.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. (1991a). Shoreline conditions following the Exxon Valdez oil spill as of fall 1990. In Proceedings of the Fourteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 12–14, 1991, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 579–606.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. (1991b). Changes in Shoreline Oiling Conditions 1-½ Years after the 1989 Prince William Sound Spill. Seattle, WA, USA: Woodward-Clyde; unpublished report.

Owens, E.H. and Lee, K. (2003). Interaction of oil and mineral fines on shorelines: Review and assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 47(9–112): 397–405.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Owens, E.H., Reimer, P.D., Lamarche, A., Marchant, S.O., and O’Brien, D.K. (2003). Pre-spill shoreline mapping in Prince William Sound, Alaska. In Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 10–12, 2003, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 233–251.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. and Sergy, G.A. (2000). The SCAT Manual: A Field Guide to the Documentation and Description of Oiled Shorelines (Second Edition). Edmonton, AB, Canada: Environment Canada.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. and Sergy, G.A. (2004). The Arctic SCAT Manual: A Field Guide to the Documentation of Oiled Shorelines in Arctic Regions. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Environment Canada.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. and Teal, A.R. (1990a). Shoreline cleanup following the Exxon Valdez oil spill – Field data collection within the SCAT program. In Proceedings of the Thirteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 6–8, 1990, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 411–421.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H. and Teal, A.R. (1990b). A brief overview and initial results from the winter shoreline monitoring program following the Exxon Valdez incident. In Proceedings of the Thirteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 6–8, 1990, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 451–470.Google Scholar

Owens, E.H., Teal, A.R., and Haase, P.R. (1991). Berm relocation during the 1990 shoreline cleanup program following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In Proceedings of the Fourteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 12–14, 1991, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 607–630.Google Scholar

Santner, R., Cocklan-Vendl, M., Stong, B., Michel, J., Owens, E.H., and Taylor, E. (2011). Deepwater Horizon MC252-Macondo Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) Program. In Proceedings of the 2011 International Oil Spill Conference (Promoting the Science of Spill Response), May 24–26, 2011, Portland, Oregon, USA. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Paper No. 2011–270.Google Scholar

Short, J.W., Lindeberg, M.R., Harris, P.M., Maselko, J.M., Pella, J.J., and Rice, S.D. (2004). Estimate of oil persisting on the beaches of Prince William Sound 12 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Environmental Science & Technology 38(1): 19–25.CrossRef Google Scholar

Sun, J. and Zheng, X. (2009). A review of oil-suspended particulate matter aggregation: a natural process of cleansing spilled oil in the aquatic environment. Journal of Environmental Monitoring 11(10): 1801– 1809.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Taylor, E. and Reimer, P.D. (2005). SCAT surveys of Prince William Sound beaches – 1989 to 2002. In Proceedings of the 2005 International Oil Spill Conference (Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Restoration – Raising Global Standards), May 15–19, 2005, Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Special Technical Publication I 4781B; pp. 801–806.Google Scholar

Teal, A.R. (1990). Shoreline cleanup following the Exxon Valdez oil spill – The decision process for shoreline cleanup. In Proceedings of the Thirteenth Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, June 6–8, 1990, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Environment Canada; pp. 423–429.Google Scholar

Teal, A.R. (1991). Shoreline cleanup: reconnaissance, evaluation and planning following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In Proceedings of the 1991 International Oil Spill Conference (Prevention, Behavior, Control, Cleanup), March 4–7, 1991, San Diego, California. Washington DC, USA: American Petroleum Institute; Special Technical Publication 4529; pp. 149–152.Google Scholar

Wolfe, D.A., Hameedi, M.J., Galt, J.A., Watabayashi, G., Short, J., O’Clair, C., Rice, S., Michel, J., Payne, J.R., Braddock, J., Hanna, S., and Sale, D. (1994). The fate of the oil spilled from theExxon Valdez. Environmental Science & Technology 28(13): 561A–568A.Google Scholar PubMed