■ The use of microorganisms to break down the oil
■ Chemical agents, such as dispersants, sorbents, and detergents, that act to
disperse the oil, absorb it, or cause it to clump into gel-like
agglomerations that sink
■ Controlled burning and booming, skimming, and/or vacuuming the oil
from the surface or shorelineRELEVANT LAW
OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND LIABILITY ACT (1990): Strengthened
the EPA’s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills.PLASTIC—“THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH”
The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” is a large system of rotating ocean currents
(gyres) of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean.
Figure 9.7 The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”It is characterized by high concentrations of floating plastics, chemical
sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North
Pacific Gyre.