Hazardous Materials: Marine Oil Spill *

Description:

Released petroleum product or other oil into or onto the ocean or any body of water which might flow into the ocean.

Secondary Effects:

The State of Maine with its extensive coastline could suffer a major loss of property and or economic value, both public and private with any size spill. These losses may be economic to those that make their living on the water such as lobstering, fishing and aquaculture or the coastal beaches such as clamming. Additionally, Maine’s business economy has a large tourist base which is based on a short season and any loss of use of property or the publicity generated from it would be an economic loss to many businesses located along the coast. Beyond the loss of private and public property, there are environmental effects that with each spill increases the possibility of reduced value of land thereby creating an economic loss or decreasing the quality of life. Environmental losses also include impact to wildlife including sea mammals, fish, birds and assorted other creatures.

Vulnerability:

Maine is extremely vulnerable to oil spills due to its extensive coastline and high volume of oil products that are imported and or traveling through its waters including those traveling to and from Canada. Maine has a large number of commercial, fishing and pleasure vessels from which spills may occur.

There are eight ports in Maine through which petroleum and oil products are imported. Total barrels of products that flow through these ports are about 205,000,000.

Mitigation:

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) maintains a Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan. This plan is reviewed on a regular basis and updated as needed. They take a lead position in coordination of response efforts and planning with a variety of other Federal, State, local and private organizations. Additionally, the regular exercising of this plan is conducted to ensure that it is a workable plan. Maine DEP continues to work with both public and private entities to build partnerships that respond quickly and educate the users of Maine’s waterways on prevention techniques and containment measures in the event of a spill.

* An occurrence of this hazard could possibly be initiated by a deliberate act.

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Hazardous Materials: Marine Oil Spill *

Description:

Secondary Effects:

Vulnerability:

Mitigation:

MAINE HAZARDS