SEDL / STP / STP840-EB / STP30246S

Ecological Considerations for the Use of Dispersants in Oil Spill Response

Lindstedt-Siva, J
managerwildlife biologistexecutive secretary, Environmental Sciences Group, Atlantic Richfield Co.US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pauxent Wildlife Research Centerenvironmental specialistEnvironmental AssociatesBoard on Ocean Science Policy, National Academy of Sciences, Los AngelesLaurelBoulderWashington, DC, CAMDCO

Albers, PH
managerwildlife biologistexecutive secretary, Environmental Sciences Group, Atlantic Richfield Co.US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pauxent Wildlife Research Centerenvironmental specialistEnvironmental AssociatesBoard on Ocean Science Policy, National Academy of Sciences, Los AngelesLaurelBoulderWashington, DC, CAMDCO

Fucik, KW
managerwildlife biologistexecutive secretary, Environmental Sciences Group, Atlantic Richfield Co.US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pauxent Wildlife Research Centerenvironmental specialistEnvironmental AssociatesBoard on Ocean Science Policy, National Academy of Sciences, Los AngelesLaurelBoulderWashington, DC, CAMDCO

Maynard, NG
managerwildlife biologistexecutive secretary, Environmental Sciences Group, Atlantic Richfield Co.US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pauxent Wildlife Research Centerenvironmental specialistEnvironmental AssociatesBoard on Ocean Science Policy, National Academy of Sciences, Los AngelesLaurelBoulderWashington, DC, CAMDCO

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1984

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Abstract

A multidisciplinary task force with membership from government agencies, academia, and industry is developing ecologically based guidelines for dispersant use in marine and estuarine environments. The guidelines are organized by habitat type (e.g., coral reefs, rocky shores, bird habitats) and consider dispersant use to protect the habitats from impact, to mitigate impacts, and to clean the habitats after a spill. Each guideline contains a description of the habitat type covered, recommendations for dispersant use, and a background section reviewing the relevant literature. The goal is to minimize the ecological impacts of oil spills. Aesthetic, socioeconomic, and political factors are not considered, although it is recognized that these are important concerns during spill response. Use of dispersants is considered along with other appropriate countermeasures and compared with the “no cleanup” alternative.