properly coordinated physically responsive group can perform the 

 initial scientific evaluation and construct the follow-up program. 

 In the case of local contingency research plans in high risk areas 

 (such as the Sodertalje shipping channel), details of the study can 

 be laid out in advance and the study narrowed according to the 

 events of the spill. For less pre-studied areas or for readiness 

 in general, it is necessary to lay out a flexible scientific capa- 

 bility. The initial investigation (quick response) will have to 

 include some method for rapidly learning the important aspects of 

 the environment unluckily chosen by the spill, and then determining 

 the parameters that are most important to measure in that case. A 

 plan that is flexible enough to fit a variety of situations, but 

 rigid enough to comply with practised and proven methods, is the 

 ultimate goal. The follow-up program should incorporate early, and 

 to a maximum degree, the capabilities of local or available institu- 

 tions . 



Furthermore, the approach described recognizes the importance 

 of the short-term phase of the study. Results of seemingly similar 

 incidents can be diverse, and the ability to predict or understand 

 the extent of effects from a given incident will depend heavily on 

 detailed knowledge of the initial conditions of the spill and the 

 local environment. Also, it is always desirable to obtain an 

 indication of pre-spill conditions; but the rapidity with which 

 processes occur during the first few days (for example, the trans- 

 port of Tsesis oil to the benthos) means that immediate sampling is 

 often the only way. In any but the most ideal conditions (e.g., 

 Tsesis ) a pretrained, quickly responsive scientific investigating 

 team is needed. An additional benefit of such a response group is 

 the established capability to evaluate a variety of acute pollution 

 incidents. 



In the Tsesis incident, the need for a special response group 

 was compensated by the fortuitous proximity of the Asko laboratory 



22 



