Feasibility Study on the Use of Dispersants in the Bristol Channel in the Event of an Oil Pollution Incident (2002) dataset https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=007_NRW_DS113767 The approval and use of oil spill dispersants is regulated in UK waters. The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 requires that a licence be issued for the deposit of any substance or article in the sea or that an exemption be granted under the Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) Order 1985. The licensing authority for England and Wales is DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (formerly MAFF - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). Specific permission to use oil spill dispersants in shallow water (defined as areas of sea where the water depth is less than 20 metres, as marked on Admiralty charts, or within 1 nautical mile of such area) must be granted by DEFRA. The role of the EG will be to provide information about the sensitivities of resources in the area to oil pollution, so that DEFRA can make a reasoned decision on dispersant use. The BCSEG considered many different relevant factors including the oil spill risks, likely spilled oil behaviour, characteristics of the Bristol Channel and the shoreline and marine resources that could be affected by spilled oil. The consequences of dispersing or not dispersing spilled oil were also considered. As a result of these deliberations, the areas of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary have been designated as dispersant use or non-use zones. These zones are marked on maps for ease of reference. These zones are: - Zone A Where dispersants can be used at any time of the tide - Zone B Where dispersants can be used (but only with DEFRA's specific permission) on an outgoing tide from High Water until High Water + 5 hours - Zone C Where dispersants can be used (but only with DEFRA's specific permission) on an outgoing tide from High Water until High Water + 2 hours - Zone D Where dispersants are not to be used at any time . In the event of oil pollution occurring in the Bristol Channel an Environment Group (EG) will be activated to consider the environmental consequences of the spill and the most suitable ways in which damage can be minimised. The use of oil spill dispersants is a response method that might be used. The Bristol Channel Standing Environment Group (BCSEG) commissioned this report to describe the factors in the Bristol Channel that need to be considered when deciding to use, or not to use, oil spill dispersants. 20021231