Oil Spill Simulants Workshop Process and Outcomes
ABSTRACT In March 2013, a high-level workshop of national experts was held to consider the potential permitting and use of oil simulants in U.S. waters to improve oil spill response planning and operations. The workshop was the culmination of a six-month workgroup process that brought together researchers and responders with knowledge and experience in oil spill response, research and development, spill modeling, and regulatory oversight. While nationally focused, the project was spearheaded by Alaska, where stakeholders and regulators had recognized the need for a simulant material to support research and development, testing spill response technologies, and training responders for Arctic and sub-Arctic spill response. The workshop yielded a strong consensus that there is a need for simulants to facilitate advances in oil spill response technologies, research and development, and training. There was also agreement that the current permitting regime is uncertain and untested, that a pilot project was needed to test the potential to permit an oil simulant release, and that there was a need to include oil simulants in the national response framework.