SUPPLEMENTARY FILES. SURVEY QUESTIONS [highlighted where there is scientific
consensus on answers]
Q1. What key information do you think should be in a booklet on oil spill response options, for
it to be useful to you? [open ended]
Q2. Here are five views on how ocean ecosystems work, each shown as a ball balanced on a
line with a different ability to withstand oil spills. Which best represents your view?
[select one] [5 pictures plus texts: Gradual, Fragile, Stable, Threshold, Random] images
randomized
Q3. What comes to mind first when you think of using chemical dispersants to respond to
marine oil spills? [open ended]
Q4. On average what proportion of chemical dispersants applied by aircraft hit (land on) a
target oil slick, to the best of your knowledge? [(a) none or a tiny percentage (b) a small
percentage (less than a third) (c) around half (d) the majority (more than half) (e) *all or
almost all (more than two thirds)]
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): In response to “On average, what %
of dispersants applied by aircraft, hit (land on) the target oil slick” [response scale: 0=110%, 1=11-20%, 2=21-30%, 3=31-40%, 4=41-50%, 5=51-60%, 6=61-70%, 7=71-80%,
8=81-90%, 9=91-100%] the median response was 6, average 6.2, mode 8.
Q5. When it is technically feasible to use controlled burning on a marine oil spill, how
appropriate is it to consider it as a response (clean-up) option? [Never appropriate, Almost
never appropriate, Sometimes appropriate, Almost always appropriate, Always
appropriate] responses randomly reversed
Q6. When it is technically feasible to use chemical dispersants on a marine oil spill, how
appropriate is it to consider it as a response (clean-up) option? [Never appropriate,
Almost never appropriate, Sometimes appropriate, Almost always appropriate, Always
appropriate] responses randomly reversed
Q7. For oil spill response, how important is knowing the ingredients of the dispersant available
to use? [Not important, Somewhat important, Very important, Essential] responses
randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median 5 and average 4.8 in
response to “How much would knowing each of the following [Dispersant ingredients]
help you in deciding whether to use dispersants in response to an oil spill?” [response
scale 0 = not important, meaning that it could be useful but would not affect a dispersant
decision7 = essential, meaning that a dispersant decision could not be made without this
information]
Q8. For oil spill response, how important is knowing the relative toxicities of chemical
dispersants and oil, in the short and long terms? [Not important, Somewhat important,
Very important, Essential] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median 5 and average 4.6 in
response to “How much would knowing each of the following [Comparisons of the
relative short- and long-term toxicities of oil and dispersant] help you in deciding whether
to use dispersants in response to an oil spill?” [response scale 0 = not important,
meaning that it could be useful but would not affect a dispersant decision7 = essential,
meaning that a dispersant decision could not be made without this information]
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Q9. For oil spill response, how important is knowing the availability of equipment and
personnel to rehabilitate/restore impacted wildlife and environmental resources? [Not
important, Somewhat important, Very important, Essential] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median 4 and average 3.7 in
response to “How much would knowing each of the following [Availability of equipment
and personnel to rehabilitate/restore impacted wildlife and environmental resources] help
you in deciding whether to use dispersants in response to an oil spill?” [response
scale 0 = not important, meaning that it could be useful but would not affect a dispersant
decision7 = essential, meaning that a dispersant decision could not be made without this
information]
Q10. For oil spill response, how important is knowing the pre-spill ecological baseline of the
oil spill area? [Not important, Somewhat important, Very important, Essential] responses
randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median 5, average 4.2 in response to
“How much would knowing each of the following [Pre-spill ecological baseline of the oil
spill area ] help you in deciding whether to use dispersants in response to an oil spill?”
[response scale 0 = not important, meaning that it could be useful but would not affect a
dispersant decision7 = essential, meaning that a dispersant decision could not be made
without this information]
Q11. Chemical dispersants used on oil spills enhance natural rates of biodegradation. [*True,
Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): In response to “Dispersants promote
biodegradation.” [response scale 1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither agree nor
disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree] the median and modal responses were
Strongly Agree.
Q12. Toxicologists and spill scientists agree on the toxicity of chemical dispersants. [True,
Maybe True, Don't know, *Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): 70% responded False or Maybe False
to the statement “Scientists agree on the toxicity of dispersants.” Median Maybe False
(2), Mode False (2), Average 2.2.
Q13. Scientists agree on the effectiveness of using chemical dispersants on oil spills. [True,
Maybe True, Don't know, *Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Almost 60% responded False or
Maybe False to the statement “Scientists agree on the effectiveness of dispersants.”
Median Maybe False (2), Mode False (1), Average 2.5.
Q14. When correctly conducted, controlled oil burning at sea has been shown to remove what
percentage of spilled oil where applied, to the best of your knowledge. [(a) none or a tiny
percentage (b) a small percentage (less than a third (c) around half (50%) (d) the majority
(more than half) (e) all or almost all (more than two thirds ]
Q15. As oil weathers, its dispersibility decreases rapidly. [True, *Maybe True, Don't know,
Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal response was
Agree. [response scale was Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree,
Strongly Disagree]. Over 60% responded False or Maybe False to the statement “Crude
oils are often difficult to disperse chemically more than 10 hours after the spill. Almost
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90% responded “True” to “Emulsified oil (mousse) is much harder to chemically disperse
than oil that has not emulsified.”
Q16. Laboratory studies can predict the effects controlled oil burns will have on marine life.
[True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
Q17. Using real-time air quality monitoring, response organizations can protect human health
from oil spill response-related air pollutants. [True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe
False, False] responses randomly reversed
Q18. Sensory testing by smell and taste is a valid scientific method to determine oil
contamination of seafood. [True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses
randomly reversed
Q19. Recovery of over 25% of oil spilled in the open ocean is common with mechanical
response options such as booms and skimmers. [True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe
False, *False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median response was Disagree,
Modal response was Strongly Disagree [response scale was: Strongly Agree, Agree,
Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree].
Q20. Ten hours after application on the open sea, concentrations of the dispersant itself are
generally still high enough to cause lethal or sub lethal effects on some organisms. [True,
Maybe True, Don't know, *Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal response was
Disagree [response scale was: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree,
Disagree, Strongly Disagree].
Q21. Evaporated oil photo-oxidizes [is broken down by sunlight] into environmentally safe
compounds. [True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly
reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Modal response was Strongly
Disagree, Median response was Disagree[response scale was: Strongly Agree, Agree,
Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree].
Q22. Normally, after dispersants have been sprayed on an oil spill in the open ocean,
ecological effects are due primarily to the dispersed oil, not the dispersant. [*True, Maybe
True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median response was in between
Strongly Agree and Agree, modal response was Strongly Agree [August 2012 response
scale was Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly
Disagree]
Q23. Dispersant effectiveness can be determined by aerial visual inspection. [True, *Maybe
True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal response was
Agree. [August 2012 response scale was Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor
disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree]
Q24. Dispersed oil in the ocean at low concentrations will cause adverse ecological effects.
[True, Maybe True, Don't know, *Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal responses of Disagree
(4) with the statement: “Dispersed oil in the water column at concentrations at or below
10ppm for 2-4 hours will cause adverse ecological effects.” [response scale 1=Strongly
Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither agree nor disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree]
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Q25. Laboratory studies can predict the impact of dispersed oil on organisms in the marine
environment. [True, *Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly
reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal response was
Agree [August 2012 response scale was Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor
disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree].
Q26. Use of chemical dispersants reduces evaporation of oil. [*True, Maybe True, Don't
know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median response was Maybe True,
modal response was True (responses covered entire response scale).
Q27. Photo-oxidation (breakdown due to UV / sunlight) of physically and/or chemically
dispersed oil is a major mechanism for removing petroleum pollutants from the marine
environment. [True, Maybe True, Don't know, Maybe False, *False] responses randomly
reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median judgment was that the
statement “ Photo-oxidation (breakdown due to UV) of physically and/or chemically
dispersed oil is a minor mechanism for the elimination of petroleum pollutants from the
marine environment. [Response scale: 1=True, 2=Maybe True, 3=Unsure, 4=Maybe
False, 5=False]” is Maybe True (modal response “True”).
Q28. A significant proportion of physically and or chemically dispersed oil biodegrades (is
removed from the marine environment through biodegradation). [*True, Maybe True,
Don't know, Maybe False, False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Responses to the statement
“Biodegradation of physically and or chemically dispersed oil is a minor mechanism for
the elimination of petroleum pollutants from the marine environment.” [response scale
1=True, 2=Maybe True, 3=Unsure, 4=Maybe False, 5=False] had a median and mode of
True (5).
Q29. Chemical dispersants used on oil spills are detectable in fish after a year. [True, Maybe
True, Don't know, Maybe False, *False] responses randomly reversed
*Oil spill response scientists (Aug 2012 workshop): Median and modal response was
False.
Q30. How do you think a major marine oil spill in your region would affect your household's
economic well-being? [No effects, Minor effects, Major effects] responses randomly
reversed
Attendees at August 2012 oil spill scientist workshop (EVOS=Exxon Valdez)
Allen, Al, In-situ burning, mechanical and dispersant operations, EVOS, and DWH ISB
Beegle Krause, CJ, PhD, Biology, oceanography; Transport, modeling, NOAA/DWH and
EVOS
Clark, Jim, PhD, Ecotoxicologist, member EPA Science Advisory Board, EMA/BP/JITF, post
DWH and EVOS, ERA
Dickhoff, Walt, PhD, DWH Seafood safety and NRDA, Integrative Fish Biology/physiology,
NMFS/DWH
Gala, Will, PhD, Ecotoxicologist, fisheries, Chevron/JITF
Larson, Karen, PhD, Human health, toxicology, emergency response including anthrax in DC,
ATSDR Region 10 Regional Representative
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Lewis, Steve, PhD, Seafood safety, toxicology, consultant, DWH/EVOS
McFadyen, Amy, PhD, Oceanography, Transport, modeling, NOAA, DWH
Mearns, Alan, PhD, Biology/fate, oil spill ERAs and dispersants, NOAA, DWH and EVOS
Nony, Paul, PhD, Public and worker air monitoring, Human health, Toxicology, CTEH/DWH
Overton, Ed, PhD, Oil and dispersant chemistry, LSU/NOAA/DWH and EVOS
Pavia, Bob, PhD, Dispersants and oil spills, communications, UW, former NOAA, DWH and
EVOS
Rutherford, Nicole, MS. Biology, fisheries, NOAA, DWH
Shigenaka, Gary, MS, Biology/seafood, NOAA, DWH and EVOS, ERA
Walker, Ann Hayward, MBA, Dispersants and oil spills, risk communications, stakeholder
engagement, fishermen, Former NOAA, SEA, DWH and EVOS, ERA
Pilkey-Jarvis, Linda, Geologist, Preparedness Section manager for the WA Department of
Ecology’s Prevention, Preparedness and Response program.
Heiman, Marilyn (*did not complete survey), Bachelors in political economy of natural
resources, Director of the U.S. Arctic Program, Pew Environment Group, EVOS, Pew
Environment Group (lived 18 years in Alaska)
Non-participants (presentations and discussions of risk communication, decision analysis
and survey methodology):
Bostrom, Ann, Ph.D., Policy Analysis, decision and risk analysis, risk communication
Conrad, Fred, Ph.D., Psychology, survey methodology and cognitive psychology
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