What volume categorizes a major coastal spill?

A major coastal spill is categorized by its volume, and spills exceeding 100,000 gallons are significant due to their potential for widespread environmental impact and the extensive resources required for response and cleanup efforts. Such large spills can affect large areas of marine and coastal ecosystems, harm wildlife, and disrupt local economies dependent on healthy marine resources.

When assessing the impacts of an oil spill, the larger the volume, the more severe the potential consequences. This is why volumes above 100,000 gallons are used as a benchmark for classifying these spills as major. Smaller spill volumes, such as less than 10,000 or those within the range of 10,000 to 100,000 gallons, typically do not present the same scale of challenges in terms of response measures and environmental effects. Thus, the classification of spills assists responders in prioritizing incidents and mobilizing appropriate emergency response resources.