This guide is meant to aid local and regional response teams who may use it during spill response planning and spill events.

This guide should be adapted to site-specific circumstances.

1.1 This guide covers the use of surface washing agents to assist in the control of oil spills. The guide is written with the goal of minimizing the environmental impacts of oil spills; this goal is the basis on which the recommendations are made. Aesthetic and socioeconomic factors are not considered although these and other factors are often important in spill response.

1.2 In making surface washing agent use decisions, appropriate government authorities should be consulted as required by law.

1.3 Spill responders have available several means to control or clean up spilled oil. In this guide, the use of chemical surface washing agents is considered.

1.4 This guide applies only to permeable land surfaces.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.