API PUBL 4693

Abstract

Consider this scenario - an oil tanker has been involved in an accident near mangroves and a large salt marsh. Some of the tanker's cargo has been released in the accident. One member from the team of decision-makers is assigned the responsibility of recommending countermeasure options. While dispersants are one option, he is concerned about their possible effect on resources in the area, including all resident plants and animals. Many papers are available which provide information on the different effects of chemically dispersed oil on biological resources. However, applying the findings from numerous scientific experiments to a real-world emergency is not easy. What this person wants is a concise booklet that in layman's terms explains the general effects of oil and chemically dispersed oil on various biological resources. Such a booklet would have made preparing for, and now dealing with, dispersant use issues less time consuming, while making the information more comprehensible. This booklet was designed to fill that planning need. Ideally, it should be read along with other reference material as part of pre-spill planning activities, not just during a response emergency.