Terms of Reference

State of Knowledge on Chemical Dispersants for Canadian Marine Oil Spills

National Advisory Meeting – National Capital Region

March 1-12, 2021
Virtual meeting

Co-Chairs: James McCourt (SL Ross) and Lisa Setterington (DFO Ecosystems and Oceans Science)

Context

Canada has a strong marine safety system focusing around four major pillars: prevention; preparedness and response; liability and compensation; and recovery. In recent years, the Government of Canada has dedicated significant resources to further enhance specific aspects of the environmental protection and Emergency Response regime in Canada.

When there is an oil spill in the marine environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard use science-based advice to inform decisions that facilitate cleanup and protect aquatic resources and ecosystems from negative impacts.

Following an oil spill, there is a need to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of all available response tools that could reduce the potential for adverse effects on marine ecosystems, including the consideration of spill treating agents such as chemical oil dispersants. Since the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, there has been extensive research and scientific advancement related to dispersant use. This recent scientific information, available through various fora, has not yet been critically evaluated specific to its applicability within a Canadian context.

Objectives

The goal of this science peer review meeting is to consolidate, assess and critically evaluate the current state of knowledge on dispersants as it applies to a Canadian context. Specific questions to be addressed by this National peer review meeting include:

1. How does applying dispersants change the movement of oil and exposure to sensitive receptors (e.g., aquatic species, habitats, and other sensitive coastal or marine areas)?
2. What are the differences in exposure and effects between untreated oil and dispersed oil and their potential short and long-term impacts on sensitive receptors?
3. What are the key considerations or recommendations for environmental monitoring after dispersant use?
4. What are the priority, outstanding science needs to support the regulatory regime and decision making for the use of dispersants in Canada?

The outcomes from this process are expected to be used to:

• efficiently inform critical and time sensitive spill response decisions (such as net environmental benefit determinations);
• provide consensus-based, scientific advice to inform and support the communication of spill response decisions;
• support and inform the development of regulations, policies, standards and guidance for dispersant use; and,
• support various other Government of Canada initiatives related to spill response.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Aquatic Ecosystems
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Transport Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Academics
• Industry, as appropriate
• Other invited experts, such as SL Ross, Dillon Consulting Ltd. and others, as appropriate