ASTM_F_1209_-_14.pdf

Designation:F120914Standard Guide forEcological Considerations for the Use of Oil SpillDispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Environments,Ponds and Sloughs1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1209;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers the use of oil spill dispersants to assistin the control of oil spills.The guide is written with the goal ofminimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills;this goal isthe basis on which the recommendations are made.Aestheticand socioeconomic factors are not considered,although theseand other factors are often important in spill response.1.2 Spill responders have available several means to controlor clean up spilled oil.In this guide,the use of dispersants isgiven equal consideration with other spill countermeasures.Itis not considered as a“last resort”after all other methods havefailed.1.3 This is a general guide only.Oil,as used in this guide,includes crude oils and refined petroleum products.Differencesbetween individual dispersants or between different oil prod-ucts are not considered.1.4 The guide is organized by habitat type,for example,small ponds and lakes,rivers and streams,and land.Itconsiders the use of dispersants primarily to protect habitatsfrom impact(or to minimize impacts).1.5 This guide applies only to freshwater and other inlandenvironments.It does not consider the direct application ofdispersants to subsurface waters.1.6 In making dispersant use decisions,appropriate govern-ment authorities should be consulted as required by law.1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F2532 Guide for Determining Net Environmental Benefit ofDispersant Use3.Significance and Use3.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional responseteams who may use it during spill response planning and spillevents.3.2 This guide should be adapted to site specific circum-stance.4.Environment CoveredPonds and Sloughs4.1 Ponds and sloughs are small isolated water bodies thatare not part of major water systems.They have a dynamicecology,and a wide mixture of animal and plant species.Innorthern regions,these water bodies may freeze to the bottomand do not sustain a wide variety of aquatic species.4.2 While most of these bodies are naturally occurring andexist throughout the year,some may be man-made.In aridclimates,the existence of these bodies may be seasonal.4.3 The characteristics of these water bodies are:4.3.1 Open water area of less than 10 hectares,4.3.2 Shallow water with a maximum depth of 1 to 1.5 m,4.3.3 Soft bottom with a high organic content,4.3.4 May have alkaline or acidic water,4.3.5 No well defined inlet or outlet,and4.3.6 Poorly defined shoreline consisting of floating mats ofvegetation.5.Background5.1 The effects of oil and dispersed oil on these aquaticenvironments have been the subject of numerous studies.The1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on HazardousSubstances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF20.13 on Treatment.Current edition approved March 1,2014.Published March 2014.Originallyapproved in 1989.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F1209 08.DOI:10.1520/F1209-14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 studies have involved both intentional experimental spills andstudies undertaken during actual spill situations(1-6).35.2 There have been a number of studies on the impact of oiland oil/dispersant mixtures on microbiological systems andplankton(7-16).5.3 The principal biotic components of such water bodiesare a variety of fauna and flora.The aquatic flora include algae(planktonic and attached)and floating or submerged vascularplants.Terrestrial flora include grasses,moss,lichens,herbs,forbs,and woody plants.5.4 The fauna include invertebrates(molluscs,crustaceans,worms),fish,a variety of waterfowl and seabirds(ducks,loons,gulls,terns,and herons),mammals,such as beaver andmuskrat,and in many areas,significant human activity.Therehave been some studies on the effects of oil and oil/dispersantmixtures on faun