Shoreline surface washing agent test and evaluation protocol for freshwater use in the great lakes region

摘要

Although opportunities exist to use shoreline surface washing agents for oilspill removalin fessheater environments,this response technique is seldom tried because little is known about its insitu effectiveness and toxicity.In January 2000,the Federal RegionV Regional Response Team chartered a Subcommittee of international,federal,state and industry representatives to develop a protocol for evaluating the test use of shoreline surface washing agents in freshwater environments on oil spills of opportunity in the Great Lakes Region.Currently,mechanical and manual recovery are the primary means of oilspill cleanup in freshwater environments which can be costly,labor intensive,and often results in limited oil recovery.Oil recovery inefficiency is related to shoreline composition and complexity that alow oil to cover,fill,and penetrate the substrate.Responders,with limited options,may compromise their efforts by leaving residual oilin the environment or expend a substantial effort sanitizing the shoreline,which can be more detrimental to the environment.The application of shoreline surface washing agents may improve recovery efficiency and ameliorate long term harm to freshwater shorelines if properly applied.Surface washing agents may also reduce labor requirements typically associated with diminishing returns from continued emchanical or manual cleanups required to achieve similar oil removal results.The RRT V Subcommittee developed a protocol for conducting small-scale insitu tests on the effectiveness and toxicity of surface washing agents to gain experience and confidence in its utility as a reponse tool in freshwater environments.The resulting protocol guides the user in assesing physicla criteria,constraints and special considerations needed to determine if the use of two surface washing agents is appropriate.The protocol also includes procedures for test preparation and applicationand provides effectiveness,water quality and toxicity monitoring guidelines,data collection,booming,and oil recovery procedures.