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Oil Spill Cleanup Agents (OSCA)

Oil Spill Cleanup Agents (OSCA)

Government Code Section 8670.13.1 requires the Administrator of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response to license all oil spill cleanup agents for use in the waters of the State. An oil spill cleanup agent (OSCA) is defined as a chemical, or any other substance, used for removing, dispersing, or otherwise cleaning up oil or any residual products of petroleum in, or on, any waters of the state. This category of substances would include surface washing agents, dispersants, gelling agents, herding agents, emulsifiers-demulsifiers, chemical booms, sorbents and bioremediants. Within the Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the licensing of OSCAs is done within the Response Technologies Development Unit of the Scientific Branch.

All OSCAs licensed for use in California must still be approved for use on a case-by-case basis at the time of an oil spill incident. This mean that although a product can be used, it does not necessarily have to be used to address all circumstances. In addition to licensing in California, and OSCA must also be listed on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule. It is up to the discretion of the Unified Command to determine the appropriateness of any particular OSCA to address any particular situation and through formal request and approval of the Region IX Regional Response Team (RRT). Once the RRT grants approval, a product can be used.

Specific information on the licensing and use of oil spill cleanup agents in California can be found on this website. For more information, please refer to the quick list and links below. If you have a specific question and would like to contact us, please click here.

OSCA Information found on this Website:

1. General Information and Questions Commonly Asked
2. Letter from the Administrator
3. Guidance Document for Exemption, License and Renewal of OSCAs (Large file)

• Renewal Forms and Procedures for OSCAs
• Exemption Forms and Criteria

4. State Regulations governing the OSCA licensing
5. Policies and Procedures Governing the Use of OSCAs
6. Current list of California Licensed Oil Spill Cleanup Agents
7. Federal Regulation for Listing on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule

Federal Resources

• Federal EPA Product Schedule and General OSCA Information
• Region IX Regional Response Team
• Alternative Response Tool Evaluation System (ARTES)
• Selection Guide for Oil Spill Applied Technologies