Comparison of Ecological Impacts of Postulated Oil Spills at Selected Alaskan Locations. Volume II-Results.

• Main Authors: Isakson,J. S., Storie,J. M., Vagners,J., Erickson,G. A., Kruger,J. F.
• Other Authors: MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES NORTHWEST INC BELLEVUE WASH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; *Oil spills; *Ecology; *Alaska; Oil pollution; Sites; Invertebrates; Plankton; Fresh water; Mixing; Fishes; Aquatic plants; Petroleum products; Climate; Gasoline; Sea ice; Ice; Removal; Seasonal variations; Ocean currents; Wind; Toxicity; Marine biology; Ratings; Computerized simulation; Mathematical models; Habitability; Rivers; Harbors; Marine terminals; *Environmental impacts; Evaluation; *Water pollution effects(Animals); *Water pollution effects(Plants); Crude oil; Drift River; Yukon; Nome; St Matthew Island; Yakutat; Yukon river; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA017601; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA017601

A ranking of potential environmental impact for spills of crude oil, diesel-2, bunker C, and gasoline in amounts ranging from 100 to 50,000 barrels was made for specific sites at Yakutat Bay, Valdez Harbor, Valdez Narrows, Drift River Channel, Port Graham, Kamishak Bay, Unimak Pass, Port Moller, Kvichak Bay, St. Matthew Island, Offshore Prudhoe, Onshore Prudhoe, Nome, Cape Blossom Channel, Colville River, Yukon River, and Denali Fault. Spills were assumed to disperse from inertial, viscous, surface tension, wind and current forces. Most probable wind and current conditions were utilized. Sites were characterized in terms of eight species habitats. Most probable cases were evaluated. A rating system was devised to characterize the impact based upon estimated species abundance, importance of species, and the impact of oil on such species over the short and long term. Impacts were estimated with the use of three-dimensional matrices. The highest impact ratings were obtained for spills at Port Graham, Valdez Narrows, Unimak Pass, and the Yukon River Crossing, assuming no spill cleanup. The same five locations dominated the impact ratings were containment/cleanup were assumed to take place.