DOCSLIB.ORG

Developing a Clear-Cut Policy and Strategy for Oil Spill Response and Investigation Towards Promoting a Sustainable Ocean- Based Economy in Nigeria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Developing a Clear-Cut Policy and Strategy for Oil Spill Response and Investigation Towards Promoting a Sustainable Ocean- Based Economy in Nigeria DEVELOPING A CLEAR-CUT POLICY AND STRATEGY FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION TOWARDS PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE OCEAN- BASED ECONOMY IN NIGERIA AYOKUNLE FATUBARIN The United Nations Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme December, 2015 Disclaimer The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, The Nippon Foundation of Japan, or World Maritime University, Malmo Sweden. ABSTRACT The project gives an overview of a comprehensive strategy and standard framework to fill up the gaps and improve on the existing policies of the oil spill response and investigation in Nigeria. Oil spill properties and characteristics were discussed extensively with attempts to state clearly the devastating impacts of oil spills on the marine environment. Also, oil spill assessments, review of oil spill incidents in Nigeria and its categories were specifically noted to show clearly the historical impacts of oil spillage that had occurred since the commencement of oil exploration and production activities in Nigeria for over five decades. The present oil policies and strategies were discussed and attempts were made to highlights some future improvements. Conclusions were drawn and appropriate recommendations made to safeguard the marine environment and ensure that Nigeria can benefit sustainably from an ocean based economy. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the NIPPON Foundation for the sponsorship of the Fellowship programme, which had provided a veritable platform and unique opportunity for me to build capacity and research extensively in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea. Also, the UN DOALOS team that coordinated the programme most especially the Programme Officer in charge Ms. Valentina Germani who used her diplomatic instinct and intellectual capacity to manage and successfully steered the programme, Dr. Francois Bailet, and Ms. Simone Dempsey for their leadership and moral guidance. The DOALOS team created the enabling environment and world-class opportunity for each of the Fellows to exhibit their talent: develop their core leadership capacity for future higher responsibilities and also conduct out a thorough research that would be beneficial to their home countries. The WMU where the research was carried out provided a favorable atmosphere and world-class resources and materials to produce a quality research. I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor Professor Olof Linden for his technical inputs, and moral guidance throughout the duration of the second phase of the programme. Also, Professor Neil Belofontaine and Professor Larry Hiderbrand for their moral assistance and encouragement. The MERG team members - Jenny Laarson, Jonas, Henrik, Khanssa, Annuka, Fabio, Tafsir, Lilitha and Josefin for their moral contributions and the good times we spent together. I am very appreciative of the efforts of Ms Sue Jackson, Ms Lyndel Lundahl, Ms Carla Escalante Fisher, Gabriel, Wael, Tan, Joseph, Chris and Ursula Hoebeke, for making my stay at the WMU memorable and a successful one. Also, noteworthy is NIMASA my esteemed organization for their efforts to allow me participates in the UN-DOALOS Fellowship Programme. Many thanks and best regards to the retiring Director of the MEM Department Mr. Tunde Adewale for his unalloyed support, Mrs. Kate Nwuba, Mr. Siraj Usman, Mrs. Omotunde Adenaike, Adebayo Longe, Chief Gani Alayaki, Kayode Atanda, Aminu Ilah, Yetunde Idris, Laide Abdulmalik, Stella Okonkwo, and Mike Ejezie for their moral assistance and technical support. Finally to my parents Professor and Mrs Ayo Fatubarin who are great pillars of support for me. I am very appreciative and grateful for their spiritual guidance and moral support. Also, I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to my sisters Tope, Tolu and Yemi for their immeasurable and candid support throughout the duration of the programme. ii LIST OF ACRONYMS DOALOS – Division of the Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea GDP- Gross Domestic Product GIS- Geography Information System GIWACAF- The Global Initiative for West and Central Africa IMO- International Maritime Organization IOPC- International Oil Pollution Compensation ITOPF- International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited JOA- Joint Operating Agreements MARPOL- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MERG- Marine Environment Research Group MEM- Marine Environment Management MNOC- Member of National Oil Companies NGO- Non Governmental Organization NIMASA- Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NOC- National Oil Companies OPRC- The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co- operation OPRC-HNS- The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co- operation relating to Hazardous and Noxious Substances OPEC- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries SAR- Synthetic Aperture Radar SPDC- Shell Petroleum Development Company STCW- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers UN- United Nations UNCLOS- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCTAD- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development WHO- World Health Organization WMU- World Maritime University iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCLAIMER ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………….........i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ………………………………………………….….............….ii LIST OF ACRONYMS……………………………………….………….....…….…………iii TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………...…….………...…………..iv - vii LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………...………..……...…….………....…ix LIST OF TABLES………………………………...…….………..……………..……….…..x INTRODUCTION…………………….….…………………..…………….……….………..1 NIGERIAN COASTAL AREAS…………………………………………………………3 HYDROLOGY AND CLIMATE OF NIGERIA’S COASTAL AREAS……..………..…...3 GEO-CHARACTERISTICS OF NIGERIA’S COASTAL AREAS….……….…………….5 VEGETATION OF NIGERIA’S COASTAL AREAS……………………………………...6 THE HISTORY OF OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA….....……7 MARINE POLICY INSTRUMENTS……….……………..….…………………………….8 UNCLOS…………………....…………………………………………………….9 IMO……..………………………….…………………………………………….12 MARPOL………………………………..……………………………………….14 OPRC…………..………………………………………………………………...15 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION……..……………………..……….16 AREA OF STUDY AND APPLICATION…………………………………………...……17 PROBLEM STATEMENT………………………………..……………………………… PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES……………………………………………………………18 v PART ONE OIL COMPOSITION, PROPERTIES AND ITS BEHAVIOUR IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………………………..................19 CHAPTER 1 OIL PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS………………………………...20 SECTION A……………………………..……………………………………….20 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………….20 TYPES OF OIL………………………………………………………………21-22 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF OIL…………………………………………………………....23 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF OIL…………………………………………………………….24 SECTION B……………………………………………………………..….……27 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….…...……….27 BEHAVIOR AND MOVEMENT OF OIL IN THE ENVIRONMENT..….……………………27 MOVEMENT OF THE OIL………………………………………………………...…………...33 CHAPTER 2 IMPACTS OF OIL POLLUTION ON NIGERIA’S MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES………………………..…34 SECTION A………………………………………………………………..…….34 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………….………34 IMPACTS OF OIL SPILLAGE ON MANGROVE VEGETATION………………………..….38 IMPACTS OF OIL SPILLAGE ON MARINE LIFE……………………………………....……42 SECTION B…………………………………………………………………..….48 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………...………..48 EFFECTS OF OIL POLLUTION ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND THE QUEST TO PROMOTE AN OCEAN BASED ECONOMY IN NIGERIA………..…………..48 AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE- THE QUEST FOR A SUSTAINABLE OCEAN-BASED ECONOMY (BLUE ECONOMY) IN NIGERIA……………………………52 PART TWO vi OIL SPILL INCIDENTS, ASSESSMENT, RESPONSE PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA (POLICIES AND STRATEGIES)…………………………………………..….……55 CHAPTER 1 OIL SPILL INCIDENTS, ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE PLANNING…….56 SECTION A………………………………………………………….………….56 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………...………….56 SPILL ASSESSMENT……………………………………………………………………..……58 SOURCES OF OIL POLLUTION…………………………………………………………...….59 REVIEW OF OIL SPILL INCIDENTS IN NIGERIA………………………………………..…60 SECTION B………………………………………………..…………………...63 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………..….63 TIERED PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE STRUCTURE…………………………..…….63 CHAPTER 2 OIL SPILL GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA (POLICIES AND STRATEGIES)....65 SECTION A………………………………………………………………...….65 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………...…………...65 MANAGEMENT OF OIL SPILL AND ITS RESPONSE POLICIES IN NIGERIA…………..66 SECTION B……………………………………………………...……………68 POLICIES AND STRATEGIES…………………………………..………….68 vii LIST OF FIGURES Page FIGURE 1……………………………………………………………………………………........2 viii FIGURE 2…………………………………………………………………………………………4 FIGURE 3…………………………………………………………………………………………6 FIGURE 4……………………………………………………………………………………..…11 FIGURE 5………………………………………………………………………………………..28 FIGURE 6…………………………………………………………………………………..……29 FIGURE 7…………………………………………………………………………………..……30 FIGURE 8…………………………………………………………………………………..……38 FIGURE 9…………………………………………………………………………………..……39 FIGURE 10………………………………………………………………………………………44 FIGURE 11…………………………………………………………………………….….……..45 FIGURE 12……………………………………………………………………………….…..….46 FIGURE 13………………………………………………………………………………………49 FIGURE 14……………………………………………………………………………………....50 ix LIST OF TABLES Page TABLE 1.0…………………………………………………………………………………….…37 TABLE 2.0……………………………………………………………………………..…….…..42 TABLE3.0………………………………………………………………………………………..62 x INTRODUCTION Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest countries with the best endowed in terms of natural
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nigeria Last Updated: May 6, 2016
    Country Analysis Brief: Nigeria Last Updated: May 6, 2016 Overview Nigeria is currently the largest oil producer in Africa and was the world's fourth-largest exporter of LNG in 2015. Nigeria’s oil production is hampered by instability and supply disruptions, while its natural gas sector is restricted by the lack of infrastructure to commercialize natural gas that is currently flared (burned off). Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, holds the largest natural gas reserves on the continent, and was the world’s fourth-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2015.1 Nigeria became a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1971, more than a decade after oil production began in the oil-rich Bayelsa State in the 1950s.2 Although Nigeria is the leading oil producer in Africa, production is affected by sporadic supply disruptions, which have resulted in unplanned outages of up to 500,000 barrels per day (b/d). Figure 1: Map of Nigeria Source: U.S. Department of State 1 Nigeria’s oil and natural gas industry is primarily located in the southern Niger Delta area, where it has been a source of conflict. Local groups seeking a share of the wealth often attack the oil infrastructure, forcing companies to declare force majeure on oil shipments (a legal clause that allows a party to not satisfy contractual agreements because of circumstances beyond their control). At the same time, oil theft leads to pipeline damage that is often severe, causing loss of production, pollution, and forcing companies to shut in production.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of Marine Ecosystem Damage from the Penglai 19-3 Oil Spill Accident
    Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Article An Assessment of Marine Ecosystem Damage from the Penglai 19-3 Oil Spill Accident Haiwen Han 1, Shengmao Huang 1, Shuang Liu 2,3,*, Jingjing Sha 2,3 and Xianqing Lv 1,* 1 Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; [email protected] (H.H.); [email protected] (S.H.) 2 North China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Qingdao 266033, China; [email protected] 3 Department of Environment and Ecology, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environment & Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Qingdao 266100, China * Correspondence: [email protected] (S.L.); [email protected] (X.L.) Abstract: Oil spills have immediate adverse effects on marine ecological functions. Accurate as- sessment of the damage caused by the oil spill is of great significance for the protection of marine ecosystems. In this study the observation data of Chaetoceros and shellfish before and after the Penglai 19-3 oil spill in the Bohai Sea were analyzed by the least-squares fitting method and radial basis function (RBF) interpolation. Besides, an oil transport model is provided which considers both the hydrodynamic mechanism and monitoring data to accurately simulate the spatial and temporal distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the Bohai Sea. It was found that the abundance of Chaetoceros and shellfish exposed to the oil spill decreased rapidly. The biomass loss of Chaetoceros and shellfish are 7.25 × 1014 ∼ 7.28 × 1014 ind and 2.30 × 1012 ∼ 2.51 × 1012 ind in the area with TPH over 50 mg/m3 during the observation period, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants in Marine Plankton from Puget Sound
    Control of Toxic Chemicals in Puget Sound Phase 3: Persistent Organic Pollutants in Marine Plankton from Puget Sound 1 2 Persistent Organic Pollutants in Marine Plankton from Puget Sound By James E. West, Jennifer Lanksbury and Sandra M. O’Neill March, 2011 Washington Department of Ecology Publication number 11-10-002 3 Author and Contact Information James E. West Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 1111 Washington St SE Olympia, WA 98501-1051 Jennifer Lanksbury Current address: Aquatic Resources Division Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 950 Farman Avenue North MS: NE-92 Enumclaw, WA 98022-9282 Sandra M. O'Neill Northwest Fisheries Science Center Environmental Conservation Division 2725 Montlake Blvd. East Seattle, WA 98112 Funding for this study was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through a Puget Sound Estuary Program grant to the Washington Department of Ecology (EPA Grant CE- 96074401). Any use of product or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the authors or the Department of Fish and Wildlife. 4 Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................... 5 List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Decontaminating Terrestrial Oil Spills: a Comparative Assessment of Dog Fur, Human Hair, Peat Moss and Polypropylene Sorbents
    environments Article Decontaminating Terrestrial Oil Spills: A Comparative Assessment of Dog Fur, Human Hair, Peat Moss and Polypropylene Sorbents Megan L. Murray *, Soeren M. Poulsen and Brad R. Murray School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; [email protected] (S.M.P.); [email protected] (B.R.M.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 4 June 2020; Accepted: 4 July 2020; Published: 8 July 2020 Abstract: Terrestrial oil spills have severe and continuing consequences for human communities and the natural environment. Sorbent materials are considered to be a first line of defense method for directly extracting oil from spills and preventing further contaminant spread, but little is known on the performance of sorbent products in terrestrial environments. Dog fur and human hair sorbent products were compared to peat moss and polypropylene sorbent to examine their relative effectiveness in adsorbing crude oil from different terrestrial surfaces. Crude oil spills were simulated using standardized microcosm experiments, and contaminant adsorbency was measured as percentage of crude oil removed from the original spilled quantity. Sustainable-origin absorbents made from dog fur and human hair were equally effective to polypropylene in extracting crude oil from non- and semi-porous land surfaces, with recycled dog fur products and loose-form hair showing a slight advantage over other sorbent types. In a sandy terrestrial environment, polypropylene sorbent was significantly better at adsorbing spilled crude oil than all other tested products. Keywords: crude oil; petroleum contamination; disaster management; land pollution 1. Introduction Crude oils are complex in composition and form the basis of many materials and fuels in high demand by global communities [1].
    [Show full text]
  • The Foundation for Global Action on Persistent Organic Pollutants: a United States Perspective
    The Foundation for Global Action on Persistent Organic Pollutants: A United States Perspective Office of Research and Development Washington, DC 20460 EPA/600/P-01/003F NCEA-I-1200 March 2002 www.epa.gov Disclaimer Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Cover page credits: Bald eagle, U.S. FWS; mink, Joe McDonald/Corbis.com; child, family photo, Jesse Paul Nagaruk; polar bear, U.S. FWS; killer whales, Craig Matkin. Contents Contributors ................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ....................................................................................... ix Chapter 1. Genesis of the Global Persistent Organic Pollutant Treaty ............ 1-1 Why Focus on POPs? ................................................................................................. 1-2 The Four POPs Parameters: Persistence, Bioaccumulation, Toxicity, Long-Range Environmental Transport ......................................................... 1-5 Persistence ......................................................................................................... 1-5 Bioaccumulation ................................................................................................. 1-6 Toxicity .............................................................................................................. 1-7 Long-Range Environmental Transport .................................................................. 1-7 POPs
    [Show full text]
  • Africa's Oil & Gas Scene After the Boom
    January 2019: ISSUE 117 Africa’s oil and gas scene has This issue of the Oxford Energy Forum AFRICA'S OIL & GAS undergone dramatic changes over explores the aftermath of Africa’s SCENE AFTER THE BOOM: the past two decades. In 2000, the energy boom. It draws on contributors continent was producing nearly 8 from industry, academia, and civil WHAT LIES AHEAD million barrels per day (b/d). A society to offer multiple views of the decade later, largely on the back of opportunities and challenges that lie new production from Angola and ahead for oil and gas development on Contents Sudan, output rose to above 10 the African continent. The issue Introduction 1 million b/d. This came at the same examines continuities and changes in Luke Patey & Ricardo Soares de Oliveira time as a sharp rise in global oil the African energy landscape since oil Prospects for African oil 4 prices, generating enormous prices fell from record highs after 2014. James McCullagh and Virendra Chauhan revenues for African oil producers It focuses on the politics and The political economy of decline in Nigeria and Angola 6 and setting off exploration activities economics of seasoned producers in Ricardo Soares de Oliveira in largely unexplored regions. As sub-Saharan Africa and the birth of new Angola after Dos Santos 8 prices rose to over $100 per barrel oil and gas producers and up-and- Lucy Corkin on average from 2010 to 2014, comers, and shows that while old Nigeria’s oil reforms in limbo 10 Africa enjoyed an unprecedented oil political and security challenges persist, Eklavya Gupte boom.
    [Show full text]
  • Oil and Casualization of Labor in the Niger Delta
    The Degradation of Work Solidarity Center Oil and Casualization of Labor in the Niger Delta 42980 SC_R1.indd 1 12/9/2010 10:19:41 AM Solidarity Center 888 16th Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006 www.solidaritycenter.org © October 2010 by the Solidarity Center All rights reserved ISBN 0-9761551-6-8 Uncredited Photos: Solidarity Center Front and back cover photos © Ed Kashi Photography The Solidarity Center is an international nonprofi t allied organization of the AFL-CIO established to provide assistance to workers around the world. Working with trade unions, nongovernmental organizations, community organizations, and governments, the Solidarity Center supports programs and projects to advance worker rights and promote broad-based, sustainable economic and democratic development in 60 countries. The Solidarity Center engages in a wide range of technical assistance, educational, and other activities to help workers build democratic and independent trade unions and promote human and worker rights around the world. This report is the third in the Degradation of Work series. The series examines in part how worker rights standards have been degraded by economic globalization. Earlier reports in the series have focused on human traffi cking in Kenya and worker rights abuses in shrimp processing plants in Thailand and Bangladesh. The Solidarity Center’s oil industry programs and research were funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. The opinions expressed herein are those of the Solidarity Center and do not necessarily refl ect the views of our funders. Printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks and 100% wind power.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Oil on Wildlife and Habitat the U.S
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Effects of Oil on Wildlife and Habitat The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Weathering reduces the more toxic elements in oil products over time as Service is the federal exposure to air, sunlight, wave and tidal action, and certain microscopic agency responsible for organisms degrade and disperse many of the nation’s fish oil. Weathering rates depend on factors such as type of oil, weather, and wildlife resources and temperature, and the type of shoreline one of the primary trustees and bottom that occur in the spill area. for fish, wildlife and habitat Types of Oil Although there are different types of at oil spills. oil, the oil involved in the Deepwater Horizon spill is classified as light crude. The Service is actively involved Light crude is moderately volatile and in response efforts related to the can leave a residue of up to one third of Deepwater Horizon oil spill that the amount spilled after several days. It occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on April leaves a film on intertidal resources and 20, 2010. Many species of wildlife, has the potential to cause long-term including some that are threatened or contamination. endangered, live along the Gulf Coast and could be impacted by the spill. Impacts to Wildlife and Habitat Oil causes harm to wildlife through Oil spills affect wildlife and their physical contact, ingestion, inhalation habitats in many ways. The severity and absorption. Floating oil can of the injury depends on the type and contaminate plankton, which includes quantity of oil spilled, the season and algae, fish eggs, and the larvae of MacKenzie FWS/Tom weather, the type of shoreline, and the various invertebrates.
    [Show full text]
  • Oil-Dependence and Civil Conflict in Nigeria
    CSAE WPS/2007-09 Oil-dependence and Civil conflict in Nigeria June 2007 Aderoju Oyefusi Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Benin, Nigeria E-mail address: [email protected] Abstract This paper examines oil-dependence and civil conflict in Nigeria focusing on the economic dynamics of resource-induced conflicts. It identifies two dimensions to oil-related civil conflict in the country. The first is the violent rent-seeking political violence that oil-availability generates between the various ethno-regional groups; the second is the Niger Delta crisis. The former is linked to excessive government dependence on oil revenues, an institutionally unstable revenue allocation system, weak political institutional arrangements, lack of effective agencies of restraints to demand transparency and accountability on the part of political office holders, failure to translate oil wealth to sustainable growth and increased standard of living for a larger majority of Nigerians, and a defective property right structure in relation to mineral resource endowment. Violence in the Niger Delta area is attributed, in the main, to weak institutional arrangements manifesting in poorly-conceived laws, lack of enforcement, “regulatory capture”, and a marriage of interest between the State and oil companies which often encourage the State to use repressive measures against host communities in cases of disputes. There are also the looting and secession incentives as well as the rent- seeking contests that oil-availability and the allure of ownership creates among local participants. Three factors (educational attainment, income level and asset possession) consistently explain the propensity to general violence among individuals in the region in the Ordered and Multinomial regressions on civil disobedience.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role and Regulation of Dispersants in Oil Spill Response
    Fighting Chemicals with Chemicals: The Role and Regulation of Dispersants in Oil Spill Response Charles L. Franklin and Lori J. Warner or most Americans, and many American environmen- dentnews.gov/ (last visited July 17, 2011) (searching reported tal lawyers, the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil spill of incidents in which dispersants were evaluated and used). Even 2010 provided the first close-up look at the role that so, their use has not been without controversy. One of the oil dispersants and surfactant chemicals (dispersants) first documented uses of dispersing agents occurred in 1967 Fplay in modern-day oil spill response efforts. While dispersants during the response to the Torrey Canyon tanker spill off the have been used for decades, dispersants played a particularly English Coast. DOT, EPA, The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: A Report pivotal, if controversial role, in the Gulf spill response, osten- to the President, Doc. No. OSWER-89-VALDZ, (May 1989) sibly helping to reduce the onshore impact of the release. Dis- [herinafter Exxon Valdez Report], App. D-23. This early effort persants were a workhorse of the recovery effort, and in turn, proved catastrophic, however, as the chemicals used in the arguably might be credited with limiting the land impacts of effort—little more than industrial degreasing agents devel- the largest spill in history. For some, however, the central role oped for cleaning tanks—resulted in an “ecological disaster” that chemical dispersants played in the Gulf cleanup effort in which extensive mortalities of animals and algae occurred is more a cause for question than credit. This article reviews immediately, and the natural recovery was severely slowed and the historic use and regulation of oil dispersants in oil spill still incomplete in some areas ten years later.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Pollution in the Caribbean: Not a Minute to Waste
    Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Marine Public Disclosure Authorized Pollution in the Caribbean: Not a Minute to Waste Public Disclosure Authorized Standard Disclaimer: This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/the World Bank. The findings, interpreta- tions, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of the World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Copyright Statement: The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant per- mission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rose- wood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA, telephone 978-750-8400, fax 978-750-4470, http://www.copyright.com/. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA, fax 202-522-2422, e-mail [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Fate of Marine Oil Spills
    FATE OF MARINE OIL SPILLS TECHNICAL INFORMATION PAPER 2 Introduction When oil is spilled into the sea it undergoes a number of physical and chemical changes, some of which lead to its removal from the sea surface, while others cause it to persist. The fate of spilled oil in the marine environment depends upon factors such as the quantity spilled, the oil’s initial physical and chemical characteristics, the prevailing climatic and sea conditions and whether the oil remains at sea or is washed ashore. An understanding of the processes involved and how they interact to alter the nature, composition and behaviour of oil with time is fundamental to all aspects of oil spill response. It may, for example, be possible to predict with confidence that oil will not reach vulnerable resources due to natural dissipation, so that clean-up operations will not be necessary. When an active response is required, the type of oil and its probable behaviour will determine which response options are likely to be most effective. This paper describes the combined effects of the various natural processes acting on spilled oil, collectively known as ‘weathering’. Factors which determine whether or not the oil is likely to persist in the marine environment are considered together with the implications for response operations. The fate of oil spilled in the marine environment has important implications for all aspects of a response and, consequently, this paper should be read in conjunction with others in this series of Technical Information Papers. Properties of oil Crude oils of different origin vary widely in their physical and chemical properties, whereas many refined products tend to have well-defined properties irrespective of the crude oil from which they are derived.
    [Show full text]