EPA Issues Final Rule Regarding Chemical Dispersant Use During Oil Spills
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized tougher standards for chemical dispersants used in oil spill response in federal waters and adjoining shorelines, giving considerable authority to regional and area planners on whether such toxic chemicals may be used.
The rule amending requirements of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, as published in the Federal Register on June 12, governs use of dispersants, other chemicals and other spill mitigating substances when responding to oil discharges into jurisdictional federal waters.
The EPA’s action came on the heels of a 2020 lawsuit filed by several environmental entities, including Earth Island Institute, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the Center for Biological Diversity and others, over c...