Chemical treating agents and chemical dispersants are designed to work effectively in salt water (35ppt salinity). Near shore environments are seasonally influenced by significant freshwater outfalls (i.e. Mississippi River) and northern marine areas where melting sea ice poses unique situations where the use of dispersants might be used. The water in these areas will be fresh (0% salinity) and brackish (10-15% salinity) and this may alter the effectiveness of chemical treating agents and dispersants and thus alter the treating agents and dispersant use decision.
The three regional representatives on the MMS oil spill response research team identified an information gap and requested a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of chemical treating agents, including dispersants in fresh and brackish water. The information is required to assist the regional offices in making science based regulatory decisions on the use of chemical treating agents under these conditions. This research information would be useful to the to the oil spill planning and response community and will assist those making dispersant use decisions in variable seasonal conditions.
Objective: The objective of this research project is to conduct a comprehensive literature review and technical evaluation on the use of on chemical treating agents in fresh and brackish water.
Task 1. Literature Search and Document Retrieval Deliverable: Comprehensive literature review on the use of on chemical treating agents in fresh and brackish water.
Task 2. Technical Assessment of Relevant Literature Deliverable: Technical assessment of the literature acquired under Task 1.
Task 3. Final Technical Report Deliverable: Final Technical report.
The Task 1. Literature Search and Document Retrieval is complete. The technical assessment of the literature acquired under Task 1 is underway.
MMS has accepted the final report for this project.