U.S. Navy Ship Salvage Manual Volume 6 - Oil Spill Response

S0300-A6-MAN-060CHAPTER 7SHORELINE CLEANUP7-1 INTRODUCTIONIt is easier and less costly to retrieve floating oil with boom and skimmers than it is to clean up oilthat has fouled a shoreline. The Navy’s strategy for spill response recognizes the benefits of skimmingfree oil and, building around the self-propelled Class V skimmer, SUPSALV has assembledone of the most effective oil spill response systems in the nation. However, no matter how wellprepareda response organization, some oil will probably impact the shoreline, forcing cleanup bymethods other than skimmers and booms.This chapter discusses strategies and methods that have been proven effective in cleaning oiledshorelines. Good management is important to successful shoreline cleanup operations. Shorelinecleanup is manpower-intensive and, therefore, very expensive. Diligence is necessary to preventwell-meaning response personnel from causing inadvertent environmental harm. Spill responsemanagers must recognize and address safety aspects of shoreline cleanup of an oiled environment.Recovered oil and contaminated debris must be disposed of properly. A particular challenge to themanagement of shoreline cleanup is developing positive performance from the constant interactionamong persons representing groups with diverse interests and objectives.Salvage officers may face a shoreline cleanup as a result of salvage-related work or in response toa Navy oil spill. In either case, they must be prepared to implement oil-removal procedures thatare safe, technically correct, environmentally sound and effective.7-2 SHORELINE SURVEYA survey that defines the nature and extent of shoreline oiling must be conducted as soon as possibleso that proper cleanup measures may be implemented quickly. The most effective surveyssight and photograph the oil areas from aircraft. Telephone or radio reports from individuals atvantage points along the coast are also helpful in defining the extent of the oiled shoreline.The type of oil and its viscosity, pour point and other physical characteristics should be identified.Knowledge of the source of spilled oil will aid in identification. A sample of the oil should betaken and preserved for chemical analysis and possible matching to the origin of the spill.7-3 CLEANING STRATEGYFormulation of a shoreline cleaning strategy—an integral part of the response operation—shouldfollow the initial survey. Cleaning strategy may be: no cleaning, removal of all contamination or aposition between the two extremes.7-1