COASTAL PROGRAMS AIM TO IMPROVE SPILL SKILLS IN U.S.
Industry and U.S. governments are moving to heighten spill preparedness and understanding in programs conducted on the Gulf and East coasts.
Near Corpus Christi, American Petrofina Pipe Line Co. took part in Oil Spill '90, the first spill preparation drill developed jointly by three levels of government and industry in Texas. The Apr. 25 exercise allowed a test of emergency plans and resources, along with communications policies that would be used in a major oil or chemical spill into a waterway.
At Leonardo, N.J., Minerals Management Service assumed operation of the Navy's oil spill test site. The Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank, shut down since 1987, is the only facility in the U.S. where full scale oil spill recovery equipment can be tested.
OIL SPILL '90
The two part scenario in Oil Spill '90 consisted of a simulated pipeline rupture in an urban area and simulated release of oil from a storage site into Corpus Christi Bay.
Among the concerns were containment of the oil and rerouting of land and water traffic. A tabletop exercise Apr. 26 dealt with postresponse issues such as environmental and economic effect and cleanup and disposal of oil.
"It was very beneficial to us," said Jimmy Munn, American Petrofina public awareness coordinator.
"We were able to get a better feel for communicating with various agencies that might be involved with a major spill such as what was simulated.
"We also found areas in our written response procedures that need to be reviewed and either updated or revised."
Texas state agencies participating were the General Land Office, Water Commission, Railroad Commission, Parks and Wildlife Department, Department of Highways and Public Transportation, Department of Health, and Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management.
Federal and local entities involved were the Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, San Patricio County, and the cities of Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, and Port Aransas.
American Petrofina was the only private sector participant.
NEW JERSEY TEST SITE
MMS will refurbish the New Jersey facility and plans to resume research in 1991 after complying with federal and state requirements.
The facility has a 675 ft by 65 ft open air tank 11 ft deep that can hold 2.6 million gal of salt water and simulate a range of sea conditions.
The tank allows evaluation of equipment to detect, monitor, and clean up oil spills.
In 1979, MMS joined the Navy, Coast Guard, EPA, and Canadian Department of the Environment in management of the oil spill site.
When EPA closed it, title passed to the Navy.
Environment Canada also plans to continue research on oil spill prevention and response technologies at the site.
Copyright 1990 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.