Edison WaUr Quality Laboratory
January 1970
Vol. I
OIL & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
WHY THIS NEWSLETTER?
In this age of the information explosion, when we all have desks
piled high with documents waiting to be read, why another
publication? Will it also end up in that low priority
pile?
We hope not. Our purpose is to cut through the
diverse sources of information on pollution
by oil and hazardous materials and provide
a brief, periodic (initially quarterly)
review of recent progress and new
sources of information. This
newsletter is not intended to
impart detailed information,
but to tell you what is
available and where to
get it.
, ~li S 1)| l-AK IMKM uh THE INTERIOR • FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
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This activity falls within the assigned duties of the Oil and Hazard-
ous Materials Research Section of the Edison Water Quality Laboratory,
Edison, New Jersey, since 1968 the center for FWPCA research on the
control of pollution from oil and hazardous materials. By this means
we hope to provide the latest information on: 1) Progress of research
and development projects funded by FWPCA; 2) availability of reports;
3) new products or materials; and 4) important literature references.
API/FWPCA CONFERENCE DRAWS LARGE CROWD
The Joint American Petroleum Institute and Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration Conference on the Prevention and Control of Oil
Spills held in New York City on December 15-17, 1969, drew an attendance
of over 1100 persons, far exceeding the expected 350 attendees.
Forty-three speakers, including representatives from Great Britain,
Holland, and Canada, discussed a wide range of topics from boom perform-
ance to remote sensing of oil slicks. Ken Biglane's oft quoted comment
that "oil pollution is the program with sex appeal" was amply confirmed
by Dr. Dale Straughan's domination of the audio-visual displays.
Over forty manufacturers were on hand to display their wares to the
potential market, the first organized display of oil pollution control
equipment and products to be held in this country.
The conference succeeded in underlining the growing interest in oil
pollution and in defining some of the complex problems involved in its
control. No simple solutions were revealed. There was a general feel-
ing that oil pollution has been a neglected problem which only recently
has received much serious attention, and which requires considerable
research. To quote Hal Bernard, in his closing comments at the confer-
ence, "No one technique, system, or piece of equipment is entirely
adequate. Consequently, we need to develop a whole array of methods to
control oil and hazardous materials pollution".
Proceedings of the conference are in print and will be mailed to all
registrants. Additional copies can be obtained for a nominal cost from:
Mr. W. A. Burhouse, Secretary
American Petroleum Institute
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
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NEW REPORTS AVAILABLE ON OIL POLLUTION
Several reports concerning oil pollution have been completed under the
direction of the Edison Water Quality Laboratory in the past several
months and are now available to interested parties. These reports are:
1. "Oil Dispersing Chemicals" by Melvin Z. Poliakoff.
2. "Biological Effects of Oil Pollution - Bibliography".
3. "Chemical Treatment of Oil Slicks" - A Status Report prepared by
the Edison Water Quality Laboratory.
k. "Cleaning Oil Contaminated Beaches With Chemicals" (Available in
February 1970).
5. "Oil and Hazardous Materials - Emergency Procedures in the Water
Environment".
Requests for Reports #1 to #4 should be made to:
Planning and Resources Office
Office of Research and Development
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
U. S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D. C. 202U2
Report #5 can be obtained by writing to:
Oil & Hazardous Materials Research Section
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Edison, New Jersey 08817
FEATURE: BOOMS AND OIL CONTAINMENT DEVICES
Oil retention barriers have been developed to prevent the spread of
oil slicks over wide areas. Oil booms may be deployed to encircle oil
slicks attempting to reduce the area of coverage and increase the
thickness of an oil slick in order to provide feasible recovery, collec-
tion and disposal of the oil. Oil booms may also be installed as a
barrier to close off prescribed zones where spills may occur or where
oils should not enter. For example these areas may include marinas,
harbors, oil loading docks, power plant water intakes, etc.
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There is a great scarcity of information on oil barrier performance
and results obtained from particular boom systems when used in actual
spills or field demonstrations have been poorly documented. It is
generally concluded the oil booms are unable to withstand strong
forces of wind, current, and they can not be towed without losing a
portion of the contained oil. No boom system so far has been shown to
be successful under all conditions of all spills.
Oil spill containment systems may be broadly generalized into the
following types: inflatable booms, plastic-filled or plastic-float
booms; thin-wall mounted on bouyant chambers; absorbing type booms;
cork booms; wooden booms; straw booms; and other systems including
pneumatic or air barriers. To our knowledge there are at least 37
different approaches to the problem of corralling and holding oil spills
although many more are presently being developed. It must be recognized
that boom systems represent only one set of tools, although it is an
important one, to effectively aid in combating oil spills. Oil spill
booms should almost always be deployed in conjunction with other equip-
ment and methods for effective control and clean-up. In a simple case,
this will mean a skimming or pickup device, whereas, for the serious spill
it may mean any number of methods and techniques must be used concurrently
to combat the situation.
At the present time there are specific grants and contracts examining
oil containment systems. In April 1969, the U. S. Coast Guard issued a
research contract to Hydronautics, Inc. to study various physical load-
ings imposed on an oil spill boom at sea, so as to judiciously design a
boom of necessary strength for efficient containment. On July 18, 1969,
the U. S. Coast Guard issued a Request for Proposal for concept develop-
ment of both a prototype light-weight and prototype heavy-weight oil
containment system for use on the high seas. One contract was awarded to
Wilson Industries of Houston, Texas. In January 1970, the FWPCA awarded
a research grant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study
environmental factors affecting oil movement, and to develop commensurate
design criteria for oil spill booms. This research will include motion
and spreading of oil slicks, localized boom motion, associated fluids
movement, and forces and flexibility in booms.
In conclusion, we feel that the majority of existing booms and oil contain-
ment systems have only limited use, for they generally fail to operate
effectively under open sea conditions. It is hoped that new designs and
approaches will be stimulated by ongoing research to expand the operational
capabilities of booms, which in turn will lead to desirable commercial
development of oil spill boom systems.
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RECENT OIL SPILLS
I. Hess Oil Spill, Sewaren, New Jersey:
On October 30, 1969 a 218,000 barrel tank at the Hess Oil and Refin-
ing Company Terminal in Sewaren, New Jersey collapsed and released
its entire contents of crude oil into holding dikes and adjacent
marsh area. An undetermined amount of oil, but probably more than
5,000 barrels, reached the Arthur Kill (a strait separating New Jersey
and Staten Island) through a drainage pipe from the marsh area.
Before the drain pipe could be secured, an oil slick was formed in the
Arthur Kill approximately 1 1/2 miles long up to 1/4" thick and extend-
ing from shore to shore.
After the drain pipe was secured, some of the diverted oil, in quanti-
ties up to six inches deep, flowed into Smith Creek, a small tributary
to the Arthur Kill. Three booms obtained from a local aid group of
oil companies were placed at the mouth of Smith Creek. Most of the
oil was removed by eight vacuum trucks pumping oil from Smith Creek.
The Hess Company was advised not to use chemicals since no fire hazard
existed, but instead used physical means or sorbent material to remove
the oil.
Other action taken included erecting three screen fences containing
Sorbent Type C on Smith Creek. The Worthington Corporation's oil
recovery catamaran, "Mop Cat" was briefly used along pier areas of the
Arthur Kill. Both these methods aided in the clean-up operations, but
no impartial documentation was made to measure their overall effective-
ness. Natural phenomena apparently dissipated most of the oil slick
formed in the Arthur Kill. This phenomena has been previously observed
in the New York Harbor area. Clean-up operations of Smith Creek and
surrounding marsh areas were completed by December 1969.
II. Grounding of the Barge FLORIDA, Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts:
On September 16, 1969 the coastal oil barge FLORIDA, carrying 14,000
barrels of #2 diesel fuel, went aground off Chappaquoint Point,
Falmouth, Massachusetts. About 4,000 barrels of cargo was lost, much of
it blowing into Wild Harbor and Wild Harbor River. Onshore winds kept
the oil in the harbor for about three days, before shifting winds dis-
persed the remaining oil.
Biologists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution surveyed the area
in the following days. They observed massive initial mortality of
marine life. Windrows of dead and dying invertebrates littered the
shoreline. Over forty species of animals were affected. Subsequent to
the shift of wind and dispersion of the remaining oil, oil was detected
in the bottom sediments at depths to 35 feet. Preliminary indications
are that this oil is causing death of bottom organisms.
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This incident provides a striking illustration of the toxicity of
oil - especially the lower boiling point fractions, and a refuta-
tion of the commonly accepted assumption that oil itself causes
little damage to the environment. Apparently a similarly massive
kill of marine life occurred off the coast of New Hampshire last year
after a spill of #2 diesel fuel oil, although this has not been gen-
erally publicized.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
1. International Conference on Oil Pollution of the Sea, Report of
proceedings, Rome, October 1968. Available from the Secretary,
British Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea, Natural
History Museum, London. Cost is 40 shillings.
2. Oil on the Sea, Proceeding of Symposium held at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, May 16, 1969. Editor, D. P. Hoult, Plenum, New York
City, $8.75.
3. Blumer, M. (1969) "Oil Pollution of the Ocean" Oceanus 15 (2) 2.
(Publication of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods
Hole, Mass.) - a good summary of the biological effects of oil.
4. Holcomb, R. W. (1969) "Oil in the Ecosystem" Science 166:204 - a
short assessment of current knowledge and research needs.
5. Study of Equipment and Methods for Removing Oil from Harbor
Waters, August 25, 1969, by Battelle Northwest, for Naval Civil
Engineering Laboratory, Point Hueneme, California, under Contract
N62399-69-C-0028.
6. Carter, L. J. (1969) "North Slope: Oil Rush" Science 165:85.
In addition to these recent publications, several sources provide
continuing coverage of oil pollution problems. One of the best, which
reports on spill incidents and on research activities is:
Marine Pollution Bulletin, as of January,
1970 to be published monthly by Macmillan,
Ltd., London, $6/yr.
Useful news notes also appear regularly in:
Oil and Gas Journal, a weekly publication
of the Petroleum Publishing Company,
211 South Cheyenne, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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For those not yet regularly using them, two general bibliographies on
oil pollution are available:
1. Oil Spillage Study; Literature Search and Critical Evaluation for
Selection of Promising Techniques to Control and Prevent Damage,
Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland, Washington. Distribution
by Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information,
U. S. Department of Commerce, Document #AD666 289.
2. "A Classified Bibliography of Oil Pollution" by A. Nelson Smith,
in Biological Effects of Oil Pollution on Littoral Communities, by
J. D. Carthy and D. R. Arthur (eds), Supplement to Volume 2 of
Field Studies, Field Studies Council, London.
FWPCA OIL POLLUTION R&D PROJECTS:
Following is a list of grant and contract projects awarded by the Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration dealing with oil pollution control:
Grantee or Contractor
University of California,
San Diego
La Jolla, Calif. 92037
University of Michigan
Willow Run Branch
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Subject
Oil-coated birds: Determine
factors contributing to death,
develop means of cleaning,
determine means for keeping
alive in captivity
Determine multi-spectrum
radiation characteristics of
crude oil for slick detection
Aerojet General Corp. Feasibility of incinerator
Environmental Systems Div. systems for removal of oil
9200 East Flair Drive contamination from beach
El Monte, Calif. 91734 materials
University of California,
Santa Barbara
Dept. of Biological Sci.
Santa Barbara, Calif.
University of California,
Santa Barbara
Dept. of Biological'Sci.
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Santa Barbara and Ventura
Counties: Study of oil spill
damage - intertidal regions*
Santa Barbara Channel: Study
abundance and composition of
plankton and fish*
Project Director
Expected Comp. Date
Lynn A. Griner
12/30/69
Kenneth P. Burns
9/27/70
R. M. Roberts
12/30/69
Michael Neushal
7/28/69
A. W. Ebling
12/16/69
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Grantee or Contractor
Virginia Institute of
Marine Science
Gloucester Pt., Va. 23062
New York University
School of Engr. & Sci.
University Heights
Bronx, New York 10453
Melpar, Inc.
7700 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, Va. 22046
Maine Port Authority
Portland, Maine 04111
Garrett Corporation
Airsearch Mfg. Co.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Florida State Univ.
Dept. of Oceanography
Tallahassee, Fla. 33206
Subject
Chesapeake Bay entrance:
Investigation of surface
films to determine influ-
ence of wind, wave, and
currents
Determine and correlate
factors influencing spread
of oil slicks
Oil tagging system study
Test and Evaluate: Contain-
ment and means of removal of
oil in harbors and adjacent
waters
Centrifuge system development
Microbiological seeding to
accelerate oil degradation
Columbia University Molecular interactions at oil-
Lamont-Doherty Geological water interface - formation of
Observatory microemulsions
Palisades, N.Y. 10964
City of Cleveland
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Battelle Memorial Inst.
Pacific N.W. Labs
Richland, Washington
Battelle Memorial Inst,
Pacific N.W. Labs
Richland, Washington
Collection of oil with aid of
foam
Santa Barbara - documentation
and assessment of clean-up
measures*
Investigate recovery system
utilizing a vortex generator
system to be capable of being
airlifted
Project Director
Expected Comp. Date
Wyman Harrison
6/1/70
Henry C. Schwartzberg
8/22/70
Thomas Meloy
9/28/69
Edward Langolis
1/19/70
John L. Mason
5/18/69
Carl Oppenheimer
4/11/71
D. 0. Shah
7/1/70
Edward J. Martin
6/23/70
Ward H. Swift
7/18/69
Paul C. Walkup
5/23/69
*Reports concerning Santa Barbara spill are being held for legal review
before release, because of pending litigation involving U. S. Government.
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Grantee or Contractor
Sonics International Inc.
7101 Carpenter Freeway
P. 0. Box 47088
Dallas, Texas 75247
National Oil Recovery
Corporation
Hook and Constable Road
Bayonne, N. J. 07002
Western Company
2201 Waterview Parkway
Richardson, Texas
URS Systems Corp.
1811 Trousdale Drive
Burlingame, Ca. 94010
City of Buffalo
65 N. Vargara Street
Buffalo, New York
Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution
Woods Hole, Mass.
Melvin Z. Poliakoff
24 Knoll Road
Tenafly, N. J.
Mass. Inst. of Tech-
nology
Dept. of Mechanical Engr.
Cambridge, Mass.
Melpar, Inc.
7700 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, Va. 22046
Subject
Feasibility of transporting
oil in emulsion state formed
by ultrasonics and additives
Conversion of waste crankcase
oil to useful product without
polluting
Develop system to rapidly gel
oil in leaking tanker compart-
ments
Evaluation of selected earth
moving equipment for use in
beach cleaning operations
Program to prevent and elim-
inate oil pollution in the
Buffalo River
Interaction between marine
organisms and oil pollution
Composition Properties and
User of Oil Dispersants
Seven individual studies
directed toward development
of design data containment
and harvesting systems
Application of froth flota-
tion separation for beach
restoration
Project Director
Expected Comp. Date
C. B. Easley
9/13/69
Solfred Maizus
1/28/70
Jerry Overfield
10/20/70
Myron B. Hawkins
6/29/70
John Downing
1/28/70
Max Blumer
5/18/72
Melvin Z. Poliakoff
Report Available
David P. Hoult
1/5/71
Thomas Meloy
12/15/70
For further information on individual projects, please contact the Oil and
Hazardous Materials Research Section, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Edison, New Jersey 08817.
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SERVICES AVAILABLE
The Oil and Hazardous Materials Research Section has accumulated
considerable information which is available on request. Included
are:
1. A quick reference file on commercial and natural chemical addi-
tives for oil pollution control and their properties.
2. A general file of commercial devices for operational control,
such as booms, skimmers, etc.
3. A collection of articles and reprints on oil pollution control.
4. A museum of common commercially available products.
5. Analytical data on more than 8,000 crude oils.
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 and
we will spread the word.
Address all correspondence to:
Oil and Hazardous Materials Research Section
Federal Water^Pollution Control 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.
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WHO'S WHO IN OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON. D. C.
Dr. David Stephan - Assistant Commissioner for R&D
Allen Cywin - Director, Div. of Applied Science & Technology
Harold Bernard - Chief, Agricultural & Marine Pollution Control Br.
Ralph Rhodes - Chief, Oil Pollution Control Section
EDISON WATER QUALITY LABORATORY
Kenneth H. Walker - Director, Edison Water Quality Laboratory
Richard T. Dewling - Acting Chief, Research & Development Branch
Dr. Thomas A. Murphy- Acting Chief, Oil & Hazardous Materials Research Sect.
Leo T. McCarthy, Jr.- Chemist, Oil & Hazardous Materials Research Section
Patrick M. Tobin - Engineer, Oil & Hazardous Materials Research Section
John F. Vining, III - Physical Scientist, Oil & Haz. Materials Research Sect.
Howard Lamp'l - Oil Spill Control Coordinator (Operations Consultant)
Richard R. Keppler - Oil Pollution "Consultant" (Boston, Mass. Office)
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