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Report - Situation

VESSEL STATUS:    8.23.84 M/V ALVENUS STILL BERTHED AT TODD SHIPYARD, PELICAN
ISLAND, GALVESTON, TX UNTIL ENTERING DRYDOCK FACILITIES ON SEPTEMBER 5.  BEACH
IMPACT AND CLEANUP STATUS:   8.21.84 PROPOSAL PRESENTED BY CONTRACTORS TO TEST
THE USE OF THE DISPERSANT COREXIT 9527 TO AID IN THE CLEANUP OF THE GALVESTON
SEAWALL. 8.23.84 PROPOSAL FOR DISPERSANT TEST APPROVED BY OSC, EPA AND TDWR.  IN
ITS APPROVAL OF TEST, EPA HAS PLACED SEVERAL STIPULATIONS INCLUDING CERTAIN
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  TEST IS SCHEDULED FOR 1000 MONDAY MORNING (8.27.84).
8.23.84 CLEANUP OF SEAWALL CONTINUES WITH HYDRO/SAND BLASTING OF GROINS BY DAY
AND THE SEAWALL BY NIGHT.   8.21.84 UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSAL/STOCKPILING SITE
REPORTED BY PRIVATE CITIZEN TO BE IN MARSH/WETLAND AREA BACKING EAST BEACH. 
SITE INVESTIGATED BY OSC STAFF AND CONTRACTOR/OWNER REP.  UNAUTHORIZED SITE
CLEANUP COMPLETED 8.22.84.   8.21.84 TDWR, IN AGREEMENT WITH NOAA SCIENTIFIC
SUPPORT TEAM RECOMMENDED NO FURTHER REMOVAL OF SAND FROM THE BEACH, OTHER THAN
IDENTIFIED ISOLATED PATCHES WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF OIL.  THE REMAINING
LIGHTLY OILED SAND ON THE BEACHES IS TO BE SPREAD AND TILLED INTO THE UPPER
BEACH NEAR THE DUNE LINE---THE HEIGHT OF TILLED SAND NOT TO EXCEED 3 FT. 
8.22.84 CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS OBSERVED RESULTS OF SPREADING/TILLING
OPERATIONS AND GAVE THEIR APPROVAL.  TDWR WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR
SPREADING/TILLING OPERATIONS. TOTAL SAND REMOVED FROM GALVESTON ISLAND BEACHES
AS OF 8.22.84 IS 99,100 CUBIC YARDS, REPRESENTING SOME 7900 TONS OF OIL REMOVED
FROM THE BEACH. OSC NOW BEING QUESTIONED BY CITY AND COUNTY ON WHAT PLANS ARE
BEING MADE TO REPLENISH SAND ON THE BEACHES.  NOAA ACTIVITIES:  1. CONDUCTED
BEACH PROFILE SURVEY 8.23.84 2. PREPARED SUMMARY OF ALL SAMPLING DATA COLLECTED
TO DATE AND DISTRIBUTED  COPIES TO OWNER/CONTRACTOR REP, EPA, TDWR AND OSC. 
NOAA WILL CONTINUE TO  COORDINATE SAMPLE ANALYSIS DATA. 3. DAILY WEATTHER
RREPORTS SUPPLIED TO CONTRACTORS BY HOUSTON NWS OFFICE. 4. SSC PARTICIPATED IN
RADIO TALK SHOW 'GALVESTON TALKING' TO DISCUSS OIL  SPILL CLEANUP OPERATIONS IN
GALVESTON.  OTHER PARTICIPANTS: TDWR, NMFS,  AND COUNTY PARKS SUPERINTENDENT. 5.
SSC PARTICIPATED IN OVERFLIGHT WITH OWNERS TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES TO  VIEW
PROGRESS OF CLEANUP OPERATIONS ON WEST BEACHES AND TO CHECK ON REPORT  THAT
FRESH OIL WAS WASHING ASHORE NEAR SAN LUIS PASS.  SAMPLE OF FRESH OIL  COLLECTED
FOR ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE IF FROM ALVENUS.  PLANNED ACTIVITIES:  1. CONTINUE
BEACH PROFILES. 2. E. GUNDLACH AND M. WILLIAMS TO GO TO AUSTEN TO TALK WITH
BUREAU OF  ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY ABOUT BEACH PROFILE DATA FOR GALVESTON ISLAND
PRIOR  TO OIL SPILL. 3. SSC TO COORDINATE DEVELOPMENT OF MONITORING PLAN FOR
DISPERSANT TEST TO  BE CONDUCTED ON SEAWALL.  MONITORING WILL BE DONE BY NOAA,
EPA, TDWR,NMFS,  TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, U.S.F.W.L. AND COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEER.  NOAA PERSONNEL ON SCENE:  SHARON CHRISTOPHERSON TODD BAXTER ERICH
GUNDLACH, RPI MARK WILLIAMS, RPI  MIKE VOGEL DEPARTED 8.23.84