This is a professional level course covering dispersant basics, operations, effectiveness, monitoring, health risks, environmental risks and decision-making. The course is aimed at spill responders, government regulators and natural resource trustees. The two-day presentation involves lectures, aquarium-scale demonstrations and problem-solving exercises. The first day is devoted to operations and the second to environmental considerations. Training sessions focus on the region where the course is held and considers the local spill risks, environmental sensitivities and environmental protection priorities.

COURSE OUTLINE

REGIONAL SPILL CONTEXT

• Reviews the local industrial and regulatory conditions under which dispersants will be used
• Summarizes local spill sources and properties of potentially spilled oils
• Reviews local and national dispersant response resources (e.g., stockpiles of product)
• Reviews local regulatory framework for dispersant use and planning

OIL SPILL BASICS

• Discusses the properties and behavior of spills that influence dispersant use and effectiveness
• Discusses the implications for operations and planning of slick spreading, weathering, and emulsification

DISPERSANT BASICS

• Introduces dispersants and dispersant operations
• What are dispersants? How do they work? What do they do?
• Demonstrates dispersant/slick interactions in an aquarium
• Introduces elements of dispersant operations and roles of responders

DISPERSANT PRODUCT EFFECTIVENESS

• Discusses product effectiveness and its implications for operations and planning
• Discusses the many different definitions of "dispersant effectiveness"
• Describes the level of effectiveness likely to be encountered during actual operations
• Discusses the key variables that influence effectiveness (properties of oil, mixing energy)
• Describes methods for efficacy monitoring
• Discusses the usefulness and limitations of laboratory effectiveness tests and testing

OPERATIONS AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

• Describes dispersant operations, their management and decision-making
• Discusses factors that control operational efficiency (e.g., logistics, spraying accuracy)
• Discusses strengths and limitations of all major application platforms (ships, aircraft)
• Discusses approaches to maximizing operational efficiency

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Introduces environmental risks associated with dispersants and their implications for decision-making
• Discusses health and safety risks to workers
• Discusses environmental risks, perceptions of risk and resulting management issues

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF DISPERSANT-USE

• Discusses the environmental risks associated with dispersant operations
• Contrasts the fate and effects of chemically-dispersed and untreated spills
• Assesses the potential exposure of valued local resources to dispersed oil and dispersants
• Reviews environmental toxicity of dispersants and dispersed oil
• Provides an overview of risks and potential impact of chemically-dispersed spills

ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE-OFFS AND DECISION-MAKING

• Discusses the implications of environmental risks to decision-making
• Introduces concept of environmental trade-offs or "net environmental benefit"
• Discusses the six factors that influence spill impact and environmental trade-offs, including: types of resources at risk; exposure; sensitivity; vulnerability; recovery potential; and resource valuation
• Evaluates various approaches to environmental planning for dispersant use

PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING PROBLEMS

• Participants analyze logistics requirements in several spill cases
• Participants conduct a desk-top spill response exercise, plan a dispersant operation and formulate operational and environmental decisions

WHAT'S NEW IN DISPERSANTS?

• Discusses the implications of recent developments in dispersants, such as:
  • recent advances in understanding of risks and implications for planning
  • use of fire monitors to apply dispersants
  • proposed changes in rules

For additional information, please contact Ken Trudel by phone at 613-232-1564, fax at 613-232-6660 or e-mail at kentrudel@slross.com