Oil Spill Blog

The National Response Center (NRC) is a national communication center of the federal government, which acts as a point of contact for reporting oil spills and chemical releases into navigable waters. The National Response System operates through a network established in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

The National Response Center functions through three high level organizations and four special force components.

First is the Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSC), an official assigned by the EPA if it occurs in inland areas and by the Coast Guard if in coastal or navigable waters. He coordinates all federal containment and oil spill clean up efforts when an incident is reported.

Next is the National Response Team (NRT) that is made up of 16 federal agencies with expertise in emergency response to oil spills and chemical releases. A planning, and coordinating body, it provides policy guidance for oil spill prevention and supporting FOSC with oil spill cleanup.

The third is the Regional Response Team (RRT) set up for different federal regions. They are also planning and coordinating bodies and help FOSC by means of Regional Contingency Plans. They also assist the state and the local governments in training for emergency responses to oil spills.

The four special force components mainly focus on the response to major oil spills. They are manned by highly trained scientists and engineers working in areas of hazard assessment, oil spill cleanup techniques, environmental chemistry, and oil slick tracking.

The National Response Center invites the public to submit reports on incidents of oil spills for them to act efficiently on the oil spill cleanup and also to develop strategies for oil spill prevention there after. They have an online reporting tool created for the purpose. A reply will be sent to the reporting party within 24 hours.

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Green cleaning is a term that refers to cleaning techniques and products that make use of eco-friendly materials and substances rather than toxic ingredients. Certain products emit volatile organic compounds, which can cause irreparable damage, respiratory problems, and skin infections. Green cleaning techniques are a much safer and healthier way to treat water, purify air, and clean a home or land.

Sunrays are natural disinfectants. Ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun can be used to disinfect water and air. UV radiation is commonly used in waste water treatment and is increasingly being used in drinking water treatment. In fact, there are several manufactures that offer water purifiers that use UV light. This cleaning technique is more eco-friendly than treating water with chemicals. Almost all the pollutants in the air are carbon-based compounds. These compounds break down when exposed to high-intensity UV light at 240-280 nm.

Hospitals have used UV technology for years to sterilize the air in their facilities. Halo vacuum cleaners also use this green cleaning technology to kill germs, bacteria, mold, dust mite eggs, and flea eggs that fester deep in carpet fibers. Halo vacuum cleaners suck up dirt as well as any other vacuum, but unlike other models, they kill microorganisms like E.coli and Samonella. Rather than use toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and humans to sterilize surfaces, a Halo vacuum cleaner is a great alternative.

Electrokinetic remediation is a green technology used to clean land, especially to restore contaminated waste sites. The section of soil that has been contaminated is exposed to a low voltage direct-current electric field. When the electrodes are charged, ions and water move toward the electrodes. The ions flow through the outer casing of the electrode, which contains water, where they are then removed for treatment. Bioreactors and bioventing technology are two forms of bioremediation that are used to remediate soil that has been contaminated by fuel.

Oil Gone Easy S-200 also uses bioremediation to help fight oil spill pollution both on land and in water. This eco-friendly product is more readily available than bioreactors or bioventing technology and is ideal for home and boat owners.

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Domestic tanks are commonly used by homeowners if a mains gas supply is not available in their area. Oil spills from domestic tanks are not very common, but they can have drastic adverse effects on the environment. Just one liter or oil can contaminate up to one million liters of drinking water. An oil spill or leak from a domestic oil tank is often the result of improper installation, corrosion, or overfilling.

Oil spills from domestic tanks can be avoided if precautionary measures are taken right from the start. Most tanks used for domestic purposes are made of steel or composite materials, so they are susceptible to corrosion if left outdoors. To protect your tank from extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions, it should be installed indoors.

If your tank must be installed outdoors, the location should meet the following criteria. The surface should be even and made of non-combustible materials, like concrete slabs or patio stones. The tank should not block an entrance and it should not be within 50 feet of a well either. Make sure the tank is not placed up against a wall, which can lead to rust.

Most importantly, never install a used tank. You might think it’s a good way to save money, but reusing tanks will only invite problems and can cost you big bucks in the long run.

Up to 1000 liters of oil can leak out of a single pinhole in just eight hours, so inspecting your tank regularly, particularly in winter, is very important. You should check for any signs of corrosion and other damage like cracks or dents. It is also wise to apply rust-proof paint on all parts of the tank to prevent corrosion. Tanks should be cleaned periodically as well. If left unclean, sludge and water will accumulate and lead to internal corrosion.

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Freshwater bodies are not just the main source of drinking water, they also serve as nesting grounds and food sources for various organisms. Oil spills could pose a serious threat to freshwater ecosystems as the fresh water organisms are exposed to high risk.

Fresh water ecosystem includes two habitats, standing water, and the flowing water. Oil spills affect standing water more severely than flowing water as the currents offer a natural cleaning mechanism.

When an oil spill occurs, not only are the aquatic creatures smothered to death, the aquatic vegetation is also susceptible to deadly effects of oil spills. Oil spilled into the rivers clings to plants and grasses. Animals that feed on these plants are also affected, causing a serious damage to the food chain.

In addition, birds and mammals either get killed or injured soon after they come into contact or will be slowly poisoned by long-term exposure to oil that is trapped in shallow water bodies or stream beds. Thus oil spills have a catastrophic effect on the local ecology.

The Freshwater Spills Information Clearinghouse (FSIC) serves as a point of entry for freshwater oil spill planning and response information. It includes research data and document abstracts, geographic information system data relevant and organizational links.

The effectiveness of Freshwater Spills Information Clearinghouse depends on how much the research community posts historic and current information electronically. But there has been a lack of information specifically related to oil spills on freshwater bodies. This has been highlighted in meetings such as the Freshwater Spills Symposium and also by groups such as the Great Lakes Spill Protection Initiative (GLPSI).

FSIC also posts available environmental, economic, and cultural sensitivity data electronically and will work along with the Great Lakes Information Network’s (GLIN’s) geographic information system (GIS). Organizations that play a major role are also linked. Increased awareness and higher profile for FSIC will bring in more of these groups into the network.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency responsible for investigating civil transportation accidents. It investigates all types of accidents, including ship and marine accidents and pipeline incidents. The NTSB will also render assistance to the military with accident investigation if requested by it.

One of the world’s premiere accident investigation agencies, the NTSB has investigated more than 124,000 aviation accidents and over 10,000 surface transportation accidents ever since its inception on April 1, 1967.

The organization has different sub-offices for highway safety, maritime safety, and aviation safety, railroad, pipeline, and hazardous material investigations, research and engineering, recommendations and communications, academy and administrative law judges.

The NTSB is responsible for maintaining the database of civil aviation accidents and conducting studies of transportation safety issues of national significance. It also provides investigators to serve as U.S. Accredited Representatives for accidents overseas involving American-registered aircrafts.

When an accident occurs, the party involved must notify the NTSB, as stipulated in the Code of Federal Regulations. The agency sets the investigation into motion by setting up a “go team.” Specialists in fields relevant to the accident usually make up this team. Once this is done, other organizations or corporations are designated as parties to the investigation. The NTSB may then hold public hearings on the issue. After completing the investigation, it issues a final statement. The board may also issue safety recommendations, if need be.

Its reputation for impartiality and thoroughness has helped it improve safety measures. Several safety features integrated in automobiles, pipelines, and marine vessels have their origin in NTSB recommendations.

The NTSB has also investigated several oil spills, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Oil spills on both water as well as land are a serious threat to the environment as they cause terrible damage to the encompassing ecosystem. Oil Gone Easy’s Marine S-200 can be used for oil spill cleanup effectively without causing any further damage to the environment.

Popularity: 24% [?]