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EPA's New Oil and Dispersant Testing Program
Citation:
Barron, M., R. Conmy, E. Holder, P. Meyer, AND G. Wilson. EPA's New Oil and Dispersant Testing Program. 2016 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference, Tampa, FL, February 01 - 04, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
Abstract reporting EPA's new oil and dispersant testing program
Description:
The U.S. EPA has initiated a new component of its oil spills research program to develop baseline data on the ecotoxicity of selected petroleum products and toxicity and efficacy of dispersant agents. Two diluted bitumens (dilbits) from the Alberta Tar Sands are currently being tested for acute and chronic toxicity to standard freshwater and marine organisms because of the spill potential during shipment within the United States. Testing with two potential reference crude oils and four representative dispersants is also underway to evaluate acute and chronic toxicity to marine organisms in support of revisions to Subpart J of the U.S. National Contingency Plan. Water accommodated fractions (WAF) of oil were prepared using traditional slow-stir methods and toxicity tests generally followed U.S. EPA standard effluent testing guidelines. WAFs were characterized for petroleum hydrocarbons including alkyl PAH homologs. Dispersant efficacy was tested with the two crude oils and four dispersants using the baffled flask test. The results of these studies will assist the U.S. EPA in establishing benchmark toxicity values for selected crude oils and unconventional oils (dilbits), and efficacy of selected dispersants.