of personnel and equipment, and wind and sea conditions. The closer that 

 a terminal lies to shore, the more rapid must be the response to prevent 

 contamination of coastal systems. In an environmental sense, there is 

 greater risk of shoreline contamination if a port is located vn'thin an 

 estuary or near the coast. Special efforts should be made to keep 

 transfer points out of ecologically vital water areas. 



The floating boom is currently the primary containment device. It 

 encircles, sweeps, or directs an oil slick to a collection point. Typi- 

 cally, a fence or skirt extending above and below the water surface forms the 

 containment section. Effectiveness of a boom is limited by waves, winds, 

 and currents. Efficiency of the booms drops rapidly when water conditions 

 exceed 6 to 8 foot seas with 20 knot winds and 1.25 knot currents. 



Cleanup systems may employ mechanical skimming devices, sorbent straw 

 or foam, and chemical dispersants and sinking agents. Sorbent methods 

 have been most effective, while dispersants and sinking agents may do more 

 damage than good. Efforts to clean up oil with chemical applicants, them- 

 selves pollutants, may be detrimental to coastal plants and animals by 

 placing additional stresses on the ecosystem. Cleanup systems have col- 

 lected surface liquids in 8 foot seas that were more than 70 percent oil. 



To date, oil spill containment and cleanup systems or equipment are 

 far from 100 percent effective in controlling and removing pollution under 

 most weather and sea conditions. None is effective in turbulent seas 

 where wave heights exceed 8 feet [5]. 



4.19.5 Ecological Disturbance 



Petroleum spilled along the coast is potentially toxic to virtually 

 all marine and coastal organisms including waterfowl, mammals, fishes, 

 shellfishes, reptiles, and plankton. Nearshore and estuarine areas 

 are vulnerable to offshore oil spills because of shoreward winds, cur- 

 rents, and tides. 



Aromatic fractions (many of them water soluble) are the most toxic 

 to many marine organisms. Concentrations of water soluble ar'omatic 

 derivatives as low as 0.1 part per million may be toxic to larvae. 

 Adult organisms are sensitive to concentrations of 1 part per million. 

 Crustaceans and burrowing animals are most sensitive, fishes and bi- 

 valves moderately sensitive, and gastropods and plants are least 

 sensitive [173]. 



In addition to lethal effects, the major adverse environmental 

 effects of direct oil pollution of coastal waters are: (1) sub-lethal 

 effects including disruption of the physiological, behavioral, and 

 reproductive activities of aquatic species; (2) changes in physical 

 and chemical habitats, causing exclusion of species and reduction 

 of populations; and (3) incorporation of hydrocarbons into the food 

 chain and other stresses on the ecosystem resulting in altered 



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