Towards a common oil spill risk assessment framework – Adapting ISO 31000 and addressing uncertainties. (15th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sepp Neves, Antonio Augusto; Pinardi, Nadia; Martins, Flavio; Janeiro, Joao; Samaras, Achilleas; Zodiatis, George; De Dominicis, Michela
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 159(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2015-08-15
• Subjects: ISO 31000 -- Oil spill risk assessment -- Ensemble oil spill modeling -- Lebanon spill case study -- MEDSLIK-II; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Oil spills are a transnational problem, and establishing a common standard methodology for Oil Spill Risk Assessments (OSRAs) is thus paramount in order to protect marine environments and coastal communities. In this study we firstly identified the strengths and weaknesses of the OSRAs carried out in various parts of the globe. We then searched for a generic and recognized standard, i.e. ISO 31000, in order to design a method to perform OSRAs in a scientific and standard way. The new framework was tested for the Lebanon oil spill that occurred in 2006 employing ensemble oil spill modeling to quantify the risks and uncertainties due to unknown spill characteristics. The application of the framework generated valuable visual instruments for the transparent communication of the risks, replacing the use of risk tolerance levels, and thus highlighting the priority areas to protect in case of an oil spill. Highlights: An ISO-compliant oil spill risk assessment framework is proposed. The framework is validated using a real case study. Risk uncertainties are quantified using ensemble simulations.