United States Office of EPA 540-N-01-003
Environmental Protection Solid Waste and OSWER 9360.8-29
Agency Emergency Response April 2001
The U.S. EPA’s Oil
Program Center Journal
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Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Oil Program Center 5203G
Volume 4 Number 2
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Galapagos Islands Oil Spill ..................... 1 �������� ���
EPA Retains Gasoline Additive �����
Courtesy of Reuters
Rules ................................................. 3
Fire Boom and Fast Water On January 16, 2001,
Containment Technology Tests an oil vessel, the
at Ohmsett Test Basin ...................... 3
Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Ecuadorean-registered
Center ............................................... 4 Jessica, ran aground
Petrobras Oil Spill ................................... 4 on the easternmost
Drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National island of San Cristobal
Wildlife Refuge ................................. 4
in Ecuador’s
DOT Announces Final USA Rule ........ 5
Court Orders Coast Guard to Galapagos Islands. The Jessica
Require Oil-Leak Detectors ............. 6 was on its way to deliver 240,000
Ecuadorian Environment Minister
New Spill-Sentry System Introduced ... 6 gallons of diesel and bunker fuel to
Rodolfo Rendon reported that
a private tour boat operator and
60,000 gallons were recovered
Petro-commercial, which provides
from the damaged vessel, but not
the islands with fuel.
before 170,000 gallons had seeped
������ ���� ���� ����
out of the ship’s hull. The U.S.
The accident, reported to be
The Oil DROP is an informal Coast Guard (USCG), who arrived
journal, produced twice a year caused by a navigational error by
to assist in the response, was able
by EPA’s Oil Program Center. the crew, tore three holes in the
to remove an additional 10,000
The goal of the Oil DROP is to hull of the 835-ton Jessica.
gallons from the ship on January
attract a broad audience, includ 22, 2001.
ing concerned citizens and
environmental groups, on current The primary concern regarding this
developments in environmental spill was the catastrophic affects it
news related to the Oil Spill could cause to the ecosystems of
Courtesy of Reuters
Program. The Oil DROP the Galapagos Islands. The
covers oil spills in the United
States and throughout the world, Galapagos are made up of 19
with an emphasis on the effects islands and groups of small islets,
these spills have on wildlife and containing many unique species
ecosystems. The Oil DROP is which have evolved in relative
available on the Oil Program isolation in this distinctive environ
homepage at www.epa.gov/ ment. Charles Darwin developed
oilspill. his theory of evolution while
2
would transfer more of the remain
ing oil from the unstable Jessica to
the water or expand the spill even
further away to neighboring islands.
Close to 50 animals were rescued
by crews from the Galapagos
National Park, which acted as the
care center for the injured animals.
A dozen sea lions were coated with
oil and four pelicans have died.
There has not been an estimate as
to how the tropical fish of these
waters have been affected. Local
fisherman, who earn their liveli
hood in the waters off the
Galapagos, helped with the rescue
and clean-up efforts by scooping
the oil in buckets from the surface
of the water.
A British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) report stated that charges
will be brought against the oil
company responsible for the
Jessica. Admiral Gonzalo Vega,
director of the agency that regulates
Ecuador’s shipping, reported to the
press that Tarquino Arevalo, the
master of the ship, and 12 crew
members had been detained in San
Cristobal, but had not been offi
cially arrested. The Ecuadorian
government has filed a lawsuit
against Arevalo and requested a
prison sentence.
studying the species of the
Galapagos. There are approxi the impact on wildlife
mately 5,000 species living in the at a minimum. Much
Galapagos, 40 percent of which are of the diesel fuel was
native to the islands. Some of the spread as far as 40
native species include the threat miles from the ship and
ened blue-footed boobies, sea lions, has evaporated. The
marine iguanas, and giant land bunker oil stayed
tortoises, that live for more than closer to the ship,
200 years. between six to ten
miles from the port.
Strong swells and currents swept There was considerable
most of the oil away and have kept fear that sea currents
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001
3
While the situation in the Galapagos Ethanol is a fuel made from corn. ����� ����� ���� ����
was critical, control and mitigation However, it is much more costly ������ �����������
operations kept the effects of the gallon-for-gallon than MTBE. The ����������� ������ ��
spill at a minimum. A long process California Energy Commission �������� ����� �����
of monitoring will be necessary to estimates that gas prices could
determine what the long-term increase 6 to 7 cents a gallon if The OHMSETT (Oil & Hazardous
effects of the spill will be on small ethanol must be mixed into Califor Materials Simulated Environmental
sea life, such as algae and sea nia gas – a cost to motorists of up Test Tank) facility in Leonardo,
urchins, which do not always show to a billion dollars annually. New Jersey is the premiere oil spill
immediate signs of damage. response test facility. During 2000,
Midwestern farmers find this the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Minerals
Environmental groups say that
conundrum a cause for celebra Management Service (MMS), and
directing navigational routes away
tion. “With all these new ethanol the U.S. Coast Guard partnered
from the islands would add two
plants coming online, the demand is with private industry at OHMSETT
days travel time at most, but
going to have to grow with supply,” to put a variety of new oil spill
shipping companies have been
said Wayne Newton, president of response technologies to the test.
reluctant to accept the extra cost
an Iowa-based ethanol coopera
involved. However, this measure
tive. “All of us are being encour OHMSETT, which is maintained
may be necessary to prevent
aged to expand production because and operated by MMS, is the only
another spill from happening in the
of the potential for the California facility where full oil spill response
waters of the already fragile
market.” equipment testing, research, and
Galapagos Islands.
training can be conducted with oil
Sufficient studies exist to prove
���� ������� under controlled conditions,
that oil companies can make
��������� �������� gasoline that meets air standards
including fire and wave simula
����� tions.
without using either additive, say
California is caught up in a difficult opponents to the gas additive rule. In October 2000, MMS tested the
decision of what to use as an This finding has caused Davis and survivability and the effectiveness
additive to its gasoline to reduce California Senator Diane Feinstein of response equipment used during
emissions, as required under the to petition EPA for a waiver from in-situ burns, a technique pre-
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. the rule. However, the change scribed in oil spill contingency
California Governor Gray Davis from the Clinton to the Bush plans for blowouts and pipeline
must choose between using either Administration left the petition releases. OHMSETT’s underwa
controversial methyl tertiary butyl unaddressed. As a results, the gas ter propane bubbling system allows
ether (MTBE) or Midwest- additive rule has been retained, for controlled fire simulation and
produced ethanol to make cleaner causing California to struggle with testing of fire boom tolerance to
burning fuel. a politically explosive dilemma. heat at close proximity, without
producing soot. The evaluations
MTBE is an inexpensive additive The new administration may make conducted aided in the preparation
that has caused considerable California’s decision easier. Ann of a new American Society for
controversy in recent months. It is Veneman, U.S. Agriculture Testing and Materials (ASTM)
a known groundwater contaminant, Secretary, reported in January that, standard guide for in-situ burning.
and has polluted California ground- “Bush has made clear his interest
water and lakes at thousands of in ethanol and other alternative In August 2000, the U.S. Navy
sites in the state and nationwide. fuels.” Corn growers and environ and research partners conducted
MTBE had become so trouble- mental groups are hopeful for it. fire resistant boom and boom
some to the state that Davis blanket tests in generated waves,
ordered its use to be banned in set to simulate realistic towing
California by December 31, 2002.
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001
4
forces over the propane bubbler. may have inhaled, swallowed, or reserve of Mata Atlantica and five
been coated with oil. The 10,000 rivers.
The U.S. Coast Guard Research
foot facility was custom designed in
and Development Center, in pursuit Environmental officials in Brazil’s
collaboration with veterinarians and
of better technology to contain and southern Parana State fined the
oil spill response personnel with
clean up oil spills in fast currents, state oil giant, Petrobras, $75
expertise in dealing with oiled
tested a variety of fast water oil million for this minor fuel spill that
wildlife. Dr. Jonna Mazet, UC
spill recovery systems at was viewed as a repeat offense.
Davis veterinarian and OWCN
OHMSETT in 2000. Fast water Last July, Petrobras was fined $28
director, said she is relieved that the
systems evaluated include a million after a ruptured pipeline
new San Francisco regional center
dynamic inclined plane skimmer, a spilled 1.1 million gallons of oil into
was finished before it was needed.
series of diversion booms, a the Iguacu River. In January 2000,
The center has specialized areas for
floating oil sorbent recovery Petrobras was fined $52,000 after
holding, washing, drying, isolation
system, flow diverters, and a rope an aging pipeline leaked 345,000
and recovery, food preparation, X-
mop skim. gallons of petroleum product into
rays, and necropsy. There are also
Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay.
������ ��������� ���� 15 pools, which are each 15 feet
���� ��������� wide, and 3 large aviaries for Brazil’s oil market regulator, the
recovering birds. National Petroleum Agency (NPA),
������
ordered that Petrobras was only to
When the center is not caring for
February 20, 2001, marked the continue use of the pipeline after it
animals affected by an oil emer
grand opening of the newest presented solid proof and results
gency, it will be used as an educa
facility in the Oiled Wildlife Care indicating that the pipeline is safe.
tion center. Veterinarians, staff,
Network (OWCN), the San The pipeline is capable of trans-
and volunteers will use the center
Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care porting 46,000 barrels of petroleum
for oil spill rehabilitation training
and Education Center. This $2.7 products a day.
and to care for some birds with
million bird-rescue center is
non-oil related injuries. The center Petrobras has recently launched a
managed by University of Califor-
is also the new International Bird program to clean up Rio beaches
nia Davis’ Wildlife Health Center,
Rescue Research Center Head- and is implementing a $1 billion
which is part of the School of
quarters. plan over the next three years to
Veterinary Medicine. OWCN is
funded by the California Depart- make its pipelines safer and
Tours and volunteer opportunities
ment of Fish and Game’s Office of establish environmental protection
at the San Francisco Bay Oiled
Spill Prevention and Response. centers to respond to accidents.
Wildlife Care and Education
The San Francisco Bay Oiled
Center may be arranged by calling ��������� ��� ��������
Wildlife Care and Education Center
the International Bird Research ������� ��������
Center at (707) 207-0380. ��������� ������
can care for up to 1,000 birds that
���������� ��� Senate Republican leaders intro
����� duced an energy bill on February
On February 16, 2001, a 26, 2001, that would allow oil
ruptured pipeline spilled drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National
13,200 gallons of diesel fuel Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Ac
into the Atlantic Ocean near cording to Republican congres
the City of Curitiba in sional leaders and Bush Adminis
Brazil’s Serra do Mar region. tration officials, the pressure to
Over 200 people worked to pass this legislation in Congress
contain the lightweight fuel will mount this summer if the
Volunteers at San Francisco’s that formed a slick stretching seven energy crisis in California spreads
oiled wildlife center care for miles along the coastline of Parana to other states. The proposed bill
an oiled bird. and contaminated the natural includes many of the energy goals
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001
5
ecosystems in the ANWR, while
others believe that technology has
improved drastically over the
history of oil operations and would
cause little disturbance.
A scientific panel, convened by the
National Research Council, has
begun a study of the impact of oil
and gas drilling in Alaska during the
last 30 years. This 18-month, $1.5
million study will look at the
different impacts of oil develop
ment, focusing on the biological,
physical, social, and economic
effects. The results of this study
may provide solutions to the on-
going debate on whether or not the
United States should begin drilling
set forth in President Bush’s Canada’s environment minister, in the ANWR.
campaign, such as increased David Anderson, states that the
domestic energy production, Arctic Refuge was originally ���� ���������
regulatory reform for electricity, preserved for calving use by a ������ ���� ����
and oil and gas exploration in the caribou herd that crosses the The U.S. Department of
ANWR. The bill also sets the goal boundary between the United Transportation’s (DOT) Office of
of reducing U.S. oil imports to 50 States and Canada. Canada Pipeline Safety announced stron
percent. Currently 56 percent of created two national parks to ger safety and environmental
the oil used in this country is protect areas used by the herd. standards that may affect nearly
imported. Parties and organizations Another conflict of interest sur 87 percent of federally-regulated
joining in the controversy over rounding the drilling comes from hazardous liquid pipelines. The
drilling in the ANWR, a 19 million- the Eskimo residents living in the rule includes mandatory testing for
acre territory in northern Alaska, refuge. Most of the Inupiat pipelines transporting liquids
include Republicans, Democrats, Eskimo residents, who own shares through populated areas, unusually
environmentalists, and oil compa in the Arctic Slope Regional sensitive environmental areas
nies. The two political parties Corporation, support the drilling (USAs), and waterways used to
agree on the need to address because it would benefit the transport goods and supplies.
national energy policy, but differ corporation. The Inupiat’s neigh
greatly on how to proceed with bors, the Neets’aii Gwicin, are The rule was promulgated in
new legislation. strongly opposed to the drilling response to DOT’s belief that
because their cultural tradition is recent severe accidents could have
While the United States may gain tied to the caribou. been adverted if operators had
energy and economic benefits from better information available about
drilling in the ANWR, there are Speculation on how much oil is their pipelines. Special attention is
numerous environmental draw- present in the ANWR has the given in the rule to USAs, which
backs that are the chief concerns of scientific community at odds with are particularly vulnerable to
the bill’s opponents. Environmen the idea of drilling. The ANWR environmental damage from a
talists fear that drilling will not only could be home to millions of hazardous-liquid pipeline release.
ruin the pristine condition of this barrels of oil; current estimates The rule requires that the results of
territory, but that it will also range from 3 to 11 million barrels. the pipeline tests, once voluntary
endanger some of the 130 species Some scientists believe that drilling and now mandatory, be made
known to migrate in this area. would significantly disrupt the
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001
6
available for the government to the liquid has escaped. Such concluded that the leak detection
review. instruments would have alerted devices were insufficiently sensi
USCG inspectors immediately to tive to alert crews to an oil leak
Commenting on the new rule and
the dangerous leak that developed before significant amounts of fuel
the nation’s pipeline system,
in the tanker Neptune Dorado had been released. They subse
former U.S. Transportation
when it sailed into San Francisco in quently postponed the imposition of
Secretary Rodney Slater said, “As
September 2000, according to the rule until better devices could
the system expands to meet our
Russell Long of Bluewater Net- be developed. Bluewater Network
growing energy needs, we must
work. and Ocean Advocates countered
employ all reasonable means to
that some warning was better than
ensure that the people and environ If the Neptune Dorado had in-
none, and that the devices were
ments near pipelines are better stalled leak detectors, Long said,
ordered because USCG had a
protected.” The final USA rule, Bay Area inspectors would have
record of undetected spills on
which responds to those needs, known just by looking at the
tankers operating in the dark or in
appears in the December 21, 2000, instrument panel on the tanker’s
rough weather.
issue of the Federal Register. bridge that it had lost oil. The
tanker spent two weeks in the Bay In a recent report, USCG credited
������ ������� ����� Area before it was found that OPA enforcement with a 50
������ ��� �������� ���� more than 147,000 gallons of oil percent drop in the number of oil
����� ��������� had leaked into the ship’s ballast spills exceeding 10,000 gallons
A federal appeals court has ordered tanks, where it could have ex (compared to levels before 1991)
the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to ploded. and a 50 percent drop in the
require oil tankers to install devices amount of oil spilled for every
Marine safety officers at Coast
to detect leaking oil. The three- million gallons shipped in the
Guard Island in Alameda said the
judge appeals panel in Washington, United States.
spill detection devices might have
D.C., unanimously held that given them warning, but Com The appeals court ordered USCG
Congress gave USCG a clear mander Steven Boyle said the to promptly issue a rule ordering
mandate to require the devices vessel’s crew, who knew about the tankers to install leak detectors.
within one year of the passage of leak and lied to inspectors, could
the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of have easily tampered with the ���� ����������� �
1990. OPA is a package of spill detection devices and hidden the ������� ����������
prevention measures that was problem. The following announcement
enacted in the wake of the disas
“If they’re bent on covering it up, does not constitute EPA endorse
trous Exxon Valdez spill as well as
they could fool the meter and ment or EPA approval of the
the Ashland Oil Company brittle
therefore fool the inspector who product described. It is intended
fracture tank failure. “A nine-year
checked the meter,” Boyle said. only to notify the response
delay is unreasonable given a clear
community of newly available
one-year timeline,” wrote Chief Long said detection devices could equipment.
Judge Harry Edwards in his opinion be designed with the ability to
written for the court. create an independent log of Applied Microsystems LTD has
pressure and volume readings (to recently announced the release of
The suit was filed by Bluewater
track any losses of oil) in order to a new Spill-Sentry monitoring
Network and Ocean Advocates in
prevent record tampering, but that system for the detection of spilled
response to a 1999 USCG an
manufacturers would have little hydrocarbon products. The
nouncement that it would not
incentive to design such devices system is designed to detect crude
require oil tankers to install equip
until USCG requires tankers to use and petroleum-based products
ment that sounds an alarm when
them. floating on water or in suspension
the oil lever or pressure drops in a
near the surface of the water and
cargo tank, indicating that some of According to the court record, to raise an alarm if a spill is
USCG officials had previously detected.
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001
7
alarm. The system can also utilize
radio modems and solar paneling to
communicate with the base station,
if interconnect cables are not
practical.
The Spill-Sentry base station
collects information sent in from
the buoy units. A minimum base
system is composed of a computer,
a computer telephone card, and the
Spill-Sentry software. The soft-
ware provides a visual display of
any buoys that are being used as
monitoring devices, and will
indicate if the buoys have detected
Side-profile of the Spill-Sentry, any leaks. Other items that may
a new oil detection technology be necessary for the base station
include an uninterruptible power
The Spill-Sentry system is com supply for the computer, a power
posed of buoys, interconnect supply for the buoys, and a radio
cables, and a base station. Sensing modem.
buoys detect the presence of oil
For more information on the Spill-
floating on the water surface, or
Sentry system, contact Applied
suspended in the top 5 cm (2
Microsystems LTD at
inches) of the water, at the buoys’
1-800-663-8721 or
location. A site survey is used to
www.appliedmicrosystems.com.
determine the best sites to place the
buoys for adequate coverage. The
system actually detects the oil by
shining an ultraviolet light up to the
surface from 5 cm below. If oil is
present, it will fluoresce and radiate
light at longer wavelengths than
normal. This data is retrieved by
the base station and compared to
normal background levels by the
Spill-Sentry software in order to
determine an appropriate response.
The Spill-Sentry uses a statistical
approach to determine the level Beatriz Oliveira, Editor,
required to trigger an alarm. The Oil Program Center
software accumulates historical 703/603-1229
data from each buoy and computes David Lopez, Director
the average and standard deviation Oil Program Center
for each fluorescence channel. 703/603-8760
Users can specify that new data Ariel Rios Building
must exceed the background level 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
by a chosen number of standard Mail Code 5203G
deviations in order to trigger an Washington, D.C. 20460
USEPA Oil DROP
April 2001