97 



There is no evidence that the current Outer Continental Shelf 

 leasing program has not and is not operating safely, but again 

 some questions have been raised. 



In looking for answers to these questions, we must remember 

 that no responsible scientist or researcher can or will claim they 

 can prove an3rthing conclusively, and a negative cannot be proven 

 at all. We must always be willing to accept some level of risk as we 

 explore and develop resources offshore. 



In light of this, and of our concern for the wise use of our coastal 

 and ocean resources, I look forward to today's witnesses. Thank 

 you. 



Mr. Studds. Our first witness, on behalf of the Coast Guard, is 

 Capt. Charles Corbett, Chief of Marine Environmental Response 

 Division, U.S. Coast Guard. Captain Corbett, welcome. I believe we 

 last met in Corpus Christi. 



STATEMENT OF CAPT. CHARLES CORBETT, CHIEF, MARINE EN- 

 VIRONMENTAL DIVISION, U.S. COAST GUARD, ACCOMPANIED 

 BY MIKE CHRISTENSEN 



Captain Corbett, Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. At an earlier round of the ongoing saga of the Coast 

 Guard oilspill cleanup capability. 



Captain Corbett. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman and Members of the 

 committee, realizing the large amount of our time this morning 

 might be spent on questions, I have cut my testimony down to a 

 bare minimum. Since it is only four pages I plan to read the entire 

 statement. 



Mr. Studds. Go right ahead. 



Captain Corbett. I am Capt. Charles Corbett, Chief, Environ- 

 mental Response Division of the Coast Guard's Office of Marine 

 Environment and Systems. I am accompanied today by Mike Chris- 

 tensen of my staff. Thank you for this opportunity to present the 

 Coast Guard's views concerning the state of technological develop- 

 ment and availability of containment and cleanup equipment for 

 drilling activities on the Outer Continental Shelf. 



Technological development of containment and recovery equip- 

 ment has proceeded to the point where it is realistic to expect 

 successful operation of open ocean recovery equipment in 8 to 10 

 foot seas and in winds of at least 20 knots. This is considered the 

 current "state of the art" and is based on observations made of the 

 Coast Guard's open water oil containment and recovery system 

 used on the IXTOC I oil spill at the Bay of Campeche well site. We 

 do not expect significant technological advances in this area since 

 our experience indicates that this may be the outer limit at which 

 mechanical recovery of oil is possible. This rationale is based on 

 the premise that break up of oil and dispersion takes place in 

 about an 8- to 10-foot sea. We have an R. & D. effort underway to 

 develop a computer model that will predict the breakup and disper- 

 sion of floating oil slicks in rough seas. 



As a result of the Presidential Initiatives of 1977, the Secretary 

 of Transportation has approved for planning purposes a 3-year 

 project to locate open water containment and recovery systems at 

 11 high risk areas around the country. Equipment would be stock- 

 piled and maintained at facilities with the objective of attaining a 



