Oil pollution

Environmental Business Journal Global Environmental Change Report Golob s Oil Pollution Bulletin Greenhouse Effect Report Ground Water Monitor Industrial Environment Industrial Health Ha2ards Update (IH HU)... 

In 1965 the Water Quahty Act established a new trend in water pollution control. It provided that the states set water quality standards in accordance with federal guidelines. If the states f ed to do so, the standards would be set by the federal government subject to a review hearing. In 1966, the Clean Water Restoration Act transferred the Feder Water Pollution Control Administration from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of the Interior. It also gave the Interior Department the responsibility for the Oil Pollution Act. 

The UK Environment Agency deals with over 6000 oil pollution incidents each year. One estimate suggests tliat tlie cheiTtical industry contributes to 50% of all ah pollution witli proportions approximating to sulphur dioxide (36%), carbon dioxide (28%), nitrogen oxides (18%), carbon monoxide (14%) and black smoke (10%). Motor spirit refining is responsible for ca 26% of emissions of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere. In 1996 there were over 20 000 reports of water pollution incidents with 155 successful prosecutions. 

Other sources for oil spills are listed. For example, if a valve is opened and the operator inadvertently forgets to close it, oil may spill out of the system. If there is not a big enough dike around the system, oil pollution will result. It is also possible for oil to spill out the vent/flare system. All pressure vessels are connected to a relief valve, and the relief valve dis-... 

Lojk Fire/Explosion Oil Pollution Ignition Source Inadequate Containage... 

Excessive temperature can lead to premature failure of an item of equipment at pressures below its design maximum working pressure. Such a failure can create a leak, potentially leading to fire or explosion if gas is leaked or to oil pollution if oil is leaked. This type of failure should be gradual, with warning as it develops, and thus does not require as higli a degree of protection as those previously mentioned. 

Leaks cannot lead directly to personal injury. They can lead to fire or explosion if there is an ignition source and to oil pollution if there is inadequate containment. Both the immediacy of the hazard developing and the magnitude of the hazard will be smaller with leaks than with overpressure. Thus, although it is necessary to protect against leaks, thi.s protection will not require the same level of safety that is required to protect against overpressure. 

Inflow exceeding outflow can lead to oil pollution if there is inadequate containment. It can lead to fire or explosion and thus to injury by way of creating an oil spill. This type of accident is more time-dependent and lower in magnitude of damage, and thus an even lower level of safety will be acceptable. 

Violators of the Refuse Act were subject to a fine of not more tlian 2,500 and/or imprisonment for not more than one year. Although not dnifted to curb oil pollution, the Refuse Act has been w idcly used to prosecute those who discharge oil into mivigablc waters. 

The Oil Pollution Act, wliich prohibits the discluirge of oil from any vessel into navigable waters, was passed in 1924. The penalties for violators were the same is those for the Refuse Act of 1899 with one addition tlie Coast Guard had the authority to suspend or revoke licenses held by the officers of vessels found to be in viohition of the act. 

The Oil Pollution Act of 1961 was primarily concerned witli tlie regulation of the deliberate discharge of oil or oil wastes into Uie water. As a result of Uiis act, Uie owners of transport sliips were to take precautions to minimize Ute effect of pollution. Oily ballast water separators were required on ships, and owners Imd to maintain oil record books. Violators of Uie Oil Pollution Act were subject to fines of not more than 1,000 for improper record keeping. 

Routine operations of many ships have resulted in oil pollution. Cleaning up minor spills on deck and in the engine room is now treated very carefully. Fuel-oil and crude-oil tanks are cleaned from time to time. In the past the polluted oil-water mixture was dumped overboard, but now it must be pumped ashore for treatment. 

Levy, E. M. Ehrhardt, M. Kohnke, D. Sobtchenko, E. Suzuoki, T. Tokuhiro, A. Oil Pollution, Results of MAPMOPP, The IGOSS Pilot Project On Marine Pollution (Petroleum) Monitoring Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Paris. 1981 35 pp. Levy, E.M. Ambio 1984, 13, 226-235. 

Dennis, J.V. Oil Pollution Survey of the United States Atlantic Coast. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C. 1959. 

Large oil spills near wells and from tankers pose the most vivid display of concern. However, oil pollution can also be seen in situations such as contaminated soil from automotive fuel spills, industrial spills, tank leaks, and household grease wastes. 

CONCAWE, Protection of Groundwater from Oil Pollution, The Hague, Netherlands, 1979. 

D. Cormack Response to Marine Oil Pollution - Review and Assessment. 1999... 

Moulder DS, Varley A (1975) A bibliography on marine and estuarine oil pollution, supplement 1. Marine Biology Association... 

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