Oil Spills: Impacts, Recovery and Remediation

Over the past 25 years, substantial information has been gathered during oil spill response efforts that provides guidance related to the interaction of spilled oil within various coastal environments. Commonly observed oil / shoreline interactions, natural and man-induced recovery rates, and cases where additional remedial efforts are needed, are discussed using Brazil's shoreline ranking based on environmental sensitivity. Case examples are taken from major spills in Spain, France, Chile and the United States. A recent damage assessment of a marsh ecosystem indicates potential scientific flaws in the application of U.S. methodology. Lastly, coastal scientists must take an active role in an oil spill response to ensure that their special expertise is applied appropriately during an oil spill response.