ASTM F2204-02

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F2204–02
Standard Guide for
Describing Shoreline Response Techniques
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2204; 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 2.2 API Documents:
API Publication No. 4558 Options for Minimizing Environ-
1.1 This guide describes methods of cleaning and remedi-
mental Impacts of Freshwater Spill Response
ating shorelines containing stranded oil. The primary goal of
API Publication No. 4706 Environmental Considerations
any shoreline countermeasure is to aid recovery while mini-
for Marine Oil Spill Response
mizing additional impact.
1.2 This guide describes 21 different countermeasures that
3. Significance and Use
are available for consideration. These countermeasures range
3.1 Once the extent and type of shoreline oiling has been
from natural recovery to active intervention.
defined and documented using proper procedures (see Guides
1.3 The countermeasures listed may not be the best for use
F1686 and F1687), decisions will need to be made on the
under all possible circumstances, and multiple countermea-
appropriate course of action for cleaning and restoration. In
sures may need to be used on the same shoreline.
some cases, natural recovery will be the preferred approach
1.4 This guide describes technical considerations for select-
whereas in other cases active intervention may be called for.
ing one technique or another, or both. Additional guides,
This guide summarizes the principal response techniques
presently under development, will address considerations re-
available.
lated to habitat and oil characteristics.
3.2 This guide is intended to minimize possible added
1.5 Selection of specific countermeasures for use during a
impact to the environment that could result from overly-
spill response will be guided by the properties of the stranded
aggressive cleanup. In some cases, local priorities may dictate
oil, the degree of contamination, shoreline accessibility, shore-
thatintensiveclean-upmethodsmaybewarranted.Inallcases,
line geomorphology, mobility of available equipment, oceano-
concurrencetousesuchtechniquesshouldbeobtainedfromall
graphic and meteorological conditions, and the presence of
the major stakeholders and must comply with all local regula-
sensitive natural and archeological resources. Some of the
tions.
response options will require government authorization and
approval.
4. Shoreline Response Options
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 This section lists and describes those techniques that
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
may be considered for use in response to shoreline oiling.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Some of these methods could require special consideration and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
authorization prior to commencement of work. Also, some of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
these options result in larger waste disposal issues than others
2. Referenced Documents and these need to be considered in selecting the appropriate
2 option. In most cases, government agency(s) will be involved
2.1 ASTM Standards:
in the decision-making process. Government approval will be
F1686 Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling
required for many techniques, which will be decided upon on
Conditions on Shorelines
a case-by-case basis. Contingency plans should provide for a
F1687 Guide for Terminology and Indices to Describe
range of response options. The methods covered in this guide,
Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
consistent with API 4706, are:
Natural Recovery 4.2
Barriers/Berms 4.3
Manual Oil Removal/Cleaning 4.4
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
Mechanical Oil Removal 4.5
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Sorbents 4.6
F20.17 on Shoreline Countermeasures.
Vacuuming 4.7
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 2002. Published December 2002. DOI:
10.1520/F2204-02.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from The American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L. St., NW,
the ASTM website. Washington, DC 20005.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F2204–02
4.4 Manual Oil Removal/Cleaning:
Debris Removal 4.8
Substrate Reworking/Tilling 4.9
4.4.1 Objective—Remove stranded oil with hand tools and
Vegetation Cutting/Removal 4.10
manual labor.
Flooding (Deluge) 4.11
Low Pressure, Ambient Water Flushing 4.12
4.4.2 Description—Surface oil and oily debris are removed
High Pressure, Ambient Water Flushing 4.13
by manual means (hands, rakes, shovels, and so forth) and
Low Pressure, Hot Water Flushing 4.14
High Pressure, Hot Water Flushing 4.15 placed in containers for removal from the shoreline for
Steam Cleaning 4.16
subsequent disposal. No mechanized equipment is used except
Sand Blasting 4.17
for transport of waste.
Solidifiers 4.18
Shoreline Cleaning Agents 4.19
4.4.3 Applicable Habitat Types—Can be used for all habitat
Nutrient Enrichment 4.20
types.
Natural Microbial Seeding 4.21
In-Situ Burning 4.22 4.4.4 When to Use—Generallyusedonshorelineswherethe
oil can be easily removed by non-mechanical means. Most
Adescription of each shoreline cleanup method is discussed
appropriate for light to moderate oiling conditions. Manual
below:
removal is applicable to viscous oils and weathered patches or
4.2 Natural Recovery:
tar balls.
4.2.1 Objective—Stranded oil is not removed in order to
4.4.5 Biological Constraints—Foot traffic over sensitive
minimize environmental impacts, or because no effective
areas (wetlands, shellfish beds, algal mats, bird nesting areas,
method for cleanup is available. Oil is left to degrade naturally.
dunes, and so forth) should be restricted.There may be periods
4.2.2 Description—Monitoring of conditions. Migration of
when shoreline access is not appropriate (for example, bird
oil off site may need response.
nesting, seal pupping).
4.2.3 Applicable Habitat Types—Can be used on all habitat
4.4.6 Environmental Effects—Minimal if surface distur-
types.
bance by responders and waste generation is limited.
4.2.4 When to Use—When natural removal rates are very
4.4.7 Waste Generation—May generate significant amounts
fast, when degree of oiling is light, or when cleanup actions
of oily substrate and debris which require proper disposal or
will do more harm than allowing the oil to be removed by
treatment. Decontamination of tools may produce oily waste-
natural forces.
water that requires proper treatment. Worker personal protec-
4.2.5 Biological Constraints—May be inappropriate for
tive equipment may be disposed of daily or decontaminated.
areas used by high numbers of mobile animals (birds, marine
Oily wastewater resulting from decontamination must be
mammals, crabs, and so forth) or endangered or threatened
treated properly. Disposal must be in accordance with all
species.
applicable regulations.
4.2.6 Environmental Effects—No effects beyond that of the
4.5 Mechanical Oil Removal:
oil alone.
4.5.1 Objective—To remove oil from shorelines using me-
4.2.7 Waste Generation—None.
chanical equipment.
4.3 Barriers/Berms:
4.5.2 Description—Oil and oiled substrate are removed
4.3.1 Objective—To prevent oil from entering into a sensi-
using mechanical equipment such as backhoes, graders, bull-
tive area or to divert oil to a collection area.
dozers,dredges,andsoforth.Thismethodrequiressystemsfor
4.3.2 Description—A physical barrier is placed across an
temporary storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal.
areatopreventoilfrommoving.Barrierscanbeearthenberms,
4.5.3 Applicable Habitat Types—Land where surface sub-
trenches, shore-sealing booms, or filter fences. When passage
strates are amenable to and accessible by heavy equipment.
of water must be allowed, underflow or overflow dams are
used. 4.5.4 When to Use—When large quantities of oiled materi-
als must be removed. Care should be taken to remove sub-
4.3.3 Applicable Habitat Types—At the mouths of creeks,
streams, or rivers. On beaches where a berm can be built above strates only to the depth of oil penetration, which can be
difficult. Method should be used carefully where excessive
the high-tide line to prevent oil from overwashing the beach
and entering a sensitive back-beach habitat such as a lagoon. substrate removal may erode the shoreline. Buried oil recovery
includes the removal of clean overburden, removal of oiled
4.3.4 When to Use—When sensitive habitats are threatened
substrates, and replacement of the clean overburden. Vehicle
and other barrier options are not feasible.
traffic should be controlled to minimize further oil penetration.
4.3.5 Biological Constraints—Disturbance to bird nesting
areas,beaverdams,orothersensitiveareasmustbeminimized. 4.5.5 Biological Constraints—Heavy equipment may be
Placement of dams and filter fences may cause significant restricted in sensitive habitats (for example, wetlands, soft
physical disruptions, especially in wetlands. substrates), during breeding or nesting seasons, or in areas
containing endangered or threatened species. Special permis-
4.3.6 Environmental Effects—May disrupt or contaminate
sion will be needed to operate in areas with known cultural
substrate and vegetation. Trenching may enhance oil penetra-
tion and amount of substrate contamination. resources. Noise generated by mechanical equipment may be a
constraint.
4.3.7 Waste Generation—Substrate barriers will become
contaminated. Filter fence materials will be disposed as oily 4.5.6 Environmental Effects—May be detrimental if exces-
wastes. Disposal must be in accordance with all applicable sive substrates are removed without replacement. All organ-
regulations. isms in the removed substrates will be impacted.
F2204–02
4.5.7 Waste Generation—Can generate significant amounts offshore on barges, onshore on trucks, or deployed as indi-
of contaminated substrate and debris that must be cleaned or vidual units on boats or ashore at low tide.
landfilled. Disposal must be in accordance with all applicable
4.7.4 When to Use—When liquid oil is pooled against a
regulations. The amount of waste generated by this method
shoreline, stranded on the shoreline (usually along the high-
should be carefully considered when reviewing potential im-
tide line), concentrated in trenches, or trapped in accessible
pacts of oily wastes, debris, and substrates.
vegetation.
4.6 Sorbents:
4.7.5 Biological Constraints—Specialrestrictionsshouldbe
4.6.1 Objective—Remove oil by sorbing it onto oil-
established for areas where foot traffic and equipment opera-
attracting material.
tion may be damaging, such as soft substrates. Wetland
4.6.2 Description—Sorbent material is placed on the shore-
operations need to be closely monitored. A site-specific list of
line to absorb oil as it is carried in by tidal or wave action.
procedures and restrictions is recommended to prevent damage
Sorbents can be used to wipe stranded oil off substrates.
to vegetation.
Sorbent forms include sausage boom, pads, rolls, sweeps,
4.7.6 Environmental Effects—Effects are minimal if foot
snares, and granules. Removal efficiency is dependent on the
and vehicular traffic are controlled and minimal substrate is
capacity of the sorbent, the wave or tidal energy available for
impacted.
freeing oil from the shoreline, and the oil type and the degree
4.7.7 Waste Generation—Collected oil and oil-water mix-
of weathering. Recovery of all sorbent material is required.
tures need to be stored temporarily prior to recycling or
Loose granular sorbents must be contained in mesh or other
disposal. Large amounts of water are often collected, which
material.
requires separation and treatment. If oil is not recyclable,
4.6.3 ApplicableHabitatTypes—Canbeusedonanyhabitat
disposal must be in accordance with all applicable regulations.
type.
4.8 Debris Removal:
4.6.4 When to Use—When the oil is floating nearshore or
4.8.1 Objective—Remove debris in the path of oil prior to
has stranded onshore.The oil must not be too adherent in order
stranding and remove oiled debris.
to be released by the substrate and absorbed by the sorbent.
4.8.2 Description—Manual or mechanical removal of de-
Sorbents are often used as a secondary treatment method after
bris (wood, seaweed, trash, wreckage) from the shoreline.This
gross oil has been removed or in sensitive habitats having
includes the cutting and removal of oiled logs.
restricted access. Sorbents should not be used on or near high
4.8.3 ApplicableHabitatTypes—Canbeusedonanyhabitat
energy or steep shorelines. Sorbents may break apart in high
type with safe access.
energy conditions. Steep shorelines make recovery of sorbents
4.8.4 When to Use—When debris is oiled and, is a potential
difficult.
source of chronic re-oiling, an aesthetic problem, a potential
4.6.5 Biological Constraints—Deploying and retrieving
source of contamination of biological resources, or likely to be
sorbents should not adversely affect wildlife. Sorbents should
a safety hazard for responders. Used in shoreline areas where
not be placed in a manner that would endanger or trap wildlife.
debris has accumulated in order to reduce the amount of oiled
Sorbents left in place too long may break apart and present an
debris to be handled.
ingestion hazard to wildlife. Sorbents can be slow, thus
allowing oil to remain in critical habitats for extended periods 4.8.5 Biological Constraints—Foot traffic over sensitive
during potentially sensitive periods. areas (wetlands, algal mats, bird nesting area, dunes, and so
forth) must be restricted.There may be periods when shoreline
4.6.6 Environmental Effects—Deployment and retrieval can
access is restricted (for example, bird nesting, influx of large
cause physical disturbance to habitats. Improperly deployed or
numbers of migratory birds, seal pupping). Debris may be a
tended sorbents can crush or smother sensitive organisms.
habitat. Adjacent upland areas could contain endangered plant
4.6.7 Waste Generation—Careful consideration must be
species, so removal activities or foot traffic may need to be
given to the selection and proper use of sorbents. Sorbents
restricted.
should be monitored for r
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