The Ohio River oil spill; A case study

This paper discusses how a number of technical, legislative, and administrative issues were raised during the Monongahela oil spill. The authors discuss how both long- and short-term environmental damage assessments need to be made. These include quantifying damage to fish and wildlife and contamination of sediments and possibly groundwater. Correlation of fluorometric readings and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data should also be undertaken. Legislative changes are being studied to assess the strengths and weaknesses of regulations regarding oil tanks. Spill response, coordination, and communication procedures are being reviewed. Another issue identified during the spill is the need for an on-line water quality and quantity model to estimate travel times and concentrations not only for spills, but also for planning purposes in developing national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.