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Title VII of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Section 7001) established the fourteen-member Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research, the Interagency Committee, to "coordinate a comprehensive program of oil pollution research, technology development, and demonstration among the federal agencies, in cooperation and coordination with industry, universities, research institutions, state governments, and other nations, as appropriate, and shall foster cost-effective research mechanisms, including the joint funding of the research." The Chairman of the Interagency Committee, represented by the Coast Guard, is required to submit a biennial report to Congress on activities carried out under Section 7001 in the preceding two fiscal years, and on activities proposed to be carried out under this section in the current two fiscal year period.

Navigating ICCOPR

About ICCOPR Learn about the responsibilities of the ICCOPR and meet the Chair and Interagency members.
Documents Archived documents and reports, to include: Biennial Reports and 1997 Oil Pollution Research and Technology Plan
Meetings and Notices This section provides a listing of past and future Interagency Committee meetings or formal engagements.
Conferences & Workshops A list of oil pollution research conferences and workshops supported by or of interest to the ICCOPR.
Other Links Links and information on subjects affecting R&D, including congressional activities, government facilities, and issues related to the Arctic and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
R&D programs & Stakeholders Linkages to various government, industry, and academic oil pollution research programs.

DISCLAIMER: Reference to an external Internet resource on this server does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by the ICCOPR of the services or views described in that resource.

Announcements

Proceedings of

International Oil Spill Conferences

Available Online

The IOSC Proceedings is the official chronicle of the Conference. In 2013, the IOSC launched its new online IOSC Proceedings after digitally converting all past Conference hardcopy formats into useable online content. The website offers free access to over 3000 articles related to oil spill prevention, response, and restoration. Spanning over 40 years of oil pollution issues, the online IOSC Proceedings provides easy access to unique articles and perspectives not available elsewhere. Future conference Proceedings will only be published in an electronic format. The website for the IOSC Proceedings is: www.ioscproceedings.com.

US Arctic Research Commission identifies top priorities for a changing Arctic

March 21, 2013: The US Arctic Research Commission released its “Report on the Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2013-2014 for the US Arctic Research Program.”

“Dramatic changes in the Arctic environment, and the pace of resource development, combine to make it very important that public and private decision makers have access to relevant research, including timely and comprehensive information and a more thorough understanding of Arctic ecosystems, resources, and infrastructure challenges. The Commission strives to be an effective link between the people who do the research and those who need the results ...” Fran Ulmer, Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission

See the report at: http://arctic.gov/publications/2013-14_usarc_goals.pdf

Lightest Material on Earth Could Mop up Oil Spills: Uses for the Graphene Sponge

March 25, 2013. Articles in World Science Report and Physics.org report that researchers have created a new substance that is now the lightest material on Earth. Known as graphene aerogel, the substance is less dense than helium and could potentially be used to clean up oil spills. It is reported to quickly absorb up to 900 times its weight in oil, only oil not water, and that the aerogel and absorbed oil could be recycled.

See the articles at:
♦ http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/.../lightest-material-earth... .htm
♦ http://phys.org/news/2013-03-ultra-light-aerogel.html

Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) releases the five-year Arctic Research Plan: FY2013-2017

February 2013: The White House released the five-year Arctic Research Plan: FY2013-2017, developed by the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). The plan outlines key areas the Federal government will undertake to better understand and predict Arctic environmental changes. Creation of this plan is one of IARPC‘s responsibilities described in the Arctic Research Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. § 4108).

See the report at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/.../microsites/ostp/2013_arctic_research_plan.pdf

International Oil Spill Conference

Call for Papers and Posters

As an internationally recognized technical and policy forum, the International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) is seeking thematically related papers and posters for its next convening in Savannah, Georgia, on May 5-8, 2014. The “Call for Papers and Posters” will be open from January 25, 2013 to July 15, 2013. The paper and poster presentations are the backbone of the IOSC's technical program and contribute to the vast canon of oil pollution knowledge shared between the government, industry, and academia. Invited authors present their respective papers or posters during speaker platform or interactive sessions scheduled during the IOSC. Please visit www.iosc.org for more information and to make your submission.

“Statement Regarding New NAS Program on Human Health and Environmental Protection in the Gulf of Mexico”
“As part of the $4 billion settlement announced today between the federal government and BP concerning the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, the National Academy of Sciences has been asked to establish a new $350 million, 30-year program on human health and environmental protection in the Gulf of Mexico.”

- William Skane, News from the National Academies (12/2/2012)

See the article at: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?. . . .

“Myers argues for UAF oil spill research.”
“Although there has been much recent focus on the risks associated with exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic offshore, it is necessary to take a broader view of arctic oil spill contingency planning, addressing for example risks associated with general arctic shipping and looking at risk management for the future development and production of oil resources, Mark Myers, vice chancellor of research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, or UAF, told a meeting of the Alaska Geological Society on Nov. 28. Myers has been promoting the establishment of an oil spill research center at the university.”

- Alan Baily, Petroleum News (12/2/2012)

See the article at: http://www.petroleumnews.com/pntruncate/178131593.shtml

“Oil Spills in Arctic Waters: An Introduction and Inventory of Research Activities and USARC Recommendations”
November 10, 2012 - From the U.S. Arctic Research Commission - “This ‘white paper’ is a compilation of research on oil spills in ice-covered Arctic waters and recommendations for future work. We identify research entities in governmental, nongovernmental, industrial, and private organizations, and provide an inventory of research projects. Given that much work is currently in progress, we provide only a snapshot in time, and an introduction to the topic.”

Links/Documents: http://www.arctic.gov/publications/oil_spills_2012.pdf

Site last updated May 10, 2013

Ohmsett Gazette

Check out the
Fall/Winter 2012 Issue

BOEM OCEAN
SCIENCE
October/November/December 2012 Issue

BOEM OCEAN SCIENCE is published quarterly by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to communicate recent ocean science and technological information and issues of interest related to offshore energy recovery and ocean stewardship.

To see the current and past issues: http://boem.gov/BOEM-Newsroom/Library/Ocean-Science/Ocean-Science.aspx

World's Largest Oil Spills

On April 22, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon, an offshore oil rig located southeast of the Mississippi River Delta, and operated by Transocean Ltd and licensed to BP, capsized and sank after an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Contributing to the explosion was the oil gusher from the well on the sea floor that was still drilling but not in production. Exact cause of the drilling mishap was still under investigation as of October 2010. Approximately 4.9 million barrels (185 million gallons) of oil were released.

Deepwater Horizon > More >>

The Amoco Cadiz encountered stormy weather and ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France on March 16, 1978. Its entire cargo of 68.7 million gallons of oil spilled into the sea, polluting about 200 miles of Brittany's coastline.

The Amoco Cadiz encountered stormy weather and ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France on March 16, 1978. Its entire cargo of 68.7 million gallons of oil spilled into the sea, polluting about 200 miles of Brittany's coastline.

Amoco Cadiz > More >>

Beginning in late January of the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraqi Army destroyed tankers, oil terminals, and oil wells in Kuwait, causing the deliberate release of an estimated 6-8 million barrels of oil.

Beginning in late January of the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraqi Army destroyed tankers, oil terminals, and oil wells in Kuwait, causing the deliberate release of an estimated 6-8 million barrels of oil.

Arabian Gulf Spills > More >>

On December 15, 1976, the Argo Merchant ran aground on Fishing Rip (Nantucket Shoals), 29 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in high winds and ten foot seas. Six days later, the vessel broke apart and spilled its entire cargo of 7.7 million gallons of No. 6 fuel oil.

On December 15, 1976, the Argo Merchant ran aground on Fishing Rip (Nantucket Shoals), 29 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in high winds and ten foot seas. Six days later, the vessel broke apart and spilled its entire cargo of 7.7 million gallons of No. 6 fuel oil.

Argo Merchant > More >>

On August 10, 1993, three ships collided in Tampa Bay, Florida: the barge Bouchard 155, the freighter Balsa 37, and the barge Ocean 255. The Bouchard 155 spilled an estimated 336,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil into Tampa Bay.

On August 10, 1993, three ships collided in Tampa Bay, Florida: the barge Bouchard 155, the freighter Balsa 37, and the barge Ocean 255. The Bouchard 155 spilled an estimated 336,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil into Tampa Bay.

Barge Bouchard 155 > More >>

On March 6, 1990, the Cibro Savannah exploded and caught fire while departing the pier at the Citgo facility in Linden, New Jersey. About 127,000 gallons of oil remained unaccounted for after the incident. No one knows how much oil burned and how much spilled into the environment.

On March 6, 1990, the Cibro Savannah exploded and caught fire while departing the pier at the Citgo facility in Linden, New Jersey. About 127,000 gallons of oil remained unaccounted for after the incident. No one knows how much oil burned and how much spilled into the environment.

Barge Cibro Savannah > More >>

On November 1, 1979, the Burmah Agate collided with the freighter Mimosa southeast of Galveston Entrance in the Gulf of Mexico. The collision caused an explosion and a fire on the Burmah Agate that burned until January 8, 1980. An estimated 2.6 million gallons of oil were released into the environment, and another 7.8 million gallons were consumed by the fire.

On November 1, 1979, the Burmah Agate collided with the freighter Mimosa southeast of Galveston Entrance in the Gulf of Mexico. The collision caused an explosion and a fire on the Burmah Agate that burned until January 8, 1980. An estimated 2.6 million gallons of oil were released into the environment, and another 7.8 million gallons were consumed by the fire.

Burmah Agate > More >>

On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The tanker was traveling outside the normal shipping lanes in an attempt to avoid ice. It spilled 10.8 million gallons of oil (out of a total cargo of 53 million gallons) into the marine environment, and impacted more than 1,100 miles of non-continuous Alaskan coastline. State and Federal agencies continue to monitor the effects of this spill, which was the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

Exxon Valdez > More >>

The 2-mile-deep exploratory well, Ixtoc I, blew out on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche off Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. By the time the well was brought under control in March, 1980, an estimated 140 million gallons of oil had spilled into the bay. The Ixtoc I spill is currently #2 on the all-time list of largest oil spills of all time.

The 2-mile-deep exploratory well, Ixtoc I, blew out on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche off Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. By the time the well was brought under control in March, 1980, an estimated 140 million gallons of oil had spilled into the bay. The Ixtoc I spill is currently #2 on the all-time list of largest oil spills of all time.

Ixtoc I > More >>

On September 16, 1990, the tank vessel Jupiter was offloading gasoline at a refinery on the Saginaw River near Bay City, Michigan, when a fire started on board and the vessel exploded.

On September 16, 1990, the tank vessel Jupiter was offloading gasoline at a refinery on the Saginaw River near Bay City, Michigan, when a fire started on board and the vessel exploded.

Jupiter > More >>

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