ENGINEMAN 1 & C
of the surfactants are not degradable; and they,
or the materials with which they are mixed, may
be toxic to microorganisms and aquatic species.
By dispersing, they distribute the oil throughout
the water column, extend its area of influence con-
siderably, and have a resultant adverse biological
impact. Also, dispersant may have a short effec-
tiveness period; and the oil is released and resur-
faces. In fact, dispersion is not really a removal
method but rather one of spreading the oil and
reducing its visibility.
oiled debris is properly disposed of by the Navy
activity or contract operator, it can and will
become a problem at the disposal site. The
conventional disposal methods listed in Table 8-2,
for example, may allow the oil to recontaminate
surface or ground waters, degrade the air
quality, or present fire hazards. Damages re-
sulting from any unauthorized disposal of oil
by the Navy or its contractor may lead to
litigation.
2. Sinking Agents. Sinking agents are
materials such as clay, fly ash, sand, or crushed
stone which when applied to spilled oil will sink
it. Sunken oil will cover and smother or taint the
bottom (benthic) organisms, including shellfish.
Additionally, it will move and resurface as a result
of turbulence or microbial degradation. For this
reason the use of sinking agents is prohibited by
Federal regulations.
The disposal options are essentially limited to
(1) reuse; (2) disposal by soil cultivation tech-
niques; (3) controlled burning; or (4) placement
in approved sanitary landfills.
Reuse of the oil collected from the spill is
3. Gelling Agents. These materials absorb,
congeal, entrap, and fix the oil to form a semi-
rigid or gelatinous mass, which may be more easily
recovered, or will inhibit the spread of the spill.
Gel agents include soap solution, wax, fatty acids,
and various polymers.
to be preferred where it is possible. The re-
covered oil may be re-refined and recycled
for beneficial use. Re-refining facilities are
not always readily accessible from spill sites,
but the possibility of reuse should always be
considered.
4. Burning Agents. The loss of volatile
components and the incorporation of water make
oil spills difficult to ignite and sustain in the
burning condition. The use of burning agents is
essential if burning is to be pursued, and
approved, as a disposal means. These agents
contain combustion promoting and sustaining
chemicals. Their use may be authorized by
the OSC when it will prevent or substantially
reduce hazard to life or property. Such instances
are rare in inland waters, and burning should be
avoided.
MITIGATION.Oil spills will affect the
beneficial uses of the water or land with which
they have contact. Mitigation deals with the
removal of oil from the area to the degree
necessary to permit resumption of the original use
of the water or area.
Mitigation operations are response actions
which may not involve much removal of the pollu-
tant, but are desirable to lessen the impact of the
spill.
DISPOSAL.As oil is recovered from the
spill area, it must be pumped to a storage area
or container where oil/water separation is initiated
or continued. Gravity separation, centrifugation,
and other separation techniques are available in
commercial equipment. The concentrated oil is
then removed to transport facilities and conveyed
to recycle or disposal sites.
Once oil has been removed from the spill site,
the major battle may have been won; but the
conflict goes on, because unless the oily waste or
Restoration activities may include shoveling
up asphaltic or tarry residues of the spill; applica-
tion of hot water washes on rocky shorelines; ex-
tensive manual or mechanized efforts to collect,
reclaim, and reestablish affected beach sand; or
trenching of estuaries to remove as much oil as
possible. Most restoration efforts deal with beach
areas, where the procedures selected vary with the
type, age, and amount of spilled oil and the type
of beach affected. Generally, lighter oils (less
viscous) penetrate the sand more rapidly, and re-
quire the use of techniques that include harrow-
ing in sorbent material to foster degradation, sand
pickup, reclamation and/or replacement. Treat-
ment of beach sand to remove oil can only be
justified where beach sand is scarce and its
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