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

S0300-A6-MAN-060shovels and similar handtools into suitable containers for transportation by vehicle or by hand.Human workers are more selective and less destructive than heavy machinery, but much less productive(about two cubic yards per person per day). Recovery of manual-cleaned areas is typicallymore rapid than that of areas cleaned by other methods because of the lower degree of physicaldisturbance.7-5.3.5 Washing in the Surf Zone. Lightly contaminated boulders, cobbles, pebbles and gravelcan be cleaned by pushing them into the surf where wave action and abrasion will remove anddissipate the oil. Material pushed into the sea will be returned to the beach eventually by wave andtidal movements, but beach profile may be altered. This method is especially effective during orimmediately prior to seasons of heavy storms and surf are likely.7-5.3.6 Beach Cleaners. Beach cleaning machines are specially designed for cleaning recreationalbeaches of litter and solid debris. Most operate by removing the top layer of sand and separatingthe litter from the sand by sieving. They are suitable for the collection of solid oil (tarballsand lumps) or oil-soaked debris and sorbents. Beach cleaners typically operate at speeds of two tosix miles per hour, corresponding to coverage of 5,000 to 15,000 square yards per hour.7-5.3.7 Low-Pressure Flushing. Liquid oils can be floated from practically any type of beachwith a high water table by flooding. Water is applied at low pressure to avoid eroding the soil,forcing the oil into the beach or damaging plants and animals. Flushing should begin at the highestcontaminated point and proceed to the water’s edge. The displaced oil can contaminate otherareas, so it should be contained or channeled to collection sumps and recovered. If operations canbe conducted so that soil substrata are not disturbed, low-pressure flushing is a good means ofcleaning environmentally sensitive shorelines.7-5.3.8 Aeration. Oil on lightly contaminated beaches without recreational value or on recreationalbeaches that are not in use, can be left to degrade naturally. If the beach is not environmentallysensitive, the rate of natural degradation can be increased by aeration. Agricultural harrowsare used to evenly mix the contaminated top layer of soil with clean substrata. The mixing shouldbe repeated from time to time. This method is applicable only on beaches that can support agriculturalmachinery.7-5.3.9 Sorbents. Sorbents are effective means to recover thin layers of oil on beach soil, rocksor water. They are also used to protect shorelines from incoming oil or to collect oil dislodged bywashing. Sorbents and their use are discussed in Paragraph 5-2.4.Sorbents are spread and collected manually or by special application equipment. Loose sorbentscan be worked into an oiled beach by harrows or plows and collected by agricultural rakes orbeach cleaners.7-5.3.10 High-Pressure Hot Water Washing. High-pressure hot water can remove weatheredor congealed oil from hard surfaces. Typical equipment supplies water at 1,200 to 2,200 psi and140 to 200°F. Use of seawater is not recommended, so a plentiful supply of fresh water isrequired. Some equipment also delivers steam at 300° and 300 psi, but steam cleaning is usuallyless effective than hot water washing. High-pressure washing should be employed only on rock,7-6