Oil Spill Blog

Fuel oils spills in residential areas can be classified into two types: small oil spills and large oil spills. Small oil spills are usually caused due to leakage in oil tanks or pipes. Large oil spills occur while filling storage oil tanks, due overturning of tanks, or when a basement oil tank overfills. Small scale oil spill cleanup can be done by us. But for large scale oil spills we would definitely need a professional help.

There are some basic oil spill cleanup methods that should be followed by everyone.

• Even small oil spills need to be responded immediately. If left as it is, the spilled oil will seep into cracks and will be very difficult to clean. If the spill is saturated on a concrete or wooden surface, then the only way to clean up the place would be demolition of the place. To avoid this problem, you can try Oil Gone Easy S-200. It is an oil stain remover that removes oil stains from any surface that include concrete, flag stone, brick, pavers, and soil.

• In case of oil spills in your house, first thing to be done is to turn off flame and spark sources. Attempt to clean up the spilled oil by vacuum cleaner should also be avoided.

For small oil spills

• Prevent unnecessary exposure to oil by the use of rubber gloves and shoes. Proper ventilation is also very important to avoid any accidents.

• Use absorbent material over the spill. Dispose the oil spill absorbent carefully in a heavy-duty plastic bag. Use of soap and hot water is recommended to clean up oil on hard surfaces and appliances. Repeat the cleaning if necessary.

For large oil spills

• Report the spill immediately to an oil delivery company or to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It is important to inform the fire department for them to check for any explosion hazard. Call a professional clean up service.

• Fuel oil has many toxic substances that cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and also causes serious health problems in extreme cases.

In any case of oil spill, care should be taken to avoid harmful chemicals which affect the environment as well as animals. Use environmentally friendly products, such as Oil Gone Easy for oil spill cleanup methods.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from the Land-based Activities (GPA) is an intergovernmental program that addresses linkages between water sheds and coastal environment. GPA is designed to provide practical guidance to national and regional authorities and help devise and implement actions to prevent, reduce, control, and eliminate marine degradation caused by land-based activities.

GPA was adopted by 109 governments in the year 1995. The European commission adopted the GPA and declared their commitment to protect and preserve the marine environment from harmful land-based activities.

Coastal waters and deep oceans are being polluted by contaminants like heavy metals, nuclear wastes, hydrocarbons, and other chemicals due to marine oil spills. Agricultural and industrial waste runoffs are also major sources of marine water pollution.

A global level action plan is required to clean up marine oil spills and prevent further accidents. GPA is being used as a valuable tool to increase the resilience of marine and coastal environment to changes in climate.

This action program also provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and flexible approach to oil spill cleanups. GPA is proving to be an effective tool to stop devastation to marine life by oil spills and discharges. Oil spill cleanup is very essential to stop the destruction of marine life and in turn boost the fishing and tourism industry.

Bio degradable eco-friendly products should be used to clean up marine oil spills. Oil spill cleanup can be done using Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200, which is an oil eating liquid. This biodegradable product has been accredited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200 has natural occurring microorganisms, which splits up hydrocarbons in oil into harmless compounds. This product is non irritating, non toxic, and non inflammable, which makes it very safe for use. Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200 can also be applied on rubber, metal, wood or fiberglass without any damage.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Several studies have been conducted by researchers the world over to address the various aspects of oil behavior during marine oil spills and oil spills on land. There may be many reasons for oil spills, but to ensure a successful oil spill response, it is very important to know the behavior of oil in different circumstances.

In marine oil spills the most common type of oil spilled is crude oil. When marine oil spills occur, the oil disperses rapidly in the same direction as the wind causing long and narrow slicks. The lighter fractions of the oil evaporate at a faster rate, whereas the denser particles tend to sink to the seabed, causing widespread harm to the aquatic life. Due to the wave action some oil even mixes with the water and emulsifies. The hierarchies on the food chain, from sea plankton to the largest of whales are greatly affected.

In contrast, on land, the lightest of oils prove to be a larger problem, as these oils seep through the soil at a much faster rate. This poses a risk to the purity of groundwater. The heavier and denser oils have higher viscosity and cannot penetrate through the ground easily. In cases of oil spills on land, spreading does not take place, so there will not be any evaporation of the lighter fractions or emulsification. The chance of the oil mixing with gravel, vegetation and other soil is also at hand.

The crucial steps in a response action plan include speedy response times, efficient control of widespread dispersion both on land and on sea, skimmers and pumps to take care of the resulting debris, and a temporary storage facility. Oil spill cleanup is one of the most important steps in any response plan. Oil Gone Easy S-200 is an eco-friendly oil spill cleaner that biodegrades any kind of oil, on any surface without causing any environmental harm.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Pollution may be defined as the contamination of the natural environment by addition of harmful substances. Basically, the source of pollution is differentiated into two types – point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution. When pollutants are discharged from a single source, then it is called as point source pollution. It could be from sewage discharge plants or industrial waste from companies. Large scale oil spills from oil tanks or ships are best examples of point source pollution.

Unlike point source pollution, the sources of nonpoint source pollution are very diverse. Rain water or flowing water picks up many contaminants including motor oil, grease, sand, wastes, and other toxic materials. These pollutants are finally deposited into waterways such as coastal waters, rivers, lakes, and underground water, thus polluting them. According to the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, nonpoint source pollution is the number one cause of water quality problem in the country.

Even individual households contribute to nonpoint source pollution through improper usage of chemicals and pesticides and other household practices. Waste water from houses may contain toxic substances, such as oil, grease, metals, pesticides, and PCBs which are the major sources of nonpoint pollution. Motor oil spills from parking lots or runways, oil spilled from storage tanks or motor boats, and off-shore drilling operations are the leading sources of water pollution along shore lines and other areas.

The ecological impact of oil spills on marine as well as land animals can be terrible, which results in reduced flora and fauna. Oil spill cleanup, if done immediately helps prevent the spilled oil from being washed away by running water. You can use eco-friendly products offered by Oil Gone Easy for oil spill cleanup. These biodegradable products break down toxic substances into simple substances that do not cause water pollution.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Oil spills at home can be classified into a seep or a leak. A slow seepage of oil that doesn’t produce a drip is called a seep. This kind of oil spill is usually not visible on the pavement as a spill.

On the other hand, when oil drips from vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and lawn mowers resulting in a puddle of oil, it is called a leak. A leak not only happens when the vehicle is parked, but also when it is on the move. It can be pretty dangerous as it not only damages the engine of the vehicle internally but is also harmful to the environment. So a leak needs to be looked into promptly.

Reasons for oil spills from vehicles are plenty. Some common causes include structural design problems, poor quality of products and accessories used, and wear-off of sealing materials due to long-term use. Another major cause of oil spills at home are domestic oil tanks. These oil spills result in the contamination of ground water and also pose serious health hazards.

So we should take steps not only to prevent an oil spill from occurring, but also be prepared to handle if an oil spill occurs. For driveway oil spills or any other oil spill at home, adopt environmentally-friendly oil spill cleanup techniques to avoid causing further harm to the environment.

When it comes to oil spill cleanup, granular absorbents such as kitty litter, solvents, and toxic cleaners are usually used in the United States. All these oil spill cleanup techniques are environmentally hazardous as they don’t biodegrade the oil. The only eco-friendly oil spill cleanup technique that completely biodegrades oil without causing any further harm is bioremediation. So make sure you use oil spill cleaners that utilize this green technology.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Pollution caused by oil spills from tankers is one of the biggest threats to our environment. But it is only one part of the picture. Not many know that oil runoff from cars, trucks, and other vehicles also cause severe marine pollution. When it rains, oil leaked onto roads and driveways is washed into the storm drains, which ultimately flows into lakes or streams.

Used motor oil is the largest source of oil pollution. In fact, of the 20 million gallons of oil that escape into the North American waters every year, only 15% are caused by pipeline or tanker spills. The remaining 17 million gallons are due to oil spills from cars and trucks, fuel dumping by commercial pilots, and contamination by recreational boaters.

Oil leaked from cars pollutes drinking water and waterways in more ways than you can imagine. One of the main reasons why auto fluids are termed as very harmful is that they do not dissolve in water like oil. One pint of motor oil results in a slick that is larger than a football field.

The underground aquifers that supply us drinking water are polluted and cost millions of dollars to municipalities in drinking water treatment and operational expenses. Oil, antifreeze, and break fluids that seep into the water contain heavy metals wrecking havoc on the wildlife. Hypothermia in birds, damage to the immune system in animals, and death of fish are only some of the effects.

All this shows how a simple oversight on our part can pollute our planet. It is our responsibility to take steps to protect our environment. First and foremost is to take steps to prevent oil spills. If an oil spill does occur even after all these, be prepared to deal with it.

For oil spill cleanup from driveways or anywhere else at home, use eco-friendly oil spill cleaners such as Oil Gone Easy S-200 instead of other toxic oil stain removers. This environmentally-friendly oil stain remover uses bio-remediation technology to cleanup driveway oil stains the natural way without causing any further harm.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Millions of gallons of oil is stored and delivered everyday through tanker ships, pipelines, and trucks in America. Oil, though a valuable energy resource, is extremely hazardous to soil, groundwater, freshwater, marine habitats, human, and animal life when spilled, as it contains toxic chemicals.

To conserve this valuable energy resource and to safeguard the nation’s health and environment, several spill prevention actions are being undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) Foremost among them is that oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan. It is a facility-specific plan that requires any facility that stores large quantities of oil in any form to develop and implement a scheme that spells out its preventive measures as well as its response capabilities.

To be more specific, it is mandatory for facilities with more than 1,320 gallons of above ground oil storage capacity using storage media such as tanks, containers, drums, portable totes, transformers, and oil-filled electrical equipment and facilities with 42,000 gallons of underground tank storage capacity to prepare a SPCC plan.

The SPCC plan covers the following areas, namely operating procedures for oil spill prevention; control measures for preventing a spill from reaching navigable waters; and countermeasure to contain, oil spill cleanup, and reduce the effects of the spill.

In addition to written management approval, the SPCC plan must also be certified by a registered professional engineer. This plan must be reviewed and documented once in every three years. It should also be amended if the facility undergoes any change in the design, construction, operation, or maintenance. These amendments too must be certified by a registered professional engineer.

The consequences of non-compliance of the SPCC plan are severe. If untrained personnel are used, or if a spill that enters a waterway is not reported, or if there is a lack of an adequate SPCC plan, it can result in fines up to $25,000 per day per.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Residential oil spills can be caused by different things such as domestic fuel tank leakage, oil spills during floods, and oil leakage from vehicles or lawn mowers. Whatever the cause of the spill, the outcome is disastrous.

An oil spill at home can prove to be dangerous to you and your family. Besides fire hazards, chances of associated health hazards are high. Vapors from petroleum products are highly noxious and can cause problems such as increased blood pressure, nausea, eye irritation, headaches, and light-headedness when inhaled. Long-term exposure to high levels of harmful vapors can cause nervous and respiratory problems. That is why you should know how to deal with residential oil spills.

Here are some steps that you can follow to efficiently manage residential oil spills. The first thing to do when a spill occurs is to report it to the oil delivery company. Next come the safety precautions. Remove all sources of ignition. Open the windows for proper ventilation. Do not operate central heating or air conditioning. Furnace fan should be shut down to minimize the distribution of odors throughout the house.

Now comes the most important part of all, the oil spill cleanup. You can minimize the damage caused by removing oil stains promptly. So, try your best to contain the spill as early as possible. Use a good oil stain remover such as Oil Gone Easy S-200, an eco-friendly product that makes use of the bioremediation technology to degrade oil. Pour this oil stain remover on the oil spill or on oil stains anywhere in your home. Wear full pants, long sleeved shirts, rubber gloves, and overshoes during oil spill cleanup work to reduce skin exposure. Make sure that you don’t track oil from contaminated area to other parts of the house. If there is a strong odor, fans can help control it.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The oil spill that occurred on January 28, 1969 in Buzzard’s Bay off Cape Cod, when a barge ran aground resulted in the spilling of 200,000 gallons of oil. Like other oil spills, this too had a severe ecological impact. Not only was the seabird population affected, even shorebirds and diving birds faced enormous problems.

But, what makes one talk about this oil spill even today is the fact that, even after four decades of this oil spill, researchers have found compelling evidence that the aftereffects of this spill still exists even after extensive oil spill cleanup.

Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy have found evidence that the marine environment still contains oil, even though the surface sediments appear fine. The study revealed that though the top two inches or the lower three inches of the core didn’t contain any petroleum residue, the central section of the sediment core had petroleum hydrocarbons similar in concentration to those found in the 1969 Oil Spill.

Several other studies have further proved that wildlife and salt marsh too are facing the aftermath of this oil spill. It has taken a huge toll on the sea grass beds and fiddler crabs of Wild Harbor’s marshland. There has been a significant change in the population, burrowing behavior, escape response, and feeding rate of fiddler crabs in Wild Harbor. When compared to the fiddler crabs in nearby Great Sippewissett marsh, these crabs dug short burrows because of residual oil. It has also been proven that the harmful oil residues in the sediments have hindered microbial degradation in these salt marshes.

These findings show how devastating oil spills can be. So, it gives us all the more reason to take steps to not only prevent oil spills, but also do a thorough job of oil spill containment and oil spill cleanup.

Popularity: 4% [?]

To clean oil stains off your driveway has always been a tedious process. When it involves toxic products containing noxious chemicals, the process becomes all the more messy and hazardous.

To put an end to all such woes, Oil Gone Easy has come up with a unique solution, Home & Driveway S-200. The Journal Sentinel recently carried a feature by Karen Herzog on this product.

The article explains how the oil stain removal process takes place through bioremediation, which uses bacteria to break down the oil. Oil Gone Easy S-200 uses special nutrients that attract microorganisms to the spill and then break down the oil into byproducts such as water to clean oil stains.

All that is needed is to pour the solution on the stain and leave it for as long as possible to clean oil stains. The manufacturer recommends users to leave the solution on the stains for about a week in normal cases and for two weeks in case of heavy stains to effectively clean oil stains.

The news feature also states that the product works well on different surfaces, including driveways, concrete, garages, and even soil. There is no need of scrubbing and the clean up in not messy, like in the case of degreasers. After the oil stain removal, the solution degrades quickly and completely and there is neither any trace nor any odour of the solution. It is also a safe product and causes no harm to kids and pets.

Another fact that is in favour of Oil Gone Easy S-200 is that it’s waterproof. So it works even if it’s raining. The product was extensively used to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. It is a completely viable product to clean oil stains and it is available by the quart for homeowners for $21.95 at www.oilgoneeasy.com.

Popularity: 4% [?]