Overview:
When hazardous liquids leak into natural water resources, pipeline operators must take actions to contain the liquids and remove them from the water. These actions must be accomplished in accordance with requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as local jurisdictional requirements.
People who respond to hazardous liquid spills undergo scenario training that equips them to employ various methods of containment and removal, depending on environmental conditions and the severity and type of spill encountered. EPA is the lead federal response agency for oil spills occurring in inland waters, and the U.S. Coast Guard is the lead response agency for spills in coastal waters.
Applicable Regulations
The following regulations and laws apply to spills:
- 40 CFR Part 300, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan . The purpose of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) is to provide organizational structure and procedures for preparing for, and responding to, discharges of oil, and releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants.
- 40 CFR Part 302, Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification . This regulation designates, under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (‘‘the Act’’) those substances in the statutes referred to in section 101(14) of the Act, identifies reportable quantities for these substances, and sets forth notification requirements for releases of these substances. This regulation also sets forth reportable quantities for hazardous substances designated under section 311(b)(2)(A) of the Clean Water Act.
Methods of Remediation
The following approaches are used to remediate a hazardous liquid spill into surrounding soils:
- Oil skimmers may be used to remove floating organics, such as petroleum, from the top of the heavier water.
- Oil containment booms are used for containment, concentration, diversion and exclusion of oil floating on water.
- Recovered oil storage may present a big problem in an oil spill operation. Storage can be created with temporary pits or by utilizing barges or other tanks of opportunity.
- Dispersant spraying systems are used to apply chemicals in the correct droplet size and quantity to effectively disperse the oil. Generally, dispersant systems are only used in open sea water.
- Sorbents are large sponge-like devices that absorb oil.
- In situ burning can be used before significant dispersion has taken place.
- Oil-eating bacteria may be used to literally consume the oil.
- Gelling agents can be applied to form a gel-like substance that can be more readily removed from the water.
Date of Revision: 110205