A Review of Genwest's Final Report on Effective Daily Recovery Capacity (EDRC): A Letter Report (2013)
Chapter: APPENDIX B--A Review of the EDRC Project Final Report
APPENDIX B
A Review of the EDRC Project Final Report
Statement of Task
An ad hoc National Research Council committee will review the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Effective Daily Recovery Capacity (EDRC) Project Final Report for oil skimming systems.
Specifically, the review will address the following questions:
Methodology
• Are the methods used to estimate an oil skimming system necessary and scientifically sound?
• Does the proposed three-day model address conditions expected to be encountered on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf?
• Are there any data or methodological gaps that would preclude the use of this report for decision making? If so, how should they be addressed?
• Can this report and associated computer-based methodology be used as a scientifically credible source to appropriately support rule-making?
Applicability
• Does Genwest’s use of units throughout the report align with the actual factors?
• Are the variables used to determine a system’s efficiency properly defined?
• Is the use of the unit “Day” to describe thickness an appropriate metric?
• Does the Estimated Recovery System Potential (ERSP) process appropriately incorporate operational period, thickness factors, and “batch” or “continuous release” scenarios?
Computer Model
• Are the assumptions underlying the computer model correct and adequate?
• Does the model run as described without compounding errors?
