to the nails and the belt. Unoiled sand does not. This equipment shows 

 promise and developments should be watched with interest. 



Tidal Flats 



Sand and mud flats, particularly those associated with estuaries, support 

 rich communities of burrowing invertebrates and are important feeding areas 

 for birds. If tidal flats become oil contaminated, sediment removal, and/or 

 traffic through the area is not recommended. Dispersant use is also not 

 recommended unless it could be applied before oil strands (Crapp et al . 1971). 

 Small crews in boats at high tide could use low-pressure water flushing tech- 

 niques to sweep floating oil to a boomed collection area. 



Harbors and Marinas 



Harbors and marinas often receive heavy commercial shipping and recrea- 

 tional boating use. Some also may support rich benthic and/or fouling 

 communities. Booms, skimmers, and other mechanical oil recovery devices 

 generally work well in the sheltered waters of harbors and marinas. Disper- 

 sant use is not recommended. Flushing with low-pressure water to remove 

 oil from jetties, sea walls and pilings is recommended over steam cleaning or 

 other high-impact methods. 



IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSE PLANNING BY CLEAN SEAS COOPERATIVE 



A spill response manual was developed for Clean Seas, Inc. (CSI 1978), 

 based on previous recommendations (Lindstedt-Siva 1976) and results of field 

 testing. The manual describes methods to protect identified biologically sen- 

 sitive areas (e.g., boom deployment patterns for wetlands openings) and in- 

 cludes cleanup guidelines. It is a working document, put into practice 

 through regular drills and training exercises. The importance of such exer- 

 cises cannot be overemphasized. Methods are tested and practiced and logis- 

 tical problems worked through. The key is to make as many response decisions 

 as possible before a spill occurs. 



Equipment is stockpiled and carefully maintained by Clean Seas staff 

 (e.g., all engines are run regularly, much equipment is stored on or in 

 trailers) so that response in an actual emergency can be as rapid as possible. 

 Fast response capability is essential in a spill response plan designed to in- 

 fluence the outcome of the spill situation, e.g., prevent oil from reaching 

 biologically sensitive areas. 



After the response plan is implemented and training exercises ongoing, 

 of course, everyone involved hopes the plan will never have to be used. The 

 Clean Seas, Inc. response plan was activated in December 1977 when a small 

 spill occurred offshore, not far from a wetlands site identified as a 

 biologically sensitive area. Clean Seas responded rapidly, boomed the 



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