The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines, forms, and checklists recommended for use by industry. The API guidelines describe the RRT concurrence request process, proposed information submission recommendations that are specific to subsea dispersant injection, and the use of Spill Impact Mitigation Analysis (SIMA) and other forms of tradeoff analyses as decision support tools. Also included are practical flowcharts and checklists specific to Incident Management Team (IMT) positions that are integral to subsea dispersant use, and guidance on the preparation of subsea dispersant operations and monitoring plans. This document provides operational guidelines intended for actual events or exercises and provides a basis for engagement from a range of relevant stakeholders.

This document provides guidelines for the regulatory approval in accordance with Subpart J for the use of subsea dispersants in the United States with several U.S. references since subsea dispersants were first used for one incident in the United States. The lessons learned captured by numerous companies, in addition to input from members of IPIECA and IOGP, serve as a baseline for initial guidance to share with other countries and organizations to assist in developing their own guidelines.