Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response (OS 210)
Washington. DC 20460
EPA54O'&-91.'015
Publication 93600-25
April 1992
Superfund
An Overview of the
Emergency Response
Program
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Preface
/ndustrial innovation and
production have lifted the
U.S. standard of living to a level
of affluence earlier generations
could only have imagined. This
advancement has not come
without a cost. Releases of oil
and hazardous substances pose
ever-present threats to our
health and environment.
Guarding against these threats
has been an integral part of
EPA's mission since the Agency
was created in 1970.
Some large-scale contaminated
sites require long-term cleanups.
All too often, however, hazards
at these sites or threats from
spills, fires, and explosions
require emergency response.
This brochure provides an
overview of EPA's program for
emergency response to releases
of oil and hazardous substances.
It is intended as an
introduction - not a fully
detailed guide ~ to the
Agency's emergency response
activities. The brochure covers
the Federal laws and regulations
that authorize emergency
response, explains EPA's role
in managing and conducting
responses, and indicates the
techniques and technologies that
the Agency uses to address the
threats posed by environmental
emergencies.
After reading this brochure, you
may want to learn more about
responses to environmental
emergencies that have occurred
or might occur in your area.
The brochure lists a number of
sources of further information
on this and other topics.
We hope you find this brochure
interesting and informative.
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Contents
Overview of the Program 1
Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases 3
Laws and Regulations 4
The Superfund Trust Fund 4
Reporting Releases of Hazardous Substances 5
The Federal Role 8
Site-Specific Response Activities 8
Anatomy of a Hazardous Substance Response 11
Responding to Oil Spills 12
Oil Spill Response 12
Laws and Regulations 13
Prevention: The Best Response 14
Planning for an Oil Spill 14
When an Oil Spill Occurs 15
Anatomy of an Oil Spill Response 18
Public Participation and Outreach 19
Getting Involved 19
Informing the Community 19
Taking Responsibility in Cleanup 20
Workshops and Publications 20
For Further Information 21
Glossary 22
EPA Regional Emergency Response Offices 24
111
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Overview of the Program
PA's emergency response
program is a part of the
Agency's implementation of the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
(Highlighted terms are defined
in the glossary that begins
on page 22.) Also known as
Superfund, this law was
amended by the Superfund
Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986.
CERCLA established a
"Superfund" to finance cleanup
of the worst hazardous waste
sites and set criteria for
emergency notification of
releases of hazardous substances.
Under its Superfund program,
EPA conducts remedial actions
(longer-term cleanups) and
removal actions (short-term
responses). Emergency response
to hazardous substance releases
are removal actions.
Emergency response to oil spills
is authorized by the Clean
Water Act, as amended by the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The
relationship between hazardous
substance and oil spill response
is reflected in the National Oil
and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan, a
set of Federal regulations that
integrates requirements for
responses to oil spills with
requirements for responses to
hazardous substance releases.
EPA's emergency response
program is managed by the
Emergency Response Division
within the Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response at EPA
Headquarters. However, actual
emergency response actions
are conducted by On-Scene
Coordinators and other front-
line staff based in the ten EPA
Regional offices throughout the
United States. A map showing
the EPA Regions and a list
of EPA Regional emergency
response offices is located on
page 24.
EPA is one of several Federal
agencies that manage the
response to environmental
incidents. The U.S. Coast
Guard, Department of Energy,
and others play key roles in
responding to oil spills,
hazardous substance releases,
and radiological events.
An EPA representative chairs
the National Response Team, an
organization of 15 Federal
agency representatives which
coordinate national spill
response and preparedness.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
The National Response Team
provides support to the
Regional Response Teams,
which include Federal and
State representatives from
each of the Regions. The
Regional Response Teams are
co-chaired by EPA and Coast
Guard representatives. These
teams coordinate regional
spill response planning and
preparedness, as well as
direct support to On-Scene
Coordinators.
For releases of national
significance, EPA activates its
National Incident Coordination
Team to efficiently mobilize
the full resources of the Agency
and ensure rapid transfer of
information within EPA
EPA's Environmental Response
Team is a group of scientists and
engineers that provides 24-hour
technical expertise to On-Scene
Coordinators, State and local
responders, and other countries
in times of international
environmental crisis. The
Team's on-site support can
include sampling and analysis,
assessment of hazards, and
evaluation and implementation
of cleanup techniques. The
Environmental Response Team
also trains over 5,000 people
each year for emergency
response operations. Training
courses cover worker health and
safety and other aspects of
identifying, evaluating, and
controlling hazardous substance
releases.
EPA's emergency response
program is rounded out by a
network of cleanup contractors
strategically placed throughout
the country to provide
immediate cleanup capabilities.
Technical Assistance Teams
conduct site investigations
and sampling, handle the
required recordkeeping, and
help the Agency provide
information to the public.
Actual site cleanups are
managed by EPA and performed
by companies contracted
through the Agency's Emergency
Response Cleanup Services.
Taken together, these efforts
are designed to ensure prompt,
safe, and effective EPA response
to hazardous substance releases
and oil spills. Regardless of
who is responsible for cleanup
and oversight, however, EPA
maintains the capability and
authority to provide a Federal
presence at sites to ensure
protection of public health and
welfare and the environment.
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Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
Large-scale industrial
production in the
United States has generated
vast quantities of hazardous
substances. Prior to the
1970s, the U.S. paid little
attention to the disposal
of these industrial hazardous
substances. As a result,
hazardous substances often
were buried in pits, dumped
in ponds and lagoons, or mixed
with non-hazardous waste in
municipal landfills. The
continuation of these practices
over many years has resulted
in the creation of tens of
thousands of hazardous waste
sites.
During the 1970s and early
1980s, Federal, State, and local
government officials and citizens
became more aware that
uncontrolled hazardous waste
disposal threatened public health
and our finite natural resources.
As a result, previously limited
legal and regulatory controls
over hazardous waste disposal
were expanded to include a
number of comprehensive laws
and regulations. These efforts
are designed to clean up the
mistakes of the past, cope with
the hazardous substance
emergencies of the present, and
create guidelines for prudent
hazardous waste management
and disposal for the future.
EPA Emergency Response
EPA responds to a variety of hazardous substance threats, including releases
from facilities, vessels, and abandoned hazardous waste sites.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
Laws and Regulations
Federal authority to respond
to releases of hazardous
substances into U.S. waters is
found in section 311 of the
Clean Water Act, which was
originally enacted in 1970.
However, the Clean Water Act
provides only limited authority
and funds to EPA and the U.S.
Coast Guard to tackle the
problems caused by releases to
land, water, and air.
To provide a more effective
response to these kinds of
problems, Congress enacted the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA),
popularly known as Superfund.
CERCLA's primary goal
includes emergency response to
hazardous substances released
into the environment.
Congress strengthened the
foundation of the Superfund
program in 1986 when it enacted
the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA).
SARA provides the Federal
government with increased
enforcement powers against
responsible parties to compel
them to meet their legal
obligations of reporting releases
of hazardous substances and
funding cleanup efforts.
Congress also passed the
Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA) in 1986 as Title III of
SARA SARA Title III expands
the role of State and local
governments and citizens in
emergency planning processes
and emphasizes the importance
of emergency response planning
and training programs.
The Superfund Trust Fund
rhe Superfund trust fund
was created as an
important component of
CERCLA to give the Federal
government flexibility in
identifying and addressing
potentially harmful releases
of hazardous substances.
The fund is derived from
taxes on petroleum and the
production of a number of
commercial chemicals. The
Superfund enables EPA and
the Coast Guard to respond
immediately to hazardous
substance releases and
contamination problems that
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Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
pose a threat to public health
and the environment. The
Agency may seek repayment
later from the party or parties
responsible for the release.
The philosophy behind
Superfund is that protecting
public health and the
environment from the risks of
hazardous substance releases
requires a timely response
action; a delayed response can
compound the problem and cost
more money in the long run.
Reporting Releases of
Hazardous Substances
A s soon as the person in
-/TL charge of a facility or
vessel knows that a hazardous
substance has been released in a
reportable quantity (RQ) or
more into the environment, he
or she must immediately notify
the National Response Center
(NRC) at (800) 424-8802. In
addition, SARA Title III
requires that the owner or
EPA OSCs Respond to Inland Spills
The National Response Center immediately notifies the appropriate Federal
OSC of a release of a hazardous substance. The OSC coordinates all
Federal response efforts during an incident.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
operator of a facility report
such releases to the appropriate
State emergency response
commission (SERC) and local
emergency planning committee
(LEPC). You can obtain a list
of SERC and LEPC contacts by
calling the EPCRA Hotline at
(800) 535-0202.
Notification of a release triggers
the National Response System,
a network of Federal, State,
local, and private sector
roles and responsibilities
for responding to releases of
hazardous substances. (See the
opposite page for an overview of
the National Response System.)
When the National Response
Center is notified, the duty
officer relays the release
information to an EPA or Coast
Guard On-Scene Coordinator
(OSC), depending on the
location and nature of the
release. After receiving a
report of a hazardous substance
release, the Federal OSC
evaluates the risk based on
the circumstances of the release.
All notifications to the Federal
government are subsequently
collected in the automated
Emergency Response
Notification System (ERNS).
What is an RQ?
Each hazardous substance has
a reportable quantity, or RQ.
An RQ is a quantity of the
hazardous substance, the
release of which triggers
Federal (CERCLA, SARA
Title III, and Clean Water
Act) reporting requirements,
Generally, there are five RQ
levels: 1, 10, 100, 1000, and
5000 pounds. Radionuclides
are assigned RQs ranging from
10"3 to 103 curies.
RQs are applicable to all
hazardous substance releases
to land, air, ground waller, and
surface water.
A list of hazardous substances
and RQs may be found in
Volume 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) in
Part 302 (Table 302,4 and
Appendices A and B).'
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Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
Overview of the National Response System
Oil or
Hazardous Substance
Release
National
Response
Center
State and
Local
Responders
SERC
and
LEPC
Emergency
Response
Under Title III of SARA, notification to the State emergency response commission
(SERC) and local emergency planning committee (LEPC) is required for releases of
hazardous substances but not for discharges of oil.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
The Federal Role
rhe Federal response
process begins with
the OSC's decision to
initiate response measures.
This decision is based on
a preliminary assessment of
notification information and
on follow-up data gathered
from the site.
Once the OSC decides that the
Federal government is the
appropriate response agency, he
or she must then decide what
type of response to make:
whether the release should be
contained to prevent migration
and treated in place, or whether
off-site disposal or treatment
should be undertaken.
When necessary, expertise of
other Federal agencies can be
brought to a response action
through the National Response
Team and the Regional
Response Teams. The Federal
OSC also may seek assistance
from other States, the EPA
Regional offices, or the
Environmental Response Team.
State agencies or the parties
responsible for a release may
take the lead in cleaning it
up when the OSC determines
that Federal assistance is not
necessary. In these cases,
the Federal OSC may retain
the authority for oversight or
monitoring of the operations
to ensure that the threat is
properly mitigated.
Site-Specific Response
Activities
rhe National Contingency
Plan provides the
guidelines and procedures
for responses to hazardous
substances, and authorizes EPA
to conduct two types of response
activities: removal actions and
remedial actions.
Removal actions are short-term,
relatively low-cost actions
that EPA can take in response
to a release or a threat of
a release of a hazardous
substance that poses an
immediate danger to public
health or the environment.
Remedial actions are longer-
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Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
term efforts to select a
remedy and more fully clean
up the site. The Agency's
emergency response program,
the focus of this pamphlet, is
responsible for carrying out
removal actions.
Examples of situations that
might require a removal action
include: fires or explosions,
threat of human exposure to
a hazardous substance,
contamination of a drinking
water supply, or releases from
abandoned facilities. If a
preliminary assessment of the
situation shows that there is
an immediate threat and that
no other capable authority can
respond in a timely manner,
a removal action may be the
appropriate solution to the
problem.
Removal actions are limited
by CERCLA to one year and $2
million. Although the National
Contingency Plan reflects these
time and spending limits,
exemptions may be obtained
when a continued response is
required to prevent or mitigate
an emergency, or when further
response actions are appropriate
and consistent with the remedial
action to be taken.
The National
Contingency Plan
In response to an accident
involving the Torrey Canyon
tanker off the coast of
England in March 1967, the
first National Contingency
Plan was published in 1968.
Although initially developed
to coordinate responses to oil
spills, Congress broadened
the scope of the National
Contingency Plan over the
years to address releases of
hazardous substances as well,
including releases requiring
longer-term remedial actions
and short-term removal
actions.
The National Contingency Plan
provides the framework for the
National Response System by
facilitating national planning,
coordination, and response
through the National Response
Team, Regional Response
Teams, and Federal On-Scene
Coordinators. The National
Contingency Plan may be
found in 40 CFR Part 300.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
Removal actions can involve
many different activities to
stabilize or eliminate the threat
posed by a release, including:
• Excavating or pumping
hazardous substances for
treatment or disposal off-
site;
• Providing alternate water
supplies;
• Treating hazardous
substances on-site;
• Relocating residents
temporarily; and
• Installing fences to reduce
the migration of hazardous
substances and to prevent
human contact.
After abating these immediate
threats, EPA may undertake
remedial actions to clean up the
more complex environmental
problems at sites.
An example of a Federal
emergency response to a release
of a hazardous substance is
provided on the next page.
10
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Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
Anatomy of a Hazardous Substance Response
Emergency: At a chemical manufacturing facility, chlorine is used to bleach dye
from wastewater before discharging the water into a sewer. The chlorine is stored
as a liquid in a pressurized, 30-ton capacity above-ground storage tank. At 4:30
a.m., Saturday, a control valve on the tank fails and liquid chlorine is released at a
rate of about 200 pounds per hour (the reportable quantity for chlorine is 10
pounds). The pool of chlorine quickly vaporizes, resulting in a toxic cloud of
chlorine gas drifting toward nearby residents.
Notification: The night supervisor discovers the release at 4:40 a.m. and dials 911
immediately to summon the local police and fire department. The supervisor then
calls the National Response Center, State emergency response commission, and
local emergency planning committee to report the release, as specified in the
facility's response plan. Within seconds, the National Response Center relays the
information to the predesignated EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC).
Response: The police and fire department arrive at the facility at 4:48 a.m. After
surveying the scene, the fire department calls in its hazardous materials team for
assistance. The EPA OSC — enroute to the site ~ telephones the fire department
for details on the spill; about 100 pounds of chlorine have already been released
and several local residents are indicating respiratory problems. The local responders
begin a dual response: repairing the valve and evacuating the area. The OSC
arrives at the site at 6:30 a.m. The local responders are unable to repair the valve
and request Federal assistance. After conferring with the police and finding that
evacuation is proceeding slowly, the OSC determines that the release is beyond the
capacity and resources of the local responders, and that Federal assistance is
needed. At 6:45 a.m., the OSC telephones the EPA Regional office to get backup
response personnel and equipment. The OSC then calls the Environmental
Response Team for special engineering expertise on sealing the valve and
coordinates with State authorities to get National Guardsmen to assist with the
evacuation. Chlorine response experts start to arrive on site at 7:45 a.m.; they
successfully seal the valve by 7:59 a.m. At 8:20 a.m., the Federal responders,
wearing protective equipment, contain the remaining liquid chlorine to prevent
further evaporation. More than 800 pounds of chlorine were released. The OSC
arranges for trained medical personnel to be brought in to treat the residents for
chlorine exposure. Once the area is secure, the OSC oversees site cleanup by
contractors hired by the facility owners.
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Responding to Oil Spills
Oil Spill Response
rhe large, environmentally
devastating oil spills of
recent years -- such as the 1989
Exxon Valdez incident - have
underscored the need for
prompt, effective government
and private sector response.
Oil spills kill and injure plants
and wildlife, and can often upset
delicate ecological balances.
This environmental damage can
threaten public health and
welfare by endangering drinking
water supplies and ruining
commercial fishing industries.
With oversight by the On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC), the party
responsible for the spill may
spend millions of dollars to
clean up the spill, restore
damaged natural resources,
and pay penalties.
As many people know from
news coverage of spills such as
the Exxon Valdez, the U.S. Coast
Guard is in charge of response
to coastal spills. What many
people do not realize, however,
is that EPA responds to oil
spills to inland waters (e.g.,
rivers, lakes) and adjoining
Collapsed Oil Tank
EPA leads responses to inland spills, which can be as damaging as those
that occur at sea. When this tank ruptured, it released about one million
gallons of oil into two nearby rivers.
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Responding to Oil Spills
shorelines. These inland spills
can be as catastrophic as the
more publicized coastal
incidents. The 1988 collapse of
an above-ground oil storage tank
in Pennsylvania released almost
one million gallons of diesel
fuel into the Monongahela and
Ohio Rivers, disrupting water
supplies, forcing the closing
of schools and businesses, and
inflicting serious ecological
damage.
Laws and Regulations
E^ PA carries out its oil spill
M-J response activities as part
of its responsibilities under
section 311 of the Clean Water
Act. Specifically, section 311
provides for oil spill reporting,
response, enforcement, and
funding — and for measures
to prevent oil spills from
happening in the first place.
These Clean Water Act
provisions were expanded upon
and strengthened by the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA).
The oil spill regulations that
EPA has issued to fulfill its
Clean Water Act duties have
two basic purposes: preventing
spills from occurring, and
ensuring a quick, effective
cleanup of spills that do occur.
Laws for Oil
Spill Response:
The Clean Water Act
Section 311 of the Clean
Water Act was amended by
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
to require that EPA and the
Coast Guard direct responses
to oil spills that pose a
substantial threat to public
health and welfare. The Oil
Pollution Act also added a
requirement that vessels and
fixed facilities prepare plans
to prevent oil spills and to
respond to spills that do occur.
Other provisions of section
311 of the Clean Water Act
authorize EPA and the Coast
Guard to:
• Establish criteria for
notifying the Federal
government of discharges
of oil into U.S. waters;
• Direct and conduct
responses to oil spills;
• Assess civil and criminal
penalties for violation of
oil spill laws; and
• Administer a Federal oil
spill response fund.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
Prevention:
Response
The Best
rhe easiest and simplest way.
to avoid the environmental
and economic costs of oil spills
is to keep them from happening
in the first place.
The Agency's Spill Prevention,
Control, and Countermeasures
(SPCC) regulation requires
certain non-transportation-
related facilities (e.g., storage
facilities, refineries) that store
oil to prepare plans for the
prevention and containment of
oil spills. The U.S. Department
of Transportation regulates
transportation-related facilities
(e.g., pipelines, shoreline loading
facilities for vessels).
Under the Agency's SPCC
program, EPA OSCs, States, and
Technical Assistance Teams
inspect hundreds of facilities
each year. Inspectors examine
the layout, organization, and
structure of the facility and
review the facility's SPCC plan
to ensure compliance with the
regulation.
Planning for an Oil Spill
espite prevention efforts,
oil spills do occur.
Therefore, it is most important
to be ready with a plan for
minimizing the size of the
spill and the amount of damage
it causes. The National
Contingency Plan requires
that Federal, State, and local
officials as well as responsible
parties plan for and work
together to clean up spills
quickly and effectively.
Under the Clean Water Act, as
amended by the OP A, facility
owners and operators must have
specific plans for response to
a worst-case spill from their
facilities. Periodically, EPA
also inspects facilities' spill
removal equipment. The OPA
requires EPA and other Federal,
State, and local officials to
develop spill response plans
for every inland area of the U.S.
These Area Contingency Plans
facilitate the coordination of
response efforts when spills do
occur. The OPA planning and
inspection requirements assure
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Responding to Oil Spills
that both government and
responsible parties are prepared
to respond effectively to
dangerous spills.
When an Oil Spill Occurs
rhe Discharge of Oil
Regulation (also known as
the "sheen" rule under the Clean
Water Act) states that whenever
an oil spill occurs in U.S. waters
that causes a discoloration or
sheen on the surface of a body
of water, the person in charge of
the facility or vessel responsible
for the spill must notify
the National Response Center
immediately at (800) 424-8802.
If the spill is in inland
waters, the National Response
Center will relay the information
by telephone to an EPA OSC
in the appropriate EPA
Regional office so that the
Agency can assess whether and
how it should respond. (See
page 24 for a map of EPA
Regions and a list of EPA
Regional emergency response
offices.)
Boom Contains Spilled Oil
Boom is used as a floating barrier to contain oil until it can be removed.
L5
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
Biological Techniques Hold Promise for Oil Spill Cleanups
Application of nutrients to oil-contaminated beaches can be used to enhance
the natural degradation of oil in the environment.
EPA directs any responses
to inland spills that pose a
substantial threat to the public
health or welfare, and has the
authority to respond to any
other discharges. Even where
other State or Federal agencies
assume control of the response,
EPA provides advice and
monitors response efforts.
OSCs consider and apply a full
range of resources and methods
for responding to spills.
Mechanical methods - booms,
skimmers, and containers -- may
be used to recover the spilled
oil and to store the oil until
it can be disposed of or reused.
Mechanical containment or
L6
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Responding to Oil Spills
recovery is the most common
type of response action.
Chemical treatments may be
employed to coagulate the oil
for easier collection, or to
direct the oil to a less sensitive
location by dispersing it into tiny
droplets. Biological techniques
such as the introduction of
microbes or microbe nutrients
may be used to promote the
natural microbial consumption
and decomposition of oil.
The Agency maintains a list of
chemical and biological products
- the National Contingency
Plan Product Schedule -- that
may be approved and used on
particular spills. The list
provides data available on the
products, thus ensuring that
responders have certain baseline
information to use in their
decision making.
EPA and the Coast Guard seek
to recover spill response costs
and damages from responsible
parties whenever possible.
When the party responsible for a
spill cannot be determined or
does not have the funds to cover
response costs, the costs may be
paid from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund. Fund monies are
supplied by a five-cent-per-barrel
fee on domestic and imported
oil. The Fund provides up to $1
billion per incident for cleanup
costs and other damages.
An example of a Federal
response to an inland oil spill is
provided on the next page.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
Anatomy of an Oil Spill Response
Emergency: At an oil refinery, crude oil is transferred from barges on the adjacent
river to above-ground storage tanks located on shore. At 4:30 p.m., a pipeline used
in the transfer process ruptures and releases 600,000 gallons of crude oil into the
river. The discharged oil forms a slick that spreads quickly. A fishery is located 10
miles downstream; three industrial facilities with cooling water intakes on the river
are 15 miles downstream. The oil, flowing on the river at .75 knots, will reach the
fishery in about 11 hours.
Notification: At 4:50 p.m., the barge operators discover the leak in the pipeline
and radio the facility. The foreman, in accordance with the facility's response plan,
immediately notifies the local authorities and calls the National Response Center to
report the release. The National Response Center, in turn, relays the information
to the predesignated EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC).
Response: At 5:00 p.m., the barge operators are able to stop the flow of crude oil
through the pipeline by closing a valve; the oil slick moves steadily downstream. At
6:15 p.m., the facility's response contractors and the local responders begin to lay
expandi-boom to divert the oil from the shore and contain the slick; however, the
supply of boom is short by 1,000 feet. The OSC arrives at 7:30 p.m. to assess the
situation. After consulting with facility representatives and local responders, the
OSC determines that the slick poses a serious threat to the fishery and to the
industrial facilities, which could be adversely impacted if oil were to enter their
intakes. The OSC decides that Federal assistance is necessary to contain the spill.
After consulting with the Environmental Response Team on the ecological impact
of dispersants, the OSC rejects their use because of sensitive biota in the river; the
OSC feels that the quantity of dispersants needed for treatment may threaten the
fishery. The OSC contacts the EPA Regional office to obtain additional equipment
to assist the facility in mechanical removal of the oil. The OSC determines that the
facility's response contractors are short about 30 floating and hand-held skimmers
and have no small vessels available. The extra boom and skimmers are flown by air
to the scene at 9:30 p.m.; vessels are rented from the area fishermen. The OSC
and other responders work quickly to lay the additional boom and begin skimming
the oil to get the spill under'control before it reaches the fishery and facilities
downstream. By 12:00 a.m., the oil is successfully contained. The OSC remains at
the scene during the next two weeks to oversee the remaining mechanical removal
of the oil. Cleanup of the shorelines by the facility contractors continues for several
months with EPA oversight.
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Public Participation and Outreach
Getting Involved
PA plays a vital role
in protecting our
environment, but this cannot be
accomplished without assistance
and cooperation from the public.
Some important responsibilities
of local communities are to
notify the National Response
Center ((800) 424-8802) of
any emergency incidents, be
prepared for releases that do
occur, assist with the response,
and generally stay informed.
The Agency works with the
public by informing local
communities of emergency
incidents and resulting response
actions.
Informing the Community
rhe Agency responds to
the public's need for
information by answering
questions directly, making
presentations, and preparing
and distributing publications.
The National Contingency Plan
describes specific requirements
for community relations and
public participation in
emergency responses to releases
of oil and hazardous substances.
Discussing the Regulations
Thousands of members of industry, other regulatory agencies, and the general
public have attended EPA workshops to learn how to comply with Federal
requirements for reporting releases of hazardous substances and oil spills.
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EPA's Emergency Response Program
In the case of removal actions
at hazardous waste sites, for
example, EPA appoints a
spokesperson who notifies the
community of specific response
actions, answers any questions,
and updates the residents on
progress at the site. An
administrative record, or a
repository of information on the
site, must be established within
60 days. If the removal action
is expected to continue for more
than 120 days, the spokesperson
will interview community groups
to identify their concerns and
prepare a community relations
plan to address these concerns.
Taking Responsibility in
Cleanup
/n cleaning up oil spills
or hazardous substance
releases, EPA notifies the
parties potentially responsible
for the release to involve them
as appropriate in the process.
Local governments also are
encouraged to participate in
the response. Under the
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986,
the Agency established a
reimbursement program to help
local governments cope with
expenses that significantly exceed
funds available foP temporary
emergency response measures.
Workshops and
Publications
rhe Agency conducts
workshops and seminars
to keep Federal, State, and
local regulators, the regulated
community, trade groups, and
the general public informed
about EPA regulations and
programs. EPA uses lectures,
handout materials, question-and-
answer sessions, hypothetical
release scenarios, and computer
demonstrations to convey
important information.
EPA also prepares and
distributes informational
materials on releases of oil and
hazardous substances, cleanup
efforts, and related issues to a
wide variety of audiences. Some
examples include journal articles
and question-and-answer
booklets for the regulated
community. EPA Headquarters
and field personnel are kept up-
to-date through bulletins on
statutory requirements, response
activities, and new regulations
and policies.
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For Further Information
/f you would like more
information on how EPA's
emergency response program
works, please contact your EPA
Regional office (see page 24 for
a map of EPA Regions and a
list of EPA Regional emergency
response offices).
For answers to any technical or
regulatory questions concerning
emergency response to oil and
hazardous substance releases,
please contact the toll-free
RCRA/Superfund Hotline at
(800) 424-9346, or (703) 920-
9810 in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. The
Emergency Planning and
Community Right-To-Know
(EPCRA) Information Hotline
will answer your questions
concerning SARA Title HI and
chemical accident prevention
issues; call toll-free at
(800) 535-0202, or (703) 920-
9877 in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. Specific
questions on ERNS, the SPCC
regulation, as well as requests
for the National Contingency
Plan Product Schedule, may be
directed to the Emergency
Response Division's Information
Line at (202) 260-2342.
For printed information on
CERCLA and SARA Title III,
such as copies of rulemakings,
as well as records supporting
rulemakings, call the Agency's
Superfund Docket at (202) 260-
3046.
The Public Information Center
at the Agency answers inquiries
from the public about EPA, its
programs, and activities. For a
variety of general, non-technical
information call (202) 260-7751.
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Glossary
Biological techniques, such as
the introduction of microbes or
microbe nutrients, are used to
respond to oil spills because
they decompose oil naturally.
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)
created "Superfund" to finance
cleanup of the worst hazardous
waste sites and set criteria
for emergency notification of
hazardous substance releases.
Chemical treatments are
products that coagulate spilled
oil for easier collection or that
direct the oil to a less sensitive
location.
Clean Water Act (CWA)
provides for Federal response
to releases of oil and certain
hazardous substances into the
waters of the United States.
Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
of 1986 (EPCRA) was passed by
Congress as Title III of SARA,
expanding the role of State and
local governments and citizens
in preparing for emergencies
and managing chemical risks.
Emergency Response
Notification System (ERNS) is
a national computer data base
that stores information on
releases of oil and hazardous
substances collected from
reports made to the NRC.
Environmental Response Team
(ERT) is a group of EPA
experts based in Edison, New
Jersey and Cincinnati, Ohio, that
assists OSCs with sampling,
hazard assessment, and cleanup
techniques.
Local emergency planning
committee (LEPC) is appointed
by the SERC as part of local
emergency planning districts.
The LEPC serves as a focal
point for SARA Title III
community activities.
Mechanical methods are the
most common type of response
actions used to recover spilled
oil. Equipment includes booms,
sorbents, and floating and hand-
held skimmers that are used to
contain and collect oil spills.
National Incident Coordination
Team (NICT) coordinates
Agency response actions and
communications during
extraordinary emergency
situations of national or
international significance.
National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP)
provides guidelines for
implementing CERCLA, the
CWA, and the OP A, and
authorizes EPA and others to
conduct cleanups of oil and
hazardous substance releases.
The NCP may be found in 40
CFR Part 300.
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Glossary
National Response Center
(NRC) is the primary Federal
point of contact for reporting
releases of oil and hazardous
substances. The NRC is staffed
by the U.S. Coast Guard 24
hours a day.
National Response Team (NRT)
is a national planning, policy,
and coordinating body on
emergency response to pollution
incidents. Membership is drawn
from 15 Federal organizations.
/
NCP Product Schedule is a list
of chemical and biological
products that may be approved
for use on certain oil spills.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)
was created to expand upon and
strengthen the CWA by ensuring
a quick, effective response to
oil spills.
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
provides up to $1 billion to
cover response costs for an
emergency incident in cases
where responsible parties are
unknown or do not have the
funds to cover the costs. A
five-cent-per-barrel fee on
oil supplies these monies.
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) is
a predesignated Federal official
who oversees response activities
at oil spills and hazardous
substance releases. The OSC
ensures that the response is
appropriate, timely, minimizes
environmental damage, and
protects public health.
Regional Response Team (RRT)
is a planning, policy, and
coordinating body, like the
NRT, which provides assistance
as requested by the OSC during
an emergency response.
Reportable quantity (RQ) is
an amount of a hazardous
substance that triggers CERCLA
and SARA Title III emergency
release reporting requirements.
Spill Prevention, Control, and
Countermeasures (SPCC)
regulation requires certain non-
transportation-related facilities
that store oil to prepare
prevention and containment
plans.
State emergency response
commission (SERC) is
appointed by each State to
ensure that SARA Title III
emergency planning and
implementation is developed.
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986
(SARA) strengthened and
clarified EPA's enforcement
authorities and responsibilities
under Superfund.
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EPA Regional Emergency Response Offices
EPA Region 1
Emergency Planning and Response Branch
60 Westview Street
Lexington, MA 02173
(617) 860-4361 or (FTS) 828-6461
EPA Region 2
Response and Prevention Branch
2890 Woodbridge Avenue
Raritan Depot, Building 209
Edison, NJ 08837
(908) 321-6657 or (FTS) 340-6657
EPA Region 3
Superfund Removal Branch
841 Chestnut Street, 9th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-0992 or (FTS) 597-0992
EPA Region 4
Emergency Response and Removal Branch
345 Courtland Street, ME, 1st floor
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-3931 or (FTS) 257-3931
EPA Region 5
Emergency and Enforcement Response Branch
230 South Dearborn Street, 11th floor
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-6236 or (FTS) 886-6236
EPA Region 6
Emergency Response Branch
1445 Ross Avenue, 9th Floor
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
(214) 655-2270 or (FTS) 255-2270
EPA Region 7
Emergency Planning and Response Branch
25 Funston Road, 2nd floor
Kansas City, KS 66115
(913) 551-5000 or (FTS) 276-5000
EPA Region 8
Emergency Response Branch
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
(303) 293-1788 or (FTS) 330-1238
EPA Region 9
Field Operations Branch
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1500 or (FTS) 484-1500
EPA Region 10
Superfund Branch
1200 6th Avenue, 11th floor
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-1679 or (FTS) 399-1679
EPA Regions
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