ASTM F2205-19

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2205 − 07 (Reapproved 2013) F2205 − 19
Standard Guide for
Ecological Considerations for the Use of Chemical
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Dispersants in Oil Spill Response: Tropical Environments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2205; 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
1.1 This guide covers recommendations for use of chemical dispersants to assist in the control of oil spills and is written with
the goal of minimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills. Aesthetic and socioeconomic factors are not considered; although,
these and other factors are often important in spill response.
1.2 Each on-scene commander has available several means of control or cleanup of spilled oil. In this guide, use of chemical
dispersants should not be considered as a last resort after other methods have failed. Chemical dispersants should be given equal
consideration with other spill countermeasures.
1.3 This guide presents general guidelines only. The oil is assumed to be dispersible and the dispersant to be effective, available,
applied correctly, and in compliance with relevant government regulations. Oil, as used in this guide, includes crude oils and fuel
oils. Differences between individual dispersants and to a certain degree, differences between different oils are not considered.
1.4 This guide is one of several related to dispersant considerations in different environments. The other standards are listed in
Section 2.
1.5 This guide applies to marine and estuarine environments but not to freshwater environments.
1.6 In making dispersant use decisions, appropriate government authorities should be consulted as required by law.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F20.13
on Treatment.
Current edition approved April 1, 2013Feb. 1, 2019. Published April 2013February 2019. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20072013 as
F2205 – 07.F2205 – 07(2013). DOI: 10.1520/F2205-07R13.10.1520/F2205-19.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2205 − 19
2. Referenced Documents
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
F2532 Guide for Determining Net Environmental Benefit of Dispersant Use
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional spill response teams who may apply it during response planning and spill
events.
3.2 This guide presents data on the effects of surface oil, dissolved oil and dispersed oil on components of tropical environments.
These data can aid in decision-making related to the use of dispersants to minimize environmental damage from oil spills.
4. General Considerations for Making Dispersant-Use Decisions
4.1 The decision of whether to use or not to use dispersants in a given spill situation involves trade-offs. Dispersing a slick at
one site temporarily introduces more oil into the water column at that site than would be there if a surface slick floated over it.
Therefore, adverse effects on water column organisms may be increased at that site so that adverse effects can be decreased at other
sites.
4.2 Dispersant use is primarily a spill control method, not a cleanup method. Such use can give spill response personnel some
control over where the impacts of a spill will occur whatever types of impacts they may be. Since some environments are known
to be more vulnerable to the longer-lasting impacts of spilled oil, an acceptable trade-off may be to protect those environments by
dispersing an oil slick i
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