ASTM F1687-97(2003)

Standard Guide for Terminology and Indices to Describe Oiling Conditions on Shorelines

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
In order to ensure data consistency, it is important to use standardized terminology and definitions in describing oiling conditions. This guide provides a template for that purpose.
Data on oiling conditions at a shoreline are needed to provide an accurate perspective of the nature and scale of the oiling problem and to facilitate spill-response planning and decision making. Data on oiling conditions would be used in assessing the need for cleanup actions, selecting the most appropriate response technique(s), determining priorities for cleanup, and evaluating the endpoint of cleanup activities.
Mechanisms by which data are collected may vary (see Guide F 1686).3 ,4 They may include aerial videotape surveys or ground-level assessment surveys. The composition and responsibility of the survey team will depend on the response organization and objectives. The magnitude and type of data sets collected may likewise vary with the nature of the spill and operational needs.5 ,6  
Consistent data sets (observations and measurements) on shoreline oiling conditions are essential within any one spill in order to compare the data between different sites or observers, and to compare the data against existing benchmarks or criteria that have been developed to rate the nature or severity of the oiling. To the extent possible, consistency is also desirable between different spills, in order to benefit from previous experiences and cleanup decisions.
It is recognized that some modifications may be appropriate based on local or regional geographic conditions or upon the specific character of the stranded oil.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the standardized terminology and types of observational data and indices appropriate to describe the quantity, nature, and distribution of oil and physical oiling conditions on shorelines that have been contaminated by an oil spill.
1.2 This guide does not address the mechanisms and field procedures by which the necessary data are gathered; nor does it address terminology used to describe the cultural resource or ecological character of oiled shorelines, spill monitoring, or cleanup techniques.
1.3 This guide applies to marine shorelines (including estuaries) and may also be used in freshwater environments (rivers and lakes).
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Feb-1997
• ICS: 13.300 - Protection against dangerous goods
• Technical Committee: F20 - Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response
• Drafting Committee: F20.17 - Shoreline and Inland Countermeasures

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1687-97 - Standard Guide for Terminology and Indices to Describe Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1997
• Replaced By: ASTM F1687-09 - Standard Guide for Terminology and Indices to Describe Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1686-22 - Standard Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling Conditions
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F2204/F2204M-22 - Standard Guide for Describing Shoreline and Inland Response Techniques
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F1687–97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Guide for
Terminology and Indices to Describe Oiling Conditions on
Shorelines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1687; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 asphalt pavement—a naturally formed cohesive mix-
ture of weathered oil and sediments. Sediments in the mixture
1.1 This guide covers the standardized terminology and
are usually in the sand/granule/pebble size range. In appear-
types of observational data and indices appropriate to describe
ance, natural asphalt pavement may resemble the mixture
the quantity, nature, and distribution of oil and physical oiling
artificially created to surface roads.
conditions on shorelines that have been contaminated by an oil
3.1.2 lower-swash zone—the area between the lowest an-
spill.
nual water level and the mean annual water level, the lower
1.2 This guide does not address the mechanisms and field
half (approximate) of the zone of wave activity.
procedures by which the necessary data are gathered; nor does
3.1.3 supra-swash zone—the area above the highest annual
it address terminology used to describe the cultural resource or
waterlevelthatexperienceswaveactivityonlyoccasionally,as
ecological character of oiled shorelines, spill monitoring, or
during a storm event.
cleanup techniques.
3.1.4 supra-tidal zone—the area above the mean high tide
1.3 This guide applies to marine shorelines (including
that experiences wave activity occasionally.
estuaries) and may also be used in freshwater environments
3.1.5 upper-swash zone—the area between the highest an-
(rivers and lakes).
nual water level and the mean annual water level, the upper
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
half (approximate) of the zone of wave activity.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1.6 weathered oil—the oil that has had an alteration of
only.
physical or chemical properties, or both, through natural
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
processes such as evaporation, dissolution, oxidation, emulsi-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
fication, and biodegradation.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 In order to ensure data consistency, it is important to use
2. Referenced Documents standardized terminology and definitions in describing oiling
conditions. This guide provides a template for that purpose.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.2 Data on oiling conditions at a shoreline are needed to
F1686 Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling
provide an accurate perspective of the nature and scale of the
Conditions on Shorelines
oiling problem and to facilitate spill-response planning and
3. Terminology
decision making. Data on oiling conditions would be used in
assessing the need for cleanup actions, selecting the most
3.1 Definitions:
appropriate response technique(s), determining priorities for
cleanup, and evaluating the endpoint of cleanup activities.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous 4.3 Mechanisms by which data are collected may vary (see
3,4
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Guide F1686). They may include aerial videotape surveys or
F20.17 on Shoreline Countermasters.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1997. Published April 1997. Originally
published as F1687 – 96. Last previous edition F1687 – 96. DOI: 10.1520/F1687- Oilspill SCAT Manual for the Coastlines of British Columbia, Prepared by
97R03. Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Seattle for the Environmental Technology Branch,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Environment Canada, Edmonton, Alta., 1992.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Shoreline Countermeasures Manual—Tropical Coastal Environments, Hazard-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on ous Materials Response and Assessment Division, National Oceanic and Atmo-
the ASTM website. spheric Administration, Seattle, WA, 1993.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1687–97 (2003)
ground-levelassessmentsurveys.Thecompositionandrespon- material (that is, where the top layer of cobbles or boulders
sibility of the survey team will depend on the response contact the underlying layer of sediments).
organization and objectives. The magnitude and type of data
5.6 Where asphalt pavement exists on the surface, the
setscollectedmaylikewisevarywiththenatureofthespilland subsurface begins at the bottom of the pavement.
,
5 6
operational needs.
5.7 Definitions of the inorganic sediments based on size are
4.4 Consistent data sets (observations and measurements)
as follows:
on shoreline oiling conditions are essential within any one spill
Boulder (>256-mm diameter)
Cobble (64 to 256-mm diameter)
in order to compare the data between different sites or
Pebble (4 to 64-mm diameter)
observers, and to compare the data against existing bench-
Granule (2 to 4-mm diameter)
marks or criteria that have been developed to rate the nature or
Sand (0.06 to 2-mm diameter)
Mud/silt/clay (<0.06-mm diameter)
severityoftheoiling.Totheextentpossible,consistencyisalso
desirable between different spills, in order to benefit from
6. Description of Shoreline Surface-Oiling
previous experiences and cleanup decisions.
4.5 It is recognized that some modifications may be appro-
6.1 Oil Length—This refers to the along-shore length of
priatebasedonlocalorregionalgeographicconditionsorupon
oiled shoreline.
the specific character of the stranded oil.
6.1.1 The length should be described in numeric terms, as
the actual measured or estimated value.
5. General Considerations
6.1.2 The length value must clearly indicate a reference to
one of three different delineations:
5.1 Shoreline conditions can be described in terms of the
length, width, depth, distribution, quantity, and character of oil 6.1.2.1 The length of oiled-shoreline, which is the length of
contamination. These six different types of data are collected
any single continuous oiling deposit and which is keyed to a
by direct measurement or direct visual estimates calibrated specific shoreline location;
against existing scales or indices. Standard definitions and
6.1.2.2 The total length of oiled-shoreline, which is the sum
descriptors of these data have been developed (Sections 6 and
of the individual continuous oilings; or
7). Second-order applications of the basic data are further used
6.1.2.3 The total length of affected shoreline, which is the
to aid response planning (Sections 8 and 9).
total length of shoreline in the spill path (the distance between
5.2 Descriptions of shoreline oiling conditions are typically
the two extreme strike points) and includes non-oiled sections
referenced to the lateral (seaward to landward) shoreline
of shoreline as well as oiled shoreline.
zonation. The location of the stranded oil within the intertidal
6.2 Oil Width—This refers to the average across-shore
zone affects operational access time and oil persistence.
width of the oil band or oiled area.
5.2.1 Tidal zonation is described in terms of the supra-tidal,
6.2.1 If multiple bands or areas occur across-shore, the
upper/mid/lower intertidal, and sub-tidal zones.
width represents the sum of their widths.
5.2.2 Non-tidal shoreline zonation is described in terms of
6.2.2 The width should be described by the actual numeric
the supra/upper/lower swash zone for lacustrine (lake) envi-
(measured or estimated) value.
ronments and the over/upper/lower/midstream bank for river-
6.2.3 Where a descriptive expression is required or for the
ine (river) environments.
purpose of aggregation of the actual data, use a simplified
5.3 Oilpersistenceandthechoiceofcleanupoptionswillbe
classification scheme.
different for subsurface oil as opposed to surface oil. Descrip-
6.2.3.1 Most marine shorelines can use the following defi-
tions of shoreline oiling conditions should distinguish between
nitions:
the oiling of surface sediments from that on the subsurface
Wide >6 m
sediments (vertical zonation). On coarse sediment beaches, it
Medium >3 to#6m
can be difficult to differentiate the vertical boundaries. Fig. 1 Narrow >0.5 to#3m
Very narrow #0.5 m
illustrates an approach for discriminating those boundaries.
5.4 For beaches with fine sediments (that is, pebble, gran-
6.2.3.2 Areas of micro-tidal (for example, Great Lakes) or
ule, sand, and mud), the subsurface begins at 5 cm below the
macro-tidal (for example, Bay of Fundy or Cook Inlet)
surface. If a pit were to reveal oiling in sand from the surface
exposure will require an adjustment based on the width of the
down to 20 cm, the upper 5 cm would be classified as surface
shoreline.
oil and the remainder as subsurface. However, the oiled
6.3 Oil Distribution—This refers to the percentage of the
interval would still be shown as 0 to 20 cm.
shoreline surface sediments that are covered with oil, within a
5.5 For beaches with coarse sediments (that is, cobble and
fixed area.
boulder), the subsurface begins at the bottom of the surface
6.3.1 In the event of multiple bands, distribution refers to
the estimated percentage that best represents the collective
area.
6.3.2 Distribution should be described by the percentage
Source: Owens, E. H., and Sergy, G.A., Field Guide to the Documentation and
Description of Oiled Shorelines, ISBN
...