Edison Water Quality Laboratory
May 1970
Vol. II
OIL & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
WHERE? WHEN? HOW?
Chevron Platform C in Breton Sound, Louisiana; Kodiak, Alaska; Tampa,
Florida; Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia; Grande Isle, Louisiana; Phil-
adelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; Martha's Vine-
yard, Massachusetts; Jacksonville, Florida; Point Pleasant,
New Jersey; Lake Champlain, Vermont — all these areas
have experienced oil spills since January 1970. What
area will be next? What methods and techniques will
be available at that time to cope with the oil
spill? The technology for controlling oil
pollution is rapidly changing and we hope
that by this Newsletter we can keep you
informed as to what is happening in
the field and where additional
information can be obtained.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR £ FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATION
-------
In this issue of the Newsletter, we feature the Federal Water Quality
Administration's Research and Development program needs in the area
of oil pollution control.
RESEARCH NEEDS FWOA OIL POLLUTION PROGRAM
A primary goal of the FWQA research program on the control of oil
pollution has been the development of techniques for physically remov-
ing spilled oil from the environment. As explained below, and in the
last Newsletter, we have initiated and are currently negotiating a
number of projects directed toward this end. Physical removal still
remains our highest priority, but we feel the time has come to await
the results of activity underway before proceeding further.
Thus, we now direct our priorities to the several other problems listed
below, and offer a brief description of each, with the hope of stimula-
ting activity for their solution, as well as specific proposals for
possible FWQA funding.
Recovery of Spilled Oil With Additives
Dozens of floating oil sorbent materials are now on the market. Each
week a new one seems to come by the Edison Lab. Each oil spill brings
a deluge of vendors with their bags of "whiffle dust". But bags of
products are not enough 1 How is the material to be distributed, mixed
with the oil, recovered, and disposed of? The most suitable product
may well be determined by the constraints of an effective system for
its use. Our interest is now in the phased development and demonstra-
tion of a practical system for recovering spilled oil with oil sorbent
materials.
Oil Slick Identification
We are actively investigating methods for adding characteristic tags to
oil cargoes which could be used for identifying oil when spilled. Pre-
liminary studies indicate this approach may be feasible, and within
several months we plan to issue an RFP for testing and demonstration of
one or several active tagging methods. However, there seems to be a
valuable role for identifying oil slicks by analysis of the endogenous
-------
components — so-called "fingerprinting". This is obviously compli-
cated by the rapid and profound weathering of spilled oil. But there
is sufficient evidence that weathering is not an insuperable obstacle,
to warrant an attempt to exploit the possibilities of "fingerprinting".
Different levels of analytical resolution are needed. In some cases,
it will be sufficient to know merely whether or not a slick is from a
certain grade of fuel oil. In other cases, resolution of different
types or fields of crude oil may be necessary.
Basically, we need to know what analytical techniques can be applied
to this problem and how each will be affected by changes resulting from
weathering of the oil. Our current opinion is that no single analysis
(e.g. such as for Va/Ni) will suffice, but a battery of complementary
techniques will be required.
Fate and Effects of Dispersed Oil
Chemical dispersion is a mechanism which has been proposed and used in
the past to treat oil spills. However, to prescribe the proper use of
dispersion, more information is needed as to the physical fate of oil
which has been dispersed, both naturally and chemically; the toxic
effects of dispersed oil; the fate of oil in subsurface — does it
sink, enter into the sediments, resurface after a period of time — and
the physical movement of oil in the water column.
Bilge and Ballast Control
Bilge and ballast waters are a problem of immediate concern. Demonstra-
tion of existing pollution control equipment and devices, e.g. coalescing,
filtration, etc., must be conducted. High capacity oil-water separators
must be developed for ballast waters. In-line oil detection devices for
bilge and ballast discharges must be developed or demonstrated. Existing
separators developed by FWQA and others as auxiliary equipment for oil
skimming systems should be considered for meeting this need.
Oil Pollution in the Arctic
What are the fate and effects of spilled oil in artic regions? Will the
- 2 -
-------
physical and chemical characteristics of oil to be produced and trans-
ported present unique problems? Will oil pollution control techniques
developed for temperate regions be applicable in the artic, or will
specialized techniques be required? Can we define specific research
needs for this problem? (In-house research on the physical and chemical
propertie-s of oil at low temperatures is planned during the coming year,
but supplemental work is needed to define the nature and scope of these
problems.
Oil Slick Sampling
Technology is currently lacking for direct measurements on oil slicks.
Techniques are needed for obtaining representative samples of oil
slicks for analysis, and for directly measuring the average thickness
or quantity of oil per unit surface area.
PROGRESS ON FWOA OIL POLLUTION R&D GRANTS AND CONTRACTS
1. Cleaning Oil Contaminated Beaches:
Equipment and hardware used for beach restoration has been evaluated
through Phase I of a contract to URS Systems Corporation, 1811 Trous-
dale Drive, Burlingame, California 94010. A report entitled, "A
Preliminary Manual for the Restoration of Oil Contaminated Beaches" has
been prepared under the direction of the Agricultural and Marine Pollu-
tion Control Branch, FWQA, Washington, D. C. 20242. This manual was
sent to all FWQA Regional Oil Spill Coordinators along with a 15-minute
film demonstrating beach restoration techniques. Although this manual
and film are presently classified for FWQA internal use only, the final
report from URS Corporation, which is to be completed in July 1970, will
be available to interested parties.
Additional work on cleaning oil containment beaches has also been
accomplished. Aerojet General Corporation of El Monte, California has
completed Phase I of a study for FWQA concerning the feasibility of
incinerator systems for the restoration of oil contaminated beaches.
Several alternative processes were studied and recommendations have been
given concerning the technical and economic feasibility of each process.
Technical personnel from FWQA are reviewing the final report on this
project, which should be available to the public by June 1970.
- 3 -
-------
Melpar Corporation of Falls Church, Virginia has completed Phase I of
a study examining a froth flotation method to clean oil contaminated
beaches. Laboratory results have been encouraging. Field testing of
the froth flotation technique will be conducted this summer at Dam
Neck, Virginia. A report will follow the demonstration phase of this
study.
2. Hi-Capacity Oil Pick-up Devices:
Garrett Corporation, Airesearch Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles,
California has developed a prototype oil skimming device under a FWQA
contract. The oil skimmer is of weir-type design and has taken sever-
al configurations in the model testing phase. The skimmer concept and
design have been released to the American Petroleum Institute, who, in
turn, have issued a research contract to Garrett Corporation for devel-
opment of a full-scale oil skimming system with a boom sweep design.
The entire system has been given the name "Sea Dragon", and is scheduled
for testing under actual environmental conditions in May 1970, off the
coast of California.
3. Containment Barriers and Skimming Devices;
A FWQA research grant with the Maine Port Authority in Portland to test
and evaluate mechanical and pneumatic barriers to contain spilled oil
and the evaluation of skimming devices for removing the contained oil
has completed the testing phase. A final report is in preparation.
This project was extended so that the technology learned from this in-
vestigation could be used to aid in combating the oil spill at Chevron
Platform C, in Breton Sound, Louisiana.
U. Oil Tagging Techniques:
In Falls Church, Virginia, the Melpar Corporation has just completed a
research project for FWQA involving an oil tagging system for identify-
ing oil. This study included consideration of the feasibility of util-
izing oil identification methods of chemical tags, radiochemical tags,
passive chemical/physical analytical techniques, and particle tags.
The final report for this project will be available to interested parties
by June 1, 1970.
5. Cleaning Oil Contaminated Waterfowl:
Dr. Lynn A. Griner of the University of California in San Diego has
completed a research contract with FWQA on the treatment of waterfowl
trapped in oil polluted waters. Methods were developed to manage the
-------
cleansing of oiled birds to minimize mortality during their captivity.
Proper feeding of the oil contaminated birds was found to be a major
factor in their survival. The final report for this project is also
under review and will be released to the public shortly.
-NEW YORKER Magazine-
"This is the man who ate the steak that came from the steer that
nibbled the grass that grew? in the field where roamed the cat that
caught the bird that ate the fish that fed on the bug that floated
around in the oil slick."
NEW FWOA OIL POLLUTION PROJECTS:
Following is a list of grant and contract projects awarded by the
Federal Water Quality Administration since January 1970 dealing with
oil pollution control research and development:
- 5 -
-------
Grantee or Contractor
Subject
Project Director
Expected Completion Date
American Process Equipment Corp.
10826 Venice Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90230
Reynolds Submarine Services Corp.
615 Southwest Second Avenue
Miami, FL 33130
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods-Hole, MA 02543
Ecological Research Corporation
Hanover, NH 03755
Alpine Geophysical Associates, Inc
65 Oak Street
Norwood, NJ 07648
Battelle Memorial Institute
Pacific Northwest Laboratory
P. 0. Box 999
Richland, Washington 99352
Design, construct and test an
oil-water separator which employs
a hydrocycIonic system to separ-
ate un-emulsified oil-water mix-
tures.
Design, construct and test at pilot-
scale a voraxial oil separation
system for an oil-water mixture
collected by mechanical oil slick
harvesting devices.
Studies to document the biological
effects of a large spill of fuel
oil in Buzzards Bay, MA.
A study on the washing of oil con-
tainminated sands and the separa-
tion of the oil and sand and the
washing fluid.
Documentation of the oil spill and
cleanup efforts at Chevron Oil
Platform C, Venice, LA.
Critical review of available knowl-
edge of causes, effects, and existing
methods for controlling and mitigating
the effects of spills of hazardous
polluting substances.
Robert Rod
8/15/70
Arthur L. Merkel
6/5/70
Howard L. Sanders
1/21/70
Robert C. Dean
12/15/70
Jules Hirshman
V20/70
Ward Swift
10/70
- 6 -
-------
For further information on individual projects, please contact the
Oil and Hazardous Materials Research Section, Federal Water Quality
Administration, Edison, New Jersey 08817.
NEW LEGISLATION
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1970 APPROVED:
The Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970 became Public Law 91-224
on April 3, 1970. The main portions of this act directly applicable
to oil and hazardous materials research are as follows:
1. The name of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration is
changed to the 'Tederal Water Quality Administration".
2. Control of pollution by oil:
a. The discharge of oil in harmful quantities into or upon the
navigable waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines,
or into or upon the waters of the contiguous zone is prohibi-
ted, except:
1. In the case-of such discharges into the waters of the
contiguous zone, where permitted under Article IV of the
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
of the Sea by Oil, 1954, as amended.
2. Where permitted in quantities and at times and locations
or under certain circumstances or conditions as the Pres-
ident may, by regulation, determine not to be harmful.
b. The President shall determine those quantities of oil the
discharge of which, at such times, locations, circumstances,
and conditions, will be harmful to the public health or wel-
fare of the United States, including, but not limited to,
fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public and private property,
shore1ines, and beaches.
c. Any person in charge of vessel or of an onshore facility or
an offshore facility shall, as soon as he has knowledge of any
discharge of oil f,rom such vessel or facility in violation of
the harmful quantities set by the President, immediately notify
- 7 -
-------
the appropriate agency of the United States Government of
such discharge. Any person who fails to notify immediately
the appropriate agency of an oil discharge shall, upon con-
viction, be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for
not more than one year, or both.
d. Except where an owner or operator can prove that a discharge
was caused solely by:
1. An Act of God.
2. An Act of War.
3. Negligence on the part of the United
States Government.
4. An act or omission of a third party
without regard to whether any such act
or omission was or was not negligent,
or any combination of the foregoing
clauses.
Such owner or operator of any vessel from which oil is dis-
charged in violation of the harmful quantities set by the
President, shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law,
be liable to the United States Government for the actual
costs incurred for removal of such oil in an amount not to
exceed $100 per gross ton of such vessel or $14,000,000,
whichever is lesser. Except where the United States can show
that such discharge was the result of willful negligence or
willful misconduct within the privity and knowledge of the
owner, such owner or operator shall be liable to the U. S.
Government for the full amount of such costs.
e. Whenever any oil is discharged, into or upon the navigable
waters of the U. S., adjoining shorelines or into or upon the
waters of the contiguous zone, the President is authorized to
act to remove or arrange for the removal of such oil at any
time, unless he determines such removal will be done properly
by the owner or operator of the vessel, on-shore facility, or
offshore facility from which the discharge occurs.
f. This law authorizes the appropriation of a revolving fund to
be established in the Treasury not to exceed $35,000,000 to
carry out cleanup of spilled oil. Any other funds received by
- 8 -
-------
the United States under this section shall also be depos-
ited in said fund for such purposes. All sums appropriated
to, or deposited in, said fund shall remain available until
expended.
g. Within sixty days after the effective date of this section,
the President shall prepare and publish a National Contin-
gency Plan for removal of oil pursuant to this subsection.
Such National Contingency Plan shall provide for efficient,
coordinated, and effective action to minimize damage from
oil discharges, including containment, dispersal, and remov-
al of oil.
h. The President is authorized to delegate the administration to
the heads of those Federal departments, agencies, and instru-
mentalities which he determines to be appropriate.
3. Control of hazardous polluting substances:
a. The President shall submit a report to the Congress, together
with his recommendations, not later than November 1,1970, on
the need for, and desirability of, enacting legislation to
impose liability for the cost of removal of hazardous substan-
ces discharged from vessels and onshore and offshore facilities,
including financial responsibility requirements.
The above statements, of course, are not all the law in conclusive
detail, but rather some of the highlights of the law. Copies of the
law can be obtained by writing to the 91st Congress, Washington, D. C.
and asking for Public Law 91-224.
SIGNIFICANT STATE LEGISLATION:
Landmark oil handling legislation went into effect in Maine, on May 9,
1970. The Environmental Improvement Commission has been charged with
the responsibility of supervising oil storage in quantities over 500
barrels and all transfer of oil in Maine ports; policing Maine's 2800
miles of coast, and administering a $4 million fund to be raised from
a 1/2 cent per barrel fee levied on transferred oil. Costs of clean-
up will be paid by the fund and reimbursed by the guilty party if he
can be identified. The administrative, logistic, and technical problems
to be overcome in making the law a working reality present a great
challenge to the Commission, and should provide a useful demonstration
of oil pollution control for other states.
- 9 -
-------
NEWS ITEMS
INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE ON
OIL SPILL TREATING AGENTS, APRIL 8-9, 1970
The primary objective of this conference was for the Oil Spills
Cleanup Subcommittee of the American Petroleum Institute to provide
the Department of the Interior with all available information and
expert opinions on oil spill treating agents. For this purpose,
thirteen papers and prepared commentaries were presented by experts
from industry, universities, consulting firms, and government. Al-
though formal topics ranged over all types of treating agents, the
primary focus in both the prepared presentations and the ensuing
open discussion was on chemical dispersants. Little new information
was presented on these products. Most evident was the sharp polar-
ization between positions of the FWQA and industry on-the use of
dispersants. It was apparent that sufficient information still does
not exist for rational decisions on the use of these oil dispersing
chemicals.
The most useful results of the conference were the clarification of
the issues on the use of dispersants, the identification of specific
research needs, and the initiation of a frank and direct dialogue
between government and industry on this controversial subject.
LANDMARK LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST OIL POLLUTION VIOLATORS:
With the lack of other effective legal remedies, there has been a
recent flurry of interest and activity in applying the criminal
sanctions of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 to oil polluters.
This Act makes discharge of any oil into navigable waters illegal
and provides for fines up to $2,500 and jail terms up to one year.
However, it does not provide for corrective action by the polluter.
Seeking such a corrective remedy, the U. S. Attorney of the South-
ern District of New York recently brought a civil action against a
polluter in New York Harbor whose storage tanks had been leaking
fuel oil into the East River for several months. Expert testimony
for the hearing was provided by the Edison Water Quality Laboratory
and the Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory. On March 30, 1970 a Federal
District Judge issued an injunction against the polluter, on the
basis that he was causing irreparable damage to the environment,
and requiring him to take all necessary and possible steps to halt
the oil discharge. Edison Lab personnel are continuing to provide
- 10 -
-------
consultation for the U. S. Attorney on technical requirements for
this corrective action.
This is apparently the first time such a civil action had been suc-
cessfully brought to prevent irreparable environmental harm from oil
pollut ion.
-LOOK Magazine-
"It's me-
Moby Dick! I just
came through
the Santa Barbara
Channel."
- 11 -
-------
RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
1. Combating Pollution Created by Oil Spills, Volume One: Methods,
by Arthur D. Little, Inc., for the U. S. Coast Guard, Department
of Transportation, under Contract DOT-CG-93, 374-A, June 30,
1969.
2. Oil Pollution; Problems and Policies, Degler, S. E., Edit., Bur-
eau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington, D. C., 1969.
3. The Oil'Spill Problem, First Report of the President's Panel on
Oil Spills, Executive Office of the President, Office of Science
and Technology, 1969.
4. Offshore Mineral Resources - A Challenge and an Opportunity,
Second Report of the President's Panel on Oil Spills, Executive
Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology, 1969.
5. Oil Pollution Report No. 1, by D. P. Hoult, Dept. Mechanical
Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, on "Containment of Oil Spills by Physical and Air
Barriers", from FWQA -Research and Development Grant 15080ESL.
6. The Use of Booms as Barriars to Oil Pollution in Tidal Estuaries
and Sheltered Waters, Hydraulics Research Station, Ministry of
Technology, Wallingford, Berkshire, England, November 1969.
A good text, if you do not already have it, which gives an in-depth
view of a specific oil spill and its effect is:
Torrey Canyon Pollution and Marine Life, Smith, J. E., Cambridge
University Press, New York City, 1968.
Continuing reports on oil spills and control methods can be found in
the:
Marine Pollution Bulletin, published monthly by Macmillan (Jour-
nals) Ltd., Little Essex Street, London WC 2, England.
- 12 -
-------
FWOA REPORTS ON OIL POLLUTION
Several reports concerning oil pollution which have been completed
since January 1970 under the direction of the Edison Water Quality
Laboratory are now available to interested parties. These reports
are:
1. "Cleaning Oil Contaminated Beaches", DAST-27.
2. "Oil Sampling Techniques", DAST-12.
3. "Report on the Sinking of the Tanker, ARROW", Edison Water Qual-
ity Laboratory, Edison, New Jersey, February 1970.
4. "Oil Skimming Equipment", Edison Water Quality Laboratory (avail-
able in June 1970).
5. "Oil Containment Devices", Edison Water Quality Laboratory
(available in June 1970).
Requests for Reports #1 and #2 should be made to:
Planning and Resources Office
Office of Research and Development
Federal Water Quality Administration
U. S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D. C. 20242
Reports #3 through #5 can be obtained by writing to:
Oil & Hazardous Materials Research Section
Federal Water Quality Administration
Edison, New Jersey 08817
In recent months, we have been deluged with requests for certain re-
ports and consequently our supplies have been depleted. Therefore,
we have reprinted the following reports which will first be sent to
previous requestors and available to other interested parties in May
1970:
1. "Chemical Treatment of Oil Slicks", DAST-18.
2. "Oil Dispersing Chemicals", ORD-3.
- 13 -
-------
3. "Oil and Hazardous Materials - Emergency Procedures in the Water
Environment", CWR 10-1.
CAN YOU HELP US?
We wish to keep our information system current. Please let us know
of any new products, systems or reports you feel may be pertinent to
the oil pollution problem and we will spread the word.
Address all correspondence to:
Oil and Hazardous Materials Research Section
Federal Water Quality Administration
U. S. Department of the Interior
Edison, New Jersey 08817
Our commercial telephone number: (201) 548-3347, Ext. 25
Our FTS telephone number : (201) 846-4625
THANKS!!!
Thank you for expressing your interest in the oil pollution and hazard-
ous materials research problem, and especially for your enthusiastic
response to our Newsletter.
- 14 -
------- |