Characteristics of Response Strategies: A Guide for Spill Response Planning in Marine Environments

This job aid is designed to help spill responders select appropriate response options to minimize environmental impacts when oil spills in coastal habitats. It's especially for people participating in cleanup assessment as part of Operations and Planning Units within the Incident Command System (ICS) (see link to U.S. Coast Guard Web site below). The job aid is a joint publication of the American Petroleum Institute, NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the EPA.

This guide and its companion guide, Characteristic Coastal Habitats: Choosing Spill Response Alternatives (link below), are based on information contained in the manual, Environmental Considerations for Oil Spill Response, published by the American Petroleum Institute. That manual is available for purchase from IHS/Global Engineering Data (link below).

Contents

This job aid, and its various sections, are available as PDF (Portable Document Format) files, below. If you have a fast Internet connection, you may want to download the entire job aid. You can also order a free laminated copy of the job aid by contacting our Photos and Orders Specialist by e-mail (link below) or by phone (206.526.6400).

Related Publications and Information

Incident Command System (ICS) Many agencies and companies involved in emergency response have adopted the Incident Command System, resulting in improved coordination of response efforts. (To access this U.S. Coast Guard page, click the Library tab at the top of the page, then click "Incident Command System ICS" in the left column.) [leaves OR&R site]

IHS/Global Engineering Data The manual, Environmental Considerations for Oil Spill Response, published by the American Petroleum Institute, is available for purchase here (search for document number API PUBL 4706). [leaves OR&R site]

Photos and Orders Specialist E-mail our Photos and Orders Specialist to order a free copy of this job aid.

Download the entire Job Aid

Characteristics of Response Strategies: A Guide for Spill Response Planning in Marine Environments The entire 80-page job aid. (Document format: PDF, size: 558.3 K)

Download the Job Aid by section

Introduction & How to Use This Document (Document format: PDF, size: 51.0 K)

Strategies for Selecting Response Methods Although response strategies will vary according to incident-specific conditions, strategies can often be established in spill response planning. (Document format: PDF, size: 53.8 K)

Incident-Specific Feasibility Issues Issues to be considered in developing incident-specific, on-water, and shoreline field operations. (Document format: PDF, size: 243.6 K)

Process for Developing Incident-Specific Strategies The process involved in integrating on-water and shoreline response options. (Document format: PDF, size: 65.7 K)

Response Methods Characteristics of 28 response methods now in use during oil spill responses in marine environments. Note: for Bioaugmentation, see Natural Microbe Seeding for Biostimulation, see Nutrient Enrichment for Surface Washing Agents, see Shoreline Cleaning Agents for Tilling, see Sediment Reworking (Document format: PDF, size: 185.8 K)

References (Document format: PDF, size: 39.7 K)

Companion Publications

Characteristic Coastal Habitats: Choosing Spill Response Alternatives This job aid illustrates typical attributes of North American coastal habitats at risk from oil spills. The text describes each habitat and discusses how oil is likely to behave there, and considerations for treating oil. This job aid is also useful for training people who will participate in cleanup assessment as part of an Environmental Unit within the ICS.