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Test Deployment of Oil Spill Booming Strategies in Coastal Maine: Pre-Deployment Site Survey Summary for Scarborough River

GRS Deployment (B-01-1)


Developed by Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC and Nuka Research and Planning Group, LLC September 2012

Introduction
This report summarizes two days of pre-deployment site surveys conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) prior to planned Geographic Response Strategy testing on the Scarborough River. Background Geographic Response Strategies (GRSs) are protective booming strategies developed to help protect sensitive coastal environments and resources along the Maine coastline in the event of an oil spill into marine waters. The purpose of this project is to conduct field deployments of booming tactics at seven (7) sites along the Maine coastline in order to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of the GRS booming tactics, and to identify potential changes or improvements to enhance the GRSs. A website has been established with additional information about the GRS testing project at: http://www.nukaresearch.com/projects/meGRS/index.html Maine DEP conducted the site assessments with support from a contractor team led by Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC (MER), with responders and equipment from Boom Technologies, Incorporated (BTI) and project management support from Nuka Research and Planning Group, LLC (Nuka Research). Pre-Deployment Site Surveys Pre-deployment site surveys have been conducted at all GRS sites included in this testing program. The purpose of pre-deployment site surveys is to assess the feasibility of the existing GRS booming tactics based on site conditions, operating limits of the equipment, and best professional judgment of the contracting team and Maine DEP responders. Several techniques are applied during pre-deployment site surveys to assess the on-scene conditions and evaluate GRS booming strategies. Tactics include: Deployment of current drogues to measure current velocity and direction of flow at various tidal stages. Deployment of oil surrogate to evaluate predominant surface currents and anticipate the trajectory of floating oil slicks at various tidal stages. Deployment of short segments of boom to evaluate the feasibility of deployment and collect information about: o Bottom type & depth; Page 1 of 15

September 2012

Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report o o o Recommended anchor configurations (length/scope of line, size of anchor, need for double anchoring); Site access for shoreline anchors; and Ability for boom to hold various angles against different tide states.

All information collected during pre-deployment site assessments is compiled and considered by the GRS deployment team in finalizing the deployment plan.

Scarborough River GRS (B-01-1) Pre-Deployment Site Assessments


Two field assessments and a planning meeting were conducted to assess the conditions at the Scarborough River GRS site and to modify the GRS (B-01-1, see Figure 1), as appropriate, prior to the planned deployment exercise (scheduled for October 4, 2012). Pre-deployment meeting and site assessment activities were held to compile additional information about the site.

Figure 1: Scarborough River GRS (B-01-1)

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report GRS Review Meeting On July 11, 2012 project team members from Maine DEP, Moran Environmental and Nuka Research met at the Portland DEP office and reviewed the existing GRS for Scarborough River. Discussion at the meeting included the feasibility of deploying boom off the jetty and across the channel at the mouth of the Scarborough River, and the participants generally agreed that the sea state in that area would make it very difficult to effectively deploy the 5,250 feet of diversion boom shown in B-01-1 (Figure 1). They agreed to try to develop alternate strategies based on an assessment of the tidal currents at the site. They discussed the potential to utilize shorter booming sections inside the marsh to divert oil to shoreside collection. An initial site visit was planned for late July to gather additional information in the field. Initial Site Assessment Flood Tide An initial site visit was conducted on July 25, 2012 at the GRS site. During this initial site visit, which was scheduled to occur during the flood tide, the project team conducted a series of current and surrogate studies to evaluate the area for potential modifications to GRS booming. As shown in Table 1, the tidal range was fairly high for the site on the initial assessment day, therefore tidal currents were expected to approximate maximum tidal current when taken at max flow. A current drogue was deployed by the Maine DEP vessel to determine prevailing current speed during flood tide. Figures 2a and 2b show the GPS track lines from the current drogues deployed during the site assessment. The current drogues showed the highest rate of flood tide current occurring in the channel. Current velocities ranged from 1.18 kts to 1.8 kts. These readings suggest that the average flood tide current in the channel is in the range of 1.5 knots. The readings in Figure 2b are significantly lower, and were taken early in the tide change. Figure 3 shows the drift lines for current drogues released near the mouth of the Scarborough River during flood tide. With the exception of the orange track line, all other lines tended to converge in the main channel flowing inward. Oil surrogates (oranges) were also deployed to mimic the trajectory of a currentdriven oil slick. Figure 4 shows the track lines for the oranges that were dropped during the site assessment. Small groups of oranges (typically, 6-12 oranges per drop) were released over the side of a vessel and a handheld GPS unit within the vessel was used to take waypoints to track the orange movement periodically as they drifted with the flood tide current. Figure 4 includes a time stamp for waypoint readings. The trajectory of the oranges mimicked the current drogue track lines shown in Figure 3, suggesting that the predominant current-driven trajectory for oil on an incoming tide would be toward the western shoreline (Pine Point area). Based on the results of the initial site assessment, the project team agreed that diversion booming and recovery efforts should focus on the Pine Point shoreline area. The group agreed to conduct a second day of field reconnaissance to observe

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report the tidal currents associated with an ebb tide, to help further refine the GRS testing strategy.

Figure 2a. Track lines from current drogues deployed during flood tide at Scarborough River, 7/25/12

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Figure 2b. Track lines from current drogues deployed during flood tide at Scarborough River, 7/25/12

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Figure 3: Map of Current Drogue drift results from 7/25/12 Scarborough River site visit, Flood Tide

Table 1: Tides for Old Orchard Beach, Maine July 25, 2012 High 1 03:53 9.4 ft Low 1 09:57 -0.1 ft High 2 16:22 9.9 ft Low 2 22:32 0.1 ft

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Scarborough River Orange Drops July 25, 2012

Drop 2 Pickup? 43 32 72.69 70 19 89.18 DMS

3rd Drop Pickup 13:14 2 left to train track 8 up to south side of middle channel

4th Drop Pickup


Approx Mooring Field

2nd Drop Pickup? 12:31 70 19.8918 43 32.7269 DDM

3rd Drop 12:42

2nd Drop 12:19

3rd Drop 12:24

4th Drop 13:32 Fastest current of day

2nd Drop 11:54

Drop 1 11:21 AM

Drop 1 11:05

Drop 1 Pick up 11:32

0.25

0.5

1 Miles

Figure 4: Map of Oil Surrogate Scarborough River Site Visit

(oranges)

drops

during

7/25/12

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report Second Site Assessment Ebb and Flood Tide Current Studies and Boom Test A second site visit was conducted on September 11, 2012 at the GRS site. The site visit was scheduled to occur so that the team could evaluate tidal currents during both ebb and flood tides. The project team conducted a series of current and surrogate studies, building on the experience and knowledge from the July 25th site evaluation, to identify modifications to GRS booming for testing during the GRS exercise on October 4, 2012. As shown in Table 2, the tidal range was relatively low on this test day, so tidal current measurements were presumed to represent a moderate to low tidal current. A current drogue was deployed by the Maine DEP vessel to determine prevailing current speed during both ebb and flood tide. Figure 5 shows the GPS track lines from three current drogues deployed during the maximum low tide ebb tide. The direction of travel and general track line was consistent for the drogues deployed. The maximum current velocity measured was 1.3 kts, and the average velocity was 1 knot. Figure 6 shows the GPS track lines for three current drogues released outside the mouth of the Scarborough River approximately twenty minutes past slack low tide. The drogue tracks, which are all consistent in their general direction and path, show a direction of flow upriver, consistent with the beginning of a flood tide. Figure 7 shows the track lines for three current drogues that were deployed during the flood tide, approximately an hour before maximum flow. The drogues again all followed a consistent direction and path. Current measurements ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 kts. This data suggests that during more modest tides, flood tide rates may be closer to 1 knot. Figure 8 shows the track lines for a series of oil surrogate (orange) drops that were conducted during the ebb and flood tides. Small groups of oranges (typically, 6-12 oranges per drop) were released over the side of a vessel and a handheld GPS unit within the vessel was used to take waypoints to track the orange movement periodically as they drifted with the current. Figure 8 includes a dot for each waypoint, which is numbered, with the timestamp shown in parentheses (two aberrant readings were discarded). Yellow, blue, green and red track lines show surrogate movement with the ebb tide. Pink and white track lines show surrogate movement with the flood tide. The trajectory of the oranges mimicked the current drogue track lines shown in Figures 5 and 7, suggesting that the predominant current-driven trajectory for oil on an ebb or flood tide would be similar (though reversed), traveling within the channel but hugging the western shoreline (Pine Point side). A short segment of boom (200 feet) was also deployed in different locations and configurations during the second site assessment to evaluate potential GRS booming strategies. The full 200 ft was set out from the beach adjacent to the Pine Point Co-op dock and was found to hold at an angle appropriate for diversion through both tides. A shorter (100 ft) segment was towed outside the jetty and

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report deployed off the green can nearest the jetty and also found to hold during the flood tide.
Scarborough River 10:54 to 11:49 AM, Ebb Tide, September 11, 2012 (Low Tide 7:57 AM; Max Ebb Current 10:57 AM)

Approx Mooring Field

START 10:54 AM

1.3 kts

Legend
GPS #3 GPS #5 GPS #6

Avg. Speed 1 kt

END 11:49 AM
Miles 1

0.125

0.25

0.5

0.75

Figure 5: Map of ebb tide current drogue drift results from 9/11/12 site assessment, Scarborough River

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Scarborough River: 2:04 to 3:10 PM September 11, 2012 (Low Tide 1:46 PM)

Approx Mooring Field

Legend
GPS #3 GPS #5 GPS #6

END 3:10 PM

START 2:04 PM
Miles 1

0.125

0.25

0.5

0.75

Figure 6: Map of slack tide current drogue drift results from 9/11/12 site assessment, Scarborough River

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Scarborough River: 3:17 TO 3:51 PM September 11, 2012 (Low Tide 1:46 PM; Max Flood Current 4:40 PM)

Approx Mooring Field

END 3:51 PM

Legend
GPS #6 GPS #5

1.1 kts

GPS #3

0.9 kts
START 3:17 PM

0.125

0.25

0.5

0.75

Miles 1

Figure 7: Map of flood tide current drogue drift results from 9/11/12 site assessment, Scarborough River

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Figure 8: Map of Oil Surrogate Scarborough River Site Visit

(oranges)

drops

during

9/11/12

Table 2: Tides for Old Orchard Beach, Maine September 11, 2012 High 1 07:57 7.7 ft Low 1 01:37 1.4 ft High 2 20:09 8.6 ft Low 2 13:46 1.7 ft

Revised Scarborough River GRS (B-01-1)


Findings from Site Assessments Based on the current measurements and oil surrogate drift studies completed during the site assessments, the project team determined that a GRS focusing on the Pine Point shoreline would provide the maximum likelihood of diverting oil to the shoreline for recovery on both an incoming and outgoing tide. There is a boat ramp at the Pine Point Co-Op (96 King Street, Scarborough), providing good site

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report access. There is sandy beach adjacent to the boat ramp on the southeast side, next to the parking lot, which would be an ideal site for shoreside recovery for any oil that is diverted to shore. The prevailing tidal currents on both an ebb and flood tide tend to hug that shoreline, so oil diversion will require setting boom just far enough into the prevailing flow to redirect it. The project team discussed the use of diversion booming within the Scarborough River during an ebb tide to divert and collect. A similar array could be used at that same area on a flood tide, with the boom angle adjusted accordingly (See flood tide array in Figure 9). A single leg or cascaded array might work. The team also identified the opportunity to deploy cascaded deflection boom outside of the river mouth on a flood tide to deflect oil toward the Pine Point shoreline and the diversion booming array, and further enhance the potential for shoreside collection. Figures 9 and 10 show the modified flood tide booming tactics that will be tested during the October 4, 2012 GRS deployment test. The booming tactics reflect the consensus opinion of the project team based on the two days of pre-deployment site assessment.

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Figure 9: Modified booming tactics for Scarborough River GRS (B-01-1) to be tested on October 4, 2012

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Scarborough River GRS Pre-Deployment Summary Report

Figure 10: Modified booming tactics for Scarborough River GRS (B-01-1) to be tested on October 4, 2012 (Zoomed in version of Figure 9)

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