The arctic s ninemonth ice season means a catastrophic oil spill could rage out of control until the spring melt, allowing oil to travel hundreds of miles over the winter. He was chief of environment canadas environmental emergencies technology centre in ottawa for over 30 years. But as a new report shows, cleaning up an oil spill in the pristine arctic ocean would be next to impossible. Furthermore, in the case of vesselsource pollution, national policymakers have limited ability. This white paper is a compilation of research on oil spills in icecovered arctic waters and recommendations for future work. Arctic oil drilling is a dangerous, highrisk enterprise and an oil spill under these icy waters would have a catastrophic impact on one of the most pristine, unique and beautiful landscapes on earth. May 31, 2016 the government has approved and courts upheld shells arctic oil spill plans, and officials say that much has been learned from the deepwater horizon disaster in the gulf of mexico. Bp says the oil is moving away from land and dispersing naturally, but the spill is a reminder that accidents happen as more oil development is eyed for the arctic. Improvements in oil spill response are vital to receive a license to operate. Arctic oil spill cleanup plans are thoroughly inadequate, industry. At the same time, unique aspects of the arctic environment can in some instances work to the responders advantage. Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved scientific.
An evaluation of oil pollution prevention strategies in. The major problem researchers face in discussing the environmental impact of a large oil spill in the arctic ocean, if and how it can be remediated, and how it would affect the unique polar environment is that, quite simply, such an event has never happened or has. Deep oil spills facts, fate, and effects steven murawski springer. Jul 19, 2017 the united states is not ready to clean up an oil spill in the arctic, the head of the coast guard said yesterday. The dynamics of the ice pack combined with the long life of the oil could allow an oil spill to have a major effect on the albedo in certain regions of the. Written specifically for potential spills in the alaskan beaufort sea, the book is also in important resource for environmental evaluation of other arctic regions. Jan 08, 2020 our work in the arctic click the image for a larger view of noaas conceptual model of an arctic oil spill s potential impacts on marine food webs and human activities that depend on them. Preventing another exxon valdez disaster ocean conservancy. Drilling the arctic comes with a 75 percent chance of a.
International experts in the field of oil spill response, including reprsentatives from 26. Currently, no offshore oil and gas drilling is taking place in the canadian arctic. The arctic small communities preparedness database and map is a deliverable of the prevention, preparedness and response ppr in small communities project of the emergency prevention preparedness and response eppr working group of the arctic council. Largescale work on oil spills in sea ice began in the early 1970s in canada and the united states with the beaufort sea project and the outer continental shelf environmental assessment program, respectively e. An arctic oil spill planning for the unknown does ice help or hinder response. This paper examines the scope and application of the relevant treaties and argues that a regulatory gap exists in the prevention of oil spills and addressing the challenges of response. Whereas national laws vary extensively across the arctic states, international law does not offer a uniform approach to prevention of and response to oil spills. The april 2010 deepwater horizon well blowout in the gulf of mexico prompted a reconsideration of the potential for a major blowout from proposed oil exploration or production in the. As the drumbeat increases for more offshore oil development in alaska, new questions are emerging about whether state regulators are prepared for an oil spill off the arctic coastline. International experts in the field of oil spill response, including reprsentatives from 26 nato countries, participated in a workshop in canada to discuss their experience in the development and application of current and emerging technologies for oil spill response in the marine environment. High arctic residents make plan for oilspill response.
Almost 30 years ago, congress passed the oil pollution act of 1990, aka opa 90, a significant milestone in regulating oil spill prevention and response readiness in the united states. The 25th anniversary of the exxon valdez oil spill is a good opportunity to evaluate the threat of an oil spill in the arctic. Arctic oil spill is certain if drilling goes ahead, says. More recently, offshore oil production has become a russonorwegian focus.
We also provide a brief introduction to the research and the context within which it is conducted. Arctic and antarctic spills handbook of oil spill science and. Arctic oil spill response is challenging because of extreme weather and environmental conditions. A serious oil spill in the arctic is a dead cert if drilling goes ahead, with potentially devastating consequences for the pristine region, according to a leading marine scientist who played a. The arctic council should address oil spill prevention first and foremost, said earthjustice attorney holly harris. The report states emphatically that spill prevention and response must fit arctic specific risks. Increased need for arctic oil spill prevention and response amy a. The remoteness, along with the ice cover, periods of dark and vast areas of unmapped seafloor represent challenge after challenge. Arctic oil drilling plans raise environmental health concerns. In the field of offshore oil pollution prevention, preparedness and response, the u.
The arctic is warming at an accelerating rate and as sea ice continues to melt away, arctic waters are becoming increasingly navigable to vessels carrying heavy fuel oil hfo. This book is a compilation of research on oil spills in icecovered arctic waters and recommendations for future work. Scientists call for more data on arctic oilspill prevention. Spill response in the arctic offshore i preface this publication has been prepared jointly by the american petroleum institute api arctic oil spill task group and the joint industry programme on oil spill recovery in ice jip. Oil spill response and the challenges of arctic marine shipping. The risks of such an accident are ever present and the oil industrys response plans remain wholly inadequate. Effects of oil spills in arctic waters by karl magnus eger oil in the arctic marine ecosystem originates mainly from two sources. While these activities may seem like new developments, in fact arctic oil exploration, and in some cases production, has been going on for about half a century. Unh codirector, crrc presentation to iccopr and usarc march 4, 2010.
The authors considered 22 different oil spill scenarios in the beaufort sea, off the northwest coast. In particular, this study explores the differences and influences in norwegian and russian offshore oil spill prevention policy in the barents sea. Your print orders will be fulfilled, even in these challenging times. While incident prevention remains the primary approach to risk mitigation, oil spill preparedness and response establishes the means to effectively plan and minimize the potential environmental consequences associated with any spill scenario. Now imagine the nearest port from which to launch an emergency response is in seattle, more than a thousand miles away, and that san diego is. Current technology has not been proved to effectively clean up oil when mixed with ice or when trapped under ice. Oil spill response is demanding under any circumstances, and arctic conditions impose additional environmental and logistical challenges. Environmental effects of arctic oil spills and spill response. With regard to scope, we must also be clear as to what is not included in this white paper. Drilling opponents and some oil spill veterans assert that the extreme cold, storms, high waves, winds, darkness, and fog that occur routinely in the region could challenge spill cleanup, particularly in the event of a latefall blowout, when ice begins to gather. Wise decision making concerning arctic oil spill response and prevention by working to fill gaps in knowledge needed by agencies, industry, oil spill responders, and the public. May 08, 2015 an oil spill in the arctic could happen in a number of ways. Impacts could be due to contact with oil or disturbance from spill response activities. Preventing and preparing for oil spills in the arctic noaa.
List of books and articles about oil pollution online. The findings from this study are further evidence that the department of interior should not consider additional arctic oil and gas leases without the necessary spill prevention and response technologies in place. In april, the us national research council highlighted the lack of technological capacity to respond to oil spills in arctic waters. Although the exxon valdez oil spill was not the biggest oil spill in the world, it is still widely considered to have caused more environmental damage than any other. All pre spill strategies emphasize oil spill prevention above everything else. We identify research entities in governmental, nongovernmental, industrial, and private organizations, and provide an inventory of research projects. Here are few ways to follow up your oil spill lesson. The spill of the tanker exxon valdez brought about the oil pollution act of 1990, which spelled many changes to the roles various agencies take in oil spill prevention and response. Risking oil spills, human life, and wildlife i n the summer of 2012, exploratory drilling is planned to begin in the arctic oceana place that should be off limits to oil drilling because an oil spill would be impossible to clean up. We are developing an arctic environmental response management application, a critical gis tool to support decision makers during oil spills and.
Why an oil spill in arctic waters would be devastating. Alaska starts to prepare for the worst, an arctic oil spill. Arctic oil spill cleanup plans are thoroughly inadequate. Ors is a meeting point for business, regional and environmental interests. Oil spill prevention in the arctic can be improved with biowaste oil spills are one of the greatest threats to the marine ecosystem. There is a short window to stop risky drilling with two steps. Oil spill prevention and black carbon emissions demand the. The dangers of arctic oil greenpeace international. Spill response in the arctic offshore oil spill response is demanding under any circumstances, and arctic conditions impose additional environmental and logistical challenges. No response methods is completely effective or riskfree.
Why an arctic oil spill would be really, really bad mother. Thats why wwfcanada is drafting an oil spill response plan with resolute bay residents, following a series of consultation meetings held in the high arctic community of about 200, march 12 to march 16. Apr 22, 2011 two decades after the exxon valdez oil spill devastated a vast stretch of the alaskan coast, governments and industry in the arctic would still be unable to effectively manage a large oil spill. In fact, no significant amount of oil has been successfully recovered in the arctic. An oil spill would have a profoundly adverse impact on the rich and complex ecosystem found nowhere else in the united states.
Where extreme depths are the primary challenge for offshore drilling in the gulf of mexico, drilling and spill cleanup in the ocs will be challenged by ice cover, subzero temperatures, and harsh weather. Areas it targeted include the arctic sea, where experts have warned an oil spill could be an ecological disaster, as well as the arctic national wildlife refuge anwr, not far from where bp. The united states is not ready to clean up an oil spill in the arctic, the head of the coast guard said yesterday. Federal and state spill prevention and response standards should be updated and tailored to the arctic. Estimating the acute impacts of arctic marine oil spills using expert. Oil spill equipment is not good enough sintef has recently completed a research project that investigated how oil spills can be treated under arctic conditions. However, it holds great risk to its surrounding environment and its inhabitants in the case of a spill.
In 1994, the republic of komi, where usinsk lies 40 miles south of the arctic circle, became the scene of russias largest oil spill when an estimated 100,000 tons splashed from an aging pipeline. The best way to avoid such accidents is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Four reasons why an arctic oil spill could be catastrophic. The study used computer modelling to predict the behaviour of oil spills in the arctic region. Fortunately, forwardlooking safety measures can minimize the impacts of vessel traffic in the arctic. Constant oil spills devastate russia the seattle times. But the report, oil spill prevention and response in the us arctic ocean, by the pew environment group, warns that oil companies are not ready to deal with a spill, despite the lessons of the bp. The search for oil is reaching into ever more remote corners of the world, including the u. Oil spill response ors involves many actors and requires strong coordination. In the event of an oil spill, however, strategies for decisionmaking and response are critical to keep oil away from the shore and to minimize impacts on sensitive habitats, organisms, and people.
Recent years have seen increasing interest in offshore oil exploration in the arctic and other frontier regions. The emergency working group has representatives from each of the member states with expertise in oil spill response, search and rescue, and response to radiological events. Oil spill prevention in the arctic can be improved with. The arctic council and offshore oil pollution prevention. Bp platform leaks oil into north sea with no plans. Oil spills are a terrible, horrible, no good, very big mess, even in in the best of times. Oil spill research and development for the artic subarctic.
International governance of oil spills from upstream. Congress must act to protect a changing arctic anchorage. He has conducted research in spill dynamics and behavior, and studies of spill treating agents, insitu burning of oil, and oil spill chemistry and analysis. This part of the oil record book is mandatory for every oil tanker of 150 tons gross tonnage or more and any other ship of 400 tons gross tonnage or more that carries oil as fuel or as cargo. A major oil spill that occurs in severe arctic conditions will never be cleaned up to the point that serious environmental damage will be avoided. Summary even the remote polar regions are not immune to oil and fuel. This report examine the risks, challenges and potential consequences of oil spills associated with oil and gas exploration and production in the outer continental shelf ocs of the united states arctic ocean. An introduction and inventory of research activities and usarc recommendations. In 2016, the government of canada, along with the united states, imposed a fiveyear moratorium on issuing new oil and gas licenses in the arctic ocean but operations can. Preventing and preparing for oil spills in the arctic.
It could be a cruise ship thats run aground while passengers are looking at a sea bird colony. Canada is vicechair of the arctic councils emergency prevention, preparedness, and response working group eppr and is chair of the marine environmental response mer experts group. In situ burning for oil spills in arctic watersstateoftheart and future research needs. Diminishing sea ice is opening arctic waters to increased industrial activities such as shipping and oil and gas development. Increased need for arctic oil spill prevention and response. The slow rate of biological degradation of oil at nearzero temperatures has led biologists to suggest that oil spills in the arctic ocean might remain there for periods of 50 years or more. Oil spill response capabilities and technologies for ice. The groupspecific response rates are approximate, since they are based on our. Seasonality should be taken into account in arctic oil spill risk assessments. Emerging petroleum production provides an opportunity to assess environmental stewardship in the region. The jip is aimed at creating international research programmes to further enhance industry knowledge and.
Focus on the preparedness, prevention, response, monitoring, and mitigation of marine oil spills in the arctic. But the report, oil spill prevention and response in the us arctic ocean, by the pew environment group, warns that oil companies are not ready. Establish oil spill prevention, control, and response as the overarching theme for u. Sep 27, 2016 scientists call for more data on arctic oilspill prevention. Recommendations on oil spill preven tion, response, and safety the search for oil is reaching into ever more remote corners of the world, including the u. Advancing oil spill response in icecovered watersii the prince william sound oil spill recovery institute osri was established by congress in 1997 to support research and educational and demonstration projects, all of which address oil spills in arctic and sub arctic marine environments. The deepwater horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as. Planning emergency response operations for the arctic falls to the emergency prevention, preparedness and response working group, an arctic council body. In the case of prince william sound, alyeska pipeline service company maintains a prevention and response plan for the 800mile pipeline, the terminal at valdez and. There is a critical lack of response infrastructure for oil spills in arctic waters. Recovering oil from a major spill would be all but impossible. Some other good choices are peters place by sally grindley and michael foreman, prince william by gloria rand and gulf coast oil spill. The conclusion was that existing equipment continues to be insufficient and that there is a need for further development.
The science and technology center stc for oil spill. Oilspill response in the russian arctic request pdf. The importance of prioritizing prevention in the arctic cannot be overstated. Even as gulf coast residents and ecosystems are still reeling from the deepwater horizon disaster of 2010, shell oil has announced plans to begin exploration drilling this coming summer in the. Among the stakeholders of arctic drilling, the common concern of the social risks appears to. Arctic oil drilling carries both financial and security benefits for alaska and the nation. In the event of an oil spill, wildlife, including birds and marine mammals, could be impacted. Stateapproved oil discharge prevention and contingency plans odpcp that reference the superseded alaska federalstate preparedness plan for response to oil and hazardous substance dischargesreleases unified plan and 10 geographic subarea contingency plans must now be aligned with the alaska regional contingency plan and relevant area contingency plans. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the arctic and. Arctic council has an important role in crossborder harmonization. Hfo, which is one of the worlds dirtiest fuels, is not only virtually impossible to clean up in the event of a spill, but also produces higher levels of air and.
Jan 15, 2015 oil spills are a terrible, horrible, no good, very big mess, even in in the best of times. Oil spill research and development for the artic subarctic nancy e. Hundreds of wells have been drilled in arctic waters without any sustained, uncontrolled release of oil or gas. When a spill occurs, the availability and suitability of the response techniques and equipment vary greatly. Impact of an icediminishing arctic on naval and maritime operations. Birkland georgetown university press, 1997 librarians tip. The group meets twice a year to advance shared objectives and to collaborate on environmental best practices. Nov 11, 2010 but the report, oil spill prevention and response in the us arctic ocean, by the pew environment group, warns that oil companies are not ready to deal with a spill, despite the lessons of the bp. The project was developed following an eppr workshop held in anchorage, alaska in 2015, at which participants identified the. Why cleaning up an arctic oil spill would be impossible. The warning comes as congress prepares to open up more drilling in a region. Annex g of the unified plan guides any responses to wildlife that are threatened or impacted by a spill event in alaska adec spill prevention and response, 2002a.
Hardtofind guide to establishing contingency plans for oil spills in the arctic environment. Oil spilled in arctic waters would be particularly difficult to remove. Arctic oil spill response arctic fact sheets iogp bookstore. About 95 metric tons of oil leaked into the north sea on sunday from bps clair platform, and it will be left in the ocean.