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Oil Spills Play Small Role in Ocean Pollution.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
The Oil Daily, May 24, 2002.
Oil Spills Play Small Role in Ocean Pollution
Nearly 29 million gallons of petroleum flow into North American ocean waters each year, but tanker and pipeline spills only play a bit part in the pollution which can have
devastating effects on the environment.
Spills due to tanker accidents and pipeline ruptures account for less than 8% of the 29 million gallons entering into ocean waters each year, according to a report released by the
National Academies' National Research Council on Thursday.
On the other hand, nearly 85% of the petroleum that escapes into the ocean is due to land-based runoff, polluted rivers, airplanes, small boats, and jet skis, while oil exploration
and extraction are responsible for 3%, or 880,000 gallons. Also, some 47 million gallons seep into the ocean naturally from the sea floor.
"This doesn't mean we can ignore hazards from drilling and shipping, however," said James Coleman, chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Although new safety
standards and advances in technology reduced the amount of oil that spilled during extraction and transport in the last two decades, the potential is still there for a large spill,
especially in regions with lax safety controls," he added.
On the positive side for the industry, the report noted that the amount of petroleum released into North American and global waters is less than previously thought. However, the
report also found that the environmental effects of a major oil spill are longer-lasting than once thought, and that even small amounts of petroleum can seriously damage marine
life and ecosystems.
A spill's influence also depends on the type and amount of toxins present in the petroleum being released.
Since the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill that spewed 11 million gallons of crude oil in Alaska's Prince William Sound, causing environmental damage to 1,500 miles of coastline and
harming fish and wildlife, there has been growing concern over such spills.
Annually, about 2.7 million gallons of petroleum spill into North American waters while being transported to market. The report, however, did not discount large tanker spills,
especially in areas that lacked stringent safety procedures and inspections. It urged the US Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency to work with
state agencies and the industry to minimize the potential for a significant spill.
Worldwide, about 210 million gallons of petroleum enter into the sea each year, the report said.
Manimoli Dinesh
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2002 Energy Intelligence Group
Source Citation
"Oil Spills Play Small Role in Ocean Pollution." The Oil Daily 24 May 2002: ITEM02143007. Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources. Web. 2
May 2018.

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