| ASTM | American Society for Testing and Materials |
| bbl | barrel |
| BSEE | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement |
| C.F.R | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CG-MER | Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response |
| DOT | Department of Transportation |
| EDRC | Effective Daily Recovery Capacity |
| ERSP | Estimated Recovery System Potential |
| g/cm3 | gram per cubic centimeter; 1 gram/cubic centimeter = ~ 62.43 pounds/cubic foot |
| gpm | gallons per minute |
| GRP | geographic response plan |
| IOOS | Integrated Ocean Observing System |
| MARACOOS | Middle Atlantic Associations Coastal Ocean Observing Systems |
| MES | Maximum Effective Swath Width |
| NERACOOS | Northeast Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System |
| NM | nautical mile |
| NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| OPA | Oil Pollution Act |
| OSRO | oil spill removal organization |
| PHMSA | Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
| ppt | parts per thousand |
| SAROPS | Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System |
| SIMAP | Spill Impact Model Application Package |
| SLICKMAP | Oil spill booming model |
| TE | throughput efficiency |
| UDI | user-defined input |
| USCG | United States Coast Guard |
| USGS | United States Geological Survey |