Shoreline Operations Field Guide

A guide to operational and monitoring requirements for shoreline clean-up operations

VERSION NUMBER: 1
DATE RELEASED: December 2011
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Foreword Contents
This short field guide is intended to be used by
Safety
anyone who is conducting shoreline protection
Hazards and mitigations
or clean-up operations. Included are the
safety considerations for shoreline clean-up, Key steps
environmental considerations and operational
guidance. Plan and train:
Net Environmental Benefit Analysis

Shoreline operations can be a necessary response Preparation:

strategy to implement and will be most successful Organise operations
when: Shoreline Clean-Up Assessment Technique (SCAT)
 The most suitable recovery device for the oil
Protect sensitive shorelines:
type and weather conditions is selected.
Identify and prioritise shoreline
The boom used is well-maintained and
Boom formation
deployed by trained operators.
Types of shoreline boom
Communications are effective amongst all Boom deployment
parties.
Suitable storage is available. Prepare the site for cleaning:
Site set up

Clean-up oiled shorelines:

Stages of response
Response strategies
Shoreline type
Use of volunteers
Clean-up termination

Recording and reporting

 Safety

If shoreline equipment and techniques are used These risks can be minimised by: Minimum PPE standards:
correctly, following good operational procedures
surveilance checklist
aerial surveilance checklist

and using the correct Personal Protective Identifying the risks through a comprehensive Overalls
Equipment (PPE), operations should pose minimum risk assessment process and implementing
Oil resistant suit (such as Tyvek.)
risk to health. However there are, as with other such mitigations to reduce them where applicable.
activities, potential risks to responders and crew. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) or life jacket
 ommunicating the risks and mitigations
C (dependent on proximity to water’s edge.)
in place through a safety brief prior to any
Safety glasses
operations being carried out.
Gloves

Ear defenders (to be worn whilst machinery is

running.)

Steel toe cap boots

HAZARDS IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES
Noise (85-90dBA). Danger of damage to hearing if Ear defenders to be provided and worn.
exposed to loud machinery for
prolonged periods of time.
Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and potentially Could cause nausea and in the Enforce a site entry protocol. Provide gas monitoring devices and appropriate respiratory PPE as
also Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) from the oil being burned. case of H2S death in extreme required.
cases. Presence of hydrocarbon
vapours may also present an
explosion risk.
Slips, trips and falls. Potential for minor injuries Dangers should be highlighted in the safety brief given prior to operations commencing.
such as cuts, bruises or minor Appropriate footwear to be worn. Recognise high risks of working on oily rocky shorelines and in
fractures. proximity of cliffs. Ensure a secure access route to work area.
Dangerous wildlife. Potential for bites, poisoning or Refer to local knowledge. Appoint a lookout and communicate the risks. Ensure that an emergency
contracting disease leading to plan is in place.
loss of limbs, illness or death.
Small boats operating inshore. Possible injury from propeller Ensure that boat operators are trained. Keep the propeller pointing seaward. Kill cord to be worn
and from handling towing lines. whilst operating the boat.
Manual handling. Potential for back injuries. Before any deployment manual handling training should be given to anyone involved in the
deployment. Ensure that weights are clearly marked on equipment. Make sure that lifting
equipment is available and used as appropriate.
Tide. Potential for stranding or Site safety survey to be conducted. Ensure awareness of tide times. No lone working on the beaches.
drowning.
Hydraulic hose failure. Potential injury to eyes, skin Ensure that equipment deployed has adequate maintenance schedule which has been adhered to.
penetration of hydraulic oil. Conduct a visual inspection before use.
Dermatitis skin contamination. Developing dermatitis from skin Wear gloves/barrier cream and PPE to cover the skin. Ensure type of PPE is suited to oil type, likely
contact with recovered oil. exposure and environmental conditions.
Hypothermia/Heatstroke Can lead to fatigue, confusion, Take regular breaks during working periods in shaded areas or shelters. Wear appropriate clothing
loss of consciousness, and if left for the response environment. Keep hydrated and warm.
untreated, death.

Whilst this table lists some of the common hazards that are likely to be present whilst conducting shoreline operations a full site specific risk assessment
should always be conducted prior to operations commencing.
Key Steps

1 ! 2 3 4 5
Plan and
Protect Prepare Clean-Up
Spill Preparation Sensitive Site For Oiled
Train
Shorelines Cleaning Shorelines
Plan and Train To ensure the maximum success of shoreline operations, key assets and personnel should be identified and/or trained prior
to any incident occurring.

Planning and Local Engagement Shoreline Supervisor

Roles and Responsibilities:
In the event of shoreline impact from an oil
E nsure the health and safety of those involved Ensure the environmental impacts of any
spill incident there will be many competing
in the shoreline protection or clean up shoreline operations are minimised.
demands from different parties to prioritise
operations.
their area of interest.
Supervise and assist the deployment of
It is recommended that prior to any incident  ble to conduct shoreline assessments and
A shoreline boom. Record and report to Incident
occurring, consultation with the different provide recommendations on the suitable Command on the activities of the shoreline site.
parties occurs to determine priority areas for treatment methods for the site.
protectection or clean up operations using the
principle of Net Environmental Benefit Analysis Ensure the successful deployment, set up and
(NEBA). The consultation should involve: operation of equipment.
Local authorities
Training Required:
Local environmental groups
Health and safety aspects of shoreline operations.
Community Representatives
Set up and operation of shoreline equipment and techniques.
Other stakeholders
Shoreline response strategies and tactics.
Understanding the information that Incident Command will require.
Open and clear communication is an integral
part in response operations. As shorelines are
most often public areas, measures must be
taken to control access.

A basic course could be run covering the roles and responsibilities of the Shoreline Supervisor.
Plan and Train: Net Environmental Benefit Analysis
NEBA is a qualitative comparative analysis technique that aims to decrease the overall effect of oil on environmental and economic resources whilst achieving an
acceptable standard of cleanliness, ensuring the response strategy will provide an overall benefit to the environment. It is important to conduct an preliminary NEBA
during the evaluation process in contingency planning. When assessing a shoreline, the following should be considered:

1. DEFINE THE GEOGRAPHICAL 2. IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL 3. IDENTIFY SOCIO-ECONOMIC 4. IDENTIFY

WEIGH STAKEHOLDERS
THE ADVANTAGES AND
AREA SENSITIVITIES SENSITIVITIES DISADVANTAGES
• Outline location (coastline, bay area, • Which biota are present? • What activities are present? • Who uses the shoreline?
inlet) and type(s) of shorelines. • Does the biota have a seasonal • Are any of the activities seasonal? • Are coastal authorities present?
• What is the approximate area of each presence? • Are the activities reliant on the • Which environmental groups would be
shoreline? • Where are the individual species shoreline for resources and/or access? involved?
• How exposed is the shoreline? Is there located? • Are there sites of historical or cultural • Identify political and technical
shelter from wave action? • Rank biota in terms of ecological significance in the vicinity? stakeholders.
• Identify the sediment type (small sensitvity to the chemical and physical • How will the activities be affected by a • Who represents the local communities
grained sand, large rocks) presence of oil. potential oil spill? and businesses?
• What are the seasonal weather • Identify biota susceptible to damage • Are there any ‘protected sites’ in the
conditions? • Are there any ‘protected species’ in the vicinity?
vicinity?
The above should be summarised and mapped onto a ‘Shoreline Environmental Sensitivity Map’ that helps identify and prioritise the sensitive resources of the area.

5. OBTAIN BACKGROUND DATA 6. PREDICT POSSIBLE OUTCOMES 7. WEIGH THE ADVANTAGES AND 8. IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RESPONSE
DISADVANTAGES OF RESPONSE STRATEGIES
• Does the area have a spill history? • Previous experience from spills or • Natural recovery is often the best • The advantages and disadvantages of
• Is there evidence of natural cleaning, if experiments can help predict possible option, as many response strategies different responses strategies should
may cause more harm than good. be compared with each other, as well
so on what timescales? outcomes in a new situation.
• If case history shows a good natural as natural recovery.
• Are there previous signs of ecological • Using spill history and background data,
• In the event of a spill, the response
and socioeconomic effects of oil? predict the likely environmental cleaning capacity, it may be wise to
option decisions can then be taken on
• Have response strategies previously outcome if a proposed response leave the shoreline to recover.
the basis of sound scientific and
been used in the area and did they strategy is used or if the area is left for • Response may be necessary if:
technical assessment of the
work? Oil is a threat to wildlife.
natural clean-up. environmental benefits and impacts of
Bulk oil is present on the shore and response intervention.
may spread with tidal action and
Response options should be monitored and
contaminate a wider area. adjusted throughout the response period
Natural cleaning time is unacceptably as information about the distribution and
long for the main stakeholders. degree of oiling is updated.
Preparation: Organise Operations
Communications Plan Command and Control Organisation
In order to ensure effective communications it Shoreline clean up and protection operations will Shoreline operations can be structured as follows:
is important to produce a communications plan be managed by the operations section.
which will document:

A communications protocol for operational The Operations Section Chief is responsible

communication.
Operations
for managing all operations directly
Section Chief
Who to call in the event of an emergency. applicable to the primary mission.

Names of assets deployed, call

signs and radio frequencies they
are operating on. Branches are the organisational level having
Shoreline functional or geographic responsibility for
Branch operations.

Divisions are the organisational level used

to divide an incident into geographical
Division A Division B
areas of operation.

To ensure the safety and success of any shoreline operations, it is important that personnel involved in the operations are adequately supervised. The
Incident Command System (ICS) recommends a finite ‘span of control’ to ensure proper supervision
Preparation: Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT)
The purpose of SCAT is to provide support to the Operations section. The SCAT process is a standardised
method of assessing, recording and reporting the degree of oiling of the shoreline. The responsibilities of TOOLS CHECKLIST
the SCAT team are to: aerial surveilance checklist

Report/log form (with clipboard)

Identify sensitive resources (either Recommend clean-up methods and end points.
environmental, economic or cultural). A method of communication
Apply the concept of Net Environmental Benefit (e.g. mobile/satellite phones, VHF
Evaluate shoreline oiling conditions. Analysis (NEBA) to shoreline response strategies.
aerial surveilance checklist
radio.)

Determine the need for shoreline clean-up. Handheld GPS

aerial surveilance checklist

The basic principles of SCAT are: Digital camera

1. DIVIDE THE SHORELINE 2. STANDARDISE THE 3. REPORT TO INCIDENT aerial surveilance checklist
 
INTO SEGMENTS RESULTS COMMAND Compass
Segments are defined geographic Standard reporting forms are used The results of the shoreline surveys
aerial surveilance checklist
aerial surveilance checklist

areas with a similar character to report back to the Operations conducted will need to be available Additional batteries
in terms of physical features Section the degree and location of to plan the priority areas of cleanaerial surveilance checklist

and sediment type. They can be oiling. up for the Next Operational Period
Ruler (or other) for scale when
determined and identified by (NOP).
taking photos
obvious features or stretches of Standardised descriptions are used
aerial surveilance checklist

coastline identified by a given code. to describe the oil observed. It is Tape Measure
useful for personnel involved in
Sub segments may also be used if, SCAT assessments to calibrate their Flags or stakes (to mark the
for example, the extent of the oiling classifications prior to conducting
location of buried oil.)
varies significantly between a given full scale surveys.
segment.

Refer to the Reporting and Recording Section of this Field Guide for the SCAT Reporting Form.; Shoreline Oiling Summary (SOS)
Protect Sensitive Shorelines: Identify and Prioritise Shorelines
Some shorelines can be considered more sensitive due to its ecological, economic or cultural importance. These shorelines will be prioritised for protection against
a shoreline impact. It is useful to consider prioritising sensitive areas and involve local stakeholders during the contingency planning stage.

1. Predicting Slick Impact 2. Identify Shoreline Ranking

As a rule, oil will move on water with 3% of the wind’s energy Identify the type of shoreline from the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI)
and 100% of the current. A resultant trajectory can therefore be (NOAA).
calculated for the expected impact of the oil spill. ESI Shoreline Type
Values
CURRENT
SLICK LOCATION 1 Exposed rocky shore
PREDICTED SLICK
2 Exposed rocky platform
LOCATION 3 Fine grained sand beach
4 Coarse grained sand beach
5 Mixed sand and gravel beach
CURRENT
6A Gravel beach
WIND 6B Riprap structures
7 Exposed tidal flats
To calculate impact location: 8A Sheltered rocky shore
1. P lot the last known location of slick on a marine chart. 8B Sheltered artificial structure
2. Calculate and plot 3% of wind speed and direction (as predicted 9 Sheltered tidal flat
from meteorological forecasts)
10A Salt to brackish marshes
3. Calculate and plot 100% of current speed and direction (as
determined from marine charts and local information) 10B Freshwater marshes
4. The resultant vector will determine the predicted slick position for 10C Swamps
the given period of time. 10D Mangroves

This can also be ascertained using oil spill modelling software, if

available.

Shorelines with a high ESI are more vulnerable than shorelines with a low ESI. Other considerations may need to be taken to prioritise the shoreline for
protection and/or cleanup, e.g. cultural, economic or recreational value of the coastline, accessibility, water movement, weather and the nature of the spill.
Protect Sensitive Shorelines: Boom Formations
Deploy the appropriate booming protection strategy for the shoreline or area that requires protection.

EXCLUSION BOOMING CHEVRON BOOMING CASCADE BOOMING

Protects sensitive sites including small bays, Deflects oil away from sensitive sites or Deflects oil away from sensitive shorelines
inlets and harbour entrances. Also contains oil resources. to a point of enhanced natural collection for
for recovery. recovery.

FISH FARM

SALT MARSH/MANGROVE
OIL
RECOVERY
POINT

MOORING CURRENT
POINTS
WIND CHEVRON USED TO
DEFLECT OIL CURRENT

6 CURRENT BOOM ANGLE

5 BOOM ANGLE The angle of the boom can impact on the success
CURRENT VELOCITY (KNOTS)

4 of its deployment.
3 FAILURE

2 The faster the current the narrower the boom

1 SUCCESS angle should be. Boom will be successful when
0 deployed in low current speeds at an angle of 70
to 100 degrees.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
BOOM ANGLE (DEGREES)

Long stretches of boom should not be deployed as the tidal action and surf zone can drag the boom ashore. Smaller segments of boom are less susceptible
but can still be moved by the current. It is therefore important to watch and tend to the boom, ensuring it remains in place protecting the shoreline.
Protect Sensitive Shorelines: Types of Shoreline Boom

RIGID/FENCE BOOM INFLATION CURTAIN BOOM SHORE SEALING BOOM SORBENT BOOM
Boom filled with solid material in Chamber filled with air. Ballast at Top chamber filled with air, Chamber filled with absorbent
the flotation chamber and ballast the bottom of the skirt. bottom two chambers filled with material, may sometimes have
at the bottom of the boom skirt. water. a small skirt although this is not
Good wave-following
common.
Quick to deploy. characteristics. Forms an effective barrier in
intertidal areas. Useful for small spills.
F unctions well in calm sea  re deflated for storage,
A
conditions. therefore require less Are deflated for storage, Can be used with other
storage space. therefore require less types of shoreline boom.
Requires significant storage
storage space.
space. Ancillaries are required (air Contributes to the
fan to fill air chamber).  ncillaries are required
A generation of waste, use
Less effective wave-
(water pump to fill water should be controlled.
following characteristics
chambers, air fan to fill air
than inflation boom.
chamber.

SOLID FLOAT AIR TUBE AIR TUBE

TENSION/ ABSORBENT
BALLAST WATER
BALLAST MATERIALS
TUBES

These booms can be used for shoreline protection and oil containment. The method of deployment will be dependent upon the purpose of the
boom.
Protect Sensitive Shorelines: Boom Deployment

1. Ensure the boom is securely staked, 2. “Flake” the boom along the shoreline. 3. If it is a long piece of boom or there is a strong
anchored (using land anchors) or attached to current running, tow the boom from one of the
a strong fixed point on the shoreline. anchor points fixed midway along the boom.

AIR TUBE

STAKES ANGLED
AWAY FROM TUBE WATER TUBE

There maybe a requirement to pull

from more than one mid point.

4. Drop the anchor point. The length of the 5. Return to the shoreline to retrieve the last 6. More anchors may be required to hold the
anchor lines should be 5x the water depth, anchor point, drop the anchor where required. boom in place once the position is set. This
the length of the tripping buoy lines should can be done after the anchor at the end of the
be 1.5x the water depth. boom is dropped.

TRIPPING BUOY

1.5xD
D 5xD

CURRENT

Booms should be watched and tended regularly to ensure that they are successful in containing the oil or protecting the shoreline.
 Prepare the Site for Cleaning: Site Set Up
In order to ensure site security and minimise the chance of secondary contamination, attention should be paid to the set-up of the shoreline
clean-up site.

LOW WATER

HOT ZONE: Where the clean-

up operations are carried out. OIL ASHORE ON
SAND
HIGH WATER

LINED STORAGE
PIT

WARM ZONE: in place to ensure

DECON
ZONE
OILED WASTE
REST STORAGE that secondary contamination
COLD ZONE: A clean area where AREA SKIPS does not occur. Waste that has
personnel are able to rest and eat. been segregated in the hot zone
TOILET/WASHROOM
The communications and first aid can be transferred to the warm
CHECKPOINT
posts are located here. Records zone. It may be useful to man
should be made of personnel COMMS CENTRE FIRST this area to assist in the clean
entering and leaving the work AID COMMAND up of personnel; removing,
site. In the event of an emergency REFRESHMENT AREA cleaning or disposing of their
SITE
a roll call can be conducted. SECURITY ENTRANCE PPE.

SITE ENTRANCE: The entrance to the site should be

controlled by Security to ensure the safety and wellbeing
of clean-up personnel as well as minimising any secondary
contamination.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Stages of Response
It is important to conduct a clean up in progressive stages to ensure the efficiency of the response and reduce the amount of waste created.

STAGE ONE STAGE TWO STAGE THREE

The initial stage of a response should focus The second phase of clean-up should The last stage of the clean-up is a ‘final
on the removal of gross contamination, remove moderate contamination; stranded polish’ of the impacted area, removing light
including floating oil at the water’s edge oil both on the surface and subsurface and contaminated materials and oil stains. A
and thick concentrations on the shore. oiled beach materials. Stranded oil is often shoreline assessment should be conducted
Debris and solid waste should be removed found in pools or as swath lines resulting by the SCAT Team, where the previously
and be segregated appropriately ready for from tidal action. Oil will permeate through impacted areas are graded and signed off
disposal (for more information, see ‘Waste the surface sediment into the subsurface as clean (see the ‘Shoreline Oil Assessment
Management’ Handbook). and begin the process of sedimentation. Form’).

Bulk oil can then be removed by: Stranded oil can be removed by: Spot treatment of residual impact areas.

Manual clean up methods Manual clean-up methods Specific treatment of highly sensitive
areas where appropriate.
Mechanical removal methods including Separation or recovery through surf
It may be necessary to replant and
pumping, skimming and using vacuum washing
replace beach material.
tanks.
Scraping contamination from rocks All equipment should be removed from
The method used is dependent on the
shoreline type affected. the clean-up site.
Low pressure flushing

If possible a pre-clean of the area should be conducted before the oil impacts as this will reduce the amount of waste produced.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Response Strategies
Understanding the advantages and limitations of each response strategy is essential to establish the most appropriate response operation.

How to choose a response strategy for Shoreline Clean-Up Operations

NATURAL RECOVERY
Determining the most appropriate response strategy is a complex decision making process. Questions
should be asked about the impact to gather as much information about the situation as possible. In some areas, it may be less environmentally
Response strategies can then be chosen based on producing the optimum solution for the area.
damaging to allow the shoreline to recover
OIL TYPE SHORELINE TYPE DEGREE OF OILING naturally.
• What are the oil characteristics? • What type of shorelines have • How much of the shoreline has
(e.g. Specific Gravity/API, Pour been impacted? been oiled?
Point,Viscosity) • What are the dimensions of • How much of the shoreline has This process will be slower than that
• How has the oil behaved since the area? been lightly, medium and
release and now it has impacted? • What are the prevailing and heavily oiled? achieved through mounting a clean-up
(e.g. has the oil emulsified?) normal environmental • Where is the greatest amount
conditions (e.g. tidal range, of oiling? operation, however, it may be the best
wave height, weather etc.)
course of action from a safety, environmental
and operational perspective.

NEBA SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES

• Will clean-up operations enhance • How is the shoreline used by • What are the environmental
or damage the shoreline’s ability people? (e.g. a water and food sensitivities in the area?
to naturally recover? resource, housing, commercial • What damage has been caused
• Will natural recovery be effective activities etc.) to the environment by oil in the
enough to restore the • How has the oil impacted on area?
environmental and socio- daily life? • Can the shorelines be prioritised
economic productivity of the area • Can clean-up operations restore in terms of response times and
efficiently? the productivity of the area? efforts?

HSE REQUIREMENTS COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS DECIDE ON APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

• Is the site of operations safe? • How much will the operations STRATEGY
• Is it accessible? cost?
• Can essential amenities (e.g. water, food,
rest and toilet facilities, PPE) be provided • Will the money invested Using the information determined
to all personnel? produce a benefitial effect (e.g. from the preceeding questions,
• Are prevailing environmental conditions highlight the most appropriate
safe for operations? (e.g. weather, tide environmental improvement,
times, stable ground.) resume daily activities earlier.) response strategies detailed on the
• Can waste produced be disposed • Is the money better spent following pages.
appropriately? elsewhere in the response?
Clean Up Oiled Shorelines: Response Strategies
MECHANICAL RECOVERY USING MANUAL CLEAN-UP FLOODING
PUMPING OR VACUUM EQUIPMENT
A labour intensive strategy involving large Oiled areas are enclosed by booms or contained

It is possible to recover oil from shoreline areas numbers of people collecting stranded oil by by the presence of natural geological features,

using either specialist oil spill vacuum pumping hand or by using the necessary tools. such as rock pools, and are ‘flooded’ using

equipment or more widely available vacuum seawater. The remobilised oil floats on the

trucks. Ensure the safety of beach clean-up surface of the water and can be recovered using
workers. skimmers and pumps.

This equipment is more successfully used Ensure proper supervision of teams.

with thick layers of oil. Ensure that the personnel involved in

the cleaning only remove oiled sediment to

Vacuum equipment should not be used minimise the amount of waste that is

with light oil products due to the risk of generated.

explosion. Ensure that a suitable site set-up is in place

to minimise secondary contamination.
Ensure proper waste management.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Response Strategies
MECHANCIAL REMOVAL USING LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING AT HIGH PRESSURE FLUSHING AT
GRADERS, SCAPERS AND BEACH AMBIENT WATER TEMPERATURE AMBIENT WATER TEMPERATURE
CLEANERS
Pumps and hoses are used to wash the bulk oil High pressure pumps with hoses are used to wash
Oiled sediment is recovered by mechanical from the shoreline. more persistent oil from the shoreline.
equipment and removed from the beach.
Low pressure flushing must be used with High pressure flushing must be used with
Specialist machines can be used to “polish” caution. caution.
sandy beaches. Warm water may damage shoreline High pressure equipment can
Can lead to high levels of waste. organisms unaffected by the oiling. dislodge shoreline organisms
There should be containment boom in unaffected by the oiling and could
place to capture and recover the oily water potentially sterilise the area.
run off to prevent it migrating to unoiled There should be containment boom in
areas. place to capture and recover the oily water
wash off to prevent it migrating to unoiled
areas.

The movement of people and heavy equipment over sensitive habitats could bury the oil or create more environmental damage.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Response Strategies

SEDIMENT RELOCATION ABSORBENT DISPERSANT/SURFACE CLEANERS

Surface or buried oiled sediment is relocated to Absorbents (either blanket or boom form) are Oil spill dispersants and surface cleaners can be
the surf zone where it is exposed to wave energy. made of oleophilic material which selectively suitable to clean hard surfaces.
Here, the high energy environment cleans the absorbs oil whilst repelling water.
contaminated sediment. Ensure that local regulation is
Absorbents are designed for use with considered and adhered to with regard
Remobilised oil may impact other shoreline lighter hydrocarbon products. to dispersant use.
areas. Heavy oils will adhere to the outside of Dispersed oil may contaminate deeper
the absorbent rather than absorbing into shoreline substrates that had previously
the product. been unaffected by the oil.
Absorbents should be used sparingly It is recommended that dispersant
as they form a solid waste stream is applied on the incoming tide in the
which must be disposed appropriately. intertidal area.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Shoreline Types
The most suitable response strategy will be dependent upon the oil type, the level of oiling and the type of shoreline impacted.

Exposed Rocky Shores ESI: 1-2 Sandy Shores and Beaches ESI: 3-6A
The shores are generally high energy Sandy shorelines have a varying degree
environments and thus have a high of biodiversity and ecological sensivity,
capacity for self cleaning. However, Exposed Rocky dependent on location. Beaches Sandy Shore
WIND
stranded oil may collect around large Shore can also hold a significant social and
borders and in rock pools, creating a economic status in many areas, often
challenging environment in which to providing resources for fishing in
respond. local communities, or as a hotspot for
tourism.

Cleaning up exposed rocky shorelines should therefore: Cleaning up sandy shorelines should therefore:

Not use heated or freshwater within Consider seasonal effects on local Avoid overcleaning or removing more
Consider the extent of oiling and amenities/ecological impacts to sand than is absolutely necessary.
rocky shoreline environments, or wash
capacity for natural recovery to determine level of clean-up required.
oil into the ecologically sensitive lower
determine the level and method of Avoid burying the oil further into the
tidal zone. Use strategies that maximise access
clean up requred. sand substrate, for example, through
Avoid overcleaning or removing and logistics conditions and minimise high pressure washing or by moving
Consider the health and safety aspects waste generation.
bedrocks. machinery and personnel on shoreline.
of accessing and working in tidal zones
and the potential for slips and falls. Utilise the natural advantages of the Prevent re-oiling of adjacent beaches
tidal environment with surf washing and avoid cross-contamination of oil
and sediment relocation. into clean areas.
TYPE OF OIL TYPE OF OIL
METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY
NATURAL RECOVERY NATURAL RECOVERY
DISPERSANTS ABSORBENTS
DEGREE OF OILING

DEGREE OF OILING
ABSORBENTS SEDIMENT RELOCATION
SEDIMENT RELOCATION FLOODING
MANUAL CLEAN-UP MANUAL CLEAN-UP
PUMPS & VACUUMS PUMPS & VACUUMS
LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING GRADERS AND SCRAPERS
HIGH PRESSURE FLUSHING LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Shoreline Types
Man-made Structures ESI: 6B, 8B Sheltered Rocky Shores ESI: 8A
Man-made structures often have Due to protection from heavy wave
relatively low levels of bio-diversity action, sheltered rocky shores are a
and ecological sensitivities, but can Man Made Structures hospitable environment for a variety Sheltered Rocky
have high socio-economic importance of flora and fauna. The shorelines Shore
in the area, such as ports, harbours can be areas of high biodiversity. It
and marinas. Man-made structures is important to consult with local
benefit from generally good access and ecologists to determine the most
provision of resources and amenities. appropriate response strategy.
Cleaning up man-made structures should therefore: Cleaning up sheltered rocky shorelines should therefore:

Use response strategies that minimise Avoid washing oil into the lower
Have an awareness of financial Avoid cross-contamination into
damage to flora and fauna. intertidal zone.
implications of clean-up operations on unaffected areas.
commercial activities. Not use dispersants outside of the Consider the health and safety aspects Avoid pushing oil further into the
approved area or where their use may of accessing and working in tidal zones substrate.
Use booms and physical features such
as locks to limit the spread of oil and have a detrimental effect. and the potential for slips and falls. Refrain from overcleaning, removing
minimse the impact. large volumes of sediment or
changing the profile of the
Use high pressure flushing on harbour
shoreline.
walls, slipways and jetties.
TYPE OF OIL
METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY
NATURAL RECOVERY
TYPE OF OIL
METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY DISPERSANTS

DEGREE OF OILING
NATURAL RECOVERY ABSORBENTS
DEGREE OF OILING

DISPERSANTS SEDIMENT RELOCATION

ABSORBENTS FLOODING

MANUAL CLEAN-UP MANUAL CLEAN-UP

PUMPS & VACUUMS PUMPS & VACUUMS

LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING

HIGH PRESSURE FLUSHING HIGH PRESSURE FLUSHING

Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Shoreline Types

Mud and Tidal Flats ESI: 7, 9 Mangroves and Salt Marshes ESI: 10A-D
Located in the intertidal zone, mud and Mangroves and salt marshes support
tidal flats are submerged and exposed a high degree of biodiveristy. Due to
twice daily. Whilst levels of biodiversity Mud Flat / Tidal Flats their distinct environment, the zones Mangroves / Salt Marshes
may be relatively low, the zones are are areas of high ecological sensitivity,
important ecosystems that support and can be damaged by both the
large populations of wildlife. Mud and chemical imbalances and the physical
tidal flats are also a significant barrier to smoothering caused by the presence
coastal erosion. of oil.

Cleaning up mud and tidal flats should therefore: Cleaning up exposed mangroves and salt marshes should therefore:
Consider the ecological sensitivies of Be aware of tidal ranges and ensure Be prioritised in a response, with Avoid cosmetic clean-up.
the area when determining the most safety of personnel. protection booming set up as soon as
appropriate response strategy. Avoid both personnel and heavy possible. Avoid both personnel and heavy
Use booms to protect areas not machinery entering the area. machinery entering the area.
Consider the ecological sensitivities
impacted. Avoid forcing oil into the substrate.
of the area when determining the Avoid overcleaning or removing oiled
Prevent re-oiling of adjacent flats and most appropirate response strategy. vegetation and substrate.
Herd oil into less sensitive areas by Clean-up strategies could inflict more
using low pressure water flushing avoid cross-contamination of oil into
clean areas. damage than the oil alone. Avoid forcing oil into the substrate.

Use absorbents on small patches of Use hovercraft or airboats to deploy

accessible oil. Using natural absorbents protective booms in marsh areas.
will reduce the necessity of recovering
the sorbent material.
TYPE OF OIL TYPE OF OIL
METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY METHOD LIGHT MEDIUM HEAVY
NATURAL RECOVERY NATURAL RECOVERY
DEGREE OF OILING

DEGREE OF OILING
ABSORBENTS ABSORBENTS
FLOODING FLOODING
MANUAL CLEAN-UP MANUAL CLEAN-UP
PUMPS & VACUUMS PUMPS & VACUUMS
LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING LOW PRESSURE FLUSHING
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Use of Volunteers
In the event of a manual clean-up operation the issue of using volunteers may need to be considered. BENEFITS
There are certain considerations that may arise with the use of volunteers, particularly concerning liability
and health and safety regulations. Volunteers may know the affected area.
U
 sing volunteers can be an effective way
Legal The Responsibile Party or Government Agency may require the volunteers of minimising the cost of a response.
Considerations to sign a legal release of liability form which may or may not prevent legal Volunteers have a stake in the local
claims but can assist in clarifying expectations for volunteers assisting with environment.
the clean-up operations.
Management and Volunteer Coordinator: CHALLENGES
Supervision Part of the Command Staff or Planning Section of the incident management
structure. Works with other members of the Command Staff to decide the Volunteers are often untrained in spill
most efficient to manage the volunteers. response operations and the health and
Volunteer Supervisor: safety issues related to the clean-up
Manages the practical supervision of the volunteers whilst in the field. operations. Some rudimentary training
Safety Officer: may be required.
Assesses and mitigates (as far as is possible) the health and safety risks Volunteers will require PPE, supplies,
associated with the clean-up operations. logistical support and onsite
Training Safety and operational training is required for volunteers prior to them management and supervision.
commencing clean-up operations. Volunteers can not be relied upon to
Work Identify suitable job roles and responsibilities for volunteers. Ensure they assist daily and may not be able to assist
Assignments are aware of the Volunteer Supervisor. Communicate the location, dates and with the shoreline operations for a long
times of work. period of time.
If using volunteers the rates of insurance
Assign Volunteers used in a response should be supplied with sufficient and
may increase.
PPE appropriate PPE and safety equipment and also incorporated into the
Volunteers can compete with paid staff,
command structure for the response.
potentially leading to tension in the
community.
Clean-Up Oiled Shorelines: Clean Up Termination
1. How Clean Is Clean? 2. Establish End Point Objectives
Determining how clean to leave the area of response is dependent on: Establishing end point criteria early in a response can help determine the
most appropriate clean up method. It can also provide clear objectives for the
Reaching an acceptable compromise between differing stakeholder personnel involved in the operation to meet and from which the SCAT Team to
opinions on level of clean-up. assess. These objectives may include:
Utilising background data as a benchmark.
Minimise exposure hazards for human health.
Assessing whether increased effort is resulting in diminishing returns or
Speed the recovery of impacted areas.
damage to the environment.
Clean-up termination may also be brought forward due to safety reasons, Reduce the threat of additional or prolonged natural resource impact.
particularly if the weather conditions worsen, or if the area of response is
The visible presence of oil can guide whether these objectives have been met.
unstable whether due to political unrest or other humanitarian reasons such
as pandemic risks.

3. Shoreline Clean Up End Points Guidance 4. Post Spill Monitoring

SCALE VISUAL ENDPOINT CRITERIA FOR TERMINATION SCAT Teams will continue post spill monitoring through systematic surveying.
Post spill monitoring should assess the impact of the spill on:
1 No Visible Oil Oil removal can be effective without delaying
resource recovery or causing further damage.
Species and habitats of importance Human food chain
2 Background Oil Only A signficant background rate of tarball deposition
is present on the shoreline but clean up efforts Commercial stocks of fish and shellfish Local human population
would exceed the returns.
Rescued birds and wildlife Seawater and sediments
3 Sheen Only Sheening persists but cleanup efforts have
become ineffective or will cause more harm than To provide public reassurance, the SCAT Team may also monitor local air quality
natural recovery.
and general public health impacts.
4 Permanent Staining Oil no longer rubs off on contact or has
weathered to a point where it is no longer sticky.

5 Oil Still Present Manual oil removal will result in excessive habitat
disruption or high biota mortality.
Recording and Reporting

1. FOR SCAT SURVEYS RECORD 2. FOR SHORELINE CLEAN UP

AND REPORT: OPERATIONS RECORD AND
REPORT:
Time, date and location of survey
Composition of the shore substrate The amount of waste recovered
Features of the shoreline (suitable Any specific health and safety
access locations etc.) risks regarding the area or type of
The beach profile operation
The extent of the surface oiling (if Any health and safety incidences
present)
The extent of the subsurface oil (if
present)
The presence of any sensitivities (either
environmental, socio-economic or
cultural)
Any treatment recommendations
SHORELINE OILING SUMMARY (SOS) FORM - for ______________________ Spill Page _____of _____
1 GENERAL INFORMATION Date (dd/mm/yy) Time (24h): standard/daylight Tide Height
Segment ID:
Operations Division: hrs to hrs rising / falling
Survey by: Foot / ATV / Boat / Helicopter / Overlook / ________ Sun / Clouds / Fog / Rain / Snow / Windy / Calm Air Temp + / - ____ deg C
2 SURVEY TEAM # _______ name organization contact phone number

3 SEGMENT Total Segment Length ______ m Segment Length Surveyed _______ m Maximum Intertidal Width_______m
Start GPS: LATITUDE _____________deg. _____________min. LONGITUDE _____________deg. _____________min. Datum:__________
End GPS: LATITUDE _____________deg. _____________min. LONGITUDE _____________deg. _____________min.
4A SHORELINE TYPE (UITZ) SELECT only one primary (P) shoreline type and any number of secondary (S) types. CIRCLE those OILED
BEDROCK: Cliff_____ Ramp_____ Platform_____ Sediment BEACH: Sand_____ Mixed_____ Pebble/Cobble_____ Boulder_____
MAN-MADE: Solid_____Permeable_____ (Type)__________ Sediment FLAT: Mud_____ Sand _____ Mixed_____ Pebble/Cobble/Boulder____
WETLAND :_____ OTHER: If snow and ice use Winter SOS
4B COASTAL/BACKSHORE CHARACTER - select only one primary(P) and any number of secondary(S) complete for (P) primary only
Cliff/Hill:____est height ____m Flat / Lowland: ___ Beach ____ Dune ____ River Inlet/Channel ____Substrate Type: ____________
Sloped:___ (>5º)(15º)(30º Man-Made ____ (type) ________ Delta ____ Lagoon ____Marsh/Wetland_____ Forested / Vegetated / Bare
5 OPERATIONAL FEATURES Suitable backshore staging Y/N Access: Direct from backshore Y / N Alongshore from next segment Y / N
Debris: Y / N oiled Y / N amount _____bags or _____trucks access restrictions _______________________________________________
Current dominated channel _____
Other Features:
6 SURFACE OILING CONDITIONS begin with "A" in the lowest tidal zone - circle the zone/s that correspond to primary shoreline type
OIL TIDAL OIL COVER OIL OIL SUBST.
ZONE ZONE Length Width Distrib. THICKNESS CHARACTER TYPE(S)
ID LI MI UI SU m m % TO CV CT ST FL FR MS TB PT TC SR AP NO
A

7 SUBSURFACE OILING CONDITIONS use letter for ZONE location plus Number of pit or trench — e.g., "A1"
TRENCH TIDAL MAX. PIT OILED SUBSURFACE OIL WATER SHEEN CLEAN SUBST.
or PIT ZONE DEPTH ZONE CHARACTER TABLE COLOUR BELOW TYPE(S)
NO. LI MI UI SU cm cm-cm SAP OP PP OR OF TR NO cm B, R, S, N Yes / No

8 COMMENTS ecological/recreational/cultural/economic constraints - shorezone biota and wildlife observations - cleanup recommendations

(for ALL sub-segments record: sub-segment ID, length, length surveyed,and GPS start/end fixes)
Sketch Yes/No Photos Yes/No (Roll # _____ Frames______ ) Video Tape Yes/No (tape #______ ) Spill Version: (name/date)

EC Standard Template - May 04, 2007

 Metric
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140

Other Titles in the Field Guide Series

Aerial Surveillance Field Guide

Containment and Recovery Field Guide
Dispersant Application Field Guide
Dispersant Application Monitoring Tier I Field Guide
Dispersant Application Monitoring Tier II & III Field Guide
Incident Management Handbook
Offshore In-Situ Burn Operations Field Guide
Oil Spill Response Field Guide
Shoreline Operations Field Guide
Vessel Dispersant Application Field Guide
Waste Management Field Guide

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