"1997 Conference Sponsors: American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Coast Guard, US. Environmental Protection Agency, International Maritime Organization, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association"--Page [6]. Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-50).

"This paper, drawing upon the scientific literature, aims to identify key points and clarify issues relevant to oil spill response and the question of when it is reasonable to stop cleaning. There is no consensus on definitions of clean and the acceptability of predicted natural cleaning timescales; human intervention is justified if the natural timescale is agreed to be unacceptably long. No cleanup method is a panacea, and different ecological and socio-economic interests may have conflicting needs. Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (weighing cleanup advantages and disadvantages as far as possible in the contingency planning process before a spill occurs) is advocated as a way forward. Most documented shore recovery times are over timescales of one to five years, regardless of whether they were cleaned up or not. Prolonged recovery times of up to 20 years or longer may result from extremes of either aggressive cleanup or uncleaned, heavy oiling. Beyond a certain point, expenditure of money on cleanup and restoration will not have a beneficial effect on recovery because inherent timescales for some ecological processes cannot be accelerated. It is important to promote understanding and more constructive involvement with the media and public before a spill occurs. Suggested methods include producing information material and involving environmental groups in contingency planning process"--Abstract.