906 Oil Spill Cleanup
Glossary
A
- Absorbent Boom. A type of boom designed to absorb oil from the water while also serving as a barrier to contain the spill. These booms are commonly used in smaller spills or in areas where oil needs to be absorbed rather than simply contained.
- Absorbent Materials. Materials used to soak up spilled oil from surfaces, including pads, rolls, and loose fibers.
- Adverse Weather. Weather conditions that hinder response equipment and personnel from effectively cleaning up or removing spilled oil. Factors include significant wave height, ice conditions, temperatures, visibility, and currents.
- Aerosol. Fine liquid droplets or solid particles suspended in a gas.
- Alteration. Any work on a container involving cutting, burning, welding, or heating operations that changes the physical dimensions or configuration of the container.
B
- Backhoe Dredgers. Machines used to remove contaminated soil or sediment during spill cleanup operations, particularly in areas where oil has sunk below the surface.
- Ballast Tanks. Special tanks on large ships used to provide stability when carrying less than a full load of cargo. These tanks are filled with water or other substances to keep the ship upright and are emptied when the ship is loaded with cargo.
- Barrel. A unit of volume used for crude oil or other petroleum products, equal to exactly 42 U.S. gallons or approximately 35 Imperial (UK) gallons.
- Bilge. The lowest point of a ship’s inner hull, where water and other liquids often collect.
- Bioremediation. The use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil, accelerating the natural biodegradation process.
- Black Oil. A black or very dark brown layer of oil on the water's surface. Depending on the quantity spilled, oil tends to spread out over the water surface to a thickness of about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches).
- BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). An explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing a pressurized liquid that has reached temperatures above its boiling point.
- Booms. Floating barriers deployed on the water's surface to contain and prevent the spread of oil spills.
- Breakout Tank. A container used to relieve surges in an oil pipeline system or to receive and store oil transported by a pipeline for reinjection and continued transportation by pipeline.
- Bulk Storage Container. Any container used to store oil, including those used before use, during use, or prior to further distribution in commerce. Oil-filled electrical, operating, or manufacturing equipment is not considered a bulk storage container.
- Bunkered Tank. A container constructed or placed in the ground by cutting the earth and re-covering it in a manner that breaks the surrounding natural grade, or that lies above grade and is covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. Considered an aboveground storage container for regulatory purposes.
C
- Completely Buried Tank. Any container completely below grade and covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. Containers in vaults, bunkered tanks, or partially buried tanks are considered aboveground storage containers for regulatory purposes.
- Containment Boom. A floating barrier designed to limit the spread of oil on the water's surface, often made of durable and buoyant materials to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
D
- Decontamination Zone. A designated area where workers, equipment, and vehicles are cleaned and decontaminated to prevent the spread of hazardous materials during spill response operations.
- Discharge. Includes any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of oil, but excludes discharges in compliance with a permit under section 402 of the Clean Water Act.
- Dispersants. Chemical agents applied to oil spills to break down oil into smaller droplets, promoting natural biodegradation.
E
- Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps. Tools used to identify sensitive areas and resources prior to an oil spill event, aiding in setting protection priorities and planning cleanup strategies.
- Emulsification. The process where oil and water mix to form a thick, viscous substance, making the cleanup process more challenging. Understanding emulsification is crucial for effective spill response.
F
- Facility. Any mobile or fixed, onshore or offshore building, property, parcel, lease, structure, installation, equipment, pipe, or pipeline (other than a vessel or public vessel) used in oil-related activities, including drilling, production, refining, storage, and waste treatment.
- Floating Weir Skimmers. A type of oil skimmer that collects oil by allowing it to flow over a weir into a collection chamber, leaving water behind. These are effective for large-scale spills.
G
H
- HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response). A set of guidelines produced by OSHA regulating hazardous waste operations and emergency services in the United States.
- Hydrophobic Materials. Substances that repel water while attracting oil, often used in sorbents and absorbent pads for spill cleanup.
I
- In Situ Burning (ISB). A technique for oil spill response involving the controlled burning of oil on the water's surface to rapidly reduce the volume of spilled oil.
J
K
L
- Loading/Unloading Rack. A fixed structure necessary for loading or unloading a tank truck or tank car, which includes a loading or unloading arm and may include piping assemblages, valves, pumps, shut-off devices, overfill sensors, or personnel safety devices.
M
N
O
- Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO). An entity contracted or approved to provide oil spill response resources, including equipment and personnel, to contain and clean up oil spills.
- Oil Skimmers. Devices used to remove oil from the water's surface during spill response operations.
P
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Gear worn by workers to protect against health and safety hazards during oil spill cleanup, including gloves, respirators, and protective clothing.
Q
R
S
- Sorbents. Materials used to recover liquids such as oil through absorption or adsorption during spill response.
T
U
V
- Vacuum Trucks. Vehicles equipped with powerful suction systems to remove large quantities of oil from the environment during spill cleanup operations.
W
- Weathering. The physical and chemical changes that oil undergoes when interacting with the environment, affecting its behavior and the choice of response strategies.