In-situ treatment of oiled sediment shorelines programme

The In-situ Treatment of Oiled Sediment Shorelines (ITOSS) program, an international project, with the primary objective of investigating natural shoreline cleaning processes and methods of treatment by which these processes can be accelerated, was discussed. Initial studies focused on the removal of oil due to natural abrasion and accelerated abrasion as a function of wave energy and oil loading. The second set of studies involved the investigation of natural processes of oil removal in the presence of clays, the effectiveness of abrasion and the use of in-situ shoreline cleanup techniques. The field trials scheduled for August 1997, will use the results of the first two studies to conduct full-scale tests on low energy, mixed sediment beaches. Results will be used to generate appropriate guidelines for oiled shorelines, particularly in remote areas. 5 refs., 1 fig