Assessment of Lebanon Oil Spill

Press Release

International Expert Concludes Rapid Assessment of Lebanon Oil Spill
ٍExtensive injury, requires serious response and in depth damage assessment

Beirut, 23 August 2006

As a result of a rapid assessment mission over the past 10 days, an environmental scientist from Alaska has concluded that the Lebanon Oil Spill has caused extensive injury to the near shore environment of Lebanon. Rick Steiner, a professor at the University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program and Member of the Commission on Environmental Economic and Social Policy of IUCN, who has been in Lebanon to conduct a rapid assessment of the spill, was also advising the Lebanese Ministry of Environment (MoE), on behalf of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Green Line.
“It appears that the marine and coastal ecosystem is more contaminated than first thought” said Steiner, who has advised on several oil spills throughout the world, including the Exxon Valdez (Alaska), Braer (Scotland), the Niger Delta, and Tasman Spirit (Pakistan).
Contrary to early computer models regarding how the spill might spread, it is now apparent that much of the oil actually sunk to the near shore seabed, much beached, some is still floating offshore of Lebanon, and some drifted north towards the Syrian and Turkish waters.
The environmental damage from this spill will be assessed by a methodical Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) programme, directed by the MoE and the National Center for Marine Sciences of the National Council for Scientific Research. Steiner drafted the Phase I NRDA Plan, which has been approved by the Minister of Environment. As well, Professor Steiner was asked to draft the Spill Cleanup Plan which was approved by the Minister of Environment yesterday. The Cleanup plan calls for a rapid response phase (remainder of August) focusing on shoreline cleanup on several sandy beach segments (Jbeil, Ramlet el Baida, Jiyeh, and Palm Island Nature Reserve). The mid-term / long-term plan (remainder of 2006 / 2007) calls for expanded beach cleanup including rock washing, an offshore response to remove any recoverable concentrations of oil on the sea surface, and a sea bed assessment and response effort. ‘This may be the first attempt in history to mount a significant recovery effort on sea bed oil, but it seems not only possible, it seems very necessary.’ Steiner has recommended a full underwater survey of the Lebanese coast with towed Remote Observing Vehicles (ROVs) to assess the extent of sea bed oiling.
“The priorities at this point are to minimize further environmental damage as much as possible by recovering as much oil as possible; assess the environmental injury; and then to formulate a restoration programme that will provide long-lasting environmental benefit to the marine and coastal environment of Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean Sea”, said Steiner.
From its side, Green Line asked about the reason behind not having a functional ‘Emergency Response Committee’, a trained operational task force to deal with similar disasters recommended by the Barcelona Convention. Local expertise and equipment in the country have not been used, and we need to know why,” said Green Line.
Last week Green Line and other NGOs attempted to cleanup several beaches, but have been hindered by the authorities for unjustified reasons. However, the Minister of Environment has taken a positive step yesterday by accepting to coordinate with civil society on the cleanup process.
Green Line emphasized on the urgency of the cleanup operations especially after a delay of about one month. Huge quantities of spilled oil formed layers within the sand and thick crusts on rocky beaches. Despite significant international efforts, little direct input in terms of funds and cleanup operations came out.
While NGOs are a driving force and a supporter in such actions, a full scale cleanup operation for such a disaster will require the cooperation of the government and international community. The cabinet must give this disaster higher priority and provide the required support to the Ministry of Environment and other responsible line ministries.
At this point Green Line will continue to monitor the situation and contribute to the cleanup within the available resources.

For more information:
Wael Hmaidan, Coordinator of oil spill working group, mobile: +961-3-506313