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observation buoy

A platform for sensors that can be used during spill response to provide environmental data (e.g., winds, currents, water level, temperature, etc.). The data obtained may be used to predict the trajectory of a spill, forecast weather, and plan response operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Federal agency within the U. S. Department of Labor with the responsibility of ensuring worker safety and health. (www.osha.gov)

Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R)

NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (response.restoration.noaa.gov) includes the Emergency Response Division (ERD), which provides scientific expertise to support oil and chemical spill responses in U.S. coastal waters; the Assessment and Restoration Division (ARD), which works to protect and restore coastal natural resources injured by hazardous substances; and the Pribilof Islands Environmental Restoration Project.

oil

Crude oil and refined petroleum products (e.g., motor oils, fuels, lubricants, etc.). The term also refers to vegetable oils, animal fats, and other non-petroleum oils, but these non-petroleum products rarely prompt an emergency response.

oil boom

See boom.

oil film

A slick thinner than .0001 inch and may be classified as follows:

Term	Gal/ sq mile	Appearance
"barely visible"	25	barely visible
"silvery"	50	silvery sheen
"slightly colored"	100	trace of color
"brightly colored"	200	bright bands of color
"dull"	666	turns dull brown
"dark"	1,332	much darker brown

Note: Each 1" thickness of oil equals 5.61 gallons per square yard or 17,378,709 gallons per square mile.

Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90)

OPA90 amended the Clean Water Act to strengthen the nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills. It applies to oil-carrying vessels, offshore facilities, onshore facilities, and deepwater ports that could potentially spill oil into U.S. navigable waters or the adjoining shorelines. See also Clean Water Act.

oil snares

See pom-poms.

Oil Spill Removal Organization -or- Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO)

An environmental service company that specializes in environmental problems, such as oil and chemical spills.

oil trajectory

See trajectory.

oily debris

Can include sorbent pads/boom, protective clothing/gear, soil, sand, rocks, logs, kelp, plastics, mousse, oil/water mixture and animal carcasses.

oleophilic

Oil-attracting, having a strong affinity for oil. To be useful in combating oil spills, sorbents need to be both oleophilic and hydrophobic (water-repellent). Contrast with hydrophobic.

oleum

Or fuming sulfuric acid. The mixture of sulfuric acid and sulfur trioxide.

On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)

The person responsible for the spill response activities of a single or group of agencies. This person is responsible for coordinating that agency's or group's activities with those of the other OSCs through the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Incident Commander (IC). There may be more than one OSC at a spill (e.g., Federal OSC, State OSC, and Responsible Party OSC), but only one IC.

on-water recovery

The recovery of spilled pollutant while it is still on the water, rather than when it reaches a shoreline. On-water recovery includes using skimmers on oil slicks and netting systems for tarballs and highly viscous oils.

OPA90

See Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

OR&R

See Office of Response and Restoration.

organic

Generally, compounds that contain the element carbon, except for some carbon-containing compounds that are considered to be inorganic (carbon oxides, carbides, carbon disulfide, phosgene, the cyanides of the metals, and carbonyl sulfide). Contrast with inorganic.

OSC

See On-Scene Coordinator.

OSHA

See Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSPR

The State of California's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) (www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr). Housed within the Department of Fish and Game, OSPR is the lead state agency charged with oil spill prevention and response within California's marine environment.

OSRO

See Oil Spill Removal/Response Organization.

overflight

A flight by an airplane or helicopter over an area of water or shoreline, generally done to assess the character and extent of pollutant spilled on the water. See also aerial observation.

overpressurization

Increase of pressure within a container beyond the pressure the container is designed to contain; can lead to explosion of the container.

oxidation

A chemical reaction in which oxygen bonds to an element or compound. By extension, a reaction in which one element or compound rises to a higher oxidation state while another drops to a lower oxidation state (the term is used in this sense even when no oxygen whatever is present). Contrast with reduction.

oxidizer

Or oxidizing agent. Substance that yields oxygen readily to support a fire.

oxidizing agent

Or oxidizer. Substance that yields oxygen readily to support a fire. Contrast with reducing agent.