API/SC-PCO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 1978 OIL SPILL TEST PROGRAM

1979 ◽  
Vol 1979 (1) ◽  
pp. 475-482
Author(s):  
David D. Smith ◽  
George H. Holliday

ABSTRACT Using Alaskan crude in a special offshore test zone authorized by an EPA Research Ocean Dumping Permit, API/SC-PCO generated a series of small oil slicks for testing dispersant application methods and mechanical cleanup equipment in late September 1978. Seven test slicks ranging in volume from 5 to 20 barrels (bbl) were sprayed with low-toxicity dispersants using a helicopter, a crop-dusting monoplane, and two types of boat-mounted spray systems. A Cyclonet 100 centrifugal skimmer was tested on an eighth slick. In addition, a capsule demonstration in which four one-barrel slicks were generated and dispersed provided agencies, media, and the public the opportunity to witness the use of dispersants at close range. The technical and operational testing was supplemented by detailed chemical and biological monitoring studies and by extensive motion picture and air photographic coverage. Field observations and photographic documentation indicate that: the two dispersants tested dispersed the Alaskan crude; the four dispersant application techniques tested are all viable methods for applying dispersants to oil spills at sea; and, the Cyclonet recovered oil, but the test slick was too small to assess the Cyclonet's probable performance in a major spill situation. This test use of dispersants on oil slicks at sea is a key step toward more effective control and cleanup of spilled oil in the open ocean.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Merv Fingas

The visual appearance of oil spills at sea is often used as an indicator of spilled oil properties, state and slick thickness. These appearances and the oil properties that are associated with them are reviewed in this paper. The appearance of oil spills is an estimator of thickness of thin oil slicks, thinner than a rainbow sheen (<3 µm). Rainbow sheens have a strong physical explanation. Thicker oil slicks (e.g., >3 µm) are not correlated with a given oil appearance. At one time, the appearance of surface discharges from ships was thought to be correlated with discharge rate and vessel speed; however, this approach is now known to be incorrect. Oil on the sea can sometimes form water-in-oil emulsions, dependent on the properties of the oil, and these are often reddish in color. These can be detected visually, providing useful information on the state of the oil. Oil-in-water emulsions can be seen as a coffee-colored cloud below the water surface. Other information gleaned from the oil appearance includes coverage and distribution on the surface.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Ameya D. Gondhalekar ◽  
Arthur G. Appel ◽  
Gretchen M. Thomas ◽  
Alvaro Romero

Effective control of domestic and peridomestic cockroaches requires integrated approaches that emphasize concurrent use of chemicals with alternative control tactics. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is particularly justified in environments where satisfactory cockroach control cannot be achieved due to multiple factors including development of insecticide aversion and resistance in some cockroach species, and poor sanitation or structural issues that foster infestations. While a flurry of research effort has been devoted to study alternative tactics for cockroach control, only a few of them have been evaluated in the context of IPM programs. This review focuses on examining studies on alternative tactics that are proven efficacious, economical, and logistically feasible for their inclusion in IPM programs for important domestic and peridomestic cockroaches in the USA. Management programs that educate the public on cockroach biology, behavior, and the importance of sanitation; use of traps to monitor infestation levels; apply targeted low impact insecticides such as baits, have demonstrated a greater success for effective and sustainable control of cockroaches when compared to an insecticide-only approach. Incorporation of other alternative control methods to IPM programs will require more applied research that validates their use in real-world scenarios and demonstrates their cost-effectiveness.


Author(s):  
Patrice Jacob Savi ◽  
Marcio Barbosa Martins ◽  
Gilberto José De Moraes ◽  
Fabien Charles Cossi Hountondji ◽  
Daniel Júnior Andrade

Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the main tomato pests in several countries, mainly in Africa, and applications of synthetic acaricides are the main strategy for its control. Efficient biopesticides to suppress pest populations, with low toxicity against natural enemies, is highly desirable for integrated pest management. Here, we evaluated under laboratory conditions the effect of azadirachtin- and oxymatrine-based formulations on each development stage of T. evansi and on the adult stage of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes, the single promising predator of this pest. We also assessed the residual effect of these biopesticides on T. evansi under laboratory conditions on leaflets excised from treated tomato plants maintained in a screen-house 1, 5, and 10 days after application. Azadirachtin-based formulations were effective in controlling T. evansi immature stages. Oxymatrine-based treatments controlled T. evansi immatures and adult females faster than azadirachtin-based treatments. Both biopesticides had no effect on T. evansi eggs, but oxymatrine-based treatments were highly efficient on newly hatched T. evansi larvae. Oxymatrine displayed residual activity that controlled T. evansi up to 10 days after application. Azadirachtin formulations caused lower mortality of P. longipes adults (8–28%) and slightly reduced fecundity (24.8–56.1%). In contrast, oxymatrine treatments caused higher mortality (60–88%) of the predator and reduced substantiality its fecundity (73.1–90.7%). Our findings suggest that Azadirachtin and oxymatrine provide effective control of T. evansi. Azadirachtin may be relatively safer to the predatory mites whereas oxymatrine should be used with caution, to avoid suppression of P. longipes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
C. E. Stringari ◽  
W. C. Marques ◽  
L. F. Mello ◽  
R. T. Edit

Oil spills can generate different effects in different time scales on the marine ecosystem. The numerical modeling of this process is an important tool with low computational cost which provides a powerful appliance to environmental agencies regarding the risk management. In this way, the objective of this work is evaluate the local wind influence in a hypothetical oil spill along the Southern Brazilian shelf. The numerical simulation was carried using the ECOS model (Easy Coupling Oil System), an oil spill model developed at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, coupled with the tridimensional hydrodynamical model TELEMAC3D (EDF, France). The hydrodynamic model provides the velocities, salinity and temperature fields used by the oil spill model to evaluate the behavior and fate of the oil. The results suggest that the local wind influence are the main forcing driven the fate of the spilled oil. The direction and intensity of the currents are important controlling the behavior and the tridimensional transportation of the oil, on the other hand, the turbulent diffusion is important for the horizontal drift of the oil. The weathering results indicate 40% of evaporation and 80% of emulsification, and the combination of these processes leads an increasing of the oil density around 53.4 kg/m³ after 5 days of simulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoly Shavykin ◽  
Andrey Karnatov

Preparedness for oil spill response is a challenge for many coastal countries. Responders are unable to take effective action unless maps that indicate areas with different vulnerability to oil pollution are available. Such maps, developed in many countries, are usually based on calculations with rank (ordinal) values. However, arithmetic operations with them cannot be allowed. The article describes a method of constructing maps using metric values. The calculations take into account the biomass and the quantity of important biota components, especially significant socio-economic objects and protected areas. The biota distribution densities are represented in the identical units. The vulnerability factors are assessed based on the potential impact of spilled oil on biota, as well as its sensitivity and recoverability after disturbance. The proposed method takes into account the different sensitivity of biota inhabiting in the water column and on the sea surface. Oil vulnerability maps for Kola Bay using the proposed algorithm are presented.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Oneto ◽  
Guy B. Kyser ◽  
Joseph M. DiTomaso

AbstractScotch broom is an invasive leguminous shrub in California and other Pacific Northwest states, as well as New Zealand and Australia. It is highly competitive in forest and shrub communities and can significantly impact reestablishment of conifer forests. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate mechanical methods (Weed Wrench, lopping), several herbicides, and herbicide application techniques for control of Scotch broom in a premontane site in California. Three herbicides were evaluated (glyphosate, imazapyr, and triclopyr ester) for canopy reduction using foliar, drizzle, and basal bark treatments. All treatments were made in both fall and late spring. In addition, we conducted a cost analysis of the various herbicide treatments and application methods. Results indicate that both mechanical treatments were effective, but their optimum timing depended on soil moisture conditions. In addition, there were no significant differences among herbicides at both timings, among all rates, and for any application method. All herbicides provided effective control of Scotch broom. However, the cost analysis demonstrated that the drizzle application method with glyphosate was the most cost-effective treatment, due to low herbicide cost and reduced labor requirements. These results provide several options for Scotch broom control and give land managers considerable flexibility with timing, herbicide, and application technique in their management programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduart Wolok ◽  
Jamal Barafi ◽  
Navneet Joshi ◽  
Rossella Girimonte ◽  
Sudip Chakraborty

AbstractThe major battle that the human civilization is facing in the present era is regarding pollution; one of a serious threat among these pollutions is the contamination of water bodies due to oil spills. Oil spills from ships, tankers, or leaks in marine oil pipes are something that is needed to deal with to make the earth a better place. To protect the water and the environment, this oil should be removed from the water or the surface. The chances for oil spills have reduced as we have observed there is a significant change in the pattern with the decrease of the use of tankers and pipelines for oil and petroleum derivatives. The point should be that according to the researchers, the marine ecosystem is damaged even more by the other sources of pollution even though the event of oil spills is certainly much sensational. There is an urgent requirement of advanced eco-friendly tools to eliminate spilled oil. Some studies suggest that the use of organic matter may be an effective step in such an oil spilled scenario. Organic matter acts as a sorbent, a surfactant, and a separator and can make using a variety of ingredients such as organic, inorganic, synthetic, or different, but they must interact with the biological system. Some organic materials can contaminate the water more than the oil that is spread, so eco-friendly, non-toxic, low-cost organic matter should be used for oil removal and recovery. If the oil is recovered from the environmental surface, then after the successful removal of that oil, it can be conducive to sustainable development. This review summarizes the overall perspective on the potential of different biomaterials for the removal of accidentally spilled oils.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-438
Author(s):  
TERESA SABOL SPEZIO

AbstractIn the face of technology failures in preventing oil from reaching beaches and coasts after catastrophic oil spills in the 1960s and early 1970s, the oil industry and governmental officials needed to quickly reconsider their idea of prevention. Initially, prevention meant stopping spilled oil from coating beaches and coasts. Exploring the presentations at three oil-spill conferences in 1969, 1971 and 1973, this idea of prevention changed as the technological optimism of finding effective methods met the realities of oil-spill cleanup. By 1973, prevention meant stopping oil spills before they happened. This rapid policy transformation came about because the oil industry could not hide the visual evidence of the source of their technology failures. In this century, as policymakers confront invisible pollutants such as pesticides and greenhouse gases, considering ways to visually show the source of the pollution along with the effects could quicken policy decisions.


1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lt. Alvin M. Crickard ◽  
Donald S. Jensen

ABSTRACT The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) has resulted in an overall restructuring and enhancement of the national strike force. The OPA 90 legislation amended the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (FWPCA), which first gave the Coast Guard a role in marine environmental protection. The FWPCA led to the establishment of the national response system (NRS) and the establishment of “special forces” which would be available for pollution response. These special forces included the Coast Guard manned strike teams (collectively, the national strike force, or NSF) and the public information assist team (PIAT). OPA 90 legislation affected the NSF by requiring the Coast Guard to establish a national response unit (NRU) located at Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The NRU, now renamed the National Strike Force Coordination Center (NSFCC), would provide overall management of the strike teams and PIAT and in addition, perform several new functions in consulting, exercise management, coordination of spill response, and logistics and maintenance of worldwide resource inventories. This paper examines all OPA 90 initiatives affecting the national strike force. It concludes that the overall impact on the national response system is quite positive and should result in significant improvement in response to both major and catastrophic oil spills.


1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 673-676
Author(s):  
Edward Tennyson

ABSTRACT Recent large oil spills from tankers have reaffirmed the need for continuing technology assessment and research to improve oil-spill response capabilities. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) remains a lead agency in conducting these studies. This paper discusses MMS concerns, as reinforced by the acceleration of its research program in 1990. It briefly assesses the current state-of-the-art technology for major aspects of spill response, including remote sensing, open-ocean containment, recovery, in-situ burning, chemical treating agents, beach-line cleanup, and oil behavior. The paper reports on specific research projects that have begun to yield information that will improve detection and at-sea equipment performance. The first detection project, for which MMS has patent pending, involves the use of shipboard navigational radar to track slicks at relatively long range. The second project involves the use of conventional containment and cleanup in a downwind mode, which is contrary to the traditional procedures. The paper also discusses current research projects, including the development of an airborne, laser-assisted fluorosensor that can determine whether apparent slicks contain oil. Additional projects involve the development of improved strategies for responding to oil in broken-ice conditions, for gaining an improved understanding of the fate and behavior of spilled oil as it affects response strategies, and for reopening and operating the oil and hazardous materials simulated environmental test tank (OHMSETT) facility in Leonardo, New Jersey. Recent progress on the development of safe and environmentally acceptable strategies to burn spilled oil in-situ is also discussed. The OHMSETT facility is necessary for testing prospective improvements in chemical treating agents and to develop standard procedures for testing and evaluating response equipment.


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