OPRC Level 3 Termination of Response

OPRC Level 3 2 Outline Reasons for clean-up Options for clean-up Factors affecting the decision to terminate operations Post-spill monitoring

OPRC Level 3 3 Reasons for Clean-up At sea Minimise pollution damage On shore Restore the use or value of the polluted area whilst minimising further pollution damage

OPRC Level 3 4 Options For Clean-up At Sea Do nothing – monitor and evaluate Attempt to recover or disperse the oil Protect sensitive resources

OPRC Level 3 5

6 Termination Considerations for Clean-up at Sea Measures no longer effective Further clean-up is likely to cause greater damage Level of response is out of proportion to the amount of oil on the water When the costs of the response are exceeding the likely benefits

OPRC Level 3 7

8

9 Options For Shoreline Clean-up Do nothing Clean to a minimum standard Clean to the pre-spill condition Clean to a pristine level

OPRC Level 3 10 Before After

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OPRC Level 3 12

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OPRC Level 3 15

OPRC Level 3 16 Termination Considerations for Shoreline Clean-up (1) Commitments agreed with authorities (in contingency plan) have been satisfied Further clean-up is likely to cause greater damage Point of diminishing returns is reached continued..

OPRC Level 3 17

OPRC Level 3 18

OPRC Level 3 19 Law of Diminishing Returns Oil plentiful at early stages –High volume recovery As clean-up comes to a close –Very little oil remains At some point costs become disproportionate to benefit of further removal continued.

OPRC Level 3 20

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OPRC Level 3 23 Termination Considerations for Shoreline Clean-up (2) When cost of clean-up is out of proportion to area’s importance When economic loss caused by non- use of areas being cleaned exceeds any benefits When further expenditure could limit compensation available for economic loss claims

OPRC Level 3 24

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OPRC Level 3 26

OPRC Level 3 27 The Concept of “Reasonable” Reimbursement of costs governed by International Conventions: CLC and Fund Convention To qualify for compensation, response measures must be “reasonable” How clean is “clean”?

OPRC Level 3 28

OPRC Level 3 29 How Clean is “Clean”? Definition of “clean” Natural processes and time-scale Effectiveness of clean-up methods Socio-economic considerations NEBA Public perception and the role of the media Consensus decision-making

OPRC Level 3 30 Guidelines No visible oil or sheen that might adhere to feathers or tar Water surface (used by birds, mammals) No visible oil and no oil rubbing off on people or boats Amenity beaches and structures Statutory specifications and taste tests Food and water (for human consumption) Definitions of “clean”Resource

OPRC Level 3 31 Guidelines Definitions of “clean”Resource Residues must not be mobile to leach to other near-shore areas Shoreline (ecosystem interacting with other near-shore systems) Need not be visibly clean but residues must not inhibit recovery by smothering or toxicity Shoreline (habitat for algae, mangroves, molluscs, etc) Concentration and background levels. Must not be toxic to key species Subsurface water (habitat for fish, corals, seagrass, etc)

OPRC Level 3 32 How to Define “Reasonable” Measures taken on basis of technical appraisal of circumstances Seek to enhance natural process and mitigate pollution damage Not purely for political reasons or public relations

OPRC Level 3 33 How to Define “Reasonable” EXAMPLE: pre-spill debris Heavy oil contamination –Removal is reasonable Light scattered tar balls –Is it reasonable to require collection?

OPRC Level 3 34

OPRC Level 3 35

OPRC Level 3 36 Summary of Termination Criteria Targets met Diminishing returns Damage Financial Effectiveness Effort/cost > benefit Reasons to terminate Bulk removal; secondary; polish Do nothing; minimum;pre-spill; pristine Monitor & evaluate Dispersants Contain & recover Protection Options for clean-up Restore use/valueMinimise pollutionReasons for clean-up ShorelineAt sea

OPRC Level 3 37 Post-Spill Monitoring To determine the nature and extent of damage To assess and monitor the recovery processes

OPRC Level 3 38

OPRC Level 3 39 Spill Impacts Physical and chemical alteration of natural habitats Physical smothering effects on flora and fauna Lethal or sub-lethal toxic effects on flora and fauna Community changes resulting from oil effects on key organisms

OPRC Level 3 40

OPRC Level 3 41

OPRC Level 3 42 Determining Factors Factors that determine seriousness of impact speed of recovery include: p type of oil p biological characteristics of the area p time of year – seasonality p clean-up techniques

OPRC Level 3 43 Recovery Of The Environment “Recovery is marked by the re-establishment of a healthy biological community in which characteristic plants and animals are present and functioning normally”

OPRC Level 3 44 Recovery Of The Environment “Need not have the same composition or age structure as was present before the damage”

OPRC Level 3 45 Key Messages Different definitions of “clean” No “best” cleaning method Termination – informed decisions based on consensus