ASTM F1231-89(1999)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Environments, Rivers and Creeks
Standard Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Environments, Rivers and Creeks
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the use of oilspill dispersants to assist in the control of oil spills. This guide is written with the goal of minimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills; this goal is the basis on which the recommendations are made. Aesthetic and socioeconomic factors are not considered, although these and other factors are often important in spill response.
1.2 Spill responders have available several means to control or clean up spilled oil. In this guide, the use of dispersants is given equal consideration with other spill countermeasures. It is not considered as "last resort" after all other methods have failed.
1.3 This is a general guide only. It assumes the oil to be dispersible and the dispersant to be effective, available, applied correctly, and in compliance with relevant government regulations. In the assessment of environmental sensitivity, it is assumed that the dispersant is nonpersistent in the natural environment. Oil, as used in this guide, includes crude oils and refined petroleum products. Differences between individual dispersants or between different oil products are not considered.
1.4 This guide is organized by habitat type, for example, small ponds and lakes, rivers and streams, and land. It considers the use of dispersants primarily to protect habitats from impact (or to minimize impacts) and to clean them after a spill takes place.
1.5 This guide applies only to freshwater and other inland environments. It does not consider the direct application of dispersants to subsurface waters.
1.6 In making dispersant use decisions, appropriate government authorities should be consulted as required by law.0
1.7 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.
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Designation:F1231–89(Reapproved 1999)
Standard Guide for
Ecological Considerations for the Use of Oilspill
Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Environments,
Rivers and Creeks
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1231; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Significance and Use
1.1 This guide covers the use of oilspill dispersants to assist 2.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional response
in the control of oil spills. This guide is written with the goal teams who may use it during spill response planning and spill
of minimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills; this goal events.
is the basis on which the recommendations are made.Aesthetic 2.2 This guide should be adapted to site-specific circum-
and socioeconomic factors are not considered, although these stances.
and other factors are often important in spill response.
3. Environment Covered—Rivers and Creeks
1.2 Spill responders have available several means to control
3.1 Rivers and creeks are moving bodies of fresh water that
or clean up spilled oil. In this guide, the use of dispersants is
given equal consideration with other spill countermeasures. It are a significant part of major water systems. They have a
dynamic near shore ecology, and a wide variety of animal and
is not considered as “last resort” after all other methods have
failed. plant species. In northern regions, these water bodies may be
partly or completely ice covered during part of the year.
1.3 This is a general guide only. It assumes the oil to be
dispersible and the dispersant to be effective, available, applied Shallow rivers and most creeks may freeze to the bottom in the
winter.Commerciallyimportantfishingandrecreationalactivi-
correctly, and in compliance with relevant government regula-
tions. In the assessment of environmental sensitivity, it is ties are frequently associated with these water bodies.
3.2 Rivers generally refer to large bodies of moving water,
assumed that the dispersant is nonpersistent in the natural
environment. Oil, as used in this guide, includes crude oils and whereas creeks are smaller bodies of flowing water.
3.3 The characteristics of these water bodies are:
refined petroleum products. Differences between individual
dispersants or between different oil products are not consid- 3.3.1 Flowing water,
ered. 3.3.2 Water depths in excess of1mis designated as a river,
shallower would be a creek,
1.4 This guide is organized by habitat type, for example,
small ponds and lakes, rivers and streams, and land. It 3.3.3 A low organic content bottom except in shallow near
shore still-water areas,
considers the use of dispersants primarily to protect habitats
from impact (or to minimize impacts) and to clean them after 3.3.4 Acidic water in some areas especially near industrial
regions,
a spill takes place.
1.5 This guide applies only to freshwater and other inland 3.3.5 A well defined source or outlet, or both, and
3.3.6 A well defined shoreline consisting of sand beaches
environments. It does not consider the direct application of
dispersants to subsurface waters. and rocky headlands similar to marine and lake environments.
1.6 In making dispersant use decisions, appropriate govern-
4. Background
ment authorities should be consulted as required by law.0
4.1 The effects of oil and dispersed oil on these aquatic
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
environments have been the subject of numerous studies. The
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
studies have involved both intentional experimental spills and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
studies undertaken during actual spill situations (1-5).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 Therehavebeenanumberofstudiesontheimpactofoil
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and oil/dispersant mixtures on microbiological systems (6-16).
4.3 The principal biotic components of such water bodies
are a variety of fauna and flora. The aquatic flora include
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.13 on Treatment. The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Current edition approved May 26, 1989. Published July 1989. this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1231
bacteria, algae (planktonic and attached), and floating or threat to indigenous wildlife or its habitat. In evaluating the
submerged vascular plants. Terrestrial flora include grasses, potential for dispersant use, consideration should be given to
moss, lichens, herbs, forbs, and woody plants. In deep water the alternatives of leaving the oil untreated or the use of
areas, there is little vegetation except for bacteria and algae mechanical recovery equipment. In many cases, a spill re-
(17-20). sponse operation can cause serious damage to a rivers and
4.4 The fauna include invertebrates (zooplankton, molluscs, creeks habitat, or a disruption of nesting and breeding activi-
crustaceans,wormsandothersimilarspecies),fish,avarietyof ties.
waterfowl (ducks, loons, gulls, terns and herons), mammals
6.2 The turbulence of the flowing water may be adequate to
such as beaver and muskrat, and in many areas significant
provide the energy for dispersion and vertical transport.This is
human activity. The distribution and composition of species is
certainly the case in areas where there are rapids. In many
afunctionofclimate,localgeographyandsoiltype,andhuman
cases the water is shallow enough that the dispersed oil will
use of the area (21).
reach the bottom and will have the potential to cause impact on
4.5 Human activities range from recreation and tourism, to
the benthic community.
shipping and commercial fishing. In many cases, rivers and
6.3 The use of dispersants near water intakes is not recom-
creeks are the source of potable water for human consumption
mended because there is a possibility of inducing increased
and industrial use.
contamination. Dispersant application should be far enough
upstream of the intake so that dilution can occur before the
5. General Considerations for Making Dispersant Use
water is used for potable or industrial applications.
Decisions
6.4 Should waterfowl, either migrating or resident, be
5.1 The dispersant use decision is, in this case as most
present, the use of dispersants is recommended to reduce the
others, one of trade-offs. The use of dispersants can reduce the
impact on this resource.
adverse effects of spilled oil on
...
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