Oil Spill Alternative Response Measures: Toxicity and Biodegradation of Treated Petroleum Oils
Citation:
Conmy, R., M. Barron, K. Lech, M. Alloy, AND D. Sundaravadivelu. Oil Spill Alternative Response Measures: Toxicity and Biodegradation of Treated Petroleum Oils. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Mitigation of oil spills in aquatic environments can be aided by the use of Alternative Response Measures (ARMs), such as in situ burning and chemical treating agents (dispersants, surface washing agents and herders). Such measures expand the range of response options available to decision-makers during spills. When used appropriately, these tools offer a means to reduce and/or shift the overall impact of spills on environmental and natural resources. Currently the government of Canada is developing a legal and operational framework to allow the use of ARMs as possible response options. Thus, it is critical for the Oil Spill Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI) under Canada’s 2017 Ocean Protection Plan to consider research on the toxicity and biodegradation of oil treated using ARMs in Canadian waters. Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan MPRI for Oil Spill Technology Research clearly identifies gaps within oil spill research that need to be addressed in order to strengthen emergency response readiness. One component of the MPRI is to improve the effectiveness of spill response technologies and strategies, including the use of ARMs, such as in situ burning and chemical treating agents. This project aimed to expand the knowledge base of using chemical treating agents on petroleum oils (weathered and fresh) via (1) evaluating the toxicity of oils treated with ARMs (both chemical agents and in situ burning) to test species and (2) characterizing biodegradation of oil exposed to treating agents by microbial cultures from high latitude waters. Currently dispersants, surface washing agents and herders are not authorized for use in Canadian waters, but the Canadian government is developing research that can inform a legal and operational framework to allow the use of ARMs as possible response options. Thus, this project to investigate the toxicity and biodegradation of oil treated with ARMs is timely. This is critical given that these agents, when used appropriately, expand the range of response options available to decision-makers during spills. Further, because agents are designed to remain in the environment with oil that is not mechanically recovered, there is a need to better understand toxicity of oil-agent mixtures and potential exposure to marine biota. Such information is needed to help balance decisions between natural attenuation, treating agents, and in situ burning.
Description:
EPA ORD was awarded a funds-in multi year CRADA with the Canadian Government. The CRADA is entitled Oil Spill Alternative Response Measures: Toxicity and Biodegradation of Treated Petroleum Oils. This is the Final Summary Report of ORD efforts. The Canadian government requires a specific template for reporting. This is not a data report, but summary of findings with conceptual diagrams of those findings.