NOAA’s Emergency Response Division was an advisor to the working group that finished the drafting of Part IV of the dispersant guideline series on subsea dispersants.  Since the United States is the only nation with operational experience in using subsea dispersants, the drafting of the document was led by the U.S.  The guidelines were completed at the meeting and will be published by IMO in the future.  The splinter group also began the work of editing a draft of guidelines for nations encouraging them to sign on to the IMO Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) protocols.  NOAA has supported the U.S. delegation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, at these meetings for over a decade. 

For more information, contact Mark.Dix@noaa.gov.

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