FREE ESSAY ON EPA OIL SPILL PROGRAM

EPA OIL SPILL PROGRAM

EPA Oil Spill Program Overview
Welcome to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Oil Spill Program. This website
provides information about the U.S. EPA's program for preventing, preparing for, and
responding to oil spills that occur in and around inland waters of the United States.
As a major industrial nation, the United States produces, distributes, and consumes large
quantities of oil. Petroleum-based oil is used as a major power source to fuel our
factories and various modes of transportation, and in many everday products, such as
plastics, nylon, paints, tires, cosmetics, and detergents. On average, the U.S. uses over
250 billion gallons of oil and petroleum products each year. To meet this demand, each
year the U.S. produces an average of 125 billion gallons of crude oil and imports an
average of 114 billion gallons of crude oil and other petroleum products. At every point
in the oil production, distribution, and consumption process, oil is invariably stored in
storage tanks. With billions of gallons of oil being stored throughout the country, the
potential for an oil spill is significant, and the effects of spilled oil can pose
serious threats to the environment.
In addition to petroleum-based oil, the U.S. consumes millions of gallons of
non-petroleum oils, such as silicone and mineral-based oils, and animal and vegetable
oils. Like petroleum products, these non-petroleum oils are often stored in storage tanks
that have the potential to spill, causing environmental damages that are just as serious
as those caused by petroleum-based oils.
To address the potential environmental threat posed by petroleum and non-petroleum oils,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established a program designed to prevent
oil spills. The program has reduced the number of spills from the total volume handled
each year. The program is also designed to prepare for and respond to any oil spill
affecting the inland waters of the United States. EPA's oil program has a long history of
responding to oil spills, including several major oil spills, and the lessons learned
have helped to improve our country's prevention and response capabilities. The Oil Spill
Program is administered through EPA headquarters and the 10 EPA Regions.
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URL: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/overview.htm
This page last updated on March 7, 2001
Comments: oilinfo@epa.gov
Bibliography
http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/overview.htm