Responses to incidents involving oil, hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants, and chemicals fall under the authority of the National Contingency Plan (NCP).1,34,35,36 The Federal Government may activate the NCP when the response needs of such an incident exceed (or are anticipated to exceed) SLTT resources, or when the incident is managed by federal departments or agencies acting under their own authority. Under the NCP, the National Response System (NRS) and the National Response Team (NRT) provide interagency planning, policy, and coordination, technical advice, and resources and equipment. The NRT also sets up a Joint Information Center (JIC) for public communications staff, discussed further in Section 3.8. The NRT includes representatives from 16 federal departments and agencies and is chaired by the EPA, with the USCG as vice-chair.37,38
For incidents that fall under the NCP, the USCG (for coastal releases) or EPA (for inland releases) will provide a FOSC who directs and manages response activities. (Refer to the Federal Preparedness, Response, and Recovery section of this document for additional discussion of federal support for chemical incidents.) In the event of a Spill of National Significance (SONS), multiple locations and command posts may be established across a large geographic area. For all NCP incidents, regardless of size or complexity, a Unified Command (UC) is established, including the FOSC, state On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), local emergency response Incident Commanders (ICs), the RP, and other SLTT entities involved. UC members work together to develop objectives and strategies, share information, maximize the use of resources, and enhance response efficiency, although the FOSC maintains ultimate decision-making authority for the NCP response and the polluter (i.e., RP) pays.37,39
The NCP is aligned with the National Response Framework (NRF) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). In parallel to the NCP, the NRF provides structures and mechanisms for responding to threats and hazards ranging from accidents to technological hazards, natural disasters, and human-caused incidents. The Federal Government and many state governments organize their response resources and capabilities under the NRF Emergency Support Function (ESF) construct. Depending on the nature and size of a chemical incident, ESF annexes to the NRF may be activated in addition to the NCP, namely, ESF #10, the Oil and Hazardous Materials Response Annex, and/or ESF #15, the External Affairs Annex described in Section 3.9. Thus, as more support is needed and the response builds out, command and coordinating structures are supported by an expanding cadre of communications and public affairs specialists.
Footnotes
1. National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, 40 CFR. § 300. (2011).
34. National Response Team (NRT). (2013, April). Joint Information Center Model: Communications during Emergency Reponses. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
35. National Response Team. (2006). NRT Communications Packet. Version 5.
36. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) Overview.
37. Spill of National Significance (SONS) Communication Coordination Workgroup. (2017). Spill of National Significance: Public Affairs Reference. 2017 Ed.
38. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). National Response System.
39. National Response Team. (2013, April). Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) Technical Assistance Document.