OIL SPILL NOTIFICATION, RESPONSE, AND
RECOVERY
O NOTIFICATION
FIRST, report oil and hazardous substance releases by calling the:
NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER
1 -800-424-8802
SECOND, contact the nearest Coast Guard or EPA Regional Office spill line,
and
THIRD report spills to the state, tribal land, territory, or commonwealth where
the spill occurred. Contact information by region is provided in this guide.
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When an oil spill enters into or threatens any
navigable waters in the United States,
coordinated teams of local, state, and
national personnel are called upon to help
contain the spill, clean it up, and assure that
damage to human health and the
environment is minimized. Without careful
planning and clear organization, efforts to
deal with large oil spills could be slow,
ineffective, and potentially harmful to
response personnel and the environment.
The U.S. EPA has established requirements
for reporting spills in navigable waters or
adjoining shorelines. Specifically, 40 CFR
§110.10 requires facilities to report
discharges of oil in quantities that may be
harmful to public health or welfare or the
environment. EPA has determined that
discharges of oil in quantities that may be
harmful include those that:
C Violate applicable water quality
standards;
C Cause a film or "sheen" upon or
discoloration of the surface of the water
or adjoining shorelines; or
C Cause a sludge or emulsion to be
deposited beneath the surface of the
water or upon adjoining shorelines.
Any person in charge of a vessel or onshore
or offshore facility should notify the' National
Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802
as soon as he or she has knowledge of a
discharge from a vessel or facility. Spills or
releases of oil which reach navigable waters
or adjoining shorelines (including storm
drains) or land areas which may threaten
waterways must always be reported to the
NRC.
For example, during a routine facility
inspection, maintenance personnel at a
facility discover that a drainage valve in a
containment area has been left open and
gasoline has leaked from a faulty fuel pump
into the containment area. In this scenario,
it is possible that gasoline has been
released from the containment area and
discharged into a nearby storm drain, creek,
or dry ditch. If the facility has received any
precipitation, then the probability of a
discharge is high. In both cases, the NRC
should be notified immediately.
What are Navigable Waters of the U.S.?
The legal definition for navigable waters is defined
generally under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section
502(7). EPA's regulatory definition can be found at
40 CFR 110.1.
For the purposes of 40 CFR Part 112, the term
navigable waters means the waters of the United
States, including the territorial seas, and includes:
• All waters that are currently used, were used in
the past, or may be susceptible to use in
interstate or foreign commerce, including all
waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide.
• All interstate waters, including interstate
wetlands, mudflats, and sandflats;
• All other waters such as intrastate lakes,
rivers, streams (including intermittent
streams), wetlands, mudflats, sandflats,
sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa
lakes, or natural ponds, the use, degradation,
or destruction of which could affect interstate
or foreign commerce including any waters that
could be used for recreational purposes, or
from which fish or shellfish could be taken and
sold in interstate or foreign commerce; or that
are used or could be used for industrial
purposes by industries in interstate commerce.
The CWA has been interpreted to cover all surface
waters, including any waterway within the U.S.
Also included are normally dry creeks through
which water may flow and ultimately end up in
public waters, such as a river, stream, tributary to a
river or stream, lake reservoir, bay, gulf, sea, or
ocean within or adjacent to the U.S. The CWA's
jurisdictional reach may also include groundwater
jf_ it is directly connected hydrologically with
surface waters.
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Facilities should also be aware of state,
tribal and local requirements for spill
reporting. For example, there may be a
requirement to report all spills meeting
certain quantity thresholds even if the spill
does not leave a contained area.
Reporting to the National
Response Center
When you contact the National Response
Center, the staff person will ask you for the
following information:
« Your name, location, organization, and
telephone number.
v Name and address of the party
responsible for the incident.
v Date and time of the incident.
v Location of the incident.
v Source and cause of the release or spill.
« Types of material(s) released or spilled.
* Quantity of materials released or spilled.
« Danger or threat posed by the release or
spill.
« Number and types of injuries (if any).
« Weather conditions at the incident
location.
« Any other information that may help
emergency personnel respond to the
incident.
The National Response Center records and
maintains all spill reports in a computer
database called the Emergency Response
Notification System (ERNS), which is
available to the public. The National
Response Center relays the spill information
to the U.S. EPA or
U.S. Coast Guard,
depending on the
location of the
incident.
Specifically,
representatives of
the U.S. EPA or
U.S. Coast Guard, known as On-Scene
Coordinators (OSCs), are notified.
O Spill Response
The first and most immediate response is
that of the facility. For this reason, the
facility's equipment and the quantity,
operation, and location of its response
equipment and supplies are all critical to
effective, oil recovery.
SPCC/FRP Regulated Facilities (or
Substantial Harm Facilities)
Within the SPCC-regulated community,
facilities that may cause substantial harm to
the environment or exclusive economic zone
based on the quantity and location of their oil
storage are required to prepare Facility
Response Plans (FRPs) in accordance with
40 CFR 112.20 and 112.21 to ensure that
these facilities have the capability to respond
to worst case scenario discharges. FRPs
greatly assist the facility and response
agencies to expedite and coordinate cleanup
efforts.
Other SPCC Regulated Facilities
It is recommended that all other facilities in
the SPCC-regulated community be prepared
to respond to a spill by identifying control
and response measures in their SPCC
Plans. Every facility should have
appropriate spill response equipment
available and easily accessible. The best
place to keep spill kits is in a cabinet or
locker near the tanker car and truck loading/
unloading racks and the storage tanks.
Absorbent pads and booms, disposal
containers or bags, shovels, an emergency
response guidebook, and a fire extinguisher
are essential components of a spill kit.
Portable pumps are also a good investment.
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It is also recommended that facilities
coordinate with local responders, other
nearby facilities, and contractors before a
spill occurs so that response is
accomplished most efficiently.
Facility personnel, including seasonal
employees, must be educated and trained in
spill response, notification, and oil recovery.
By being prepared to respond, the impact of
a discharge on human health or the
environment may be minimized and cleanup
costs and fines resulting from improper
notification or response reduced.
First Response
In the event of an oil spill, the facility
response plan is immediately activated.
Depending on the nature of the spill, local,
area, regional, or national plans may also be
activated. The OSC will activate these plans
if the facility is not equipped or capable of
handling the response.
On-Scene Coordinators
OSCs from the U.S. EPA or U.S. Coast
Guard are responsible for determining the
human and equipment resources required to
respond to a spill based on his or her
assessment of the magnitude of the spill.
The OSC is responsible for coordinating
federal efforts with local, state, and regional
response communities. Small spills may be
cleaned up by the facility (or responsible
party) or local response agencies while
larger spills may require regional response
efforts. In either case, the OSC is required
to oversee and monitor the spill response to
make sure that all appropriate actions to
prevent threats to human health or the
environment are taken. If chemical agents
are being considered, OSC and RRT
approval for their use may be necessary.
However, if a facility is handling a smaller
spill adequately, the OSC may not go to the
site.
O Oil Recovery
The OSC, response teams, and a network of
experienced agencies will decide on the
most effective method of cleanup. These
agencies must coordinate cleanup efforts
carefully and efficiently to protect response
personnel, recreational areas, drinking water
reservoirs, and wildlife from the potentially
catastrophic effects of an oil spill.
Oil products can be grouped by type:
petroleum products, both crude and refined;
vegetable oils and animal fats, edible and
unrefined; and other nonpetroleum oils.
Refined petroleum products differ in their
physical and chemical characteristics and
thus have different levels of persistence in
the environment. The most common refined
petroleum products and their characteristics
are as follows:
Gasoline: a lightweight substance that flows
easily, spreads quickly, and evaporates
readily under temperate conditions.
Gasoline is highly volatile and flammable so
it poses a risk of fire and explosion. It is
more toxic than crude oil.
Kerosene: a lightweight substance that
flows easily, spreads rapidly, and evaporates
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quickly. Kerosene is easily dispersed, but is
relatively persistent in the environment.
No. 2 Fuel Oil: a lightweight substance that
flows easily, spreads rapidly, and is easily
dispersed. It is neither volatile nor likely to
form emulsions. This oil is relatively
nonpersistent in the environment.
No. 4 Fuel Oil: a medium weight substance
that flows easily and is readily dispersed if
treated promptly. It has a low volatility and
moderate flash point. This fuel oil is fairly
persistent in the environment.
No. 5 Fuel Oil (Bunker B): a medium to
heavyweight substance, having a low
volatility and moderate flash point.
Preheating may be required in cold climates.
Dispersion is very difficult (maybe
impossible).
No. 6 Fuel Oil (Bunker C): a heavyweight
substance that is difficult to pump and
requires preheating for use. This oil may be
heavier than water; it is not likely to dissolve,
and is likely to form tar balls, lumps, and
emulsions., It is difficult or impossible to
disperse. It has a low volatility and
moderate flash point.
Lubricating Oil: a medium weight
substance that flows easily and is easily
dispersed if treated promptly. This oil has a
low volatility and moderate flash point, but is
fairly persistent in the environment.
Vegetable oil and animal fats have similar
physical properties and fall within the
general range of behaviors of petroleum oils
in the environment. Vegetable oils and
animal fats are generally solids in water at
ambient temperatures. One difference is
that most vegetable oils and animal fats
have low volatility as compared to petroleum
oil. This results in less product removed
from a spill by evaporation and reduces the
combustion and explosive potential of these
oils. Other nonpetroleum oils also fall within
the general behavior of petroleum oil when
spilled into the environment.
What is an Oil?
Oils are defined under several statutes
including the Clean Water Act (CWA)
and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA).
As a result, overlapping regulatory
interpretations exist. For this reason,
the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard
are currently developing a nationally
consistent program policy and
methodology for facilities to determine
whether a given substance is
considered an oil under the existing
CWA.
Under the CWA, the definition of oil
includes oil of any kind and any form,
such as petroleum and nonpetroleum
oils.. Generally, oils fall into the following
categories: crude oil and refined
petroleum products, edible animal and
vegetable oil, other oils of animal or
vegetable origin, and other
nonpetroleum oils.
Many substances are easily
recognizable as oils (e.g., gasoline,
diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, and crude oil).
Under the CWA definition, many other
substances, are considered oils, which
may not be easily recognizable by
industry, including mineral oil, the oils of
vegetable and animal origin and other
nonpetroleum oils. Therefore, facilities
should work closely with the EPA and
USCG (if applicable) to make
determinations for the substances they
store, transfer, and refine.
Selecting the best method, or combination of
methods, for recovering oil after a spill is
based on several factors. The type and
amount of oil spilled and the water body are
the most important considerations. The
mechanisms most frequently employed to
control oil spills and minimize their impact on
human health and the environment fall into
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four broad categories: (1) mechanical
containment or recovery includes booms,
barriers, skimmers, and sorbent materials;
(2) chemical and biological methods include
dispersants, gelling agents, and biological
agents; (3) physical methods include wiping,
pressure washing, raking, and bulldozing,
also scare tactics, such as floating
dummies, to keep birds away from a spill
area; and (4) natural processes, which
include evaporation, oxidation, and
biodegradation.
In addition to causing threats to human
health when an oil spill (petroleum,
vegetable oils, animal fats or nonpetroleum
oil) occurs, significant environmental harm
can occur as a result of the following:
physical effects such as coating with oil,
suffocation, contamination of eggs and
destruction of food and habitat, short and
long term toxic effects, pollution and
shutdown of drinking water supplies, rancid
smells, and fouling of beaches and
recreational areas. Without immediate
human intervention, many distressed birds
and animals have no chance of survival, and
only trained personnel are capable of wildlife
rehabilitation activities. Birds and marine
mammals affected by a spill are taken to
treatment centers or temporary facilities for
medical treatment and cleaning. These
measures are not always effective and there
are often losses due to an oil spill. The best
approach to avoiding oil spills is a strong
prevention program that includes adequate
training of personnel in the operation of a
facility, including equipment inspection and
health and safety training, and knowledge of
what steps to take when a spill occurs.
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 1
Boston, Massachusetts
(617)223-7265
Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection
Oil & Chemical Emergency Response (860)424-3338
Maine
Department of Environmental Protection
In State (800) 482-0777
Out of State (207) 822-6300
Out of State/Nonbusiness Hours (207) 657-3030
Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection
Northeast Region (Woburn) (781) 932-7600
Southeast Region (Lakeville) (508) 946-2850
Central Region (Worcester) (508) 792-7653
Western Region (Springfield) (413) 784-1100
Nonbusiness Hours (888) 304-1133
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
In State (603) 271-3503
In State/Nonbusiness Hours (800) 346-4009
Out of State/24 Hours (603) 271-3636
Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management
During Business Hours (401) 277-3872
In State/Nonbusiness Hours (800) 498-1336
;Out of State/Nonbusiness Hours (401) 277-3070
Vermont
Agency of Natural Resources
In State (800) 641-5005
Out of State (802) 244-8721
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 2
Edison,
New Jersey
(732) 548-8730
New Jersey
New Jersey Dept. Of Environmental Protection (609) 292-7172
New York
New York State Dept. of Conservation (518) 457-7362
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (787) 756-2823
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands Dept. of Planning & Natural Resources
(340)777-4577
EPA Region 3
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
(215) 566-3255
Delaware
Emergency Management Agency
Business Hours (302) 834-4531
Nonbusiness Hours (302) 739-5851
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
24 Hours (302) 739-5072
Maryland
Department of the Environment
24 Hours (410)874-3551
Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection
(800) 541 -2050 or (717) 787-4343
Virginia
Department of Emergency Services
24 Hours (804) 674-2400
Department of Environmental Services
24 Hours (804) 527-5020
Washington D.C.
Mayor's Command Center
24 Hours (202) 727-6161
West Virginia
Division of Environmental Protection
24 Hours (800) 642-3074
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal LandrTerritory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 4
Atlanta,
Georgia
(404) 562-8700
Alabama
Department of Environmental Management
In State (800) 843-0699
Business Hours (334) 260-2700
Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
In State (800) 320-0510
(904)413-9911
Georgia
Department of Natural Resources
(404) 656-4300
Kentucky
Department of Environmental Protection
(800) 928-2380
Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality
(601)352-9100
North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources
Business Hours (919) 733-5291
Nonbusiness Hours (800) 858-0368
South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control
(803)253-6488
Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation
In State (800) 262-3300
Out of State (800) 258-3300
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EPA Spill Lines
StaterrribalLand/Territory/Commonweatth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 5
Chicago,
Illinois
(312)353-2318
Illinois
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
In State (800) 782-7860
Out of State (217) 782-7860
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
(317)233-7745
Ohio
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
In State (800) 282-9378
Out of State (614) 224-0946
Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
In State (800) 282-9378
Out of State (517) 373-7660
Minnesota
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
In State (800) 422-0798
Out of State (612) 649-5451
Wisconsin (800) 943-0003
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 6
Dallas,
Texas
(214) 665-2222
Arkansas
Office of Pollution Control and Ecology
Business Hours (501) 562-7444
Office of Emergency Services (501) 374-1201 (24 hours)
Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality.
24 Hours (505) 342-1234
New Mexico
Environment Department
24 Hours (505) 827-9329
Business Hours (505) 827-0187
Oklahoma
Department of Environmental Quality
24 Hours (800) 522-0206
Oil and Gas Pipelines and Production (405) 332-3441
Texas
Natural Resources Conservation Commission
24 Hours (512) 463-7777
Railroad Commission for Oil and Gas Production and Pipelines
24 Hours (512) 463-6788
EPA Region 7
Kansas City, Kansas
(913)281-0991
Iowa
Emergency Response Commission
(515)281-8694
Kansas
Department of Health and Environment
(913)296-1500
Missouri
Department of Natural Resources
Emergency Response Unit (573) 634-2436
Nebraska
Department of Environmental Quality
(402)471-4545
Oil Spill Notification - February 1998
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 8
Denver,
Colorado
(303)293-1788
Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment
24 Hours (303) 756-4455
Montana
Disaster and Emergency Services
24 Hours (406) 444-6911
North Dakota
State Radio
24 Hours (701) 328-2121
South Dakota
Division of Emergency Management
24 Hours (60S) 773-3296
Utah
Department of Emergency Management
24 Hours (801) 536-4123
Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality
24 Hours (307) 777-7781
Oil Spill Notification - Febraury 1998
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 9
San Francisco,
California
(415)744-2200
American Samoa
American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency
011484-633-2304/2305
Arizona
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Division of
Water Quality
Business Hours (602) 207-4255
24 Hours (602) 207-4261
California
California's Office of Emergency Services, Warning Center
24 Hours (916) 262-1621
Guam
Guam Environmental Protection Agency
(671)475-1633
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Hazard Evaluation &
Emergency Response (HEER)
24 Hours (808) 247-2191
Business Hours (808) 586-4249
Nevada
Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Waste
Management Division
(702) 687-4670 ext. 3043
Northern Mariana Islands
Division of Environmental Quality
011-670-234-6984/6114
Oil Spill Notification - February 1998
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EPA Spill Lines
State/Tribal Land/Territory/Commonwealth Notification Contacts
EPA Region 10
Seattle, Washington
(206)553-1263
Alaska
Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Nonbusiness Hours (800) 478-9300
Anchorage (907) 269-7500
Fairbanks (907) 269-7500
Juneau (907) 465-5340
Idaho
Idaho State Communications
(208) 334-4570
Oregon
Oregon Emergency Management
(503) 378-6377
Washington
Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office (206) 647-7000
Southwest Regional Office (360)407-6300
Central Regional Office (509) 575-2490
Eastern Regional Office (509) 456-2926
24 Hours (800) 258-5990
NOTICE
The statements in this document are intended solely as guidance.
This document is not intended and cannot be relied upon to create
rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party in litigation
with the United States.
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