Mitigation operations are response actions which may not involve much removal of the pollu-tant, but are desirable to lessen the impact of the spill.

Restoration activities may include shoveling up asphaltic or tarry residues of the spill; applica-tion of hot water washes on rocky shorelines; ex-tensive manual or mechanized efforts to collect, reclaim, and reestablish affected beach sand; or trenching of estuaries to remove as much oil as possible. Most restoration efforts deal with beach areas, where the procedures selected vary with the type, age, and amount of spilled oil and the type of beach affected. Generally, lighter oils (less viscous) penetrate the sand more rapidly, and re-quire the use of techniques that include harrow-ing in sorbent material to foster degradation, sand pickup, reclamation and/or replacement. Treat-ment of beach sand to remove oil can only be justified where beach sand is scarce and its

Table 8-2.Summary of Spilled Oil Disposal Techniques

replacement is costly, because the current methods for beach sand reclamation are very expensive. Mitigation of impacts may also involve biological reseeding of areas affected by the spill or the cleanup operations. It may also include the collection, cleanup, and care of oil soaked birds, which were attracted to the spill area, although this effort is generally only partially effective. It requires expert knowledge, facilities for recuperation, and extensive use of manpower.

As you read earlier in this chapter there are six operational phases involved with spills. We have briefly discussed only four of these. For more detailed information about the phases discussed and additional information on the care of the equipment and administrative follow up to a spill read and study NAVFAC P-908, Oil Spill Control for Inland Waters and Harbors.