BEACH CLEANING AND THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN THE 1993 TAMPA BAY SPILL

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the decision-making process and shoreline cleanup methods used following the oiling of 23 km (14 mi) of oceanfront sand beaches in the St. Petersburg, Florida, area in August 1993. Although cleanup of sand beaches usually is relatively straightforward, in this instance the high recreational use of the beaches during the traditional Labor Day weekend in early September created pressure to deal with the shoreline oiling in a rapid and efficient manner. Achieving this goal required a coordinated effort by all participants in the response operation. Key points include the following:The importance and value of consensus among state, federal, and responsible party representativesUse of systematic beach survey measurements and data to determine the extent and type of surface and subsurface oiling and to define the scope of the problemField testing, evaluation, and final development of recommendations for cleanupUse of heavy equipment and the development of cost estimates for alternative methods in the context of timing and tradeoffs. The consensus reached by the technical support group for the cleanup operations involved a combination of manual removal, mechanical removal, surf-washing, and tilling. The possible effects of sediment removal were evaluated through use of beach profile and sand budget information from a long-term monitoring program. This spill response emphasized the role and importance of technical support and the interaction with field supervisors and operators, to develop appropriate and successful cleanup strategies and techniques.