Status Update on Dispersant & ISB Response Technologies Post DWH

Debbie ScholzRegion 3 RRT Spill Countermeasures Workgroup

Ocean City, MDMay 16, 2012

Dispersant Updates – May 2012 RRT3

•National Science Foundation – numerous studies ongoing and funded post-DWH oil spill research. Searchable database available from: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/

•Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI) - $500 million in research funding for the GOM research grants to consortia; link to research grants information is at: http://www.gulfresearchinitiative.org/   

Active Research Efforts - Current

•RRT Dispersant Updates – − per Nov. 11, 2010 letter by EPA HQ – Status

regionally dependent

Active Research Efforts - Current

•NOAA Updates:− SMART (Special Monitoring for Applied Response

Technologies) Monitoring − Dispersants - The NRT is looking at modifying prolonged

dispersant SMART requirements− ISB - Currently no changes scheduled

− ARTES is being updated for larger events− ADIOS3− ERMA

Active Research Efforts - Current

•NOAA / FDA − seafood safety relative to oil pollution /

dispersants / dispersed oil. For more information, go to: http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/product-specificinformation/seafood/ucm210970.htm

Active Research Efforts - Current

•NOAA / Fisheries – Office of Protected Resources − Documenting dolphins, whales, and sea

turtle impacts and effects following DWH: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/oilspill/ http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/publications/

Active Research Efforts, Continued

• NOAA / CRRC – Priority Research Opportunities for Dispersants:− Dispersants and Risk Communication and

Public/Media/Political Perspectives− Degradation of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil− Biological Effects of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil

in Surface and Deep Ocean Species

For more information – go to: www.crrc.unh.edu/rfp_dispersant2012.htm

Active Research Efforts, Continued

• NOAA/CRRC - Scientific Conferences/Workshops on Dispersants:− Future of Dispersant Use in Spill Response – September 2011− Coordinating R&D on Oil Spill Response in the Wake of the

Deepwater Horizon – March 2011− Toxicology Working Group Summit – August 2006− Workshop on Research Needs: Human Dimensions of Oil Spill

Response – June 2006− Research & Development Needs for Making Decisions

Regarding dispersing oil – September 2005

Summary reports available online from: http://www.crrc.unh.edu/workshops/index.htm

Active Research Efforts - Current

•Other government agency research− BSEE – research topics can be viewed from:

http://www.bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Oil-Spill-Response-Research-%28OSRR%29.aspx

− USFWS − Rescue and rehabilitation of affected wildlife− NRDA process

− etc.

Active Research Efforts - Current

•NRT – Interim Subsea Dispersant injection and Monitoring Guidance − Draft document revisions being compiled:

− pre-incident planning phase, and− one or two incident-specific phases− Other Monitoring updates may be forthcoming

Active Research Efforts, Continued

• API Joint Industry Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Task Force (JITF) efforts:− Dispersants Focus:

− D1 –Dispersant risk communication tools across all of dispersant operations research world-wide

− D2 - Dispersants panel to review data collection efforts related to impacts of dispersed oil in the GOM as part of spill impact assessment and evaluation of ecological recovery.

− D3 –Subsea dispersant application evaluation− D4- Review of surface application

Active Research Efforts, Continued

• Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI) – − $500 million in research funding for the GOM

research grants to consortia; − link to funded research grants information is at

http://www.gulfresearchinitiative.org/research/awards/

Dispersant Updates

•Dispersant, dispersant component, and dispersed oil Aquatic Toxicity data

− Handout with summary information provided − All files submitted to EPA – copies available from

Kevin Boyd (boyd.kevin@epa.gov) or Deb Scholz (dscholz@seaconsulting.com);  − more than 700 individual files on dispersants; − Handout of 6 pages (102 files) on dispersants & aquatic

toxicity− Incorporate into database on line for Region 3?

− Location to store additional data on dispersant research

Active Research Efforts - Dispersants & ISB

• International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) – Research− Joint Industry Programme (JIP) composed of IPIECA

& API, formed to review past research on spills in ice; identify advances; prioritize determine research needs Resulted in recommendation to establish a new JIP to undertake research in seven key areas:Dispersants:Project 1 – Fate of Dispersed Oil under

IceProject 2 – Dispersant testing under

Realistic Conditions

Environmental EffectsTrajectory ModelingRemote SensingMechanical RecoveryIn Situ BurningExperimental Field Releases

Active Research Efforts - Dispersants & ISB, Continued

• NRT - Selection Guide for Oil Spill Response Countermeasures 2012 − Update to include all products on Product

Schedule and complete overhaul on the state of knowledge for Dispersants, ISB and Monitoring, post-DWH.− Paper copies (pdf)− E-version (developed by Genwest)

Active Research Efforts, ISB

• API Joint Industry Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Task Force (JITF) efforts:− In-Situ Burn (ISB) Focus:

− ISB1 – ISB risk communication tools across all ISB operations research world-wide