Item 10

Report to Scrutiny Board

Date: 30 March 2006

Report of: Director of Leisure and Environment

Subject: SHORELINE RESPONSE IN RELATION TO OIL OR CHEMICAL SPILLAGES ON THE COAST

SUMMARY

At it’s meeting on 3 February 2005, the Scrutiny Board decided to include an item in the work programme for the meeting to be held on 30 March 2006, on chemical and oil spillages on the coast.

This report reviews the current position, the issues which do, and could, affect the coastline around Fareham Borough and the development of the new shoreline response plan.

The report outlines a proposed approach to the preparation of a draft Shoreline Response Plan, with estimated timescales, for which the Board’s endorsement is sought.

$wgen0mff 2

INTRODUCTION

1. The Civil Contingencies Act was passed in November 2004, bringing together legislation concerned with Civil Protection. Part one deals with local arrangements for civil protection; part two with emergency powers.

CIVIL CONTINGENCIES ACT 2004

2. At the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 9 June 2005, the Chief Health and Regulatory Services Officer submitted an information report which updated the Board on the new statutory duties and responsibilities that the Council had under the Civil Contingences Act 2004. The report advised that there was a need to develop robust and effective plans and procedures as part of the Council’s approach to Business Continuity Planning that would enable the Council to mitigate, respond and recover from any business interruption and this was being done through the Council’s Strategic Risk Management Group. It was agreed that the Board was satisfied with the direction of the arrangements proposed for meeting the Borough Council’s responsibilities under the provisions of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and that they covered the requirements for the duties which are being taken on board, in particular, the proposals for the Service Level Agreement with the Hampshire County Council and the work of the Strategic Risk Management Group. To inform the Board, a resume of the Act is given below.

3. The Act provides for the imposition of emergency powers, to enable first-responders and others to deal effectively with emergencies. An emergency is defined in the Act as an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare; the environment; or the security of the United Kingdom or of a place in the United Kingdom.

4. Two specific groups are identified by the Civil Contingencies Act. These are:

 Category 1 responders: local authorities, emergency services, health authorities and services, and some government departments and agencies.  Category 2 responders: critical infrastructure owners such as the suppliers of electricity, gas, water, telecoms and transport.

5. Category 1 responders have a number of specific duties under the Act. They must:

 Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning;  Put in place emergency plans;  Put in place Business Continuity Management arrangements;  Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency;  Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination;  Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency; and  Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management (Local Authorities only).

$wgen0mff 3

6. Category 2 responders have only one statutory duty under the Act, which is to provide information to category 1 responders to help them in their business continuity planning and emergency response activities. However, the Act does leave the door open for future requirements.

7. The Act introduces two key new concepts:

(a) Local Resilience Forum (LRF) – based on the local Police area, and chaired by the local Chief Constable or deputy, the LRF is to be the “principal forum for multi-agency cooperation under the Act.” The forum is not a statutory body, but it is a statutory process. Its purpose is to ensure effective delivery of those duties that need to be developed in a multi-agency environment. Category 1 responders should attend meetings or be “adequately represented”. Category 2 responders should be engaged “where they can add value”.

(b) Community Risk Register – the Act introduces, for the first time, the concept of a systematic risk assessment of the various hazards and threats in a particular area. This will include national concerns such as terrorism and avian flu, through to a local assessment of the risks of flooding or specific industrial hazards. The assessment is a responsibility of the local LRF and must be done jointly between responders, providing a basis for the prioritisation of work programmes and allocation of resources. There is a requirement to publish the risk assessment, to the extent necessary to reduce the impact of an emergency on the community.

8. For the first time, it is possible to use emergency powers on a regional and/or devolved administration basis. This ensures any special temporary legislation will apply only in the part of the UK affected by the emergency, leaving those elsewhere unaffected.

9. There are restrictions in place which limit the extent of the emergency powers. It cannot, for example, prohibit industrial action or instigate military conscription or alter any aspect of criminal procedures.

LINK WITH EMERGENCY PLANNING

10. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires local authorities to carry out risk assessments and to use these to inform their emergency planning arrangements. The central part of the main planning duty under the Act is to ensure that the organisation is prepared to perform its functions so as to prevent, reduce, control or mitigate the effects of an emergency. The action that it is practicable for an authority to take will be determined, in part, by the resources that each local authority has available and, for that reason, the Act does not specify the content of plans leaving local authorities a degree of autonomy as to the detail.

$wgen0mff 4

INTERFACING OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLANS

11. There are a large number of plans which deal with protecting the coastline in the event of a chemical or oil population incident. These include:

 Fareham Borough Council Emergency Plan  Portsmouth CC Oil & Chemical Pollution Plan  Hampshire CC Coastal Oil & Chemical Pollution Plan  Marine Pollution Control Unit Oil Spill Clean up of the Coastline Technical Manual  Esso Petroleum Co Ltd Oil Spill Contingency Plan  Fawley Refinery Oil Spill Contingency Plan  National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping & Offshore installations  Hampshire CC Major Civil Emergency Plan  BP Oil UK Ltd. Marine Oil Spill Plan – Hamble  Port of Southampton – Oil Pollution Plan  Eastleigh BC Oil & Chemical Pollution Plan  SOLFIRE Marine Emergency Plan

EXISTING OIL AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION PLAN

12. Fareham’s existing Oil and Chemical Pollution Plan (attached as Appendix A), has been in place for several years and has been implemented on a number of occasions to deal with all incidents relating to oil or chemical pollution of the Borough’s beaches. To date, only Tier One degree of severity has occurred.

13. In view of the changes introduced by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the organisational changes which have occurred within the organisations which are involved in the implementation of the plan, a new plan entitled ‘Shoreline Response Plan’ is required.

CONSIDERATION OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO OIL POLLUTION OF THE COASTLINE

14. A brief outline of the “Sea Empress” incident has been included as Appendix B.

EUROPEAN MARINE SITES AFFECTING FAREHAM

15. Since 1994, UK nature conservation legislation has included measures originating from the European Community. These measures provide extra protection for certain selected habitats and species through the use of site designations. To date, the following sites within Fareham have been identified; Portsmouth harbour (SPA), Titchfield Haven (SPA), the Solent shoreline (SPA and part of a candidate SAC) and the River Hamble (part of an SPA and a candidate SAC. The maps contained in Appendix C show that all of the Borough’s coastline is affected by these designations and hence establishes the importance of considering how best to protect the environment in the event of a major incident.

$wgen0mff 5

PREPARATION OF THE SHORELINE RESPONSE PLAN

16. Officers from Hampshire’s coastal local authorities have been co-operating to identify a common approach to the development of Shoreline Response Plans. The agreed template is attached as Appendix D. There are a number of actions which have been identified for implementation during 2006. These are:

(a) The identification of temporary storage sites for oil and contaminated material and to seek the approval of the Environment Agency to the identified sites;

(b) To identify training needs and to access training for the relevant employees;

(c) To identify options for the provision of personnel and equipment to deal with the incident; and

(d) To prepare the financial working papers which would be required in the event of a major incident.

CONSULTATION

17. There is a requirement to consult a number of local and national organisations on the Council’s Shoreline Response Plan and it is proposed to complete the consultation prior to a further report being presented to the Scrutiny Board to enable the Board to consider recommending the Plan for adoption by the Executive.

RISK ASSESSMENT

18. The risk assessment has been attached as Appendix E.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

19. An overview of the financial implications of dealing with an oil spill is included in the existing oil and chemical pollution plan. However, in the event of a local authority dealing with a major oil spill, it is highly unlikely that all costs will be recovered. Depending on the severity of the issue, the unmet cost could be very considerable and it is not practical to make any provision for this beforehand. In the event of a major incident, other local authorities have found it necessary and beneficial to have full financial support, advice and monitoring, both on and off site as soon as an incident requires action by this authority. In this way the expenditure can be recorded and future financial needs can be assessed and reported.

20. The Council’s Financial Regulations include arrangements to deal with the financial aspects of an emergency response where the Council has had to set up its control centre.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

21. The Council is required to meet its legal obligations to civil contingencies and public safety under the Act. Failure to do so will lead to receipt of a poor related Comprehensive Performance Assessment and potential adverse outcome within any post incident inquiry or civil litigation claim.

$wgen0mff 6

22. Local authorities have accepted the non-statutory responsibility for shoreline clean- up which is in accordance with their community leadership responsibilities. Guidance issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on counter pollution sets out the role of the local authority in shoreline response. Local Authorities are responsible for the creation of emergency response plans.

23. Where local authorities undertake to prepare and apply oil spill contingency plans, the plans must address health and safety considerations. Where maritime local authorities undertake shoreline clean-up operations, they will be responsible for dealing with the clean-up and as a consequence for overall management of health and safety issues. Plans must recognise the likely medium to long term effects of pollution incidents and the consequential long time scales of later response phases. Whilst local authorities are not under statutory obligation to undertake shoreline clean-up, it is widely understood that, as part of their community leadership role and the duty of care, it is implied they would and should do so.

CONCLUSION

24. The report reviews the current position, the issues which do and could affect the coastline around Fareham Borough and the development of the new Shoreline Response Plan.

25. The report outlines a proposed approach to the preparation of a draft Shoreline Response Plan, with estimated timescales, for which the Board’s endorsement is sought.

Background Papers: None

Reference Papers: None

Enquiries: For further information on this report please contact Jim Kettlewell. (Ext 4400)

Appendices:

A – Existing Oil and Chemical Pollution Plan (to be replaced by the new Shoreline Response Plan). B – Summary of “Sea Empress” grounding incident. C – European Maritime Sites affecting Fareham – Plans. D - New Oil Spill Contingency/Shoreline Response Plan Template. E – Risk Assessment.

$wgen0mff 7

APPENDIX A

OIL

AND

CHEMICAL POLLUTION PLAN

(TO BE REPLACED BY NEW SHORELINE RESPONSE PLAN)

$wgen0mff 8

FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL OIL AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION PLAN JANUARY 2006

Page Contents Amendment Sheet Contents Part 1 – OIL The First Warning – What to do/Contact Details (applies also to Part 2) Introduction The Area Covered Scope Oil Pollution Officers The Detailed Oil Procedure Action to be Taken Availability of Labour and Plant/Disposal Contractors Financial Implications of Oil Spill Clear Ups Part 2 – CHEMICALS Chemical Pollution on Beaches – Emergency Procedure Responsibilities Chemical Containers Classification – Low Risk/High Risk Size Classification Chemical Policy on Beaches – General Protocol Removal Procedure (Liaison with the County Council) Priorities Health and Safety Guidelines Appendix I FBC/Members and Telephone Numbers Appendix II View Points Appendix III Access Points Appendix lV Beach Material Storage Areas Appendix V List of Marinas and Telephone Numbers Appendix VI Cleansing of Foreshore Material Appendix VII Chemical Containers Form Appendix VIII Additional Guidance on Health and Safety Appendix IX Risk Assessment Records

Additional Papers International Markings on Containers MAPS: SACs & SPAs Boatyards and Marinas Viewpoints Access Points

$wgen0mff 9

PART 1 – OIL

THE FIRST WARNING What to do if you receive an Oil Report

If you receive a telephone call reporting oil pollution, either at sea or already on the shore, you must first try to obtain from the caller as much information as possible, but especially the caller’s name and telephone number, so that others can call the person back if necessary.

If the report is of a slick at sea then ask for information of:

1. Location 2. Size of slick (how long/how wide?) 3. Type of oil (light/heavy//tarry etc) 4. Direction of movement 5. Coastline at risk

If the report is of a polluted shore then ask for information about:

1. Location 2. Extent of pollution (limits) 3. Degree of pollution (how severe?) 4. Type of oil (light/heavy//tarry etc)

With or without this information then locate and inform one of the following in the order given: Title Name Tel: (Work) Tel: (Home) Tel: (Mobile) 1 Head of Environmental Health Service 2 Principal Environmental Health Officer 3 Principal Environmental Health Officer

That person will then follow the Procedure Diagram and the Detailed Procedure.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR USE IN AN EMERGENCY (TELEPHONE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN OMITTED)

DIRECT SERVICES Ints Title Name Tel: (Work) Tel: (Home) Tel: (Mobile)

$wgen0mff 10

Tel: Tel: Ints Name Title Tel: (Work) Pager (Home) (Mobile) COASTGUARD In Emergency dial 999 and ask operator (24 hrs) for COASTGUARD MARINE POLLUTION CONTROL VIA MCA LEE-ON-SOLENT Emergency Contact Number – 24 hrs 1st call 2nd call HAMBLE RIVER HARBOUR AUTHORITY Harbour Master’s Office

(Out of hours call Coastguard) ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS – SOUTHAMPTON Duty Officer VTS Centre (24 hours) HARBOUR MASTERS – SOUTHAMPTON Captain Harbour Master/Duty Officer MARINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE (when manned) VTS Telephone: Fax: HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE (24 hrs) HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – EMERGENCY PLANNING Emergency

Planning Unit Duty EOP (24

hrs) County Oil

Pollution Officer Deputy Oil &

Chemical Officer Div Emergency

Planning Officer FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL Borough Emergency

Planning Liaison Officer

$wgen0mff 11

Tel: Tel: Ints Name Title Tel: (Work) Pager (Home) (Mobile) SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL District Oil

Pollution Officer Deputy Oil

Pollution Officer FAREHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL

DOCPO Deputy Oil

Pollution Officer Duty via Aircall

NEW FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL

DOCPO Deputy Oil & Chemical Pollution Officer Emergency out-of-hours number

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Western Group

Leader Royal Victoria

Country Park Upper Hamble Country Park Manageress ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Duty Pollution Officer (24 hrs)

ENGLISH NATURE Conservation Officer South Hants & IOW Duty Officer

HAMPSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST SE Marine Conservation Officer

$wgen0mff 12

Tel: Tel: Ints Name Title Tel: (Work) Pager (Home) (Mobile) SOUTHAMPTON METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER

BP OIL UK LTD

General Contact

Terminal Control Emergency

Control BP can also provide Beach Master support and contact should be made with John Hamilton, Marine Supervisor on. ESSO FAWLEY (24 hrs)

RSPB Regional Office

RSPCA – Area Communication Centre NATIONAL CHEMICAL EMERGENCY

CENTRE (or via Emergency Services) CCDC Hampshire & IOW Health

Authority Out-of-hours (ask for Duty

CCDC/SCMO) Cross border liaison will be taken care of by the CCDC

WRVS/MOBILE FOOD VANS (See EH Database) INTERNATIONAL TANKER OWNERS

POLLUTION FEDERATION (ITOPF)

$wgen0mff 13

INTRODUCTION

This plan is principally concerned with the procedure from the receipt of a warning of pollution and where the Borough Council, with the help of the County Council, can cope with the clean up operations associated with on-shore pollution. It a catastrophic situation exists, beyond our joint resources, then a Shoreline Response Centre (SRC) will be set up and additional assistance called for.

The document has been produced primarily to set out a clear procedure to be followed on receiving a warning of an oil spill at sea that could affect our shoreline, or of oil pollution already on the shoreline.

With that in mind, the First Warning instruction, the Procedure Diagram and names and contact details that precede this introduction provide all the necessary information to set things in motion. Everything else is secondary including the Detailed Procedure, definitions and explanations.

Individuals’ names and telephone numbers have been used in the pages preceding this introduction, but not in the Sections that follow. This means that it will be necessary to update pages 2 to 6 regularly as names change, but that pages 7 onward will be unaffected by staff changes.

$wgen0mff 14

THE AREA COVERED

Southampton Water

River Hamble

The East bank of the River Hamble from the mouth of the river to the Borough boundary with Gosport Borough Council at Hill Head.

Portsmouth Harbour

The western bank between the Borough boundary with Portsmouth City Council and Gosport Borough Council.

$wgen0mff 15

SCOPE

The responsibility for oil spill pollution clean up is as follows:

Off-Shore Pollution

The Environment Agency is responsible for protecting the environment as a whole within three nautical miles of the shore.

On-Shore Pollution

Pollution that has reached the shore is the responsibility of the Borough Council down to the low water mark up to the limit of its resources.

This on-shore pollution can itself be divided into three degrees of severity: i) Light to Moderate Pollution (Tier One)

Light to moderate, either in intensity or in extent or both, that can be dealt with entirety within the Borough Council’s own resources. ii) Severe Pollution (Tier Two)

Oiling of the beaches etc, where the Borough Council’s resources cannot cope with the situation and the County Council are asked to provide assistance in the form of labour, plant and materials. iii) Catastrophic Pollution (Tier Three)

A major disaster caused by shipwreck, collision at sea or off-shore drilling mishaps, whereby many Maritime Authorities suffer many miles of very severe pollution, causing a situation where the County Council also cannot cope and a State of Emergency exists with help provided through Central Government Agencies.

$wgen0mff 16

OIL POLLUTION OFFICERS

The person responsible in any Authority for co-ordinating the clearance of oil pollution is the Oil Pollution Officer.

In the County this is the County Oil Pollution Officer and in the District the District Oil Pollution Officer. So we have:

COPO County Oil Pollution Officer

DCOPO Deputy County Oil Pollution Officer

DOPO District Oil Pollution Officer

DDOPO Deputy District Oil Pollution Officer

These titles are of course secondary functions for officers with other responsibilities.

In Fareham the DOPO is the Head of Environmental Health, and the DDOPOs are specified other staff.

$wgen0mff 17

THE DETAILED OIL PROCEDURE

1. This section is provided to expand upon and explain the processes set out concisely in the Procedure Diagram. By its very nature it repeats some of the information included in other sections.

2. The indication of an incident is likely to be received from the Police, Vessel Tracking System (VTS) of Associated British Ports, Southampton, BP Hamble, the Coastguard (MCA) Hamble Harbour Master, the County Oil Pollution Officer or from other sources. Information will come with varying degrees of accuracy and detail.

3. The District Oil Pollution Officer is the Head of Environmental Health. In his/her absence the responsibility for co-ordination will go to the DDOPOs (named Principal Environmental Health Officers).

4. Anyone receiving a message must obtain as much information as possible, including the caller’s name and number and pass it directly to the DOPO or whosoever is available to deputise for him/her (see page 3 - The First Warning which lists the type of information to be obtained). Hereafter the DOPO means either the Head of Environmental Health or the person deputising for him/her in co-ordinating the procedure.

5. If the information comes from the general public then the DOPO will need to contact the Coastguard who will then contact MPCU etc.

6. The DOPO will assess the situation and during office hours will alert relevant staff (DDOPO - etc), who will arrange for staff to inspect the foreshore and report back to the office. This report will then be passed to the DOPO. Outside of normal office hours the DOPO will be contacted and if during daylight hours will inspect the foreshore and decide on the next course of action. It should be remembered that oil pollution of the foreshore is not a dire emergency. In the Solfire (Solent Emergency Procedure) Plan it is well down the list of priorities and, although it is desirable to assess the situation as soon as possible, it is pointless calling out staff just as it is getting dark or during the night. The out of hours call-out will be almost exclusively reserved for weekend and Bank Holiday emergencies, as other out of hours reports can almost invariably be held over for inspection the following working morning.

7. The DOPO will also need to decide when and whether the situation warrants the setting up of the Emergency Control Centre in the Committee Room on the first floor of the Civic Offices. The Emergency Control Centre (ECC) has enhanced communications systems which enable it to cater for most emergencies. For details and information on setting up the ECC and for access to the Civic Offices out of hours, see the Fareham Borough Council Civil Emergency Plan.

8. Details of access points for shoreline inspection are shown in Map 1 (Appendices II - IV).

9. Still with foreshore inspection in progress the DOPO will then contact the Hamble Harbour Master’s Office (unless, of course, the message had been directly received from that source) to make sure that the HM is aware of the problem and to attempt to find out more information regarding the location and seriousness of the situation.

$wgen0mff 18

The DOPO will ask what action the HM plans to take, to enable the DOPO to more accurately assess the most appropriate response by the Borough Council.

10. The Harbour Master will report back to the DOPO either a nil return, or that action is necessary to clean the quay walls, or to remove oil from the harbour waters.

11. When situation reports have been received from EBC staff and the Hamble Harbour Master, the DOPO will assess the situation and, if action is required, will instruct the Council’s Direct Services, or external contractors, of action to be taken. Reference should be made to the guidance on oil spill cleanup of the shoreline found in the EH Library.

12. If oil has been reported on the foreshore fronting Southampton Water, the DOPO will contact Direct Services and management at the Royal Victoria Country Park to arrange for “OIL ON THE BEACH” notices to be erected to warn the public. These are free standing ‘A’ boards held at the Royal Victoria County Park and at Hedge End Depot.

13. The DOPO will contact other organisations as shown on the Procedure Diagram and arrange action as appropriate.

14. If there are reports of oiled sea-birds the DOPO will then contact the Royal Society for the protection of Birds and the RSPCA to enable them to start a rescue mission.

15. If there is pollution in a biologically sensitive area the DOPO will contact English Nature to ensure that no action is taken that may be considered more harmful than leaving the oil to degrade. (See Appendix II MAP 1 (A - G) for extent.)

16. At this stage the DOPO should find that everything is under control and any clean up necessary is well in hand. However, in the event that Direct Services or contractors are not able to cope with either the extent or severity of the spillage they will inform the DOPO.

17. In that situation the DOPO will enlist the help of other labour forces, contractors and agencies. It is also possible to enlist the services of experienced staff from BP Hamble through their Marine Supervisor.

18. In the majority of incidents this would complete the procedure and covers all light to moderate cases of pollution as outlined in page 11 – ‘Scope’. However, should it still prove impossible to cope with the extent and severity of the spillage the DOPO will be informed and will telephone the County Oil Pollution Officer to request an input of County labour, plant and materials etc. If that input of resources proves inadequate then we are in a catastrophic situation and the County will approach Central Government for assistance in what will probably be a State of Emergency

$wgen0mff 19

ACTION TO BE TAKEN

The action to be taken will tend to vary depending on the following: i) The location (beach, harbour, mud-flats etc) ii) The time of year iii) The type of oil (light/heavy/tarry etc) iv) The severity of the spillage

Shingle Beaches — Light Oils (Diesels etc)

Light or moderate spillages can normally be left undisturbed where they will quickly evaporate. Severe spillages should similarly be left alone except from mid-March to mid- October when the use of dispersant should be considered. However, advice on this should be taken from the MCA. Warning notices should be erected in all cases.

Shingle Beaches — Medium or Heavy Oils (Crudes etc)

These oils should be removed by scraping the layer of shingle off the beach into stockpiles to be removed to tip. Care must be taken to avoid taking too much beach material. Only after removing the bulk of the contaminated surface can dispersants be considered with water jets into an incoming tide as a final clean-up. Light spillages can be left to degrade naturally from mid-October to mid-March. In all cases warning notices should be erected.

Shingle Beaches — Tarry Lumps

Light deposits of tarry lumps or oily seaweed are best collected by hand into containers for removal to skips. Moderate or severe deposits are most unlikely but should be scraped into heaps as one would do for medium to heavy oils, although it should be possible to keep the scraped layer thinner. Spraying is likely to be a waste of time, even as a final clean-up, but warning notices should be erected. No action other than warning notices should be taken over light deposits between mid-October and mid-March.

Mud Flats and Salt Marshes

Dispersants must not be used, nor should mechanical removal of oil from the salt marsh be attempted. Where possible, oil should be prevented from coming ashore. Absorbent matting may be effective.

IMPORTANT

FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT NO DISPERSANTS ARE TO BE USED WITHIN BIOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. (SEE ABOVE AND MAP 1D AND 1E), WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE MARINE COASTGUARD AGENCY AND ENGLISH NATURE AND ONLY THEN FOR THE CLEANING OF BOATS, WALLS AND FITTINGS ETC.

$wgen0mff 20

Disposal of Contaminated Material

The Environment Agency Waste Regulation Group will advise on appropriate disposal sites for contaminated shingle and other oily waste.

REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE PROCEDURES LISTED IN THE DOCUMENT “OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP OF THE COASTLINE”.

$wgen0mff 21

AVAILABILITY OF LABOUR AND PLANT

Labour and plant will initially be provided by the Council’s Direct Services Organisations .

All hiring of further plant or labour will be done in consultation with Direct Services and Raynesway Contracting Services, the County Council’s Highway contractor.

Employees To be confirmed Number

Street Cleansing Grounds Maintenance Waste Management TOTAL

Plant and vehicles To be confirmed

Tippers/pick ups (3.5t) Tippers (7.5t) Skip Loader Backhoe/Loaders TOTAL

Hampshire County Council

Raynesway Contracting Services are the highway maintenance contractor for the County Council and are available to provide additional labour and equipment should our own Direct Services resources be insufficient.

During normal office hours they can be contacted through the local Highways Office currently located here in Fareham Council Civic Offices. Out of office hours Raynesway can be contacted on (telephone number deleted).

Disposal Contractors

Should it be found necessary to need assistance with the disposal of oily waste then the following can provide specialist plant and services.

Onyx UK Ltd, Marchwood

BKP

Cleansing Service Group

$wgen0mff 22

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF OIL SPILL CLEAR UPS

General Policy

Government policy is to seek compensation or the recovery of costs in any oil or chemical spill where clean up action or precautionary measures are taken to prevent or reduce the threat of pollution. The general principle is that the polluter should pay. However, it may be very difficult or impossible to identify the polluter. In all cases, the Council will proceed with clean up operations on the assumption that a claim will be made. Recording all decisions and actions with their financial implications will be required to form the basis of a claim. It is also proof of responsible action in any subsequent investigation.

Initial Costs

Regardless of whether a polluter has been or is likely to be identified, initial costs will fall upon the Council. Thus, as a general rule, the Council will be responsible for the cost of all the work we undertake and the county will bear the cost of any assistance given to us. Detailed cost can be discussed and attributed after the incident, as each case must be judged on its own merits. However, it is imperative that anti-pollution operations are not delayed by financial arrangements not being in place. Where the cause of pollution is known, the oil company, ship owners and insurers should be contacted as soon as possible and invited to pay for the clean-up work. Thereafter, insurers will expect the Council to take reasonable action to contain and clear the pollution. Where possible, representatives of ship owners and insurers should be part of the Oil Spill Management Team or Shoreline Response Centre and their agreement to the integrated response plan should be sought.

Large Spills

In cases where a Shoreline Response Centre is established, resources provided by or through the Marine and Coastguard Agency will be paid for by Central Government The MCA will ensure that actions taken are cleared with financially interested parties and also will collate and submit claims. In the event of a very large spill, for which compensation cannot be recovered and Local Authority finances are severely stretched, Central Government will consider a case for financial assistance. In all cases and at all levels it is important for the Council to maintain accurate records.

Record Keeping

A full and accurate record of any pollution incident is absolutely essential, particularly to substantiate and subsequently make a claim. Such records will have a wide range of subsequent uses which as reports, claims inquiries etc and should, therefore, err on the side of too much detail rather than too little. The record should clearly show timings, information received, decisions taken, orders given and actions completed where appropriate. A running total of approximate costs incurred should also be maintained.

Cost Recovery

Various international conventions, implemented in the UK by The Merchant Shipping Acts, provide for liability of tanker owners for the damage caused by spillages of cargo and bunker oil and also the cost of pollution counter measures. These conventions have given rise to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC Fund).

$wgen0mff 23

Further details on financial limits and advice on which organisation should be targeted for a claim can be obtained from the MCA or International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF). The 1994 Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Pollution) Act makes all ship owners strictly liable for oil pollution damage on the UK coastline.

Claims

Claims can be made against the ship owners, insurers or the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund depending on the amount of the total claims for a particular incident. There are time frames within which claims must be made as follows:

 Ship Owners and insurers 2 years  IOPC fund 3 years

It is in the interest of all parties that claims are submitted as early as possible and in all cases early notification of intent of claim is essential.

Alt claims should be made in writing and should contain: i) Name and address of claimant ii) Identification of ship involved iii) Date, location and specific details of the incident iv) Type of oil! and kind of pollution damage v) Amount of claim

For all but the smallest claims, items and costs should be broken down as is the following example: vi) Cost of preventative and clean-up measures:

a) Summary of events including a description of the work carried out in different areas and methods adopted in relation to circumstances prevailing during the incident.

b) Analytical and/or circumstantial evidence linking oil pollution with ships involved (e.g. chemical analysis, wind direction, current data and recorded observation of oil movement).

c) Dates work done and daily or weekly costs.

d) Labour costs - number and category of workers, rates of pay day/hours worked, total.

e) Material costs - types of material, purchase or hire costs, quantities, total.

f) Transport costs - number and type of vehicles, hours/days operated, rate of hire or cost of purchase and total.

g) Cost of final disposal of oil and oily waste.

$wgen0mff 24 vii) Replacement and Repair Costs:

a) Extent of damage to property

b) Details of any items damaged or destroyed and needing c]eaning or replacement c) (eg: fishing nets, pleasure boats) including description of location at the time of pollution damage

d) Age of item to be replaced.

e) Cost of replacement or repair viii) Economic loss

a) Nature of loss, including proof that loss was a direct result of damage.

b) Comparative figures for profits earned in previous periods during which damage was suffered.

c) Method of loss assessment.

The MCA will be able to give advice to the Council when compiling a claim and the final submission should be passed to them for collation with other claims arising from the same incident.

$wgen0mff 25

PART 2 - CHEMICAL

CHEMICAL POLLUTION ON BEACHES - EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

Responsibilities

The Borough Council is responsible for removing containers of chemicals from the beach. The Fire & Rescue Service may be involved and, if called out by a member of the public, they will usually attend and simultaneously call out the Borough Council. They will generally assist on site, but have no statutory duty. If the Borough Council calls the Fire & Rescue Service out, a charge may well be made. They should, therefore, only be called out if a substance shows evidence of combustion.

This procedure should be generally followed for chemical containers washed ashore along the beach or in the marinas. It can also be used for containers fallen from vehicles or dumped on an open site. A container is defined as a drum, can, carboy, package, jerry can etc, indeed anything used to contain and transport chemicals, toxic or otherwise.

From past experience it is evident that many small containers washed up contain domestic or DIY type substances, which although hazardous are often found in kitchens, garages or boats. These substances are safe provided they are in a sound container and used with caution when applied. Containers are therefore put into two groups, high and low risk. This classification is based on the type of container washed up and its risk if handled by a Council employee. Council employees may only touch or handle low risk containers.

Container classification considers the following elements:

Low Risk Containers

 Any empty containers.  Any size of container in a sound condition, with clear markings and harmless contents.  Any small container in a sound condition, with clear markings and toxic or similar hazardous contents (not radioactive or explosive).  Any small container in a sound condition, with no markings and unknown content.  Any small container which is badly damaged or leaking, with clear markings and harmless contents.  Any medium or large container which is badly leaking or damaged, with clear markings and harmless contents.

High Risk Containers

 Any size of container, in any condition, which is clearly marked and has radioactive or explosive contents.  Any size of container, badly damaged or leaking, with clear markings and hazardous contents.  Any size of container, badly damaged or leaking, with no marking and unknown contents.  Any medium or large container, in sound condition, with clear markings and hazardous contents.  Any medium or large container, in sound condition, with no markings and unknown contents.

$wgen0mff 26

Size Classification Guide

 Small Less than 1 litre  Medium Greater than 1 litre, less than 25 litres  Large Greater than 25 litres, less than 200 litres

If in doubt, a container must be considered as high risk.

CHEMICAL POLLUTION ON BEACHES - GENERAL PROTOCOL

When considering action to be taken this general protocol provides a basic framework.

REPORT OF INCIDENT

If container likely to be hazardous put disposal contractor on standby (p. 15)

Assess and record details on form (App VII)

Container non-hazardous/low risk Container hazardous/high risk I I Remove if necessary by using Arrange for Direct Services to Direct Services cordon off the area I I Return the container Container removed Dispose of at licensed tip I Environment Agency to dispose Contractor to retain the container Chemsafe Specialist to dispose I Carry out investigations as to the source

The DOPO or his/her Deputies will co-ordinate the procedure.

$wgen0mff 27

Removal Procedure

On receipt of a notification either that a container has been found on the foreshore or that containers will imminently arrive on the foreshore, all available details should be recorded using the chemical containers form (Appendix VII). The DOPO or his representative will make an immediate site visit and, if the container is deemed to be low risk, Direct Services may remove it for disposal. Where the contents of the container cannot be identified the area must be cordoned off until the DOPO can determine the nature of the chemical.

If the container is deemed to be high risk, the DOPO or his Deputising Officer is responsible for:

 Recognisance reporting.  The seeking of specialist advice regarding the nature and possible hazards of high risk containers.  Arrangements for the protection and exclusion of the public.  Clearance and removal of high-risk containers from the foreshore. Where substances are known, or suspected to be, explosive or radioactive, or where lifesaving action is involved, the Police will co-ordinate the necessary action to deal with the incident. If a container is identified as high risk, the DOPO in conjunction with the Environment Agency, Fire & Rescue Service and, if necessary, Chemsafe Specialist will identify and arrange removal of the container.

Advice should be sought from the National Chemical Emergency Centre, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Container Identification Unit and, if there is a spillage of chemicals, the Medical Toxicology Unit and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust – (via CCDC). The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority has responsibilities in such a chemical incident and the CCDC/SCMO at the Health Authority should be notified as soon as possible. Telephone .

Certain containers require notification to the Receiver of Wrecks (HM Customs). If goods do not have to be destroyed on amenity or safety grounds, and the Receiver of Wrecks determines that they do not fall within his jurisdiction, the DOPO should take reasonable steps to locate the owners and inform the Police (and the County Trading Standards Officer if the goods are petroleum products) of the nature of the goods being held, pending establishment of ownership and eventual disposal by sale or otherwise. In reality this is only likely to be a situation when a large quantity of cargo has become detached from a known vessel or wreck.

Liaison with the County Council

The County Council have made three classifications of degrees of pollution:

 Class 1 which can be dealt with without assistance from the County.  Class 2 that which requires the County to provide assistance under the arrangements in their own contingency plan.  Class 3 that which requires control by the County Council and possibly also Central Government assistance.

It means that in a situation where the DOPO cannot cope, assistance will be available from the County, as described in their contingency plan. However, it must be remembered that it is the DOPO’s initial responsibility to arrange for:

$wgen0mff 28

 Inspection of the foreshore and taking of initial details  Contacting all relevant Authorities  Ensuring public safety  Disposal of the container (by Direct Services or another nominated contractor)  Necessary public relations.

$wgen0mff 29

PRIORITIES

In the event of a severe or catastrophic pollution incident it will be necessary to determine an order of priorities. Priorities will have to be allocated on the day as each incident will be unique, and there are many variables.

Listed below are some important factors which should be taken into account in allocating priorities.

Natural Features

River Hamble: the Hamble is particularly important, its shoreline includes a high proportion of sensitive and important natural environments, as well as highly significant commercial and leisure interests.

Special Areas of Conservation: The shoreline of Southampton Water and the Hamble River includes several special Areas of Conservation (SACS) and Special Protection Areas (SPAS). The salt marshes in the Hamble are particularly important and vulnerable to oil pollution.

Other Sites: There are also a number of sites of importance for Nature Conservation.

Artificial Features

Marinas: There are several major marinas on the River Hamble.

$wgen0mff 30

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

Fareham Borough Council is responsible for the creation of emergency response plans for ensuring that appropriate health and safety information is included. Where the Council undertakes to prepare and apply an oil spill contingency plan the plan must address health and safety considerations. As Fareham is a maritime Local Authority that undertakes shoreline clean up operations it will also be responsible for dealing with the clean up and, as a consequence, for overall management of health and safety issues.

General health and safety responsibilities during incidents

The plan contains a statement that the Council has overall responsibility for health and safety management and co-ordination during an incident. However, this does not affect other or statutory responsibilities under health and safety legislation. In any situation, which is not specifically covered by the plan, it should be assumed that the organisation or body having the overall management control for that situation also has health and safety management responsibility.

At all times the personal health and safety of Council employees, contractors and members of the public is of paramount importance. At no time may any person undertake any task without the explicit permission of the DOPO, who will have carried out a Risk Assessment for the task in hand. Risk assessments will develop from the following principles and be carried out using the appropriate form (Appendix IX):

 Exercise caution.  All personnel on site to be contactable via mobile phones.  Avoid contact with any container or any chemical or oil spillage  Avoid inhalation of fumes. Approach any container from upwind.  Only staff with a current Hazardous Material Awareness Course run by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to be allowed to identity, handle, store or dispose of containers (three yearly update).  Suitable protective clothing to be worn as instructed by the DOPO. This could include all or any of the following: - Overalls - Wellies/Safety shoes - Over-trousers - Waterproof Coat (plus Hood) - Rubber Gloves - Dust Mask - Goggles  Staff are responsible for wearing appropriate amounts of clothing under protective layers, suitable for the weather conditions.  Do not over-exert, work steadily. Do not lift objects.  Take regular breaks to warm up and cool down, rest, drink and eat.  Wash hands before eating.

Health and safety of personnel and members of the public is of the utmost importance.

Attention is drawn to guidelines applicable to oil and chemical incidents in Appendix VIII.

$wgen0mff 31

Health and Safely File

Al the commencement of operations a Health and Safety File for the operation will be established and held for the operation of the SRC. The file will be the responsibility of the Council. The maintenance of the Health and Safety File is the responsibility of the competent person. The competent person should ensure that copies of all Health and Safety relevant information is maintained on the file and that, at the end of the operation, the file is kept with the operation archive.

Health and safety management arrangements during incidents

The plan shows the arrangements for health and safety management during an incident. In the event of a major incident the Council will ensure that competent personnel are present at, or accessible to, the Shoreline Response Centre (SRC) to advise on health and safety issues. It is considered appropriate that the Council’s EHOs should be the competent person in respect of health and safety management during incidents.

In addition, on-site supervisory staff (i.e. Beach Masters) must be competent in both the use of clean up equipment and relevant health and safety procedures and precautions. Beach Masters will be responsible for ensuring that all personnel under their supervision have been provided with relevant safety equipment, information and guidance.

There should be a meeting of Beach Masters at the SRC at least once a week to review operational and safety management experiences over the preceding week and review plans for the forthcoming week. In a given operation the SRC will determine the actual frequency of meetings and briefings.

Where a Beach Master takes over a specific site or existing operation there should be a formal handover process. The process should be recorded and logged.

It is a duty to record all accidents and incidents. Copies of all accidents and incidents during a clean up operation should be provided to the SRC.

In the event of an accident, dangerous occurrence or other incident requiring notification under RIDDOR, the information should be recorded and reported by the Council to the Health and Safety Executive.

Where the Council uses oil spill contractors they should, as part of the specification of a contractor, provide copies of the contractor’s written Health and Safety Policy and relevant safety information, including details of safety procedures and precautions, staff training and arrangement for supervision and management. Careful consideration should be exercised with contractors using casual labour.

Should it be necessary to set up a Shoreline Response Centre

Initial actions in the event of mobilising the Shore Line Response Centre for the Health and Safety Officer:

1. Health and Safety File - Set up the Health and Safety File for the operation and establish arrangements for its maintenance.

$wgen0mff 32

2. Cargo Details - Secure information on type of material(s), total tonnage etc, and estimate of tonnage spill to date. Copies of relevant hazard sheets from owner/consignee via the MCA. File in Health and Safety File.

3. Time of Incident - Time of first release, duration of material at sea and exposed to elements and wave action etc. Review likely impact on risk. File in Health and Safety File.

4. Weather Reports - Weather forecast for the next 24 hours including sea conditions, obtain regular updates via the SRC. Review likely impact on risk. File in Health and Safety File.

5. Marine Operations - Summary of action to date, details of any material used to break up or disperse spill. Quantity used, where and when applied. Relevant hazard sheets via the MCA. Establish communications via the SRC to ensure updates on material usage during marine operations.

6. Beach Masters - Identify Beach Masters, prepare and provide an initial safety briefing. Plan for attendance at weekly Beach Master briefings.

7. Induction Arrangements - Establish arrangements for safety induction of staff and personnel. Induction arrangements to cover the management and supervisory arrangements on-site and principal hazards and issues.

Hazards associated with normal work practices

 Lifting and manual handling

 Working with and around vehicles

 Working with and around chemicals

 Welting with and around noisy equipment

 Personal Protective Equipment and clothing

 Welfare provision for safe, or remote, working

 Working in extremes of temperature and weather

 Supervision for site and remote working

 First aid arrangements

 Reporting procedures.

Note - This should not be taken as an exhaustive list.

All the above are hazards or issues which may be encountered on most working days by staff and should therefore already be dealt with in appropriate safety training, documentation and instruction. In addition, supervisory staff should also be familiar with these issues and their management.

$wgen0mff 33

Nature of hazards likely to be encountered

The plan contains information on hazards likely to be encountered, relevant safety information including information for staff and copies of any safety checklists or schedules of safety equipment. In addition, details of sources of information and specialist advice are included. Copies of this information will be placed on the Health and Safety File if an operation is commenced.

The hazards can be broadly divided into four categories:

1. Hazards associated with normal work practices.

2. Hazards associated with difficult access arrangements.

3. Hazards associated with clean up equipment and materials.

4. Hazards associated with the spill material.

Hazards associated with the spill material

General overview

Hazards for crude and refined products include both acute and chronic effects. Whilst the major concern continues to be exposure to benzene there are a number of other components such as napthas which may also be present. Principle risks exist through the inhalation of vapours or skin and soft tissue contact. Conditions, which may result, include respiratory and dermatological reactions. (See Croner’s Substances Hazardous to Health.)

Weathering effects

Existing information indicates that most volatiles are driven off from refined products within the first few hours of the spill, and from crude products within eight hours or so. This period may be extended where there are particularly calm cool conditions and the spill is contained such that it is unable to spread to a thin film. Even so, evidence is available that most, if not all, benzene has been volatilised and lost within a twenty four hour period. As a consequence inhalation risks are usually considered to be negligible after the first twenty four hours or so, leaving skin and soft tissue contact as the major hazard of concern.

Note - Exposure to petroleum components such as benzene may also be as a direct result of equipment used, and it may be impracticable to isolate the cause of any exposure.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

When dealing with material in the early stages of a spill, e.g.: the first day, it will be necessary to provide PPE as described elsewhere. In certain circumstances appropriate respiratory protective equipment will be needed. In addition, there should be effective segregation of any affected areas so that only those staff with an operational reason to do so, e.g.: beach assessment, are exposed to any potential risk.

$wgen0mff 34

Adequate staff information and PPE will provide appropriate controls for skin and soft tissue contact route, provided Beach Masters are vigilant regarding both the behaviour of personnel on the beach and the use of PPE.

$wgen0mff 35

Appendix I FBC/Members and Telephone Numbers (not attached) Appendix II View Points (not attached) Appendix III Access Points (not attached) Appendix IV Beach Material Storage Areas (not attached)

$wgen0mff 36

Appendix V

LIST OF MARINAS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS (omitted) IN THE HAMBLE AREA

Mercury Marina, Satchell Lane

Port Hamble, Satchell Lane

Hamble Point Marina School Road

Hamble Yacht Services, Port Hamble

Appendix VI

CLEANSING OF FORESHORE MATERIAL

Good practice stales that, whenever possible, oiled beach material should be cleansed and washed and returned to the foreshore. Where oil deposits have impacted on the foreshore, other than just on the surface on the shingle, a decision may be taken to remove it and put it through a cleansing operation and subsequently return it to the foreshore. At the same time there will be an attempt to reclaim any oil collected during the washing process.

Should this situation arise then there will be a need to employ specialist contractors. Advice on their employment will be taken from the Shoreline Response Centre and from the Counter Pollution Response Unit of the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Slipway can also be used for the storage of oil contaminated waste taken from the foreshore and stockpiled prior to disposal. In utilising the slipway further pollution prevention measures may need to be taken by say the use of temporary bunding or synthetic liners should storage need to be outside the concrete apron of the slipway.

Advice will be taken from the Environment Agency on any additional measures and also where the stockpiled material will need to be disposed of.

$wgen0mff 37

Appendix VII

CHEMICAL CONTAINERS FORM

Health and Safety

Exercise caution. In most cases there will be no risk in approaching the container close enough to observe any markings.

If you have any reason to be that a container is too dangerous to approach due to emission of hazardous fumes or other reason, then stay well clear, cordon off the area and await the arrival of specialist contractors.

Avoid contact with the container or any spillages. Avoid inhaling fumes. Approach the container from upwind.

NOTE ALL POSSIBLE DETAILS

1. COPY OF HAZCHEM LABEL (if visible)

HAZCHEM OR ADR

UN NO

SPECIALIST ADVICE

2. CONTENTS (if visible)

Contained Small Serious Ruptured

COLOUR ......

SMELL (Exercise Caution) ......

OTHER OBSERVATIONS ......

$wgen0mff 38

3. ADVICE (if any from: Fire & Rescue, Police, Chemist etc)

......

......

......

4. ACTION TAKEN

......

......

......

5. ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

......

......

......

6. REPORT

Reported to ......

Date and Time ......

Originator or Contact for Further Information

Name ...... Appointment ......

Telephone No ...... Extension ......

$wgen0mff 39

Appendix VIII

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON HEALTH AND SAFETY IN POLLUTION INCIDENTS

Health and Safety Policy

Fareham Borough Council recognises and accepts its responsibility as an employer for providing a safe and healthy workplace and working environment for all its employees.

The Council’s Health and Safety Policy Statement can be found in Section 9 of the Staff Handbook. You must read this document to understand your responsibility for your own safety and healthy working conditions. If you are unsure of any aspect of Health and Safety please ask your Line Manager or Supervisor to assist you.

The Council ordination of organisations has overall responsibility for Health and Safety management and co-ordination of incidents within its Borough boundaries, but this does not affect other statutory responsibilities under Health and Safety legislation.

Where an incident requires a Shoreline Response Centre to be set up, a competent person should be appointed as Site Supervisor (Beach Master). They should be competent in both the use of clean up equipment and relevant Health and Safety procedures and precautions, a list of persons suitable to undertake these duties should be available.

Organisational Structure

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY ROUTES OF COMMUNICATION Chief Executive Health and Safety Advice from Head of Environmental Health

Delegates DCX (CR) DOPO (or Deputy)

DOPO (or Deputy) All relevant stall

General Safety Rules

Know and comply with all Council safe working procedures applicable to you to ensure that you carry out your work in a safe manner.

Report any faulty equipment, machines or unsafe conditions immediately to your Line Manager.

Ensure that you know the location of first aid equipment and qualified first aid staff.

Do not sacrifice safety in the interest of speed.

$wgen0mff 40

Risk Assessments

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 require that a risk assessment is carried out of all activities to identify any hazards or risks arising from these hazards.

A hazard is anything that can cause harm, e.g.: chemicals, electricity, working from ladders. A risk is the chance that someone will be harmed by the hazard.

An assessment of risk is a careful examination of what, during the pollution incident, could cause harm to people so that we can weigh up whether we have taken enough precautions or could do more to make sure that no-one gets injured or suffers from illness.

Risk assessments will be kept as an Appendix to this Pollution Control Plan and will be added to or amended as necessary.

Accident Reporting Procedure

All accidents and near misses, no matter how minor, should be reported to the Site Supervisor (Beach Master) to ensure that they are investigated and corrective action, where necessary, can be taken to prevent similar incidents.

It will be the responsibility of the Site Supervisor to complete the Reporting of Injury or Dangerous Occurrences form. The procedure is outlined in Section 9 of Fareham Borough Council’s Staff Handbook. Any incident should also be logged in the accident report book. This will be held in the Pollution Control Centre by the DOPO.

The Reporting of Injuries or Dangerous Occurrences forms will be available from the Environmental Health Service. Upon completion a copy should be forwarded to the Head of Environmental Health and also a copy retained by Beach Master or person in charge. If first aid is required, the accident should also be recorded in the incident book.

Under RIDDOR the Health and Safety Executive must be notified of all accidents, which occur to employees at their workplace resulting in more than three days absence. These accidents must be reported to the HSE on the approved form within seven days of their occurrence. Any accident which results in death or specific major injury (see Section 9 of the Staff Handbook) to any person must be notified immediately to the Health and Safety Executive, normally via the Head of Environmental Health or his deputy.

Any equipment, substances, materials etc, involved in the incident must be retained.

Training

Health and Safety courses are available on general awareness, manual handling and other specific activities. Staff that will be required in the event of an incident will also be required to undertake training in the form of mock exercises and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Hazardous Materials Course. When needs are identified from the mock exercises the Council will provide the necessary training.

$wgen0mff 41

Monitoring Safety

It is the responsibility of the DOCPO to ensure that Health and Safety standards are maintained. Individual members of staff, volunteers and contract labour also have a personal responsibility to themselves and others for their safe environment.

Contractors will, as part of their specification of contract, provide a written Health and Safety Policy and relevant safety information, including details of safety procedures and precautions, staff training and arrangements for supervision and management.

Specialist equipment may be provided by contractors to be operated by their own personnel or by Council staff under guidance and during shoreline operations. Liaison between the two should be co-ordinated by the SRC.

A Health and Safety file will be set up for the incident and arrangements for its maintenance should be established.

Careful consideration will need to be given to the use of casual labour or volunteers by contractors and the Council to ensure that they have been provided with relevant safety equipment, information and guidance.

Lifting Equipment

A large number of back injuries result from improper lifting so remember to follow these guidelines:

 Examine the object for size, shape and weight.  Get help if you have any doubts or use a mechanical aid.  Clear pathway of obstructions.  Stand close to the object, have a firm footing, with feet spread on either side of the load.  Squat down - straddle the load, keep back straight, bend knees wherever possible.  Grasp the object firmly and be sure it won’t slip.  Lift using the legs as a means of gaining height, slowly straightening them. When legs are straight, bring back to the vertical position.  Hold the object close to your body.  Avoid twisting your body — if you must change direction move your feet.

Chemicals

At times you will come into contact with chemicals, either pollutants or dispersants, used in the incident. If you do so you will be provided with information about known health risks and given any necessary training and be provided with protective clothing. All chemicals should have been assessed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).

Any chemicals that are found during an incident should not be handled until the relevant hazard information on them has been received. This may come from the Site Supervisor or may be held centrally by the MCA It will also be necessary to obtain amended advice where materials have been weathered and where inhalation hazards are greatly reduced after 24 hours from spill release.

$wgen0mff 42

Security

Everyone has a responsibility to ensure the Health and Safety of themselves and of others and to protect personal and Council property. Threats to security can come from a variety of sources and everyone should be aware of the unusual situation in which they may find themselves. If you see strangers wandering around, politely ask them who they want to see and direct/escort them to the Beach Master.

Reference Section

The Health and Safety Regulations which are likely to apply to incidents/clean up operations are listed below:

First Aid at Work Regulations Noise at Work Regulations 1989 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and amendments The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996

Each of these sets of Regulations has an approved Code of Practice or Guidance Note which can be obtained from the Environmental Health Unit. Additional information is also available from a series of Safety Advice Notes published by the Council and kept with the incident Health and Safety file.

Contents of Health and Safety File

 Council’s Safety Advice Notes.

 RIDDOR Accident Report Forms.

 Chemical details - secure information on types of material(s), total tonnage, etc, estimate of tonnage spill to date.

 Copies of relevant hazard information sheets from owner/consignee via MPCU.

 Time of the incident - time of first release, duration of material at sea and exposed to elements and wave action etc. Review of likely impact on risk.

 Weather report - weather forecast for the next 24 hours, including sea conditions, obtain regular updates via the SRC.

 Marine operations - summaries of actions to date, details of any dispersants used to break up the spill and the quantities used, where and when applied. Relevant hazard information sheets on dispersants used obtained via MCA.

 Site Supervisors (Beach Masters) identify, prepare and provide an initial safety briefing.

$wgen0mff 43

 Induction arrangements - establish arrangements for safety induction of staff and contractors. Induction arrangements to cover management and supervisory arrangements on site and principal hazards and issues.

$wgen0mff 44

APPENDIX IX

OIL AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION PLAN

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

1. Noise from plant Distraction, inability Physical injury, None H Suitable ear defenders may be and machinery to hear instructions hearing loss – required but care needs to be or warnings. temporary or taken to ensure hearing permanent. protection does not impact safety.

2. Outdoor working Temperature Sunburn, cold, Advice from SAN M Planned rest breaks (cold, wet, extremes impair work exhaustion. Regular Sun Safety heat) to include food and drink ability. drinking of fluids is intake. necessary to maintain Suitable PPE energy levels. Provision of welfare facilities (toilets and rest area).

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a risk assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 45

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

3. Access to Falls, slips, trips, Personal injury to See Pollution Plan M On site personnel board. pollution sites and drowning. EBC employees and for site access. working on other workers Provision of mobile phone – location Low and high tide, employed on the clear Use of signing lone working or not lone high wave action. up. in/out board. working.

The nature of the Oil Pollution L All staff to be briefed coastline is such that training of it is very unlikely that designated staff. Tide tables working on the foreshore will create Council SAN lone Refresher training risks leading to a working, weather safety hazard. forecasts.

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a re-assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 46

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

4. Manual Handling Lifting and moving Physical injury. Direct Services M Mechanical Aids equipment or Manual handling polluted material. Risk Assessments Brief non EBC staff on manual and staff training. handling if evidence that this has not been carried out. Council Safety Advice Notes.

5. Working with or Equipment damage. Personal injury to staff Trained vehicle M Site security to prevent access near vehicles and members of operatives. by members of public during Contact (personal) public. non working hours. with vehicles. High visibility clothing.

Are any special groups at risk? YES/NO

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a re-assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 47

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

6. Chemicals as Ingestion, absorption, Personal injury to staff Data sheets to be M Briefing of staff before constituent of the inhalation. and members of provided for commencement of activities. pollutant or clean public. chemicals used in up operation clean up. If there is any doubt about the chemical involved no handling Suitable PPE. to take place until information has been obtained.

7. First Aid As per staff Provision of on site facilities. treatment and handbook – reporting Section 9, section Mobile phone for emergency on health and services. safety.

On site trained First Aider(s) to be present.

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a re-assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 48

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

8. Night Working Personal injury High visibility M clothing/artificial lighting.

9. Dealing with Physical violence. Personal injury. Incident reporting. L As Risk Assessment 3. members of the public Verbal abuse.

10. Lone working As Risk Assessment 3.

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a re-assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 49

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Service Unit: Name of Assessor:

Environmental Health Date of Assessment:

Risk Level achieved? Are additional measures Activity/Process What hazards to What risks do they Precautions H High necessary? Note: This section occupation to be health and/or safety pose to employees already taken M Medium must be completed if risk level assessed exist? and other persons? L Low is HIGH

11. Site Security Slip, trip. Personal injury Fencing off area. L Checking precautions in place and remedying. Chemical contact. Sign posting.

Machinery contact OOH security guarding.

Are any special groups at risk? YES/NO If yes, who are these and how many? MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Remember: Risk assessment is a continuous process - significant changes in the working environment require a re-assessment of the work.

$wgen0mff 50 APPENDIX B

SUMMARY OF THE INCIDENT RELATED TO THE INITIAL GROUNDING OF THE SEA EMPRESS AND THE SUBSEQUENT SALVAGE OPERATIONS ARE THE SUBJECT OF AN MAIB INVESTIGATION THIS REPORT ONLY REFERS TO THEM TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A COHERENT NARRATIVE OF THE WHOLE INCIDENT.

General Introduction 1. At its peak over 1100 people were involved in the clean-up of the oil spilled when the Sea Empress grounded at Milford Haven in February 1996. A report by the Coastguard Agency's Marine Pollution Control Unit published on 9 January gives a detailed account of the clean-up operation.

2. The grounding of the Sea Empress released 72,000 tonnes of crude oil making this incident the third largest in UK coastal waters and among the 20 largest spills ever. Allowing for evaporation there was the potential for 43,000 tonnes of oil to come ashore. Thanks to aerial spraying of dispersants and recovery of some oil at sea only about 3-5,000 tonnes of oil reached the shoreline.

3. Although some 200 kilometres of shoreline were affected by oil the main tourist beaches were substantially clean and useable by Easter. Most of the other beaches and coves were cleared of conspicuous oil by the late summer holiday season.

4. The report sets out the scale of the clean-up operation. The Marine Pollution Control Unit activated its National Contingency Plan within an hour of the initial grounding. Large quantities of equipment were despatched to the scene overnight and a Joint Response Centre was set up with the local authorities. The report pays tribute to the work of the local authorities in cleaning the beaches, harbours and shoreline.

5. Chris Harris, the Agency's Chief Executive, said:

"The response to the Sea Empress oil spill meant activating our National Contingency Plan and bringing together a large and complex project within a few days. Over 1100 people and dozens of organisations were involved. The response was a most successful co-operation between central government, local authorities and the port authority".

6. This report is the MPCU's contribution to the overall assessment of the Sea Empress spill. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the causes of the accident and the conduct of the salvage operation. The Sea Empress Environmental Evaluation Committee (SEEEC) under Professor Ron Edwards is looking at the environmental consequences of the spill and the conduct of the clean-up operation.

7. This report describes the MPCUs response to the Sea Empress incident, particularly measures taken to prevent spilled oil impacting the coastline aerial spraying with dispersant and physical recovery of oil at sea and the actions taken to clean the shoreline where oil had reached it. It does not discuss the causes of the accident or the conduct of the salvage operation; these are matters for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. $wgen0mff 51

8. At 2007 on 15 February the tanker Sea Empress, laden with approximately 131,000 tonnes of Forties Blend crude oil, ran aground in the harbour entrance at Milford Haven. She was severely damaged and there was an initial loss of crude oil. The Milford Haven Coastguard notified the MPCU at 2027 and the National Contingency Plan was activated. Salvors were appointed by the ship's managers and they chartered a tanker to lighten Sea Empress in situ. However the weather was worsening and it was not possible to bring vessels alongside.

9. On 17 February tugs were unable to hold Sea Empress against the combination of wind and strong tide and she was swept on to rocks off St Anns Head, suffering further damage and releasing more oil. During the following 3 days more groundings occurred and more oil was spilled. She was successfully refloated on the evening high tide on Wednesday 21 February and moved to a jetty where the remaining crude oil was pumped off. Sea Empress left Milford Haven on 27 March arriving in Belfast Lough on the 29th; she entered dry dock on 2 April. Approximately 58,200 tonnes of crude oil were unloaded at Milford Haven and an estimated 430 tonnes recovered in the Belfast dry dock; so by difference ~72,000 tonnes were spilled.

10. From 16 February specially equipped aircraft, guided by remote sensing aircraft, sprayed oil at sea with dispersant. No spraying took place after 25 February because any remaining surface oil was in patches too small to treat effectively, or was emulsified and weathered to an extent where it was no longer amenable to the use of dispersants. An estimated 36,000 tonnes of oil were dispersed by aerial spraying or dispersed naturally.

11. An intensive operation began on 16 February to recover oil at sea, particularly in areas too close to the shore for aerial spraying. Initially 3 vessels were deployed, building up rapidly to over 20 including 2 Dutch and 2 French vessels supplied under the Bonn Agreement for collaboration during oil spills. At-sea recovery continued until 2 March. Recovery in support of beach cleaning continued until 7 March, when work outside the Haven was stopped as it was judged that there was minimal surface oil remaining. In total around 2,000 tonnes were recovered at sea.

12. With MPCU support a major shoreline clean-up was launched by local authorities which involved over 950 people at its peak. The strategy was to remove bulk oil as rapidly as possible, and delay more meticulous cleaning (polishing) until there was no oil at sea and no chance of significant refloatation from nearby polluted areas. The over-riding priority was to clean amenity beaches to a high standard before the Easter Holidays on 5-8 April. This objective was achieved and effort was then directed to the more technically challenging sites where the main problems were access and the nature of the beach.

13. The majority of the oil was removed by relatively non-intrusive methods such as low pressure flushing; mechanical scraping with capture by gully suckers; or manual techniques (scrape and shovel, hand wiping). On the amenity beaches dispersants were used to remove weathered oil adhering to rock surfaces. Some shingle beaches were cleaned by moving oiled shingle into the surf zone for natural washing, others by loading oiled material into concrete mixers, washing with water to separate the oil and then returning the clean material to the beach. About 1,500 tonnes of bulk oil were recovered from beaches and $wgen0mff 52

other sites.

14. The report describes a successful counter-pollution operation which at peak activity involved over 1100 people and represented a close collaboration between central government, local authorities, and many other public bodies, private companies and voluntary organisations. Of the 131,000 tonnes of crude oil in the seriously damaged tanker less than 5,000 tonnes came ashore and the main amenity beaches were cleared by Easter. While the national and local contingency plans were successfully activated this report will enable those involved in the Sea Empress incident, and other coastal authorities, to draw out lessons for their future plans.

15. At 2007 hrs on Thursday 15 February 1996 the tanker Sea Empress ran aground at the entrance to Milford Haven. Sea Empress was a 147,000 dwt tonnes single-hulled tanker, built in 1993, on passage from the Firth of Forth, Scotland, to the Texaco Refinery in Milford Haven. When she left the Firth of Forth she was laden with 131,000 tonnes of Forties Blend crude oil and carried ~2,400 tonnes of fuel oil. The normal practice at Milford Haven is for incoming tankers to take a pilot outside the harbour entrance and to be met by harbour tugs once they are inside the Haven. Four harbour tugs with a total bollard pull of 174 tonnes were waiting to meet the Sea Empress when she got into the Haven. They were within a few minutes steaming of her when she grounded and were able to go to her immediate assistance.

16. Immediately after the first grounding a quantity of oil cargo was released (reported by the Master as 6215 m3 [ ~5,000 tonnes ] but later considered from aerial surveillance reports to be nearer 2,000 tonnes). Sea Empress lost steerage and came to rest on rocks on the shore to the west of the entrance channel about 1.2 km from the first grounding. Harbour tugs attended and she was refloated about an hour later in a severely damaged state bows down and with an 18§ list to starboard. She was anchored in the channel and the harbour tugs remained with her.

17. Salvors were appointed by the ship's managers and they chartered the Star Bergen, a 35,000 dwt tanker, to lighten Sea Empress in situ. However the weather was worsening and it was not possible to bring any vessels alongside. Although 3 large salvage tugs were brought in, on the evening of Saturday 17 February they were not able to hold her against the combination of wind and strong tide and she was swept on to rocks off St Ann's Head, suffering further damage and releasing more oil. During the following 3 days more groundings occurred and more oil was released.

18. Refloating attempts were eventually successful on Wednesday 21 February. Sea Empress was brought into Milford Haven and secured at a disused refinery jetty at Herbrandston. In all she lost ~72,000 tonnes of cargo and ~360 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. Most of the remaining cargo, some 58,000 tonnes, was removed by lightening into a smaller tanker while alongside at Herbrandston in three separate pumping operations lasting until Saturday 2 March. She was towed out of Milford Haven on Wednesday 27 March to a dry dock in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Minor oil sheens were seen during her passage and a further 430 tonnes of residual crude oil and some fuel oil were recovered when she was in the dry dock.

$wgen0mff 53

19. It is not possible to determine the pattern of oil loss exactly but rough estimates can be made using observations from on board the vessel and reports from the remote sensing aircraft. About 2,000 tonnes were lost in the initial grounding on 15 February and further releases occurred before each low water from 17 to 20 February: possibly 7 releases in total (see Annex 4). The largest releases probably occurred around midday and midnight on 19 February. Some fuel oil was probably lost over this period but the main release was on 21 February soon after she was brought alongside the Herbrandston jetty.

20. MPCU estimates that 3-5,000 tonnes of oil (equivalent to ~10-15,000 tonnes of emulsion) reached the coast. The shoreline most affected was inside the Haven as far as the Cleddau Bridge, and east from the Haven to Pendine Sands a total of around 200 km. Some 100 beaches were oiled to a greater or lesser degree. From 15 February to 21 February oil came ashore in large quantities at West Angle, Angle Bay, Freshwater West, and Blucks Pool and several other beaches within the Haven (e.g. Dale Flats, Bullwell Bay, Popton Beach) became oiled.

21. From 21 February to 26 February small patches of oil appeared on beaches between St Anns Head and and oil came ashore to the east of Linney Head. The fuel oil spill on 21 February resulted in further oiling of the beaches inside the Haven. By 24 February oil had beached at Stackpole, Swanlake and with further oiling at Lydstep on Monday 26 February. Heavy oiling by emulsion occurred at Castle Beach (up to 750 tonnes) on 24 February and at Pendine Sands from 24 -26 February (up to 1,000 tonnes). On 27 February considerable quantities of emulsion came ashore at South, Castle Beach, Tenby Harbour, Tenby North, , Wisemans Bridge, Amroth and Marros. From 1 March there were no major new strandings but there was some remobilisation of oil at the top of the spring tides during March, and to a lesser extent during April. Storms in Autumn have also caused a great deal of sand movement with consequent covering and uncovering of oiled material (see for example paras 191, 259)

22. A Joint Response Centre was set up which mounted a major shoreline cleaning operation involving over 900 people at its peak. The general strategy was to deal first with the bulk oil and delay final polishing until such time as there was no oil at sea and no evidence of significant migration from polluted areas. The JRCs Environment and Technical Teams jointly assessed contaminated sites and set clean-up strategies. The Management Team set priorities, the over- riding one was to clean the amenity beaches in the Tenby/Saundersfoot area to a high standard before the Easter Holidays on 5-8 April. This objective was achieved and effort was then directed to the more technically challenging beaches and other areas of the shoreline where the main problems were access and the nature of the shoreline material.

23. As clean-up proceeded it became evident that another major problem was the mobility of beach material: at times as much as 2m of sand etc would be removed or deposited on a beach during a tidal cycle. This led to the covering and uncovering of oil so several beaches have had to be revisited. A small team regularly monitors the shoreline, especially after storms, to assess how they are developing and to identify sites where oiled material has been deposited or uncovered. It is planned to carry out a systematic audit during Spring 1997 of all beaches and other sites that were subject to clean-up operations. The survey $wgen0mff 54

will be timed so that any remedial action thought to be necessary can be taken before the Easter holidays.

24. The majority of the oil was removed by relatively non-intrusive methods such as scraping and removal by gully suckers, low pressure flushing or manual techniques (scrape and shovel). On the amenity beaches there was limited use of dispersants to remove weathered oil adhering to parts of some rock surfaces in areas where the public tended to sit or take shelter, or in order to create safe public access. Some shingle beaches were cleaned by moving oiled shingle into the surf zone for natural washing; others by loading material into concrete mixers, washing with water to separate the oil and then returning it to the beach. Protective booms were deployed at: Castle Pill, Folly Point, Fort Road, The Gann, Jenkins Point, Lliedi River, Pembrey Saltings, Pennard, Sandy Haven, Saundersfoot, Skomer, Solva and Tenby.

Summary of the Review of the effectiveness of, and management procedures for, the rehabilitation of oiled birds with references to the Sea Empress oil spill (26/03/02)

1. Following the grounding of the Sea Empress on the 15 February 1996, over 7000 oiled sea birds were found on the shores of South West and Lundy. Of these, 3440 were still alive. Additionally, an unknown number of seabirds were lost at sea. Some 28 species of birds were affected, but the most numerous casualties were common scoters (82%) and guillemots (13%).

2. The Dyfed oil Pollution Advisory Group (DOPAG) contingency plan had identified RSPCA as the responsible body for co-ordinating the rescue and treatment of live birds. The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) arranged for the collection of dead seabirds, which were ultimately sent to the National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh or the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge for post-mortem analysis.

3. A number of holding centres were established to which living birds were taken after being rescued from the beach. There, the birds were given preliminary first-aid treatment before being transferred to wildlife hospitals where they could be cleaned and rehabilitation attempted. Because of the large number of birds being received (over 700 per day at peak), an emergency holding and cleaning centre was set up by RSPCA in premises on an industrial estate at Steynton outside Milford Haven. Birds were cleaned at a number of independent centres in South West Wales as well as Steynton, but the principal cleaning centre was the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital at West Hatch, Somerset, which received about 1500 birds for treatment; smaller numbers of birds were treated at other RSPCA and independent centres throughout the country.

4. Overall, about 60% of birds cleaned were returned to sea, though the success of different cleaning centres varied widely. The outlook for the birds that are returned to sea is not promising. Previous evidence from ringing returns of oiled birds that had been cleaned and returned to sea suggest that the majority of these birds die within a few weeks or months of release and only a very small number are eventually reintegrated in breeding colonies, though penguins may be an exception.

$wgen0mff 55

5. Despite continuing heavy losses of seabirds from oil pollution and the likely poor success of cleaning and rehabilitating oiled birds, most seabird populations in the north Atlantic have steadily increased in size during the last several decades. Rescue of oiled seabirds cannot be justified as a conservation measure but is a humanitarian response. As such, it attracts great public support.

6. It is likely that the rescue and treatment of oiled seabirds will continue so long as public attitudes remain unchanged. In that case, the rescue operation should be as well conducted as possible.

7. Cleaning procedures and bird husbandry are, at their best, professionally carried out, though this should not preclude a search for further improvements, but a number of well-meaning but uninformed wildlife organizations and individuals attempt to rescue and treat oiled seabirds in quite inappropriate ways. This was observed following the Sea Empress oil spill, just as in previous similar incidents.

8. Oil spills that cause numerous seabird casualties are unpredictable events and some improvisation of seabird rescue is an inevitable consequence. While no body has statutory responsibility for wildlife rescue, RSPCA is the only national organization with the capability of undertaking this task. Since it will inevitably be heavily involved in any future emergency, its intention to plan seabird rescue on a national scale should be encouraged. However, in any oil spill that effects seabirds, numerous small local organization and wildlife hospitals will play a vital role. It would be advantageous if they formed regional organizations, as in the South-West of England, in conjunction with the RSPCA regional organization.

9. Particularly when large numbers of birds are oiled, rescue and treatment of them requires a large number of helpers, and numerous volunteers are likely to be available. Most are untrained and it is inappropriate to attempt to train them in bird husbandry in an emergency situation, as happened at Steynton. It is suggested that the RSPCA, if it is to be the lead organization in the rescue of oiled sea birds, keep a register of volunteers and invites them to assist in future rescue attempts. Possibly they should be certificated in the same way as the British Trust for Ornithology licences bird ringers. A similar certificate of competence might be considered for independent wildlife centres that accept oiled seabirds for treatment.

10. Certain costs arising from an oil spill are recoverable from insurers and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. There might be some advantage to employing volunteers as temporary staff on a contractual basis, in order to give the body responsible for seabird rescue and treatment, presumably RSPCA, better control of the volunteers contribution, though this proposal needs detailed consideration.

11. As in other spills, the rescue of oiled seabirds from the beaches following the grounding of the Sea Empress was handicapped by the activities of a number of well meaning but ill informed people whose efforts were entirely counter- productive. It is suggested that police authorities be consulted about the possibility of restricting access to beaches, where oiled seabirds are coming ashore to authorized personnel. $wgen0mff 56 APPENDIX C EUROPEAN MARINE SITES AFFECTING FAREHAM

$wgen0mff 57

APPENDIX D

NEW OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY / SHORELINE RESPONSE PLAN TEMPLATE AS AGREED BY HAMPSHIRE COASTAL AUTHORITIES

PREAMBLE

Including District Oil and Chemical Pollution Officers’ Meetings /Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Subgroup. Generic Information applicable to all Hampshire coastal district councils.

STRATEGY

Section 1 - Introduction

Statutory Requirements - (Generic Information applicable to all Hampshire coastal district councils.

Scope of the Plan - (including area covered by plan. Generic Information applicable to all Hampshire coastal district councils. / Local

Plan Links - Needs revising as new LRF arrangements will change existing hierarchy

Section 1A - Contact Directory

Section 2 - Aims and Objectives

Purpose of plan

Training and Exercising Policy

Section 3 – Roles and Responsibilities

Introduction

District Authority

County Council

Oil Spill Response Limited

Port Authority

Harbour Authority

Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

Miscellaneous $wgen0mff 58

Section 4 – Strategic Incident Management

Identify and prioritise resources at risk

Identify potential risks

Risk assessment

Coast maps and photographs

Section 5 - Reporting

Initial reporting procedures

Oil spill classification (Tiers 1 to 3)

Section 6 – Control and Coordination of Operations

Emergency Control and Shoreline Response Plan (SRC)

Action cards and people involved

Strategic and protective guidelines

Record keeping

Initial costs

Cost recovery

Large spills

Claims

Termination of operations

Section 7 – Warn and Inform

Communication plan

Public Relations plan

Press releases

Section 8 – Health and Safety

Section 9 – Waste Management

$wgen0mff 59

APPENDIX A SHORELINE DATE

Shoreline length

Coastal uses and shoreline access

Shoreline sections and descriptions

Tidal information

Coast protection strategies

Beach sectors (GIS datasets, photographs etc)

Beach data and clean-up guides / action sheets

APPENDIX B ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES

Environmental designations

Priority sensitive areas

Shoreline habitat classification technique

Sacrificial areas

APPENDIX C SHORELINE CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS

APPENDIX D BOOMING

$wgen0mff 60

APPENDIX E

RISK ASSESSMENT

Description Potential Comments Potential Comments Impact Risks Opportunities Implications in relation to:  achieving Corporate The shoreline In planning Objectives and response plan the shoreline Priorities must ensure response plan  Corporate Governance appropriate there is an Responsibilities response to opportunity to CORPORATE pollution identify and OBJECTIVES incident on the make coastline. arrangements to prioritise and possibly protect special coastal sites.

In the absence The of a shoreline development response plan, of a shoreline Implications for any communication response plan existing partnership with other will form the PARTNERSHIPS arrangements coastal basis of a Risks or opportunities for authorities partnership new partnerships would not be with other immediately coastal possible in the authorities. event of a major incident. Implications in relation to:  Budget Constraints In the event of By introducing  Funding a major financial into incident there the shoreline  Contractual Obligations or would be a response plan FINANCIAL Penalties considerable it may be  Use of Land or Assets risk that possible to substantial minimise the costs would financial not be implications. recovered. Implications in relation to:  Statutory or The shoreline No significant discretionary powers response plan opportunities.  National Legislation would be (e.g. Human Rights, expected as Equal Opportunities, part of the LEGAL Race equality etc) implementation  Failing to comply with of the Civil legislative requirements of Contingencies service Act.  Potential litigation action Implications in relation to: Failure to No significant PERSONNEL  Organisational change  Employee policies and identify opportunities. conditions responsible

$wgen0mff 61

Description Potential Comments Potential Comments Impact Risks Opportunities  Skill availability employees and  Training and lack of Development appropriate training would prevent the appropriate action being taken in the event of a major incident. Implications in relation to: In the event of No significant  performance targets a major opportunities.  the operation of the incident, failure service to develop a  the need for Change shoreline Management response plan  Competitive would not advantage of the needs the service aspirations of SERVICE  Technological impacts residents.  Innovation  The needs of residents, businesses or visitors to the Borough  Social inclusion

Implications for the Health The shoreline & Safety of the Public, response plan No significant Employees or Members must include a opportunities. HEALTH & SAFETY health and safety assessment. Implications in relation to: No significant No significant CRIME &  Council’s Section 17 risks. opportunities. DISORDER Obligations  Community Safety

Implications in relation to: There would The  Sustainability be significant development  Public Health risks which of an would be appropriate  Physical risks mitigated by shoreline the response plan ENVIRONMENTAL development would offer of a shoreline significant response plan. opportunities to prioritise and protect special coastal sites.

$wgen0mff