4.3. Oil Spill Waste Management

52

Following the 2002 Prestige spill off the coast of Spain, almost twice as much waste was collected as oil was spilled – 117,000 tons vs. 63,000 tons. As oil response and recovery operations are rarely conducted near existing waste management facilities, the development of waste management strategies that minimize the amount of waste generated by these activities is of clear importance. Of further importance are the pre-identification, evaluation, and selection of waste management logistical infrastructure (trucks, containers, etc.) and storage and disposal options. Selections will depend on the size of a spill, its location, and local or regional regulatory requirements. In some areas, oil spill wastes are considered “hazardous wastes” and are subject to those regulations.

Graphic
Waste management following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Figure 72: Waste management following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

4.3.1. Storage Options

Onshore/near shore

  • Earthen, snow, or air (inflatable) berms
  • Tanks: livestock, FRAC, oilfield, pillow, etc.
  • Drums
  • Trash bags, dumpsters
  • Dump, tank, or vacuum trucks

Offshore

  • Barges or boats with deck tanks
  • Skimmer vessels
  • Drums
  • Towable tanks, tankers

4.3.2. Disposal Options

Non-oily waste (PPE, sewage, domestic waste)

  • Local wastewater treatment plants
  • Municipal landfills

Oiled and hazardous waste

  • Industrial landfilling
  • Open burning
  • Portable incineration
  • Commercial incineration
  • Reprocessing/recycling
  • Reclaiming/recycling

Footnotes

52. National Fire Protection Association. (2018). NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.; National Fire Protection Association. (2017). NFPA 1072: Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications.

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