Similar experiments have been conducted in other shoreline environments including tidal flats, marshes, wetlands and cobble beaches (Swannell et al. 1997). All agree with the general principle that if anything is limiting oil degradation it will be nutrients and oxygen, not bacteria. As a result of all this, Mearns et al. (1997) proposed a bioremediation response action plan that includes (1) Pre-treatment Assessment (is bioremediation a viable response? and determination of the rate-limiting process), (2) Treatment Planning and Monitoring (selection of rate-limiting treating agent, load rate calculations, monitoring needs), (3) Implementation (Acquisition and deployment of treating agents and delivery system and personnel training) and (4) Termination of treatment.
5.0 Future
In the US and Canada, we believe we know enough about shoreline cleanup methods to provide specific guidance to responders. The most recent advice is contained in a new "Marine Manual" being prepared by the American Petroleum Institute with review and contributions by many agencies in the US, Canada and Europe.
However, there remains much work to do. Various cleanup methods, including bioremediation, need to be tested on oiled beaches in other parts of the world and in other environments. We also need to more fully test various methods on different types of oils, which vary round the world. For example, there appears to be a great need to test cleanup methods on spills of orimulsion, the new bitumen-containing fuel oil from Venezuela. Japanese scientists could expand this knowledge by conducting controlled cleanup experiments on experi-mentally-oiled shorelines. Tests could be done with a variety of physical, chemical and bioremediation agents not yet subjected to such testing in the US, Canada or Europe. Product field-testing guidelines and criteria have been established and should be used to conduct any experiment (Mearns1995) and the results should be published in the scientific literature. In addition, Iong-term recovery studies (such as described in Houghton et al. 1997) should be conducted at test sites to document the rate at which oiled and treated shoreline ecosystems fully recover. With this information, response agencies will truly have a "tool-box" of alternative shoreline cleanup methods that work and do not cause further injury. We at NOAA's HazMat Division look to continued collab-oration on this important work.
6.0 References
・ Fingas, M.F.,D.A.Kyle, N. Laroche, B. Fieldhouse, G. Sergy and G. Stoodly ; The Effectiveness Testing of Oil-Spill-Treating Agents, In P. Lane (ed), The Use of Chemicals in Oil Spill Response, pp. 286-296, ASTM STP 1252, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA. 1995.
・ Hawkins, S.J. and A.J. Southward ; The Torrey Canyon Oil Spill : Recovery of Rocky Shore Communities, In G.W. Thayer (ed), Restoring the Nation's Marine Environment, pp. 583-631, Maryland Sea Grant, College Park, Maryland, 1992.
・ Hoff, R.Z. ; Bioremediation : An Overview of its Development and Use for Oil Spill Cleanup, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol.26,pp.476-481,1993
・ Hoff, R.,G. Sergy. C. Henry, S. Blennkinsopp, P. Roberts; Evaluating Biodegradation Potential of Various Oils, Proceedings, 18th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Programme Technical Seminar, Ottawa, Canada, pp. 1233-1241, 1995.
・ Houghton, J.P..R.H. Gilmour, D.C. Lees, W.B. Driskell, S.C. Lindstrom and A.J. Mearns; Prince William Sound Intertidal Biota Seven Years Later : Has it Recovered?, Proceedings, 1997 lnternational Oil Spill Con-ference, pp. 679-686, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., 1997.
・ Lees, D.C., J.P. Houghton and W.B. Driskell ; Short-term Effects of Several Types of Shoreline Treatment on Rocky Intertidal Biota in Prince William Sound, Proceedings, 1997 International Oil Spill Conference, pp. 329-348. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., 1997.
・ Lunel, T. and twelve authors ; Monitoring the Effectiveness of Response Operations During the Sea Empress Incident : a Key Component of the Successful Counter-pollution Response, Spill Science and Technology Bulletin, Vol. 2, pp. 99-112, 1996.
・ Mauseth, G.S., G.M. Erickson, S.L. Brocco and G. Sergy; Optimizing Hydraulic Cleaning Techniques for Oiled Coarse Sediment Beaches, Proceedings of the 19th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Programme Technical
