NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard Research and Development Center, in conjunction with the Naval Research Laboratory, Joint Maritime Test Facility, Bureau of Safety of Environmental Enforcement and other Federal, State, and local stakeholders, will be conducting a series of controlled test burns of crude oil at Little Sand Island in Mobile Bay, during the week of October 17, 2016.
These pre-planned burns at the test facility will allow researchers from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to gather critical data to help oil spill responders determine best practices for operational use of in-situ burning, develop new equipment & procedures, and train response personnel.
In-situ burning of oil as a response option was used to large success during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and helped to reduce environmental impacts in the marine environment. This strategy is an important response option when responding to oil spills away from the shoreline.
There will be several controlled test burns during the week. Each will burn about five gallons of oil and last for approximately 10 minutes, producing a small plume of black smoke.
Media inquiries may be directed to Lt. Elizabeth Tatum, Coast Guard Sector Mobile, at (251) 545-2662.