Monitoring In-Situ Burning Operations

Another spill response option is in-situ burning (ISB). "In situ" is Latin for "in place," so in-situ burning means burning the oil in place, at the site of a spill. ISB may be conducted on the open ocean, on land, or on a ship, as was done recently in Oregon during the response to the grounding of a freighter, the New Carissa. Burning the oil can be quite efficient, and can significantly decrease the amount of oil impacting the shoreline and causing harm to the environment. ISB, however, generates black smoke that contains small particulates. These particulates, at high concentrations, may cause respiratory problems to sensitive people. Therefore, the smoke may be of concern if it blows toward population centers.

How do responders know that particulate concentration trends at ground level are not too high?

New Carissa Burn This photo shows an explosion and in-situ burn on the New Carissa, grounded offshore of Coos Bay, Oregon. SMART monitoring teams were deployed to nearby towns (visible in background) to monitor for particulate concentration trends at ground level. USCG photo.

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Revised: July 17, 2001
Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration