(ASTM: West Conshohocken, PA) -- Standards developed by ASTM International’s technical committees—Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response and Committee E47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate—play a role in both the initial response and follow-up to oil spills. The recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the importance of standards that cover all aspects of oil spill response and cleanup.

Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response

Since its founding in 1975, Committee F20 has developed a wide variety of standards pertaining to performance, durability, strength of systems, and techniques used for the control of oil and hazardous substances. ASTM F20 standards are used for oil response activities around the world.

“Almost everything we have done since 1975 is going to be applied in some way, shape, or form in the Gulf of Mexico spill response,” says Peter Lane, chairman of F20, and president and CEO, Applied Fabric Technologies Inc. Lane also notes that some F20 standards are relevant to the immediate response to the Gulf spill, while others could be used during follow-up procedures once the initial response has been completed.

 …