The NCP differs somewhat from the other types of contingency plans in that it provides the framework for the National Response System and the way in which the different levels of responding organizations coordinate their efforts.
Criteria for the development and implementation of state, local, and regional oil removal contingency plans include defining the authorities, responsibilities, and duties of all persons, organizations, or agencies involved in planning or directing oil removal operations. Particular care must be made to clearly define the authorities, responsibilities, and duties to avoid unnecessary duplication of contingency planning activities and to minimize the potential for conflict and confusion that could be generated in an emergency situation as a result of any duplications.
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Notification Procedures
Response planning must include the establishment of notification procedures for early detection and timely notification of oil discharge, including:
- The identification of critical water use areas to facilitate the reporting of and response to oil discharges
- A current list of names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the responsible persons and alternates on call to receive notification of an oil discharge as well as the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the organizations and agencies to be notified when an oil discharge is discovered
- Provisions for access to a reliable communications system for timely notification of an oil discharge and incorporation in the communications system of the capability for interconnection with the communications systems established under related oil removal contingency plans, particularly state and national plans
- An established, prearranged procedure for requesting assistance during a major disaster or when the situation exceeds the response capability of the state, local, or regional authority
Resource Capability
Spill response provisions must ensure that full resource capability is known and can be committed during an oil discharge situation, including:
- The identification and inventory of applicable equipment, materials, and supplies available locally and regionally
- An estimate of the equipment, materials, and supplies which would be required to remove the anticipated maximum oil discharge
- Development of agreements and arrangements in advance of an oil discharge for the acquisition of equipment, materials, and supplies to be used in responding to a discharge
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Response Actions
Planning must include provisions for well-defined and specific actions to be taken after discovery and notification of oil discharge, including:
- Specification of an oil discharge response operating team consisting of trained, prepared, and available operating personnel.
- Predesignation of a properly qualified oil discharge response coordinator who is charged with the responsibility and delegated authority for directing and coordinating response operations. The person must know how to request assistance from federal authorities operating under existing national and regional contingency plans.
- A preplanned location for an oil discharge response operations center and a reliable communications system for directing the coordinated overall response operations.
- Provisions for varying degrees of response effort depending on the severity of the oil discharge.
- Specification of the order of priority in which the various water uses are to be protected where more than one water use may be adversely affected and where response operations may not be adequate to protect all uses.
Response provisions must also include procedures to assist in recovery of damages and enforcement measures as provided for by state and local statutes and ordinances.
See tomorrow’s Advisor for information on when to report an oil spill.