Review of the Inland Estimated Recovery System Potential (ERSP) Prototype Calculator

By: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Division on Earth and Life Studies and Ocean Studies Board and Committee on the Review of the Inland Estimated Recovery System Potential (ERSP) Prototype Calculator

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Synopsis: In the wake of major oil spills, including the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, the United States developed tools for calculating the clean-up capability of oil spill response equipment. These tools, while useful for open-water spills, had limited applicability in nearshore and inland environments, leading the U.S. Coast Guard and partners to develop a new, inland Estimated Recovery System Potential (ERSP) calculator for oil recovery. The present review evaluates the inland ERSP calculator and accompanying documentation. While acknowledging the complexities associated with developing such a calculator for inland environments, the report recommends changes to the methodologies used and the software developed to better meet user needs. The calculator should be modified to more clearly establish the scope of its capabilities, so users understand the limitations on data they can input as well as what the calculator outputs tell them about the recovery potential of selected clean-up equipment. The calculator should also undergo thorough third-party validation and verification as well as quality assurance testing, to ensure it operates as intended.