Environmental and Scientific Issues

Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling

The Oil Spill Trajectory Model (OSTM) is used by AMSA as a decision support tool to predict the behaviour of various oils in the water column based on wind and tidal data. It is a important tool used during an oil spill response as well as an integral part of contingency planning, backtracking mystery spills and has been used as evidence in court for prosecutions.

In March 2007 training was provided to AMSA staff in the operation of the new HydroMap hydrodynamic modeling software as well as a refresher in the OilMap spill trajectory model.

Version 6 of Oilmap is currently being tested with a view to migration in late 2007.

AMSA has developed a ‘Google Earth’ compatible option for the OSTM output that will enable the OSTM output to be visualized in the free software.

ChemMap Plume Modelling Software

NPOG has approved the purchase of chemical plume modelling software (ChemMap) in the 2007-2008 financial year.  ChemMap is a chemical discharge model designed to predict the trajectory, fate, impacts and biological effects of a wide variety of chemical substances three-dimensionally.  Software applications will include hindcast/forecast of spill release, contingency planning, natural resource damage assessment and operational response options.  Funds were allocated  in the 2007-2008 budget for the purchase of two software licences and for three days of specialist training, conducted by Asia-Pacific Applied Science Associates.

State Chemical Spill Response Workshops

During 2007, the Chemical Operations Working Group (COWG) developed a workshop template to assist in the planning and execution of State chemical spill workshops.  Outcomes of these workshops will enhance Australia's ability to meet its obligations as a signatory to the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances 2000.  The template identifies the main issues to be examined in the workshops, major steps in emergency response planning at a local level, potential stakeholders and facilitation guidelines.  The workshop template is to be submitted to NPOG in December 2007 for consideration.

Oil Spill Response Atlas

The Oil Spill Response Atlas (OSRA) provides vital environmental, biological and logistical information to marine spill responders in a useful and effective format to enable a fast and efficient response to oil and chemical spills in the marine environment. Funding for the 2006-2007 financial year approved to all States and the Northern Territory for OSRA tasks was $100,000.

The Environment Working Group (EWG) identified to the NPOG meeting in November 2004 that it was timely to migrate OSRA and the OSRA Toolset to the ArcGIS platform.  During 2006-2007, a project was undertaken by AMSA in consultation with EWG, State and Northern Territory OSRA Coordinators and Environmental and Scientific Coordinators to progress the migration.  Priority tools were identified for re-development on the ArcGIS platform.  A subset of these was also identified for re-development for ArcPad (for use on pocket PCs) to enhance the field capacity of OSRA.  A technical specification was commissioned and completed in 2007; however, it was not possible to attract a GIS developer to build the toolset within the allocated budget and timeframe.  The toolset migration has therefore been suspended pending further discussion of the future direction of OSRA by NPOG.

Update of Oiled Wildlife Kits

The 3rd Oiled Wildlife Workshop, held in Cottesloe, Western Australia in November 2005 identified a number of additional items that would enhance the National Plan Oiled Wildlife Kits.  These kits are currently located in Sydney, Darwin, Townsville, Como, Dampier, Adelaide and Brisbane.  During 2006-2007, AMSA further developed the list in consultation with oiled wildlife responders and EWG and commenced purchasing of items with a view to supplying the new items to the kits in late 2007.  An additional kit is to be located in Tasmania from late 2007.

A Non-Avian Wildlife Response Handbook was produced in 2007 with the aim of assisting Environmental and Scientific Coordinators in their response to oiled wildlife.  This reference list will direct spill responders to useful documents that relate to the rehabilitation of non-avian species typically found in Australian marine and coastal environments.

Research, Development and Technology Program

Oil and Dispersed Oil Impacts on Temperate Seagrasses

Although Australian-approved Oil Spill Dispersants rate predominantly as “slightly toxic” to “practically non-toxic” by the International Maritime Organization GESAMP classification system, there is limited knowledge on the specific effects on seagrasses exposed to dispersants. The use of dispersants may also increase the exposure of submerged seagrasses to oil as dispersed oil enters the water column.

To address the knowledge gap on the impact on seagrasses exposed to oil spills, AMSA entered into a funding agreement on behalf of the National Plan with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The National Plan is also providing in-kind support and technical advice to the research team.

UTS researchers are using a combination of laboratory and field experiments to compare the toxicity of several oils and dispersant/oil mixtures on seagrasses, and to provide advice on the best approach to the use of dispersants on oil spills in the vicinity of seagrasses. An additional aim is the development of a method using microalgae to provide a rapid bioassay of expected impacts on seagrass from oils and oil/dispersant mixtures.

UTS has completed proof-of-concept work using Slickgone NS dispersant and Gippsland Crude oil to study effects on a common seagrass species (Zostera capricorni) in temperate waters in New South Wales. The report on this work was circulated to National Plan Stakeholders in late 2005.

UTS and the Australian Research Council have provided further funding towards the project.  A PhD student is continuing the work with more dispersants (Corexit 9500, Ardrox 6120 and Corexit 9527) and oils (Tapis Crude and IFO 380).  The National Plan will provide in-kind support and technical advice via the Environment Working Group throughout the project.

Evaluation of magnetic versus detergent-based cleansing of oiled wildlife in the field - animal welfare, logistics, waste and cost considerations.

Following recommendations of the 2nd National Plan Oiled Wildlife Workshop (February 2004) and the 14th Environmental & Scientific Coordinators Workshop (May 2005), a new RD&T project to evaluate the use of magnets versus detergent-based cleansing of oiled wildlife in the field was commence in July 2006.

This project is consistent with the currently identified research areas in the National Plan RD&T Strategy, specifically the category of Innovative Marine Pollution Technology and sub-category of research and development of methods to restore and rehabilitate natural resources (including wildlife) damaged by oil and chemical pollution.

The outcome of this project will be a report evaluating magnetic cleansing compared to conventional detergent-based methods, including:

• any benefits to oiled wildlife, particularly with regard to reduced handling time and therefore stress;
• cost of materials and deployment;
• logistics;
• waste disposal;
• any technological developments required; and
• future direction of research into this technique.

It is expected that the project will be finalised during the second half of 2007.

Biodiesels as biodegradable cleaning agents for heavy oil spills: an analysis of effectiveness and net environmental benefit

Recent experience with oil spills in the Philippines (MV Solar I), Australia (Global Peace) and Spain (Prestige) has highlighted the need to find a cheap, effective and biodegradable agent to clean heavy oil from mangroves, roots and surfaces, marshlands and other shoreline habitats without adversely impacting the intertidal and marine environment. Such an agent would also be useful for cleaning heavy oil from man-made surfaces such as marina structures, wharf piles, boats, concrete, rock walls and oil containment and recovery equipment. Existing surfactant and solvent based cleaning agents are expensive, not universally accepted as shoreline cleaning agents and not currently stocked by the National Plan.

The National Plan Environmental and Scientific Coordinators Workshop in 2006 identified the potential of vegetable oil based biodiesels as a cleaning agent for mangroves and other surfaces and recommended that EWG consider developing an RD&T project to investigate further.  Such a project would build on previous studies overseas and consider the effectiveness and net environmental benefit of locally-available biodiesels.

Based on EWG’s proposal, NPOG instructed AMSA to undertake the project.  Planning and identification of suitable contractors commenced during 2006 - 2007 and subject to a contractor being chosen, work is expected to commence during the later half of 2007.

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