Chapter 8—ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
3. The placing of booms or other physical or
CONTAINMENT.—Containment is the
absorbent barriers to prevent contact of the spill
critical first step of any coordinated spill cleanup
with areas of sensitive beneficial uses such as
activity. The rapidity and effectiveness with which
parks; estuaries, tributary streams, or water
it is applied will limit the adverse impacts of the
supply intakes.
spill on other beneficial uses of the affected water
4. The preplanned construction of trenches or
or land area. Table 8-1 summarizes some of the
dikes to isolate potential spill areas on land.
containment methods available.
Table 8-1.—Containment Methods
Principle of
Type of System
Operation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Air Barriers
Subsurface bub-
Do not impede
Are costly to
bling to create
vessel move-
install and
upswelling of
ment
maintain.
water surface
Are limited by
environmental
factors (wind,
current).
Piston Film or
Surface ten-
Can be easily
Only provides
Herder
sion phenom-
applied.
limited contain-
Chemicals
enon
Small dose
ment for a mat-
required.
ter of hours.
Government
approved prod-
ucts must be
used.
Booms
A physical
barrier
Can be deployed
Work best in
quickly.
calm waters.
Are physical
May be used in
barriers.
limited currents
and waves.
Hose Spray
Turbulent
barrier to
oil
Can be rapidly
Is limited to
applied
use in con-
fined areas and
calm water.
Is temporary
method.
Sorbent
Barrier
Both physical
Can be easily
Works best in
barrier and
deployed.
calm water.
absorbent sur-
Can be used
Oil is not
face for oil
for both con-
effectively
pickup
tainment and
contained.
pickup.
Slows spreading.
8-5
