SAPP GUIDELINES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF OIL

SPILLS (FINAL)

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

DOCUMENT Guidelines on the Management of Oil Spills

TYPE Guideline

LAST UPDATE 10-02-2005

Author The Oil spills guidelines development working group

Date 10-02-2005

FILE NAME

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Table of Content

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 3

2.0 Definitions............................................................................................................... 3
3.0 Possible sources of oil spills in a Power Utility...................................................... 5
3.1 Diesel power station leakages............................................................................. 5
3.2 Power transformer leakages................................................................................ 5
3.3 Oil storage and pipe work leakages .................................................................... 6
4.0 General requirements for Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans... 6
5.0 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements. .................... 10
7.0 RESPONSE TO AN OIL SPILL .......................................................................... 13
7.1 Preparation ........................................................................................................ 13
7.2 The Emergency Response Team....................................................................... 14
7.2.1 Spill Manager (Scene Manager) ............................................................... 14
7.2.2 Evaluation ................................................................................................. 15
7.3 Response Techniques........................................................................................ 19
7.3.1 Mechanical containment or recovery........................................................ 19
7.3.2 Chemical and biological methods............................................................. 20
7.3.3 Physical methods ...................................................................................... 20
7.3.4 Training..................................................................................................... 20
7.3.5 Preventive measures.................................................................................. 20

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

An oil spill can be defined as an unintentional discharge of any oil in an

undesignated area and in uncoordinated manner due to an accident or arising
from weather incident or through careless handling.

When an oil spill occurs on land the primary concern of response for planners is;
where will the oil go? And at sea concerns would include: what is the slick
direction, its speed of movement, weathering and spreading characteristics of the
oil under the influence of prevailing currents and weather conditions?

Thus, oil spills can have wide spread impacts and long-term consequences on
the environment (e.g. wildlife, fisheries, human neighborhoods and human
health, coastal and marine habitats, livelihood, provision of social services as
well as on recreational resources of communities.

Oil spills occur despite all measures that responsible companies and agencies
put in place to prevent these from happening. These oil spills can happen at any
time (day or night), location (land or in water) and regardless of weather
conditions.

Oil spills can also vary from region to region and in magnitude, from just a few
litres at a gas station for instance to several hundred to millions of litres if the
same occurs at huge establishments like a refinery or rail tanker. Due to the un-
predictable nature of such an occurrence, preparing a timely and coordinated
response to such an emergency creates an enormous challenge where planning
and training facilities for such incidents are lacking or inadequate.

2.0 Definitions

Bulk storage container means any container used to store oil. These containers
are used for purposes including, but not limited to, the storage of oil prior to use,
while being used, or prior to further distribution in operations. Oil-filled electrical,
operating, or manufacturing equipment is not a bulk storage container.

Clean-up: The action of remediation, this may include soil excavation, bio-
remediation, solvent soil wash, land farming or electrochemical treatment.

Containment: The prevention of the spreading of the oil spill.

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Discharge includes, but is not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, or dumping of oil.

Facility means any fixed building, structure, installation, equipment, oil storage,
oil gathering, oil processing, oil transfer, oil distribution, and waste treatment, or
in which oil is used. The same site and the types of activity at the site.

Fish and wildlife and sensitive environments mean areas that may be
identified by their legal designation or by evaluations. These areas may include
wetlands, National Parks, critical habitats for endangered or threatened species,
wilderness and natural resource areas, marine sanctuaries and estuarine
reserves, conservation areas, preserves, wildlife areas, wildlife refuges, wild and
scenic rivers, recreational areas, national forests, State lands that are research
national areas, heritage program areas, land trust areas, and historical and
archaeological sites and parks. These areas may also include unique habitats
such as aquaculture sites and agricultural surface water intakes, bird nesting
areas, critical biological resource areas, designated migratory routes, and
designated seasonal habitats.

Injury means a measurable adverse change, either long- or short-term, in the

chemical or physical quality or the viability of a natural resource resulting either
directly or indirectly from exposure to a discharge, or exposure to a product of
reactions resulting from a discharge.

Oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to: fats, oils, or
greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin; vegetable oils, including oils
from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels; and, other oils and greases, including
petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, synthetic oils, mineral oils, oil refuse, or oil mixed with
wastes other than dredged spoil.

Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) means an entity that provides oil spill
response resources, and includes any for-profit or not-for-profit contractor,
cooperative, or in-house response resources that have been established in a
geographic area to provide required response resources.

Petroleum oil means petroleum in any form, including but not limited to crude
oil, fuel oil, mineral oil, sludge, oil refuse, and refined products.

Spill: Any amount of oil present out off its "normal" container – where normal
refers to a transformer or a drum etc.

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan; SPCC Plan, or Plan

means the document that details the equipment, workforce, procedures, and
steps to prevent, control, and provide adequate countermeasures to a discharge.

Storage capacity of a container means the shell capacity of the container.

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Abbreviations

PCB: polychlorinated biphenyls

ppm: parts per million

3.0 Possible sources of oil spills in a Power Utility

3.1 Diesel power station leakages

3.2 Power transformer leakages

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3.3 Oil storage and pipe work leakages

4.0 General requirements for Spill Prevention, Control, and

Countermeasure Plans.

The owner or operator of a facility must prepare a Prevention Plan (PP) in

accordance with good engineering practices. The PP must have the full approval
of management at a level of authority to commit the necessary resources to fully
implement the Plan. The PP should be communicated in writing and/or
information sessions.

The following can be used as a guideline to set up your Prevention Plan, which
meets the requirements of your company.

Applicable requirements as listed in these guidelines, and you must supplement

it with a section cross-referencing the location of requirements as listed in these
guidelines and the equivalent requirements in the other prevention plan. If the
Plan calls for additional facilities or procedures, methods, or equipment not yet
fully operational, you must discuss these items in separate paragraphs, and must
explain separately the details of installation and operational start-up. As detailed
in this section, you must also:

(1) Include a discussion of your facility's conformance with the requirements

listed in this part.

(2) Comply with all applicable requirements listed in this part. The Plan may
deviate from these specifications where applicable to a specific facility, if you
provide equivalent environmental protection by some other means of spill
prevention, control, or countermeasure as stipulated in Specific National
Legislation.

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(3) Describe in your Plan the physical layout of the facility and include a facility
diagram, which must mark the location and contents of each container. The
facility diagram must include completely buried tanks. The facility diagram must
also include all transfer stations and connecting pipes. You must also address in
your Plan:

(i) The type of oil in each container and its storage capacity;

(ii) Discharge prevention measures including procedures for routine handling of

products (loading, unloading, and facility transfers, etc.);

(iii) Discharge or drainage controls such as secondary containment around

containers and other structures, equipment, and procedures for the control of a
discharge;

(iv) Countermeasures for discharge discovery, response, and cleanup (both the
facility's capability and those that might be required of a contractor);

(v) Methods of disposal of recovered materials in accordance with applicable

legal requirements; and

(vi) Contact list and phone numbers for the facility response coordinator, National
Response Center, cleanup contractors with whom you have an agreement for
response, and all appropriate State, and local agencies who must be contacted
in case of a discharge.

(4) The Response Plan must provide information and procedures to enable a
person reporting a discharge as to relate information on the exact address or
location and phone number of the facility; the date and time of the discharge, the
type of material discharged; estimates of the total quantity discharged; estimates
of the quantity discharged; the source of the discharge; a description of all
affected media; the cause of the discharge; any damages or injuries caused by
the discharge; actions being used to stop, remove, and mitigate the effects of the
discharge; whether an evacuation may be needed; and, the names of individuals
and/or organizations who have also been contacted.

(5) You must organize the Plan such that portions of the Plan describe
procedures you will use when a discharge occurs in a way that will make them
readily usable in an emergency, and include appropriate supporting material as
appendices.

(a) Where experience indicates a reasonable potential for equipment failure

(such as loading or unloading equipment, tank overflow, rupture, or leakage, or
any other equipment known to be a source of a discharge), include in your Plan a
prediction of the direction, rate of flow, and total quantity of oil which could be
discharged from the facility as a result of each type of major equipment failure.

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(b) Provide appropriate containment and/or diversionary structures or equipment
to prevent a discharge. The entire containment system, including walls and floor,
must be capable of containing oil and must be constructed so that any discharge
from a primary containment system, such as a tank or pipe, will not escape the
containment system before cleanup occurs. At a minimum, you must use one of
the following prevention systems or its equivalent:

(i) Dikes, beams, or retaining walls sufficiently impervious to contain oil;

(ii) Curbing;

(iii) Culverting, gutters, or other drainage systems;

(iv) Weirs, booms, or other barriers;

(v) Spill diversion ponds;

(vi) Retention ponds; or

(vii) Sorbent materials.

(viii) Drip pans; or

(ix) Sumps and collection systems.

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(x) Water-oil separation tanks

WATER AND OIL SEPARATION TANK

General principle
CAMERA 1 CAMERA 2 CAMERA 3
Water and oil
Water
separetad by density
draining
principle
Contami-
nated water
entering

Diesel oil
Soil
and water
absortion
mixed
Oil is less heavy
stays on top.
Sluddge Clean water
deposited water, more heavy infiltrating
stays at the bottom in the soil

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(c) Inspections, tests, and records. Conduct inspections and tests required by
this part in accordance with written procedures that you or the certifying engineer
develop for the facility. You must keep these written procedures and a record of
the inspections and tests, signed by the appropriate supervisor or inspector.
Records of inspections and tests kept under usual and customary business
practices will suffice for purposes of this paragraph.

(d) Personnel, training, and discharge prevention procedures.

(1) At a minimum, train your oil-handling personnel in the operation and

maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; discharge procedure protocols;
applicable pollution control laws, rules, and regulations; general facility
operations; and, the contents of the facility SPCC Plan.

(2) Designate a person at each applicable facility who is accountable for

discharge prevention and who reports to facility management.

(3) Schedule and conduct discharge prevention briefings for your oil-handling
personnel at least once a year to assure adequate understanding of the SPCC
Plan for that facility. Such briefings must highlight and describe known
discharges or failures, malfunctioning components, and any recently developed
precautionary measures.

(e) Security

Fully fence each facility handling, processing, or storing oil, and lock and/or
guard entrance gates when the facility is unattended.

5.0 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements.

The owner or operator of a facility must:

(a) Meet the general requirements for the Plan

Meet the general requirement for the plan listed under section 4 and the specific
discharge prevention and containment procedures listed in this section.

(b) Facility drainage.

(1) Restrain drainage from diked storage areas by valves to prevent a discharge
into the drainage system or facility effluent treatment system, except where
facility systems are designed to control such discharge. You may empty diked
areas by pumps or ejectors; however, you must manually activate these pumps

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or ejectors and must inspect the condition of the accumulation before starting, to
ensure no oil will be discharged.

(2) Use valves of manual, open-and-closed design, for the drainage of diked
areas. You may not use flapper-type drain valves to drain diked areas. If your
facility drainage drains directly into a watercourse and not into an on-site
wastewater treatment plant, you must inspect and may drain uncontaminated
retained storm water, as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section.

(3) Design facility drainage systems from undiked areas with a potential for a
discharge (such as where piping is located outside containment walls or where
tank truck discharges may occur outside the loading area) to flow into ponds,
lagoons, or catchment basins designed to retain oil or return it to the facility. You
must not locate catchment basins in areas subject to periodic flooding.

(4) If facility drainage is not engineered as in paragraph 1 of this section, equip

the final discharge of all ditches inside the facility with a diversion system that
would, in the event of an uncontrolled discharge, retain oil in the facility.

(5) Where drainage waters are treated in more than one treatment unit and such
treatment is continuous, and pump transfer is needed, provide two "lift" pumps
and permanently install at least one of the pumps. Whatever techniques you use,
you must engineer facility drainage systems to prevent a discharge as described
in 4 in case there is an equipment failure or human error at the facility.

(c) Bulk storage containers.

(1) Do not use a container for the storage of oil unless its material and
construction are compatible with the material stored and conditions of storage
such as pressure and temperature.

(2) Construct all bulk storage container installations so that you provide a
secondary means of containment for the entire capacity of the largest single
container and sufficient freeboard to contain precipitation. You must ensure that
diked areas are sufficiently impervious to contain discharged oil. Dikes,
containment curbs, and pits are commonly employed for this purpose. You may
also use an alternative system consisting of a drainage trench enclosure that
must be arranged so that any discharge will terminate and be safely confined in a
facility catchment basin or holding pond.

(3) Do not allow drainage of uncontaminated rainwater from the diked area into a
storm drain or discharge of an effluent into an open watercourse, lake, or pond,
bypassing the facility treatment system unless you:

(i) Normally keep the bypass valve sealed/ closed.

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 (ii) Inspect the retained rainwater to ensure that its presence will not cause
a discharge as described in paragraph (b) 1.

(iii) Open the bypass valve and reseal it following drainage under
responsible supervision; and

(iv) Keep adequate records of such events, for example, any records
required under permits issued in accordance with of this chapter.

(4) Do not use partially buried or bunkered metallic tanks for the storage of oil,
unless you protect the buried section of the tank from corrosion. You must
protect partially buried and bunkered tanks from corrosion by coatings or
cathodic protection compatible with local soil conditions.

(5) Test each aboveground container for integrity on a regular schedule, and
whenever you make material repairs. The frequency of and type of testing must
take into account container size and design (such as floating roof, skid-mounted,
elevated, or partially buried). You must combine visual inspection with another
testing technique such as hydrostatic testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic
testing, acoustic emissions testing, or another system of non-destructive shell
testing. You must keep comparison records and you must also inspect the
container's supports and foundations. In addition, you must frequently inspect the
outside of the container for signs of deterioration, discharges, or accumulation of
oil inside diked areas. Records of inspections and tests kept under usual and
customary business practices will suffice for purposes of this paragraph.

(6) Control leakage through defective internal heating coils by monitoring the
steam return and exhaust lines for contamination from internal heating coils that
discharge into an open watercourse, or pass the steam return or exhaust lines
through a settling tank, skimmer, or other separation or retention system.

(7) Engineer or update each container installation in accordance with good

engineering practice to avoid discharges. You must provide at least one of the
following devices:

(i) High liquid level alarms with an audible or visual signal at a constantly
attended operation or surveillance station. In smaller facilities an audible
air vent may suffice.

(ii) High liquid level pump cutoff devices set to stop flow at a
predetermined container content level.

(iii) Direct audible or code signal communication between the container

gauger and the pumping station.

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 (iv) A fast response system for determining the liquid level of each bulk
storage container such as digital computers, telepulse, or direct vision
gauges. If you use this alternative, a person must be present to monitor
gauges and the overall filling of bulk storage containers.

(v) You must regularly test liquid level sensing devices to ensure proper
operation.

(8) Observe effluent treatment facilities frequently enough to detect possible

system upsets that could cause a discharge.

(9) Promptly correct visible discharges which result in a loss of oil from the
container, including but not limited to seams, gaskets, piping, pumps, valves,
rivets, and bolts. You must promptly remove any accumulations of oil in diked
areas.

(10) Position or locate mobile or portable oil storage containers to prevent a

discharge. You must furnish a secondary means of containment, such as a dike
or catchment basin, sufficient to contain the capacity of the largest single
compartment or container with sufficient freeboard to contain precipitation.

7.0 RESPONSE TO AN OIL SPILL

7.1 Preparation

Cardinal steps that must be followed before any team can respond to an oil spill.
Following questions can be asked.
- When did the oil spill occur?
- Where did the oil spill occur?: country side, in town, near a river, on a
high way etc
- What type of habitat or community live around the oil spill area?
- What type of vessel was involved in the spill?
- What type of oil or fluid spilt?
- What was the weather condition at the time of spill?
- In what terrain - flat, hilly, near a drainage channel?

Assessment of the oil spill will need considerable judgement to perform.

Evaluating the cause, extent and ultimate corrective action can be done using the
table given below (Table 1). The assessment shall include the following factors:

a) identifying the source of the spill;

b) the age of the spill;

c) life-threatening conditions;

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d) weather conditions;

e) properties affected (utilities, neighbours, public roads);

f) traffic implications;

g) threat to any water bodies;

h) PCB presence;

j) soil types; and

k) public relations threat.

The above guiding questions would help the planning authority to deploy an
effective oil spill response personnel and equipment to protect environmentally
sensitive areas and in clean-up planning. It is vital that oil spill response team or
organization have access to good information, equipment and well organized
decision support systems before hand. An emergency response with vital
background information is important in that: ‘Poor information makes bad
decisions and good information makes better decisions."

There are other decision support systems that could be put in place such as
computer based models to predict the direction of flow of the oil spill and a
geographical information system. From an oil spill response perspective, the
primary area of interest could be the protection of sensitive environments and
subsequently for rescue purposes. Hence such decision tools should provide the
basis for taking any such action immediately an oil spill is reported.

7.2 The Emergency Response Team

Equipped with the above information any emergency response agency or centre
can now proceed to put up an emergency response team that should comprise
the following:

7.2.1 Spill Manager (Scene Manager)

The Spill Manager is the official responsible for monitoring or managing

responses to oil spills. Once notified of an oil spill, the Spill Manager also will
conduct an immediate assessment to evaluate several factors, including the size
and nature of the spill, the type of oil spilled, its potential hazards, and the
resources needed to contain and clean it up. The Spill Manager also will monitor
any existing response efforts to determine whether additional technical support is
necessary.

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In general, the Spill Manager has the following key responsibilities during and
after a response to a hazardous substance release or an oil spill: (1)
assessment; (2) monitoring; (3) response assistance; and (4) evaluation.

7.2.2 Evaluation

Evaluating response actions provides information that is useful for designing or

improving spill response plans.

Model oil spill assessment table (Table 1)

Using your judgement and the facts available, allocate the relevant points (1, 3 or
5) to each of the following and add them together. The cumulative score will
dictate the appropriate corrective action.

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Oil spill assessment table

Condition 1 2 5
Source of the spill Weep Drip/Leak Explosion/Incident
Age of spill Historic Happened recently Happened within last 24 h
- spill still moist

Threat to any No threat Threat with rain Access to waterway

waterbody
Containment Leak is minor − Leak is moderate − Leak is serious, containment is
can be controlled, cannot be impossible
contained and successfully
plugged with oil managed with spill
spill kit kit.
Life threatening Not at all Moderate Serious
Conditions (Environmental or (Explosion, fire, health and
health risk only) major environmental)
Weather conditions Good weather Moderate, but may Raining
and will last until change suddenly to
spill is cleared weather conditions
which will hamper
containment
Properties affected None On-site (Only Off-site (Utility's neighbouring
Utility's property is properties and public roads)
affected) ≥25 points
Public relations threat Small Medium Large
Soil types Clay or Loose or loam soil Sandy soil and Gravel
compacted
ground
Traffic implications Not on any road Public road Road closed

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PCB presence* None Less than 50 ppm Over 50 ppm in the oil will
in the oil automatically get ≥25 points
Total score Sub total Sub total Sub total

Minor spill Moderate spill Major spill

≤ 12 points 13 – 24 points ≥ 25 points

Clean-up must be performed Contain and call in the Contain, call on Spill Manager who will
and a report issued to the assistance of the Spill assess the situation and if needed call
relevant Spill Manager Manager upon an emergency response team

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*If the PCB levels of the oil are not known through prior testing, the spill shall be
treated as a PCB spill, until such time that analysis proves otherwise.

7.3 Response Techniques

Various mechanisms are available for controlling oil spills and minimizing their
impacts on human health and the environment. The key to effectively combating
spills is careful selection and proper use of the equipment and materials best
suited to the type of oil and the conditions at the spill site.

The need for immediate corrective action to limit the spillage cannot be
overemphasised as this will minimize the environmental damage and reduce
remediation costs. This can involve actions such as:

a) closing a valve;

b) repairing the leak with rags, plugs or other appropriate material;

c) repositioning the container so that the leaking area is at the highest level or
lifting a fallen drum/container;

d) placing a leaking container or equipment into a collecting tray or bund area;

and

e) collecting the spilt oil in a container located underneath the leak or channelling
the leak into a container

7.3.1 Mechanical containment or recovery

This is the primary line of defense against oil spills. Containment and recovery
equipment includes a variety of booms, barriers, and skimmers, as well as
natural and synthetic sorbet materials. Mechanical containment is used to
capture and store the spilled oil until it can be disposed of properly.

The containment of a spillage will involve an action that will either prevent or stop
a spill from spreading. It is vital to prevent any oil spill from entering waterbodies
such as drains, stormwater systems, dams or rivers. Containment of the oil near
the source will minimize pollution and will enable easy clean-up and/or
remediation. This shall be done using one or more of the following:

a) soil barriers;

b) sand bags;

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c) bund walls; and

d) absorbent materials.

7.3.2 Chemical and biological methods

These can be used in conjunction with mechanical means for containing and
cleaning up oil spills. Dispersants and gelling agents are most useful in helping
to keep oil from reaching other sensitive habitats. Biological agents have the
potential to assist recovery in sensitive areas such as marshes, and wetlands.

7.3.3 Physical methods

These are used to clean up. Natural processes such as evaporation, oxidation,
and biodegradation can start the cleanup process, but are generally too slow to
provide adequate environmental recovery. Physical methods, such as wiping with
sorbent materials, pressure washing, and raking and bulldozing can be used to
assist these natural processes.

7.3.4 Training

The manager responsible for the site shall ensure that appropriate training is
given in the use of the spill equipment, reporting and emergency response
procedures.

7.3.5 Preventive measures

Prevention remains better than cure and for this reason each spill shall be
evaluated and analysed and appropriate preventive measures adopted.

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