A field guide to oil spill response on freshwater shorelines: chapter 1

This field guide provides responders with response strategies and tactics adapted for freshwater environments with an emphasis on the protection and treatment of oil spills on shorelines. It provides spill response teams with technical support tools for decisions regarding the evaluation of freshwater shorelines and treatment options and is principally based on the experiences and lessons learned during responses and shoreline-related projects, since 2005. This guide is one of a series produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to provide the best available knowledge, guidance, and standards for responders and decision-makers dealing with oil spills in marine and freshwater shoreline environments.

The Freshwater Shoreline Response Field Guide is aligned with, and complements, the most recent editions of the ECCC SCAT Manual (ECCC 2018) and the ECCC Field Guide to Oil Spill Response on Marine Shorelines (ECCC 2016). These field guides combine existing scientific and technical knowledge with experience from recent responses, experts, and practitioners in order to assist and educate spill responders and enhance the spill response process.

1.1 Contents of the field guide

Section 1 (Introduction) provides the objectives and purpose of this field guide and outlines the different aspects of oil spill response on freshwater shorelines, including response phases. For a more detailed overview of response phases, management activities, and the types of decisions that collectively make up the shoreline protection and treatment components of a spill response operation, refer to the Field Guide to Oil Spill Response on Marine Shorelines (ECCC 2016).

Section 2 (Health and safety for field teams) provides an overview of safety requirements for field teams, including identification of risks, implementation of mitigation measures, effective communication through Safety Plans, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and briefings, and proper use and maintenance of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Section 3 (Freshwater environments) provides an overview of freshwater watercourse types and their shoreline types, geomorphology, and hydrodynamic features.

Section 4 (Oil fate and behaviour in freshwater environments) provides an overview of the physical and chemical processes that cause oil to change (weather) and migrate in freshwater environments. The natural attenuation of oil on shorelines and the main physical/chemical properties, behavioural characteristics, and adverse effects of various types of oil in freshwater are described. An introduction to ice and snow, and the effects of winter conditions on oil behaviour and weathering is provided. Important differences between marine and freshwater environments are identified when transferring knowledge and spill response experience from one environment to another.

Section 5 (Response – planning) introduces Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) that may be used to help select the most effective and feasible oil spill response option(s), shoreline response planning, lake and river segmentation and mapping, and contingency and tactical planning.

Section 6 (Response – operations) provides useful tips for responders, such as estimating water velocity and listing typical response equipment for different environments. Response strategies and tactics for shoreline protection both at and near the shore zone are described in a package of eight (8) information sheets. Recognizing different substrate types and knowing how oil will likely behave on them and the potential effects of various treatment approaches are important elements in selecting appropriate shoreline treatment options. This knowledge along with best practices are provided in a package of seventeen (17) information sheets for the various freshwater substrate types. Sixteen (16) shoreline treatment tactics, categorized broadly as natural recovery or weathering, wash and recover, removal, in-situ treatment, and chemical or biological treatment, are described in a package of information sheets. An overview of waste generation, handling, and disposal for various shoreline treatment options is also provided.

Section 7 (Response – special topics) considers aspects of unique response operations in rivers (e.g. fast water, woody material), describes detection and delineation and response options for more challenging situations (e.g. submerged and sunken oil), and introduces newer response ‘tools’ (e.g. oil detection canines).

Section 8 (Response – completion and monitoring) describes the monitoring and completion phase, including the development of, and agreement to, shoreline treatment criteria (previously referred to as treatment endpoints).

Section 9 (Case studies: freshwater spills) provides Canadian and international freshwater spill case studies to convey lessons learned and best management practices.

Most importantly, the field guide has been constructed so that main sections can be used as stand-alone documents.

1.2 Objectives and purpose

The field guide provides advice and guidance on the protection and treatment of freshwater shorelines threatened or affected by an oil spill. The information is presented primarily with planners and field responders in mind but is equally applicable to decision-makers involved in both preparedness and response.

This guide focuses on conventional tactics normally available to responders that are applicable and appropriate to the freshwater shoreline environments of Canada. As similar physical types of shoreline are found around the world, the guide is also relevant to oil spills on freshwater shorelines in most other countries.

1.2.1 The response framework

The primary objective of an oil spill response operation is to ensure the safety of the public and responders in the immediate area and to minimize adverse effects on the environment, including essential infrastructure, such as municipal water intakes. Although this typically involves a range of decisions and actions, the components of the response operation can be broadly organized and addressed in a logical and sequential manner. Understanding the framework of this process, as well as being aware of state-of-the-art knowledge, tools, and best practices contribute to the decision-making process during a response.

When an oil spill occurs, the overall objectives after safety are to minimize its effects and then to assess recovery of shoreline and/or shoreline resources; these are outlined in Figure 1.1. If possible, the most immediate actions should focus on controlling the spill at its source to reduce the volume of oil released in the environment. At the same time, strategies for on-water containment and recovery should focus on 1) minimizing the spread of the oil and therefore the size of the affected area, and 2) reducing the volume of oil remaining in the environment.

Figure 1.1: Spill control objectives

This field guide describes the protection and treatment of shorelines (Section 6), which typically follows the attempts to control oil at its source and/or on water.

1.2.2 Shoreline response phases

Shoreline response actions and decisions ideally follow four phases within a framework that allows for continuous learning and improved response effectiveness (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2: Shoreline response and decision framework (revised from ECCC 2016)

1. The preparation phase (pre-spill) is ideally contributed to by both government and potential responsible parties. Knowledge, tools, and expertise are developed and included in contingency or response plans to be called upon if a spill occurs.
2. The emergency response phase (reactive) immediately follows an incident with the primary focus on source control and/or control on water. Shorelines are addressed in the context of protection priorities for sensitive areas, strategies, and tactics. The initial actions will make use of available contingency or response plans.
3. The planned response phase is transitioned to under the direction of the spill management team. For shoreline treatment, management by objectives involves a series of planned activities based on an assessment of the situation and decisions about response priorities. Planned shoreline protection and treatment activities include determining the process by which treatment completion can be achieved.
4. The monitoring and completion phase consists of an inspection process to ensure that shoreline treatment has been completed according to plans, which eventually leads to closure. Lessons learned are incorporated into an improved contingency or response plan.