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About three months after the oil spill the U.S. team prepared a
"Preliminary Scientific Report on the Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill" covering
data up to May 15, 1978. This document covered only the period of acute
effects. A one-day symposium on the Amoco Cadiz spill was held in Brest
on June 7, 1978, and published soon after. It was obvious from these
initial observations that a period of years would be required to understand
what had happened to these portions of the coast where the oil had
settled in and not been cleansed promptly.
During this early period of study of the spill Mr. Russ Mallatt of
the Amoco Trading Company had several discussions with Drs. Hess,
Laubier and Schneider. Mr. Mallatt was the General Manager for
Environmental Conservation and Toxicology of Amoco. Discussion with
Mr. Mallatt during the first two months after the spill identified
Amoco's interests in carrying out long-term studies of the effects of the
oil spill. These early contacts were followed up by substantial
discussions between Mr. John Linsner of Amoco and Mr. Eldon Greenberg,
General Counsel of NOAA. These discussions culminated with an agreement
being signed by Amoco
effects of the spill.
and
The
NOAA to carry out
study would cover
long-term studies of
three years and would
the
be a
joint French-U.S. activity. A Joint NOAA/CNEXO Scientific Commission was
established through another
June 2, 1978. Amoco would
agreement
transfer
between the two agencies signed
money to NOAA and the Joint
Commission, chaired by Drs. Hess and Laubier, would determine the
research program to be carried out, the investigators to do the research,
and the funding levels. The Joint Commission would also monitor the
progress of the studies and be responsible for making the final report.
One of its major goals was to make U.S. and French scientific teams work
together in a common effort to better understand the consequences of the
wreckage.
The Joint Commission first met in Brest at the CNEXO Laboratory on
July 18, 1978. Taking into account the French program to assess the
long-term ecological impact
Environment, it determined
were:
of the oil spill funded
that the most important
by the Ministry of
areas for research
1. Heavily impacted subtidal areas like the Abers and the Bays
of Morlaix and Lannion.
2. Heavily impacted intertidal areas such as St. Efflam and the
salt marsh at He Grande.
3. The detailed chemical evolution of the petroleum hydrocarbons.
4. Biodegradation of petroleum.
The second meeting of the Joint Commission, held in Washington,
D.C., on October 12, 1978, reviewed the work carried out during the first
months of the first year and planned the research program for the second
year's study.
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