Dispersant Use In Alaska: An Update1

Abstract

ABSTRACT A decade ago, Alaska became the first region in the United States to implement detailed dispersant use guidelines and to develop a system for making dispersant use decisions rapidly. Currently, within the state, there exists the largest single dispersant response capability in the United States, and preparations are in place to use this capability when needed. Recognizing that there has been considerable progress in dispersant knowledge over the intervening 10 years and that certain stakeholder groups have expressed concerns over the potential effectiveness of dispersants and the environmental risks associated with their use, a group of stakeholder organizations sponsored a conference to review the new information and reassess these issues. The sponsors included the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alyeska Pipeline Services/SERVS, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council, Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute, and the U.S. Coast Guard. From a technical perspective, the conference focused on four aspects of dispersant use in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska: (1) the potential effectiveness of available dispersant products against Alaska North Slope crude oil under the range of environmental conditions that exist in PWS; (2) the potential short- and long-term fate of chemically dispersed oil in the Sound's deep, basin-like fjord system; (3) the state of knowledge concerning environmental risks and trade-offs associated with dispersant use in PWS; and (4) the needs and methods for monitoring the effectiveness and environmental effects of dispersant operations. This paper synthesizes information concerning the major issues as identified and discussed by conference participants.