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.

Popularity: 24% [?]

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.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Global warming poses a serious threat to our planet. If we don’t do our bit to safeguard the environment, future generations may have to pay a heavy price for it. Adopting green technologies or using eco-friendly green products are a few things that we can do to make sure that we do not cause any further damage to the environment.

Here is a list of some innovative and interesting environmentally-friendly technologies that can make a difference.

Zero-energy Homes – Several home owners in California have built zero-energy homes that combine energy-efficient construction and practices. They not only reduce the energy demand by up to 70 percent by means of latest energy-efficient technologies, but also generate all the electricity required from photovoltaic solar panels.

Motion-powered Speed Bumps – In this method, energy is generated each time a car passes over the bump from its weight and movement. These energy-generating speed bumps make use of long think pedals whose movement generates around 2,000W of electricity per car.

Oil Gone Easy S-200 – This is an oil stain remover that makes use of an environmentally-friendly technology called bioremediation. This product does not contain any harmful chemicals and degrades the harmful hydrocarbons in the oil using the bacteria present in the atmosphere. Using such eco-friendly green products that make use of green technologies will help protect our environment.

Sewage-powered Fuel Cells – In this environmentally-friendly technology, bacteria used in the treatment of sewage in waste water treatment plants are used to generate electricity.

Energy Curtain – This energy curtain does more than just provide shade; it provides light. The outer side of the blind has special solar energy-collecting cells, which store up energy during the day and and provide light during night. All that needs to be done is to pull down the blinds during the day for it to charge.

Popularity: 37% [?]