that samples taken for chemical analysis are of equal status with those taken 

 for biological analysis. 



THE ANALYTICAL DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURE 



A procedure encompassing the major requirements for analytical documen- 

 tation of a spill is presented in Table 1. In Phase I of the documentation 

 scheme, the spill area and a control area are sampled in detail immediately 

 after the spill. Sampling during this period of acute or short-term impact 

 should continue for about 1 or 2 weeks. In Phase II the spill and control 

 areas are sampled in a limited, selective fashion. This sampling period, 

 which covers the period of chronic or long-term impact, could last from 1 to 

 5 or more years. The rationale for this documentation procedure follows. 



Table 1. Analytical Documentation Procedure 



A. Phase I. Acute or short-term impact 



1. Detailed qualitative analysis of the spilled substance 

 in various forms. 



a) neat 



b) weathered 



c) water-soluble fraction 



2. Detailed qualitative analysis of the spilled substance 

 extracted from environmental samples. 



3. Quantitative analysis of control samples representative 

 of each sample type collected. 



4. Quantitative analysis of samples to delineate the extent 

 of the spill . 



a) in the physical environment 



b) in the food web 



c) in highly visible organisms 



B. Phase II. Chronic or long-term impact 



1. Quantitative analysis of a limited number of serially 

 collected samples from the spill area and a control 

 area. 



a) sediment 



b) sessile benthic organism(s) 



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