Severe wave action has been found to remove oil from contaminated 

 rocks in a few months, and accelerates the breakup and dispersal of oil 

 on sandy beaches. Biodegradation of oil is a secondary process that is 

 continuously in progress. Biological processes are slow, but in combi- 

 nation with dispersal forces eventually remove the visible evidence 

 of oil contamination. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



To provide data for a beach cleanup manual, the following studies 

 should be considered. 



1. Prediction of Oil Penetration Depth . Oil penetration depth is 

 the most significant criterion for selecting method-equipment for remov- 

 ing contaminated sand and gravel. It will be useful if such a depth can 

 be estimated prior to arrival of the oil and/or the beach cleanup coordi- 

 nation. 



The oil penetration depth is dependent on the amount, type, and 

 age of oil spilled and the porosity of the beach material. Quantitative 

 relationship between these parameters can be obtained by theoretical/ 

 empirical computation of the movement and aging process of the spilled 

 oil and experimental study of the dynamics of oil on a porous medium 

 using models (properly scaled) of various beaches. 



2. More Complete Information on Previous Operations. Time and 

 funding of present effort preclude the use of an extensive data gather- 

 ing which will enable the estimate of time, manpower required, and cost. 

 Such information can be obtained from individuals involved in previous 

 cleanup operations by a written survey via a set of carefully prepared 

 questionnaires followed by personal or phone interviews, 



3. Use of Piston Film as Oil Preventive Measure . In addition to the 

 use of an artificial berm to minimize the damage to the backshore area, 

 other measures may also be taken to minimize the degree of contamination 

 to the beach. Application of piston film into the water near the shoreline 

 may reduce the amount of oil washed ashore and allow the removal of 



oil while it is still on the water surface. 



The effectiveness of piston film in such applications can be 

 established by theoretical analysis based on data obtained on the char- 

 acteristics of piston film/oil in wave and wind environment. 



4. Prediction of Contamination. The movement of spilled oil depends 

 on the currents, winds, and wave action and the degree of contamination 

 of the beach depends on the characteristics of the oil and the beach 

 involved. A method is needed to predict where the oil will hit the beach 

 and the probable characteristics of the oil upon arrival (which depends 

 on the type of the oil when it is spilled, the sea environment, and 



