Hence, protection of wetlands should be given high priority in spill re- 

 sponse. Five wetlands sites were identified in the Santa Barbara Channel. 

 For all of these sites booming strategies were developed for the channel by 

 which the wetlands communicate with the sea. If oil can be prevented from 

 entering the narrow opening, the larger system can be protected. Oil contain- 

 ment booms can be used either to block the entrance channel or to divert oil 

 from the channel onto an adjacent beach. In times of low flow (California 

 summers) a sand berm quickly constructed may prevent oil from entering wetland 

 areas. Methods must be developed and tested for each site. 



DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES TO PROTECT BIOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS 



Identification of biologically sensitive areas is only the first step in 

 the spill response planning process. Specific strategies and methods to pro- 

 tect each site must then be developed. To protect Channel Islands rookeries, 

 Clean Seas, Inc. acquired the equipment and the capability to apply chemical 

 dispersants from helicopters. Some dispersant was also stockpiled at Clean 

 Seas' primary storage facility in Carpinteria (Figure 1). Permission to use 

 dispersants must be obtained from the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) with support- 

 ing recommendations from various other Federal and State agencies. Such per- 

 mission has been granted only a few times in U.S. waters. To make response 

 planning effective, Government agencies and cleanup cooperatives should begin 

 now to develop specific guidelines for dispersant use. Like any other spill 

 response activity, dispersant use should be well thought out, planned, and 

 practiced before a spill occurs. Needed biological and chemical research, as 

 well as debates among scientists and regulatory agencies about where and when, 

 should begin immediately. It will most likely be too late to prevent harm to 

 the Channel Islands if these decisions are left to be debated until a spill 

 has occurred. 



To protect coastal wetlands, specific booming strategies were developed 

 and tested at each site. To decrease reaction time, eight 40-foot trailers 

 were equipped with gear designed to protect specific sensitive areas. The 

 trailers were then stationed at various points along the coast, as near as 

 possible to the biologically sensitive areas to be protected. Other equipment 

 (such as barges, skimmers, work vessels, and storage tanks) is stationed at 

 four locations along the coast (Figure 3). In time of emergency the network 

 of equipment and personnel is monitored and controlled from a mobile command 

 post. 



GUIDELINES FOR MINIMUM IMPACT OIL SPILL CLEANUP 



When oil contaminates shorelines, decisions must be made regarding 

 whether to attempt cleanup and which cleanup methods to use. Clean Seas' area 

 of responsibility was surveyed and the various habitat types identified. The 

 various cleanup options for these environments were reviewed, including the 



84 



