The U.S. Coast Guard has conditionally approved Exxon Corp.'s general plan for resumption of oil spill cleanup operations in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.
The conditions involve the use of intrusive cleanup methods, protection of wildlife and commercial and subsistence fisheries, use of cleaning agents, and inspection of vessels used in cleanup operations.
Exxon, which is implementing the stipulations, filed the preliminary work plan with the Coast Guard Mar. 15 (OGJ, Mar. 26, p. 21).
Meanwhile, Exxon and several state and federal agencies have begun a joint assessment survey of shoreline in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska, which will determine the scope of the final work plan.
The first phase of the survey involves inspection this month of 340 miles of shoreline in Prince William Sound and 80 miles of Gulf of Alaska shoreline. The final phase involves 87 miles of Gulf of Alaska shoreline to be surveyed in May.
Exxon's detailed summer work plan is scheduled to be filed with the Coast Guard by Apr. 20. Work is expected to begin May 1.
COAST GUARD CONDITIONS
Coast Guard Rear Adm. David Ciancaglini, federal on-scene coordinator at the spill site, agrees with Exxon's approach of matching the least intrusive cleanup technique to a shoreline, but he wants intrusive techniques, such as placer mining, used in appropriate situations.
In a letter to Otto Harrison, Exxon's Alaska operations manager, Ciancaglini said Exxon must make every effort to control oil sheens that could interfere with migratory wildlife, fishing, or recreational use of an area.
If the joint spring shoreline assessment teams conducting beach surveys find particular areas that threaten migrating or other wildlife or fisheries, he said, Exxon must be prepared to send cleanup teams for spot cleaning of those areas, even before the May 1 start-up date for general cleanup operations.
Ciancaglini said there must be a reporting, retrieval, transportation, and veterinary treatment system in place in case wildlife is oiled on shore or by sheens in the water.
He also wants more details from Exxon on its proposed limited use of Corexit 9580, an agent for chemical soaking of subsurface oil.
Meanwhile, all vessels used in cleanup operations must have the appropriate Coast Guard inspections for the work to which they are assigned, and any boats coming from outside Alaska should be inspected before arrival.
EXXON'S PRELIMINARY PLAN
Exxon's preliminary summer work plan calls for considerable emphasis on removing oil spill debris and tarmats and treating thicker coatings of oil if present.
The company expects bioremediation to be a technique that is likely to find widespread application, especially for surface treatment, where it has proven effective.
In comparison with the 1989 program, Exxon said, fewer miles of shoreline require treatment, less oil is present, and net environmental benefits will be given significant consideration.
The environment, Exxon said, will be best served by a carefully targeted and less intrusive cleanup program this summer.
Copyright 1990 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
