In Situ Burning

In situ burning, or ISB, is a technique sometimes used by people responding to an oil spill. In situ burning involves the controlled burning of oil that has spilled from a vessel or a facility, at the location of the spill. When conducted properly, in situ burning significantly reduces the amount of oil on the water and minimizes the adverse effect of the oil on the environment.

More ISB Information SMART (Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies) is a monitoring protocol for both in situ burning operations and dispersant application. The ISB module of SMART provides guidelines for monitoring the smoke plume from ISB operations.

SMART Basic information about the SMART monitoring program for in-situ burning and dispersants.

SMART: A Guided Tour Take a tour of SMART's use in monitoring dispersant application and in-situ burning.

Residues from In-Situ Burning of Oil on Water Surveys current knowledge of the behavior and effects of ISB residues.

ISB Comparisons The particulates released into the atmosphere by in-situ burning are a concern to many people. This page shows in-situ burning emission rates and rates of emission from other kinds of sources.

Reports and Documents Here is more information about in situ burning. Most of our reports are in Portable Document Format (PDF), an electronic document format developed by Adobe Systems, Inc.

Guidance on Burning Spilled Oil In Situ A position paper from the National Response Team (NRT) on the recommended limits for short-term human exposure to particulates measuring less than 10 microns (PM-10) while spilled oil is burned in situ. (Document format: PDF, size: 13.0 K)

Open-water Response Strategies: In-situ Burning Why conduct in-situ burning? How is it done? What about the emissions that it produces? Where has in-situ burning been conducted? What factors might prevent its use? (Document format: PDF, size: 37.3 K)

RRT IV Guidelines for Inshore/Nearshore In-Situ Burn Advantages and disadvantages of in-situ burning of oiled wetlands, safety and operational guidelines, and a checklist for in-situ coastal wetland burns. (Document format: PDF, size: 17.8 K)

In-Situ Burn Unified Command Decision Verification Checklist This checklist, created with input from the Region II Regional Response Team, summarizes important information the Unified Command should consider when planning oil spill in-situ burning in marine waters of Region II. (Document format: PDF, size: 17.5 K)

Health and Safety Aspects of In-situ Burning of Oil Presents health and safety considerations for response personnel, the general public, and the environment. (Document format: PDF, size: 31.8 K)

Sample Site Safety Plan for Marine In-Situ Burn Operations A draft sample site safety plan that includes elements unique to ISB. The sample is not a standard, but rather a suggested starting point. (Document format: PDF, size: 66.9 K)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Here are answers to questions that are often asked about ISB:

General Questions About ISB

Environmental Tradeoffs

Environmental Impacts

Human Health Concerns

Safety Issues

Economic Concerns

Questions About Institutions Conducting ISB