How is an oil spill cleaned up?

There are several steps:

1. The source is eliminated (leaks are stopped)
2. The escaped oil is contained with booms in water, with dams and dykes on land
3. The oil is removed:

• On land by vacuuming followed by excavation of contaminated soil
• At sea by vacuuming with or without absorbants materials, or by collection with skimmers, or by emulsification, or by weathering

Another method is being used with some success where there are enough people and material to sop up the oil in special mats and booms made of natural fibers, like hair. But it is a slow and labor-intensive process that relies mostly on volunteers.

You can help with this type of clean up, too. See the link in the related links section below for information about donations of natural fibers and hair to use in clean up. The web address will take you to the volunteer organization that is coordinating the donations of hair, wool, feathers, and nylons (hosiery), etc. to be used to help make barrier booms and to use in the clean up of beaches, birds, and animals that get oil soaked. The non-profit group will take money for buying the special netting they use in the construction of the booms, or your donations of that netting, too. You can have a "Boom B Q". A boom making party with a Bar B Q.

The site explains and shows how the fiber mats and booms work. It includes a link to a YouTube video on how to make the booms, too.