Encl (2) to COMDTINST 16010.8
Oil Spills
Why We Act
The U.S. imports over 7 million barrels of crude oil a day, most of it via maritime
transportation. Petroleum products are also transported within the U.S. over its inland
and coastal waterways. Discharge of oil into U.S. waters, particularly in accidents
like the Exxon Valdez oil spill, can have devastating effects on coastal area
environments, which in turn produce serious repercussions on local tourist and fishing
industries.
Key Factors
Over 90% of the total volume of oil spilled is the result of a few large oil spills.
These spills are mostly the result of groundings, collisions, and fires. Tank barges
are the major source of discharged oil, accounting for approximately 75% of the volume
spilled, 40% of all spill incidents, and most major spills. Tank ships are also a
significant source of pollution, especially in terms of the number of major and medium
oil spills. Furthermore, tank ship accidents pose a threat of catastrophic pollution.
Economic factors and government action can affect regulation compliance by industry. As
the amount of petroleum products shipped by maritime carriers continues to increase, the
Coast Guard must be ready to ensure these shipments don't lead to accidents that harm
the environment.
Strategies
The Coast Guard develops pollution prevention standards, enforces pollution regulations,
and educates mariners on pollution prevention strategies and procedures. We employ the
"Prevention through People" philosophy to identify the human causal factors in pollution
incidents and focus on education of mariners and industry to reduce these factors. We