The prefects of areas affected by the Erika oil spill triggered the Polmar Terre onshore emergency plan on December 22, 1999.

Total provided significant logistics resources and equipment, such as helicopters, cranes, high-pressure washers and screeners, and removed waste from most of the intermediate sites to a secure storage site near the Donges refinery.

Throughout 2000, several dozen coastal cleanup sites were coordinated by the Atlantic Coast Task Force, especially in the Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan regions. Particular attention was paid to the most vulnerable environments, such as islands. All the work was performed under the supervision of the French public authorities and environment agencies, in constant contact with local elected officials.

Once the coastal cleanup was completed, Total began to undertake work to restore the ecological balance, in cooperation with environmental protection associations and public organizations.

We undertook numerous initiatives, including providing support to the Nantes Veterinary School, which conducted expert assessments and analyses on the birds affected by the pollution.