Guidance, Technical Assistance & Planning

Hazards (Oil, Chemical, Radiological, etc)

Oil, Planning/Regulations

Ethanol QRG (2010)
NRT Quick Reference Guide (QRG) for Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSCs) responding to an ethanol incident. 

Sorbents and Solidifiers (2007)
The NRT-RRT Factsheet Application of Sorbents and Solidifiers for Oil Spills is a planning document written by the NRT Science and Technology Committee. It was developed to inform readers of the acceptable use or prohibition of solidifiers listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), Subpart J Product Schedule (Product Schedule) for mitigation of oil spills. This Factsheet will also assist product manufacturers and members of the response community in distinguishing a sorbent from a solidifier for purposes of listing such products on the Product Schedule and applying them in the field. Finally, the document can be used for identifying the benefits and shortcomings of using solidifiers in different situations (e.g., light oil, sheens, heavy viscous oils, low temperature) and contrasting that to the use of sorbents.

Oil Spill Field Operations Guide (1996)
Produced by the Standard Oil Spill Response Management System (STORMS) task force, this Field Operations Guide (FOG) is intended to provide guidance in forming a response management system for oil spills. It is endorsed by Firescope California, is consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) and complies with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

Training Reference for Oil Spill Response (1994)
There are four federal agencies with responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) to require vessel and facility response plans: the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation’s (DOT's) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), and the Minerals Management Service (MMS). In order to assist companies in meeting their regulatory responsibilities to develop training programs for their personnel, the four federal agencies have developed this training reference manual for oil spill response. The contents provide a foundation of suggested subject material for training personnel with responsibilities identified in response plans.

Member Agency Resources

NCP Subpart J Product Schedule (EPA)

After Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review, products may be listed on the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) Subpart J Product Schedule (Product Schedule) in accordance with 40 CFR 300.900 et seq. The listing of a product on the Product Schedule does NOT mean that EPA approves, recommends, licenses, certifies, or authorizes the use of that product on an oil discharge. Additionally, the listing of a product on the Product Schedule does not mandate the use of that product by the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC), state, industry, or any oil spill response organization. Only a FOSC may authorize the use of a product that has been listed on the Product Schedule. RRTs and Area Committees may predetermine the suitability of using a product at a particular location, provided that product is listed on the Product Schedule. In some cases, these “preauthorization zones” have been established for designated areas. The FOSC may authorize the use of products not already pre-authorized for use in a pre-authorization zone, or may authorize the use of products outside of a pre-authorization zone, under the process established by 40 CFR 300.910. In determining the proper response, the FOSC must consider a number of factors unique to each oil discharge when determining which- if any- products should be authorized for use to address the discharge. No single product has been scientifically proven to work more effectively than other products in all potential discharge response situations.

ADIOS Oil Database (NOAA)

The ADIOS Oil Database was designed to support oil spill response and oil spill preparedness operations through a compilation of publicly available oil assays. It includes physical and chemical properties, and data on these properties for oils that have undergone simulated weathering.

Best Practices for Migratory Bird Care During Oil Spill Response (2003) (FWS)

For use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other natural resource management agencies, oiled bird rehabilitators, On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), and Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) as a guide in developing appropriate sections of Area Contingency Plans, evaluating contractors for bird capture and rehabilitation, making informed choices during spill responses, and evaluating oiled bird rehabilitation activities to improve field practices.The creators of this document set out to define and recommend the best practices for their field with the aim of promoting the welfare of migratory birds during an oil spill response.

Consolidated List of Chemicals Subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act and Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (EPA)

This consolidated list or "list of lists" has been prepared to help firms handling chemicals determine whether they need to submit reports under sections 302, 304, or 313 of Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA); whether they are subject to accident prevention regulations; and what reports may need to be submitted.

Oil Fact Sheets for Spill Responders (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration developed the following fact sheets provide technical information about the characteristics of different oils, their behavior when spilled, and their effects on wildlife, plants, and habitats:

- Biodiesel Spills

- Denatured Ethanol Spills

- Dielectric Fluids Spills (non-PCB fluids)

- Small Diesel Spills (500-5,000 gallons)

- Diluted Bitumen (Dilbit) Spills

- Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Spills

- Kerosene and Jet Fuel Spills

- Non-Petroleum Oil Spills

- Light Shale (Tight) Oil Spills

- Synthetic-Based Drilling Mud Spills

Final Bakken Crude Oil: Worker Health and Safety Pilot Scale Studies (2018)

Two studies were performed by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Response Team (ERT) with the assistance of the Scientific, Engineering, Response and Analytical Services (SERAS) contract program to further the knowledge base for those responding to oil discharges that pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. While significant testing has been performed by different organizations on crude oil produced from the Bakken formation, the testing is generally comprised of standard petroleum characteristic analyses and characterization for proper transportation based on Department of Transportation (DOT) classifications. The data from these testing programs have provided critical knowledge for classifying and understanding standard properties of hazardous materials - in this case, a light, sweet crude oil. The primary purpose of these Pilot Scale Studies was to determine air concentrations, under observed meteorological conditions, of benzene in Bakken Crude following spills to water. The resulting information helps to inform initial decision-making and thereby better protect workers involved in a Bakken Crude Oil release response.



Resources

Working together to protect against threats to our land, air and water

United States Environmental Protection Agency United States Coast Guard United States Department of State United States Department of Defense U.S. Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) United States Department of Energy United States Department of Agriculture United States Department of Health & Human Services United States Department of the Interior United States Department of Commerce United States Department of Transportation United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission United States General Services Administration United States Department of Justice United States Department of Labor