ANALYSIS OF OIL SPILL TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE

Dagmar Schmidt Etkin
Environmental Research Consulting
750 Main Street
Winchester, Massachusetts 01890
ABSTRACT: This presentation examines trends in U.S. oil
spillage, with respect to historical and current trends in the
United States and worldwide, and analyzes potential influences
on spill frequencies. Contrary to popular perceptions, the numbers
of oil spills, as well as the amount spilled, have decreased
significantly over the last two decades, particularly in the last few
years despite overall increases in oil transport. Decreases are
pronounced for vessels. U.S. pipelines now spill considerably
more than tankers. Overall, U.S. oil spillage decreased 228%
since the 1970s and 154% since the 1980s. This decrease mirrors
international trends and can likely be attributed to reduced
accident rates, due to preventive measures and increased concerns
over escalating financial liabilities.
Methodology
Oil spill data used in this study are from the Environmental
Research Consulting Spill Databases, which collate data from a
large number of sources and databases, including information
from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. National Response
Center (NRC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), U.S. Minerals Management
Service (MMS), various U.S. state databases, Environment Canada,
Oil Spill Intelligence Report, International Maritime Organization,
International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, Tanker
Advisory Center, and other national and regional environmental
agencies. On a continuously updated basis, the data are crosschecked
and corrected with current information and new information
on past events. U.S. data are subject to reporting errors,
occasional duplications of records of events, and other anomalies.
Worldwide data largely reflect trends in reporting, both over time
and on a regional basis, and should be treated as underestimates,
particularly for smaller-sized spill events (under 100,000 gallons
or 340 t), for spills from regions where reporting is compromised
for political or logistical reasons, and for spills from nonvessel
sources.
An “oil spill” is defined as discrete event in which oil is discharged
through neglect, by accident, or with intent over a relatively
short time. It does not include an event in which oil leaks
slowly over a long period of time, nor does it include operational
spillages allowed by international or national regulations (such as
MARPOL discharges from tankers) or that occur over a relatively
long period of time (such as >5 ppm oil discharges in refinery
effluents) even if those discharges violate pollution regulations.
“Oil” is defined as a petroleum-derived substance as defined in
MARPOL Annex I, and does not include BTEX (benzene,
xylene, ethylene, and toluene), or liquefied natural or petroleum
gas. “Facilities” include oil terminals, storage tanks, refineries,
industrial facilities, utilities, and other stationary sources with the
exception of pipelines.

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ANALYSIS OF OIL SPILL TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE