RETHINKING DISPERSANT RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESSES Meeting the Information Needs of the Public

1. RETHINKING DISPERSANT RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESSESMeeting the Information Needs of the Public Gary Ott Marie Benkinney

2. FEAR “It was from the dispersants.” YouTube - Care at WJMC following oil spill  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD5SddZjMY8&feature=BF&list=PL78ECFEBDDC3C1A83&index=5

3. Risk: Low to High Outrage not solved by better explaining “the numbers.”

4. WORDS: “Doubt… Evil… Tradeoff” “I am, personally, not there yet.” EPA Administrator’s testimony: at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HsF6Tk4xts&feature=related

5. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK Product Schedule Disclaimer “(PRODUCT NAME) is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NCP Product Schedule. This listing does NOT mean that EPA approves, recommends, licenses, certifies, or authorizes the use of (PRODUCT NAME) on an oil discharge. This listing means only that data have been submitted to EPA as required by subpart J of the National Contingency Plan, Sec. 300.915.”

6. 1. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK NIC & National Commission Recommendation • EPA Policies Treat Dispersants Differently • RRTs are Assigned the Risk Assessment Responsibility • FDA - Drugs - National Standards - Choices Made by Doctor/Patient • EPA - Pesticides - National Standards - Choices Made by State/Farmer • Establish a National Risk Assessment Process

7. 2. MANAGEMENT CONTROLS NRT & EPA Recommendation • High Risk – Lots of Management Controls • Low Risk – Not so Much • Burden to prove a negative • Can’t reach market

8. 3. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT NIC Recommendation • Helpless at Spills • Mechanical Limitations and Pixi Dust • RRT / Trustees Dispersant Decision Planning • Trustees Support is not rewarded • Headquarters Takes Over Decision Process

9. 1. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK CONCLUSIONS - Fear Probability of change? EPA Disclaimer “(PRODUCT NAME) is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NCP Product Schedule. This listing does NOT mean that EPA approves, recommends, licenses, certifies, or authorizes the use of (PRODUCT NAME) on an oil discharge. This listing means only that data have been submitted to EPA as required by subpart J of the National Contingency Plan, Sec. 300.915.”

10. 2. MANAGEMENT CONTROLS CONCLUSIONS - Fear Probability of of matching risk levels with appropriate management controls? EPA Disclaimer “(PRODUCT NAME) is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NCP Product Schedule. This listing does NOT mean that EPA approves, recommends, licenses, certifies, or authorizes the use of (PRODUCT NAME) on an oil discharge. This listing means only that data have been submitted to EPA as required by subpart J of the National Contingency Plan, Sec. 300.915.”

11. 3. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT CONCLUSIONS - Fear Probability Trustees are not rewarded, potential for liability, blame? EPA Disclaimer Trustee Photo Here “(PRODUCT NAME) is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NCP Product Schedule. This listing does NOT mean that EPA approves, recommends, licenses, certifies, or authorizes the use of (PRODUCT NAME) on an oil discharge. This listing means only that data have been submitted to EPA as required by subpart J of the National Contingency Plan, Sec. 300.915.”

12. USES of FEAR - Victim “What I’m scared about is the dispersment...” NBC’s Nightly News “BP Spill” Anniversary, April 18, 2011: Dean Blanchard interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWYOKyOFEF4