ASTM F1686-97(2003)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F1686–97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Guide for
Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling Conditions on
Shorelines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1686; 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 of pre-spill information will influence the selection of survey
components and the level of detail (1).
1.1 This guide covers field procedures by which data may
3.3 The aerial reconnaissance survey provides a perspective
be collected in a systematic manner to document and assess the
on the overall extent and general nature of the shoreline oiling
oiling conditions on shorelines.
conditions. This information is used in conjunction with
1.2 This guide does not address the terminology that is used
environmental, resource, and cultural sensitivity data to evalu-
to define and describe shoreline oiling conditions, the ecologi-
ate which areas require a response and the priorities of the
cal character of oiled shorelines, or the cultural or other
response operations.
resources that may be present.
3.4 The aerial videotape survey(s) provide systematic audio
1.3 The guide is applicable to marine coasts (including
and video documentation of the extent and type of shoreline
estuaries) and may also be used in freshwater environments
oiling conditions, physical shoreline character, and potential
(rivers and lakes).
access restrictions (2).
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3.5 The ground assessment survey(s) provide the necessary
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
information and data to develop appropriate shoreline response
only.
recommendations.Afield team(s) collects detailed information
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
on shoreline oil conditions, the physical and ecological char-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
acter of oiled shorelines, and resources or cultural features that
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
may affect or be affected by the timing or implementation of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
response activities (2).
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.6 In order to ensure data consistency it is important to use
2. Referenced Documents
standardized terminology and definitions in describing oiling
conditions, as provided in Guide F1687.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1687 Guide for Terminology and Indices to Describe
4. General Considerations
Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
4.1 The specific survey procedures and the magnitude of the
F1779 Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on
data sets collected will vary with the scale of the spill (the
Water
length and distribution of oiled shoreline and quantity of oil),
3. Significance and Use the nature or complexity of the shoreline, and the needs of the
response organization (3).
3.1 Systematic surveys provide data on shoreline conditions
4.2 Following a spill in which only a few kilometers of
from which informed planning and operational decisions may
coast have been oiled, one ground survey team may be able to
be developed with respect to shoreline cleanup.
accomplish all of the goals in an appropriate time frame.
3.2 Surveys may include one or more of three components,
4.3 As the scale of the affected area increases, it may be
listed below. The scale of the affected area and the availability
necessary to conduct an aerial videotape survey that is fol-
lowed by a ground assessment using one or more teams.
4.4 Following spills that affect long sections of coast (for
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
example, more than 100 km), the sequence of an initial aerial
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.17 on Shoreline Countermasters.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1997. Published April 1997. Originally
published as F1686 – 96. Last previous edition F1686 – 96. DOI: 10.1520/F1686-
97R03. The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or this standard.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Owens, E. H., and Sergy, G. A., Field Guide to the Documentation and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Description of Oiled Shorelines, ISBN 0-662-22048-X, Environment Canada,
the ASTM website. Edmonton, Alta., 1994.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1686–97 (2003)
reconnaissance, an aerial videotape survey and ground assess- add a visual record of examples of the oiling conditions and
ment surveys may be necessary to satisfy planning and shoreline character for immediate use by planners and decision
operational requirements in a timely manner (2). makers.
4.5 Each of the three stages requires a separate survey
6.6 Anaerialreconnaissanceisgenerallynotrequiredwhere
design, the assignment of duties to personnel, logistics plan-
the presence of oil on the shore has been defined clearly from
ning, and the establishment of survey and documentation
other sources or where the affected coastline is short enough in
procedures.
length that an aerial videotape survey can be completed during
4.6 All surveys are conducted during the lowest one-quarter
one low-tide cycle.
to one-third of the tidal cycle to ensure maximum (viewing)
exposure of the intertidal zone (1).
7. Aerial Videotape and Mapping Survey(s)
7.1 The aerial videotape recording and mapping survey(s)
5. Segmentation
are conducted on coasts where there is known or expected
5.1 The coast is divided into working units called segments,
oiling. The survey is used to provide detailed and systematic
within which the shoreline character is relatively homogeneous
documentation on the extent and type of shoreline oiling and
in terms of physical features and sediment type.
other shoreline conditions (2).
5.2 Each segment is assigned a unique location identifier
7.2 Small high-wing or rotary-wing aircraft fly the coast at
(for example, an alpha-numeric code).
very slow speeds at altitudes in the range of 25 to 75 m.
5.3 Segment boundaries can be either prominent geological
7.3 The primary survey team consists of an oil observer and
features (headlands, streams, etc.), changes in shore/substrate
a navigator. The navigator records and maps relevant flight
types, or, more importantly, alongshore changes in oil condi-
information. The oil observer operates the video camera and
tions.
provides a continuous audio commentary, for which the color
5.4 Segment lengths are short enough to obtain adequate
video image provides a visual image frame of reference. In
resolution and detail on the distribution of the oil for planning
some cases a video technician may be desirable for the
and operational decisions. Most segments of oiled shorelines
operation and quality control of the audio and video record-
would be in the range of 0.2 to 2.0 km.
ings.
5.5 If segments already exist as part of a pre-spill planning
7.4 The oil observer/videographer is an oil-spill specialist,
exercise or sensitivity mapping database, segment boundaries
who can identify the shoreline substrate and form and distin-
may need to be adapted, segments subdivided, or the segment
guish between natural shoreline materials and stranded oil.
codes revised, or some combination thereof, to reflect the
Duties of the oil observer are as follows:
oiling conditions created by a spill.
7.4.1 To identify or create segment boundaries and describe
their location on one of the audio channels. These are also
6. Aerial Reconnaissance Survey(s)
recorded on a set of flight-line maps or charts by the navigator.
6.1 An initial aerial survey(s) is conducted along coastlines
7.4.2 To videotape the shore zone through an open door or
within the spill path. The objective is to determine which
windowcontinuously,withthecameraangleddown(30to45°)
shorelines have been oiled, in order to provide an overall
and slightly ahead of the aircraft (15 to 30°) so that the area
perspective and scale with which to plan for a more systematic
being described comes into focus and the foreground during
documentation or assessment survey.
the commentary. Video resolution is best when the sun is
6.2 This survey can be augmented with information from a
behind the aircraft.
high-altitude surveillance and tracking program. In some cases
7.4.3 To provide a continuous descriptive commentary on
this survey can be combined with other aerial reconnaissance
the shoreline oiling conditions, including the (1) length and
activities being conducted to locate and visually observe oil on
widthoftheoiledareasandtheoildistribution(percentsurface
water (Practice F1779) (2).
oil cover), (2) physical shore-zone character, and (3) other
6.3 Fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft fly the coast at
pertinent features such as access locations or constraints (4).
slow-speed flight at altitudes in the range of
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