Abstract
ABSTRACT Chemical dispersant use is one of the most controversial, complex, and time-critical issues facing officials with the responsibility for making decisions about the response methods used on coastal oil spills. Under U. S. law affected states have the authority to veto the use of dispersants. Consequently, the responsible government officials and their technical support staffs need to be prepared to make informed decisions when requested to approve dispersant use. This paper describes the conceptual approach and structure used in the Region III Regional Response Team (RRT) technical symposium, held in April 1990. The purpose of this symposium was to provide detailed and balanced technical information on the environmental effects of dispersant use to state officials, and other key members of the response community, including the federal on-scene coordinators and those members of the RRT that would be involved in a dispersant use decision. The symposium was designed to overcome many of the information transfer obstacles associated with communicating technical information to the technically and organizationally diverse audience of the Region III decision makers and advisors. Based on a decision-making practicum following the information presentations, where the technical information was applied in scenario-based exercises, the overall approach was successful in enhancing the decision-making climate among the affected response community in the mid-Atlantic.
Published Version
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