ASTM F1279-90(1999)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F1279–90(Reapproved 1999)
Standard Guide for
Ecological Considerations for the Use of Oilspill
Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Environments,
Permeable Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1279; 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. The guide is written with the goal of teams who may use it during spill response planning and spill
minimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills; this goal is events.
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—Permeable Surfaces
1.2 Spill responders have available several means to control
3.1 Permeable ground includes any soil, rock, agricultural
or clean up spilled oil. In this guide, the use of dispersants is
given equal considerations with other spill countermeasures. It land and forest, pasture land, forest, roadside or other surface,
that is permeable to water and oil.
is not considered as a last resort after all other methods have
failed.
4. Background
1.3 This is a general guide only. It assumes the oil to be
4.1 The effects of oil and especially that of dispersed oil on
dispersible and the dispersant to be effective, available, applied
terrestrial biota is not well known. In one study, oil spilled on
correctly, and in compliance with relevant government regula-
soil decreased the nematode (worm) population by as much as
tions. In the assessment of environmental sensitivity, it is
80 % (1). Lai Hoi-Chaw and co-workers show that a littornid
assumed that the dispersant is nonpersistent in the natural
gastropod(snail)showedavoidancetooilspilledonthemudof
environment. Oil, as used in this guide, includes crude oils and
amangroveswamp(2).Thisavoidancedecreasedthemortality
refined petroleum products. Differences between individual
of the species to both oil and chemically-dispersed oil. McGill
dispersants or between different oil products are not consid-
has noted that soil arthropods (insects) are quickly killed after
ered.
spills (3).
1.4 The guide is organized by habitat type; for example,
4.2 Oil has a broad-spectrum herbicidal effect on plants
small ponds and lakes, rivers and streams, and land. It
(3,4). Effects vary depending on concentration and on species.
considers the use of dispersants primarily to protect habitats
Oilinlowconcentrationshasbeenshowntoincreasegrowthin
from impact (or to minimize impacts) and to clean them after
some species, whereas slight contact with oil causes death in
a spill takes place.
others (4). Black spruce, alfalfa and canola have a low
1.5 This guide applies only to freshwater and other inland
tolerance for oil, while willow, dogwood and brome grass have
environments. It does not consider the direct application of
a high tolerance (5). Light oils may be toxic to vegetation on
dispersants to subsurface waters.
contact. Heavy oils have a tendency to smother plants over a
1.6 In making dispersant use decisions, appropriate govern-
longerperiodoftime(3).Oilingofthevegetativeportionsmay
ment authorities should be consulted as required by law.
killtheupperportionoftheplant,buttherootmaystillliveand
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
proceed to grow new stalks (3). In one test, 0.4 to 3.4 L/m of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
a light crude oil killed most plants in a northern boreal setting
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(6). In another experiment light fuel oil at 0.6 % by weight
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
killed all plants present (7). Oil reduces the germination rate of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
seeds. Weathered oil on the soil forms a crust which can slow
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 Feb. 23, 1990. Published April 1990. this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1279
revegetation (3). Revegetation time varies but has ranged from 4.7 Several remediation techniques have been demonstrated
1 to 20 years depending on location, condition, and amount of for oiled soils (1,3,5). Most of these techniques involve
oiling (1,3). aeration, addition of fertilizer, and planting of cover crops.
These techniques are well-documented and have been effective
4.3 Oil spilled on ground will penetrate the surface, the rate
in restoring agricultural land to full production in as little as
of penetration depending on soil type, pore size, depth of the
five years. No scientific evidence is available to show that
water table, and oil type. Studies on marine beaches show that
dispersants have a useful role in these remediation techniques.
dispersants increase the oil penetration. Dispersants increase
the penetration rate and depth (8,9). Rowland and co-workers
5. General Considerations for Making Dispersant Use
showed that dispersants premixed with oil increased penetra-
Decisions
tionintosupratidalsediment(10).DewlingandSilvaexamined
5.1 The dispersant use decision is, in this case as most
the use of dispersants on a beach in Brazil and determined that
others, one of tradeoffs. The use of dispersants can reduce the
theaveragepenetrationofoilwasincreasedfrom5to60cmby
adverse effects of spilled oil on certain biological species at the
the use of hydrocarbon-based dispersants (11).
expense of other components of the ecosystem.
4.4 Oil degradation takes place on soil surfaces under many
5.2 In most cases the mortality of individual creatures is of
conditions. Factors that increase degradation rate and amount
less concern than the destruction of habitat. The repopulation
include high oxygen level, ample but not excessive (saturating)
of areas after the spill will occur naturally when an area
moisture, slightly alkaline pH, high tem
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