COAST GUARD RESPONSE TO OIL SPILLS--TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE

Approximately 10,000 and 10,600 oil pollution incidents occurred in American waters in 1975 and 1976. These incidents resulted in 14.3 and 23.1 million gallons of oil being spilled during these years. One spill of about 7.3 million gallons was the major cause for the increase between the years. GAO reviewed Coast Guard effectiveness in containing and cleaning up oil spills from Eastport, Maine, to Brownsville, Texas. The Great Lakes, Pacific, and inland points were excluded because of the relatively small volume of spills reported in those areas for 1976. Overall the Coast Guard did an effective job. There were opportunities, however, for the Coast Guard to have been more effective in 38 percent of the oil pollution incidents GAO examined.

• Record URL:
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?recflag=&rptno=CED-78-111
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1978-5-16

Media Info

• Pagination: 76 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containing equipment; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil recovery systems; Oil removal systems; Oil spill containment
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00178896
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: U.S. General Accounting Office
• Report/Paper Numbers: CED-78-111
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 29 1978 12:00AM