U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Version 1.0
March 2013
Area Contingency
Planning Handbook
LUnited States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Section 1: Overview of Area Planning 3
A. What is an Area Contingency Plan? 3
B. How is an ACP developed? 4
C. What are the benefits of an ACP? 4
D. What are the statutory and regulatory underpinnings of the ACP? 5
E. What is the relationship of the ACP to other plans? 6
Section 2: Initial Steps/Preliminary Analysis 9
Section 3: Area Committees 11
A. Initial AC recruitment 11
B. Project management 12
C. Initial AC meeting 12
D. AC organization 13
E. AC operations 14
F. AC activities and responsibilities 14
Section 4: Scope and Content of the ACP 17
Section 5: Essential Plan Elements 19
A. Maps 19
B. Contacts and notification 19
C. Resources 19
D. Sensitive areas 21
E. Hazard analysis 22
F. Response strategies and worst-case discharges 24
G. Response management: roles and responsibilities 25
Section 6: Advanced Area Planning 27
A. NOAA Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) 27
B. Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) 27
C. LandView® 6 28
D. RMP*Comp 29
Appendix A: Statutory and Regulatory Authorities 31
CERCLAand EPCRA 31
Clean Water Act 31
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) 32
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 32
The Stafford Act 34
Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD)/Presidential Policy Directives (PPD) 35
Clean Water Act and NCP Area Plan Requirements 38
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Appendix B: Area Committees 41
Appendix C: ACP Formats, Scope and Organization 43
Appendix D: Tools 45
Appendix E: Contact/Notification Lists 47
Appendix F: Resource Inventory Development 49
Appendix G: Response Strategy Development 51
Appendix H: Resources for Assistance in ACP Development 53
Appendix I: Volunteers 55
Appendix J: Acronyms 57
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Disclaimer
This Handbook includes links to documents and information on non-EPA
sites. Links to non-EPA sites and documents do not imply any official EPA
endorsement of, or responsibility for, the opinions, ideas, data or products
presented at those locations, or guarantee the validity of the information
provided. Links to non-EPA web sites and documents are provided solely as a
pointer to information on topics related to area contingency planning that may
be useful to EPA staff and the public.
While EPA will attempt to keep links to information timely and accurate, the
Agency makes no expressed or implied guarantees. EPA expects to review
this Handbook routinely and update the links listed in the appendices as
necessary.
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Introduction
This Handbook is a guide and reference for the development of Area
Contingency Plans (ACPs) for environmental emergencies. While it is
primarily intended for use by EPA emergency response program personnel,
area contingency planning is necessarily an inter-agency process, and the
use of this handbook to inform other agencies of EPA's planning process is
encouraged. Because area plans are focused on specific geographic domains,
with many physical and jurisdictional variables, there can be no 'one size fits
all' plan format, but maintaining a national consistency in the basic content is
important, particularly considering the statutory and regulatory requirements
by which EPA and other agencies are bound.
This handbook was developed by EPA's Area Planning Workgroup during
2011 and 2012 and incorporates the accumulated knowledge of years of
contingency planning experience. Although ACPs are specifically mandated
by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), EPA's responsibilities under other
laws, including CERCLA, make an all-hazards approach to contingency
planning desirable. The processes of planning for responses to all types of
environmental emergencies (e.g., oil spills, hazardous materials releases,
natural disasters) share common elements that have been demonstrably
successful in major responses.
In the interests of conciseness and accessibility, this handbook will
not recapitulate extensive portions of related documents, but will list
key references, including laws, regulations and technical resources, in
appendices.
This Handbook is available for download as a PDF file from EPA's Office of
Emergency Management web site at http://www.epa.gov/oem/.
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Overview of f\rea Planning
A. What is an Area Contingency Plan?
An ACP is a reference document prepared for the use of all agencies
engaged in responding to environmental emergencies in a defined
geographic area. Throughout this Handbook, the terms 'Area Contingency
Plan' and 'ACP' also encompass the processes for developing and
managing Sub-Area Plans and Geographic Response Plans, which have
scopes more limited than the ACP itself.
Under federal law (OPA 90) and regulation (National Contingency Plan),
all United States territory is divided into jurisdictional zones, with the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) designated the lead agency for planning and
response in coastal zones and certain major inland water bodies, and EPA
designated the lead for inland areas, with certain exceptions for DoD-
managed areas. As an EPA document, this handbook is focused on inland
zone planning, but EPA also has a role in the coastal zone, particularly
regarding oil spill counter-measure concurrence and approvals. EPA-
lead inland plans covering areas adjacent to the coastal zone must also
ensure compatibility with USCG-lead plans for those zones. Appendix A
provides specific details on federal jurisdictions.
Under CWA 3110(4), there are specific required elements for ACPs. These
elements include:
a A description of the area covered by the plan, including areas
of special economic or environmental importance that might
be damaged by a discharge. This description should provide a
comprehensive picture of the defined area, which may be a body of
water, a watershed or a political jurisdiction
a A description of the responsibilities of owners, operators and federal,
state and local agencies in responding to a discharge, or mitigating
or preventing a substantial threat of discharge. The plan should
identify those entities with authorities and resources for planning and
response, describe their capabilities and establish an operational
framework for these entities to ensure optimum communication and
coordination during a response.
a A list of resources (personnel, equipment and supplies) available for
response to discharges.
a A description of procedures for expediting decisions on the use of
dispersants.
a A description of how the plan is integrated with other plans.
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When implemented in conjunction with the NCR the ACP must be adequate to remove a worst
case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such discharge. Additionally,
ACPs may provide guidelines for conducting specific tasks such as: sampling, classifying,
segregation, and temporary staging of recovered waste; and identifying prior state disposal
approval, various waste disposal options and a hierarchy of preferences for disposal alternatives
(40 CFR 300.310(0)).
An ACP is not a rigid, prescriptive plan with step-by-step instructions for responses. Rather it is a
mechanism to ensure that all responders have access to essential area-specific information and
to promote inter-agency coordination as a means of improving the effectiveness of responses.
B. How is an ACP developed?
An ACP is the product of a collaborative process involving stakeholders within the defined area,
organized as an Area Committee (AC). Although it must be initiated and led by a federal agency
(33 U.S.C. 1321Q)(4)(B)), the AC is to be comprised of members from qualified personnel of
Federal, State, and local agencies. The AC provides a forum for agencies to develop constructive
working relationships while identifying issues and problems and developing solutions in advance
of a response. The AC is responsible for developing the ACP, evaluating its implementation, and
maintaining it through a continuous improvement process, through consultations with the RRTs
and others as appropriate.
C. What are the benefits of an ACP?
Responding to the immediate
circumstances of an environmental
emergency can be a challenging task.
Overlappingjurisdictions and potentially
divergent interests of the parties involved
can make response even more difficult.
The ACP provides a mechanism for
planning for these potential complications
prior to an incident. The ACP is a useful
tool for responders, providing them with
practical and accessible information to
place the incident in a larger context,
informing them about who and what
they need to know to make the response
effective.
The process for ACP development may be as beneficial as the final product. The Area Committee
provides a forum for all parties to identify problems, resolve conflicts and become informed about
the issues raised by actual and potential incidents. From EPA's point of view, the AC provides an
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effective mechanism for informing a wide audience about the response and planning concepts
as part of the National Response System (NRS). The NRS is the government's mechanism for
emergency response to discharges of oil and the release of chemicals into the navigable waters
or environment within the jurisdiction of the United States. The NRS functions through a network
of interagency and inter-government relationships that were formally established and described
in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) as found in
40 CFR Part 300. The AC provides a way for local, state, and federal members to define their
most significant concerns, ensuring that they will be considered should a response be required.
D. What are the statutory and regulatory underpinnings of the ACP?
ACPs were initially conceived in the context of oil spill responses, but the ACP concept has grown
beyond that to encompass the prospect of responses to environmental emergencies in general,
including hazardous materials releases, natural disasters and acts of terrorism. There is a
substantial foundation of laws, regulations and executive orders that provide the basis for ACPs.
These include:
Clean Water Act (1972): The CWA (originally the Federal Water Pollution Control Act) expanded
the federal government's authority to regulate discharges to waterways and provided the original
statutory basis for the National Contingency Plan (NCP).
Oil Pollution Act of 1990: The OPA 90 amendment to the CWA established ACP requirements
for the NRS to address worst-case discharges of oil and hazardous substances and mandated
facility-specific plans (facility response plans [FRPs]) for certain categories of facilities.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980): CERCLA
established a federal emergency response program to deal with immediate threats from
hazardous substances and pollutants (excluding petroleum as provided by 42 U.S.C. 9601(14)
and (33)) and a remedial response program to deal with hazardous waste sites requiring actions
consistent with a permanent remedy
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (1986): EPCRA amended CERCLA by
adding requirements for community-based emergency planning, through State Emergency
Response Commissions (SERCs), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), and public
disclosure of hazards associated with certain facilities.
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended: The Stafford
Act provides the authorities and funding for federal support to state and local entities in
responding to major disasters and emergencies.
National Response Framework (2008): The NRF is the federal executive document that provides
the national blueprint for how the Nation conducts all-hazards response.
National Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 300, amended in 1994): The NCP is the federal
regulation that defines the authorities and responsibilities of designated federal agencies for
responding to releases of oil, pollutants and hazardous substances.
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Regional Contingency Plans: The NCR requires that each federal region, through its Regional
Response Team (RRT), develop RCPs. ACPs exist under the umbrella of the RCP.
Homeland Security Presidential Directives: HSPDs are executive orders that address specific
issues. HSPD-5 covers incident management, and requires the establishment of the National
Incident Management System (NIMS). HSPD-7 addresses the protection of the nation's critical
infrastructure. Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-8 focuses on improving the overall preparedness
of the nation to respond to emergencies. PPD-8 replaces HSPD-8.
State Laws: Each state, territorial and tribal entity has its own laws and regulations that apply
to environmental emergencies. As partners in the ACP process, these entities identify which
agencies and requirements are relevant to the ACP.
Local Laws: Each locality participating in the ACP identifies which of its laws and ordinances are
relevant to the ACP and which agencies will participate in the ACP process.
A more detailed summary of the statutory and regulatory basis for ACPs is included in Appendix A.
E. What is the relationship of the ACP to other plans?
The NCP is the regulatory foundation for interagency contingency planning. The NCP is a
regulation that establishes the authorities, responsibilities and relationships of agencies in
responding to environmental emergencies. RCPs extend the NCP model to a narrower regional
focus, bringing in states and other entities as participants to deal with region-specific concerns.
In Executive Order 12777, the President delegated the authority to designate areas, appoint Area
Committee members, determine the information to be included in ACPs, and review and approve
plans for the inland zone to the EPA Administrator. The EPA Administrator, through delegation
2-91, initially designated thirteen geographic areas already covered by Regional Response
Teams, and the Regional Response Teams as the initial Area Committees. The EPA Administrator
also delegated Regional Administrators the authority to designate different geographic areas
within their Regions and appoint different Area Committee members. Regional Administrators
are authorized to delegate the authority no lower than the Division Director level. For this reason,
an RCP may function as an ACP, if the designee determines that there is no need for formally
defining multiple ACPs within a region. Sub-regional concerns may also be addressed by Sub-
Area Plans, which have a more limited scope, but many of the same elements as ACPs or by
Geographic Response Plans, which focus on specific response strategies and tactics for more
narrowly-defined areas. If the designee determines that the RCP will serve as the sole ACP for the
region, the RRT assumes the responsibilities of the AC as described in 40 CFR 300.205(c). In this
case, the RRT solicits states for local representatives. NGO and private sector members may also
be invited.
ACPs also interface with plans developed by state and local authorities and by private sector
facilities, as well as other ACPs in bordering jurisdictions, such as those developed by the USCG.
The diagram on the next page illustrates the relationships between the various plans. The Federal
Response Plan (FRP) was superseded by the National Response Framework (NRF) in 2008.
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Relationship of Plans
International Joint Plans
\
National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan (NCP)
Regional Contingency
Plans (RCPs)
National Response
Framework (NRF)
Federal Agency
Internal Plans
Area Contingency Plans
(ACPs)
Facility Response
Plans (FRPs)
State/Local
Plans
^^™ Plans of the National Response System (NRS)
Points of coordination with the NRS
Plans integrated with the ACP
Vessel Response
Plans (VRPs)
There are three levels of contingency plans under the national response system: National
Contingency Plan, Regional Contingency Plans, and Area Contingency Plans. The relationships
between these plans and other planning mechanisms are described above.
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Initial Steps/Preliminary
The decision to initiate the development of an ACP (or a Sub-area Plan or
a Geographic Response Plan) should be preceded by an analysis of the
costs and benefits of the process by the federal lead agency's designated
On Scene Coordinator. The initial forum for this analysis is most often
the RRT, because ACPs are subsets of the RCPs. The stimulus for the
development of an ACP may be the experiences of agencies during the
response to a major incident, or it may be a pro-active effort to protect
sensitive resources or to address issues related to high-risk facilities.
There are no constraints on the ACP-defined areas within the region.
It may be based on jurisdictional boundaries, for example, if a state
perceives the need for specific measures within its boundaries, or it
may be based on geographical determinants, such as a watershed that
encompasses sensitive resources. Regardless, if there is a consensus
among the RRT participants that an ACP should be considered, then
the RRT should establish an ad hoc committee of interested agencies
to conduct an initial analysis, which should involve the following
considerations:
1. An inventory and assessment of existing plans, including the RCP and
any other federal, state, regional and local plans, and an assessment
of the effectiveness of these plans, including the identification of
gaps and other inadequacies that an ACP could remedy.
2. Identification of the portions of existing plans which are adequate
and can be incorporated into an ACP.
3. Identification of potential sub-areas within the ACP boundaries that
may require special attention, leading to sub-area plans.
4. Review of data and information from past incidents (e.g., after-action
reports, lessons learned, unresolved issues). This review should
identify specific problems that the ACP will address.
5. Preliminary identification of sensitive areas, including environmental,
cultural and economic resources.
6. Identification of actual and potential jurisdictional conflicts.
7. Identification of high-risk facilities and critical infrastructures.
8. Assessment of natural disaster risk and impact.
9. Initial estimates of the time and resources required for developing
the ACP.
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10. Preliminary identification of key agencies and entities that should be invited to participate in
the AC.
11. Assessment of the consequences of not doing an ACP.
12. Consideration of the expansion of other Sub-Area Plans and Response Plans beyond their
current geographic area.
If the initial analysis concludes that there is little or no benefit from developing an ACP, or if
there are insufficient resources to successfully conclude the project, then the RCP remains the
operative plan and functions as the ACP.
If the conclusion of the initial analysis is that there would be a net benefit from developing an
ACP, and that there are sufficient resources available (e.g., personnel, funding), the next step
is to establish an AC. A lead agency or agencies should be designated to conduct outreach and
provide information to potential AC members.
Before formally beginning the ACP process, it is wise to informally propose the concept to existing
contacts in the response community to determine if they are supportive in general, and if they
can commit time and resources. At this point, firm commitments are not required.
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f\rea Committees
A. Initial AC recruitment
The first task is to identify the stakeholders and interest groups that
should be involved in developing the ACP. Beginning with the list
developed during the initial analysis, a summary of the analysis and
an invitation to join the effort should be distributed by the lead agency.
This first invitation list maybe supplemented with additional invitees
as the effort gains visibility, with the objective to be as inclusive and
comprehensive as possible. Potential members include:
a Existing RRT member agencies
a Other state/territorial/tribal agencies
• The lead state agency representative to the RRT should identify
other state agencies with interest and expertise relevant to ACP
development
a Regional and local agencies
• The LEPCs within the area should be the initial contact point for
developing a list of potential participants
a NGOs
• This list should include such entities as industry associations and
environmental organizations
a Private sector entities, including regulated facilities
• The potential list should include facilities required to have FRPs
and others identified as high-risk in the initial analysis
Responses to the solicitation should be evaluated critically. Every invitee
may not be able or willing to participate, so consideration must be given
to identifying those that are most important to the success of the effort
and finding incentives for them to participate. The number of AC members
is variable and it is likely that several tiers of participation will emerge.
The AC recruitment phase may require several months of dialog with
critical members that are reluctant to commit for various reasons
(e.g., time constraints, limited resources). A decision must be made
as to whether enough of the key members have committed to warrant
proceeding with the initial AC meeting or whether additional preliminary
work is needed.
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B. Project management
Concurrent with the solicitation of participants, the lead agency should begin scoping the project
because the costs and the timeframe will be important factors to potential AC members. It is
unlikely that a definitive cost and schedule can be developed at this time, so an estimate should
be developed based on previous experience. Other ACPs should be reviewed to find one that
provides an appropriate model, and the AC for the selected model should be contacted to obtain
information on realistic costs and schedules. This first estimate should include:
a Staffing requirements and costs
a Travel costs
a Contractor support requirements, sources, and costs
a Overall funding requirements and sources
a Time-line
C. Initial AC meeting
If the responses to the solicitation indicate
sufficient interest by potential participating
entities to proceed with the effort, an AC
formation meeting should be scheduled
and planned. The lead agency should
prepare a briefing package for the meeting,
including the initial analysis and the
presumptive schedule and budget, along
with related presentation materials. Briefing
materials should be made available to
invitees in advance.
The meeting date and location should
be selected with care to afford maximum
participation. Special consideration should
be given to critical members.
Enlisting the support of state and local co-hosts for the meeting may help diffuse perceptions
that the ACP is a federal 'top-down' project.
The essential elements of the initial meeting agenda include:
a Welcoming remarks by co-hosts
a Briefing by the lead agency on overall context, authorities, analysis, AC functions, schedule
and budget
a Opportunity to review example plans from other areas
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a Opportunity for clarifying questions and dialog
a Opportunity to opt for non-participation or information-only status
a Opportunity for potential members to describe their interests, authorities and resources
• Discussion of obstacles (e.g., budgetary, bureaucratic)
• Immediate follow-on meeting to plan for first formal meeting following the formation
meeting
The first meeting of the AC should focus on obtaining a consensus on the following basics:
a AC membership and organization
• Mail and email lists
• Identification of other parties for further solicitation
• Agreement on chair/co-chair agencies
a AC protocols
• Meeting locations and scheduling, record-keeping, logistics
a Review of the initial analysis
• Is the area covered by the ACP defined appropriately?
• Are there errors or gaps in the initial analysis?
a General agreement on scope and schedule for ACP development
a Review of resources available for ACP development, as well as potential resource constraints
a Review of potential obstacles
a ACP format, focus, level of detail and distribution
Subsequent AC meetings will focus on the specific tasks of ACP development.
D. AC organization
There is no requirement that any specific organizational model be followed, and the AC may
consider various options. The formality of the organization is also a function of its size; small ACs
can be more informal and collegial, while large ACs may require a more clearly-defined structure.
The participating entities will likely fall into three groups:
a Key players: Those with an active interest and with sufficient resources to play an active
continuing role in the AC.
a Supporting players: Entities with active, but limited interest or resources that may participate
on specific issues.
a Observers: Entities that need to know about AC activities, but have no active role.
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Organizationally, key players should be included in an executive committee or should act as
chairs of potential subcommittees. Supporting players should be offered roles and positions
tailored to their expertise and time/resource limitations. Observers may be kept informed through
periodic reports and should be offered the opportunity to provide input and comment regarding
elements of the ACP as they are developed.
E. AC operations
Participation in an AC is voluntary, and decision-making is primarily by consensus. EPA will
chair the committee (with USCG as co-chair in areas where joint inland and coastal planning is
conducted), but state and local participants may also be given co-chair roles. Each AC is headed
by a Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC); generally EPA personnel for the inland zone and USCG
personnel for the coastal zone.
Member assignments are voluntary, and should be based on the interests, expertise and time/
resources commitment required to execute the assigned tasks. Key AC operations are the following:
Review and approval processes: As tasks are completed, the AC must determine what levels of
review are required, both within the AC itself and external to the AC. Draft ACP elements should
be broadly distributed for review and comment, with reasonable deadlines (e.g., 30 days).When
the AC determines that the ACP is complete, the ACP should be submitted to the involved EPA
Regional Administrators (or their designees) for final approval. (See Appendix A, April 24,1992
Federal Register Notice.)
Documentation, record-keeping and administrative support: An important early AC decision is
to determine the appropriate level of record-keeping and documentation, and the amount of
administrative support required to maintain this level. Administrative support may be provided by
staff from participating agencies or from support contractors, and includes the maintenance of
files, distribution lists, web sites and other tasks.
Reference materials library and distribution: As the ACP process evolves, the set of reference
materials supporting the ACP will grow. Maintaining this set and ensuring that all participants
have access to it is a separate administrative support task.
Membership management: The most important part of this task is the maintenance of the
AC membership and distribution lists, ensuring that mail addresses, email addresses and
phone numbers are kept accurate and current. For those members of the AC with specific AC
responsibilities, back-up or alternate members should also be identified to ensure continuity is
maintained when a member is unavailable.
F. AC activities and responsibilities
The lead Agency designated FOSC is responsible for developing and managing the ACP through
the AC. These tasks include:
a ACP development: The AC'S primary task is to produce a final ACP that meets the needs
defined by the AC members and achieves the standards required.
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a ACP publishing and distribution: Once the final ACP is developed, the AC should decide on
the modes of publication (e.g., hard copy, electronic, internet) and the scope of distribution.
a ACP evaluation: Once the ACP is distributed, the AC should establish a mechanism for
evaluating its effectiveness. The ACP itself should contain contact addresses for receiving
feedback and the AC should periodically consider comments received for possible future
amendments. In addition, the AC may participate in after-action analyses of significant
incidents and exercises.
a ACP updates and modifications: Technological advances, jurisdictional and organizational
changes, infrastructure changes and other factors may require the ACP to be modified and
updated. The AC should consider establishing an appropriate update cycle. In addition,
a means for providing interim updates should be established for significant events that
cannot be deferred to the update cycle. This makes ACP version control and date-stamping
an essential part of ACP management and enables all users to work with the most current
information.
a Inreach and outreach activities: At a minimum, the AC may be requested to provide reports
on progress to the RRT. Beyond that, the AC should consider how information should be
disseminated among the area community. The AC may serve as a clearing-house for planning
and response-related news. AC members should inform their own agencies about the ACP
and how to access and use it, so that all responders are equally prepared when an incident
occurs. The AC should also be prepared to respond to requests for information from outside
entities and organizations; this may require the preparation of fact sheets and briefing
materials that provide a general overview of the ACP.
a ACP Environmental Benefits Analysis: Net Environmental Benefits Analysis (NEBA)
is a methodology for identifying and comparing environmental benefits of alternative
management options in the removal of discharged oil and oil products. Net environmental
benefits are the gains in environmental services or other ecological properties attained by
the removal of the oil or ecological restoration minus the environmental injuries caused
by those actions. A NEBA for oiled sites typically involves the comparison of the following
management alternatives:
• Leaving contamination in place for natural attenuation;
• Removing the contaminants through traditional removal techniques; and
• Remediating contamination with alternative removal techniques.
NEBA involves valuing ecological services or other properties, assessing adverse impacts, and
evaluating removal actions. NEBA is a risk-benefit analysis applied to environmental management
options. To do this, a balance of resource managers and emergency responders must participate
together in forming opinion, guiding discussion and educating each other in processes of
importance and concern.
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NEBA has the potential to assist resources managers avoid the possibility that the selected
removal alternative will provide no net environmental benefit over natural attenuation of
contaminants and ecological recovery. An alternative removal option may provide no net
environmental benefit because:
• The removal action is ineffective or inappropriate (the action does not substantially
change the risk); or
• The removal alternative causes environmental injuries greater than the damage
associated with the contamination because:
- The need for remediation has been driven by human health risk, not ecological risk;
- The ecological injury from contamination has been overestimated;
- Injuries associated with removal were not properly addressed; or
- The need for remediation is driven by human considerations not related to health or
ecologic concerns.
NEBA has the potential to help resource
managers plan a removal that provides
a positive net environmental benefit over
the hypothetical state that would prevail
in the absence of contamination. NEBA
may be appropriate if any of the removal
alternatives potentially have significant
negative ecological effects or minimal
ecological benefits. Finally, NEBA may be
used when the multiple alternatives are
beneficial, but the one with the greatest
net benefits is not apparent without formal
analysis.
See Appendix D for examples of sensitive areas inventories.
a ACP-based drills and exercises: The AC itself may sponsor drills and exercises to test
the viability of ACP elements and it should encourage its members to use the ACP when
conducting such activities in internal agency venues and in inter-agency exercises. The
AC should ensure that exercise evaluations relating to the ACP are included in the ACP
improvement process.
a ACP-related training: The AC may develop and sponsor training activities to improve the
ability of responders to access and utilize the ACP. These may be specific to the ACP or may
include more general topics, such as NIMS-ICS courses, Health and Safety courses or spill
response courses. For electronic and web-based ACPs, the AC should consider the need for
training in the use of software that may be required for access and utilization.
For examples of AC organizations, documents, agendas and processes, see Appendix C.
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Scope and Content of the ACP
ACP coverage: The area covered by the ACP may be defined by
geographic features, jurisdictional boundaries, or both, at the
discretion of the AC. Within the ACP boundaries, sub-areas may be
defined where there are unique circumstances that require tailored
response strategies.
Areas of special economic and environmental importance: The ACP
must include an inventory of features within the area that require
awareness by responders when developing response strategies.
• Critical infrastructure: Utilities (such as drinking water intakes,
water and wastewater treatment plants, and major electrical
power plants and transmission lines), transportation corridors and
facilities, and other infrastructure elements may require specific
protection measures, special notification or access protocols or
have other unique attributes that may affect a response. The ACP
should identify these features and also provide guidance on how
they should be considered in response strategies.
• Environmentally sensitive areas: The ACP should identify areas
within its bounds that may require tailored protection or response
strategies due to unique environmental attributes. These may be
recreational or commercially-significant areas, endangered species
habitats, drinking water supplies or other areas defined by the AC.
In each case, the ACP should provide guidance on how responders
should incorporate the needs of these areas into response
strategies.
• Culturally sensitive areas: The ACP should identify historical
landmarks, archeological sites, tribal lands and other features
that may require special protective measures or interaction with
trustees or tribal authorities.
• High-risk locations: The ACP should identify fixed facilities and
transportation infrastructure locations that present a high
risk of release of oil or hazardous substances. Once these are
identified, the ACP should then address location-specific response
strategies and preparedness, such as the pre-staging of response
equipment. To the extent that these locations may be subject
to regulatory requirements, such as facilities required to have
an FRP, the ACP should reference or provide a link to the FRP or
other required plan. The ACP should also reference and, whenever
possible, link to plans and other information developed by LEPCs
within its bounds.
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• Natural disaster impact areas: The ACP should incorporate information relating to
locations that may be susceptible to natural disaster impact (e.g., flooding, earthquakes),
and provide references or links to related disaster response plans at the local, state and
federal levels.
a Identifying and integrating with other plans: The ACP should identify and define its
relationship to other contingency plans that are within, adjacent to, or overlapping the ACP
defined area. These plans should be reviewed to ensure the ACP is not inconsistent with
them, and the owners of these plans should be informed of the ACP's status and receive
copies of the final ACP. If there is a reasonable prospect of an incident occurring that
impacts both the ACP area and an area covered by an adjacent plan, the AC should establish
notification and coordination protocols with the adjacent entities. Examples of other plans to
consider include:
• External plans: Adjacent RCPs and ACPs and International border plans
• Internal plans: State and local plans, private sector plans (FRPs and Risk Management
Plans (RMPs))
a Overall ACP formats: The AC should review example formats for the ACP to determine the
most appropriate fit for the needs of area responders. The primary purpose of the ACP is to
serve as a response tool. The primary customers of the AC process are the area responders,
so the ACP must be portable, easy to navigate, and accurate.
a ACP maintenance: Once the ACP is issued in final form, the AC should implement a
management and maintenance process to keep the ACP current and to incorporate
improvements. A regular update cycle should be considered to provide for changes that are
not time-critical, but interim amendments may also be required to reflect significant changes
within the defined area. Version control should be established and an interim update process
is critical. Certain portions of the plan, such as contact lists, may change frequently and
should be maintained separately from the plan itself.
a Downloadable and Internet-access ACPs: Consideration should be given to distribution of the
ACP in electronic form, to usability on PDAs and PCs, and to providing access to the ACP via
internet.
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Plan
A. Maps
Maps are central to ACP development and utilization. The variety of
mapping formats, platforms and applications is constantly increasing
and evolving. Mapping tools should be evaluated in terms of accuracy,
accessibility, usability for responders in the field and ease of maintenance
and updating. Appendix D provides links to mapping tools that have
proven useful in ACP development.
B. Contacts and notification
Contact and notification lists must be maintained for a variety of
purposes. These lists may include:
a Lists relating to the AC and the ACP itself, the first of which
includes individuals and entities engaged in ACP development and
maintenance. Other lists may cover those that receive ACP copies for
information only.
a Lists related to response operations should cover both immediate
notifications when an incident occurs and contacts during response
operations when assistance is required from an entity listed in the
plan with knowledge, authority, expertise or resources required by the
Incident Commander (IC)/Unified Command (UC). In general, these
lists should be maintained separately from the plan itself, since they
may contain information that should not be widely disseminated.
Lists of this type are not intended to supplant existing notification
protocols, but reinforce and supplement them by adding information
specific to the area covered by the ACP. Response operations lists
should include 24/7 contact information for all essential response
entities.
a All lists should include mail, email, land line, and cell phone contact
information, as well as back up numbers if the primary contact is
unavailable and general agency office numbers.
a List management should be through a central administrative support
control point.
C. Resources
The resources section of the ACP is perhaps the most difficult to develop
and manage. This is primarily due to the sheer magnitude of developing
an inventory of the personnel, equipment and capabilities of all response
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entities in the defined area, and to the
difficulty of keeping the inventory current. It
is advisable that the AC initially limit its level
of comprehensiveness, detail and focus
on the general capabilities of the response
entities and on those resources that are
unique and may be difficult to acquire. If the
Incident Commander (IC)/Unified Command
(UC) requires specific information from
a response entity, contact points can
be provided to obtain the most current
information directly from the provider.
Resource information is organized at the discretion of the AC. The information may be organized
by resource category, agency, type of incident or some combination of these or other categories.
Regardless of the organization, there are minimum requirements that should be incorporated
into the inventory. After determining the organizational concept, the AC should identify the initial
resource requirements and establish a spreadsheet format for agencies to enter their resource
information.
a General capabilities: Each entity identified as potentially having a response or response
support role should describe its authorities, areas of jurisdiction, areas of expertise, types of
available personnel and equipment and general response capabilities, including access to
funds.
a Personnel: The inventory may include numbers of available personnel, field-deployment
qualifications (including OSHA qualifications), Incident Command System (ICS) qualifications,
areas of technical and scientific expertise, mobilization response times, non-deployable
support personnel, secondary resources (available through contracts or mutual aid/
Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) agreements), and any other criteria
that the AC identifies as necessary.
a Equipment: Subcategories may include assessment, soil/water/air sampling, field
categorization, ambient monitoring, aerial survey/remote sensing, transportation, field
logistics, transportation, heavy equipment, booms, pumps, skimmers, PPE, mobile command
posts (MCPs), communications, data management.
a Laboratories: Identification of which entities have access to analytical capability, general
descriptions of capability and access procedures and contact points.
a Volunteer Resources: Management of volunteer resources presents unique issues
regarding training, safety, liability and integration with the response organization. The ACP
should provide links to policy documents relating to volunteer management and to local
organizations with volunteer management expertise. The NRT has developed guidance to
address these issues (See Appendix I).
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In applying this guidance to the ACP, the AC should insure that the ACP includes an inventory
of potential volunteer organizations, with brief descriptions of their interests, capabilities and
contact information. To develop this list, the AC should task a work-group to conduct outreach
to volunteer organizations to inform them of ACP activities and the parameters for response
participation, including training, safety and liability management requirements and to identify
potential obstacles to successful integration of volunteers into the response organization. The AC
should also consider the unique issues involving the use of volunteers during a response. See
Use of Volunteers, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 300.5, located in Appendix I of this Handbook.
If the AC determines that volunteer management may be a significant factor in responses, then
additional actions may be needed, such as inviting volunteer organizations to participate as
members of the AC, developing advance and/or just-in-time training programs in NIMS/ICS,
safety (e.g., HAZWOPER) and technical response subjects (e.g., wildlife rehabilitation) and inviting
volunteers to participate in ACP-related exercises.
a Contact information: Contacts for each type of resource, including level of approval needed
for commitment.
Information from each inquiry should be entered into a searchable database so that potential
resources can be identified quickly.
D. Sensitive areas
The AC should establish a committee to identify features and sub-areas that are sensitive
for environmental, cultural or economic reasons. This committee should include entities with
expertise in the application of requirements established by the Endangered Species Act (ESA),
the Historical Preservation Act and other statutes, regulations and agreements concerning
sensitive areas. The common theme for identifying a sensitive area is that it has attributes that
must be considered by responders in developing response strategies and tactics. For each
feature or area identified, the exact location or boundaries should be mapped when possible, and
a brief summary of considerations should be documented. For certain sensitive areas, such as
ESA or archaeological sites, exact locations may not be identified, but should be referenced as
present in the general area. This summary should include:
a Specific attributes (e.g., drinking water supply intake, endangered species habitat)
a Recommendations on protective measures that may be employed
a Description of any proscribed tactics
a Contact information for operators, trustees and others with an interest in the sensitive area
a Other information relevant to the area, such as special access protocols, hazards to
responders or seasonal variations to be considered in developing response strategies and
tactics
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This information is organized at the discretion of the AC and is dependent on the available data.
Consideration should be given to assigning priority categories to sensitive areas, based on their
significance, or organizing them by type. Areas with especially difficult or complex issues should
be considered for development of specific Sub-area Plans or Geographic Response Plans.
The AC should consider whether certain types of information should preliminarily be designated
for restricted use only. Each AC must communicate with the "owner" of the information and
determine if their information falls in this category and if so, how the information will be
safeguarded but available during an emergency response. All records featuring such information
may ultimately be subject to public disclosure, however, in response to a FOIA request.
The ACP should ensure that the appropriate state, Federal, and tribal trustees for natural
resources are promptly notified of discharges and response activities are coordinated with
the with the affected natural resource trustees. Additional information on notification and
coordination with natural resource trustees is available at
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/nrd/trustees.htm.
Tools for identifying sensitive areas: See Appendix D: Tools.
Methods for organizing sensitive area data: See Appendix D: Tools.
Methods for display and accessing data: See Appendix D: Tools.
E. Hazard analysis
The AC should establish a sub-committee
to identify potential sources of releases
within the defined area. These sources may
include fixed facilities or transportation
routes with high volumes of oil or hazardous
materials in transit. Consideration should
also be given to potential sources outside
the defined area of the ACP, which may
impact the area in the event of a release
The first task of the committee is to develop
working criteria to establish a cut-off point,
below which potential sources will not be
addressed by the ACP. These need not be
rigid; for example, if potential sources A and
B are otherwise identical, but A is within
a defined sensitive area, the ACP may
address A and leave B below the threshold.
For each potential source identified the ACP should document the following:
a Source location (to be mapped)
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a Operator, with contact and access information
a Types and quantities of materials that may be released
a Special considerations for responders, including hazards
a Response capabilities of the operator
Tools for identifying potential sources:
a FRPs: EPA FRP Coordinators list posted at
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site profile.aspx?site id=3857.
a Pipelines: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) web site (http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/] includes a range of
pipeline safety resources, including a national pipeline mapping system.
a Railroads: The DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) web site (http://www.fra.dot.gov/]
includes passenger and freight railroad safety and environmental information. The FRA's
GIS web site provides a web-based mapping application that permits users to map, view and
zoom to all rail grade crossings in the United States. Accident information for each grade
crossing is available.
a Highways: The DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a
Hazardous Materials Routing Web Site that lists designated, preferred and restricted routes
(http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetv-securitv/hazmat/hm-theme.htm].
a Hazmat facilities: Facilities covered by EPCRA requirements must submit an Emergency
and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form to the LEPC, the State Emergency Response
Commission (SERC), and the local fire department annually. Facilities provide either a Tier I
or Tier II form. Most states require the Tier II form. Some states have specific requirements in
addition to the Federal Tier II requirements. The EPA web site includes a list of links to state
Tier II reporting sites: http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/content/epcra/tier2.htm. Tier II data
for most states are also maintained on the E-Plan Emergency Response Information System:
https://erplan.net/eplan/login.htm.
EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a database containing data on releases of over 600
toxic chemicals from thousands of U.S. facilities and information about how facilities manage
those chemicals through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment. One of TRI's primary
purposes is to inform communities about toxic chemical releases to the environment. TRI
data are available at http://www.epa.gov/tri/.
The Facility Registry System (FRS) is a centrally managed database developed by EPA's
Office of Environmental Information (OEI) that identifies facilities, sites or places subject to
environmental regulations or of environmental interest. FRS creates high-quality, accurate,
and authoritative facility identification records through rigorous verification and management
procedures that incorporate information from program national systems, state master
facility records, data collected from EPA's Central Data Exchange registrations and data
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management personnel. The FRS provides Internet access to a single integrated source of
comprehensive (air, water, and waste) environmental information about facilities, sites or
places. FRS data are available for query at http://www.epa.gov/envim/html/fii/index.html.
Hazardous waste generators, transporters, treaters, storers and disposers of hazardous
waste are required to provide information on their activities to state environmental
agencies. These agencies then provide the information to EPA offices through the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act Information (RCRAInfo) System (http://www.epa.gov/enviro/
facts/rcrainfo/search.html]. Information on cleaning up after accidents or other activities
that result in a release of hazardous materials to the water, air or land must also be reported
through RCRAInfo.
Superfund is a program administered by the EPA to locate, investigate, and clean up
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites throughout the U.S. CERCLIS Search is available to
retrieve Superfund data from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) database in Envirofacts
(http://www.epa.gov/enviro/facts/cercHs/search.html}.
a LEPC plans: Information on LEPCs can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/epcra/epcra plan.htm#LEPC.
a RMPs: The Right-To-Know Network maintains a Risk Management Plan (RMP) Database
on its web site (http://www.rtknet.org/db/rmp}. RMP information may also be accessed at
Federal Reading Rooms: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/readingroom.htm.
Natural Disaster-sensitive areas and facilities: The AC should also consider which significant
facilities may be vulnerable to impact by natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes.
Methods of organizing potential source information: See Appendix D: Tools
Methods for displaying and accessing data: See Appendix D: Tools
F. Response strategies and worst-case discharges
After the AC has developed the initial inventory of sensitive areas and potential sources, it can
begin to consider the general response strategies with special consideration given to potential
worst case discharges.
a Assessment strategies
The AC will have to identify methods to assess the extent and impact of a release and identify
the tools available to predict the behavior of released material. Remote sensing, modeling and
sampling strategies should be developed as needed.
a Protection strategies
The AC should determine the most effective methods of preventing impact on sensitive areas.
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a Response strategies
The ACP should identify the various response strategies that have proven to be effective in
controlling and mitigating the impact of a release. Consideration should be given to the most
likely release scenarios and the worst-case discharges.
a Oil-spill-specific strategies and plans (e.g., the NRT Subsea Dispersant Guidance) including
counter-measures
Oil spill counter-measures include dispersants1, in-situ burning (including accelerants), bio-
remediation, surface washing agents, solidifiers and other methods for reducing the impact of
oil to the environment. While many of the countermeasure stipulations are included in the RCPs,
the ACP must also consider counter-measure use in the context of the defined ACP area. These
issues include:
• Areas where specific counter-measures may be proscribed
• Pre-approval of specific counter-measures in certain areas
• Protocols for monitoring use and effectiveness
• Assessment of potential impacts from counter-measure use in adjacent planning areas
(e.g., Coastal Zone areas)
a Facility-specific strategies and plans
Facilities with the potential for large-scale releases (such as pipelines and large storage and
manufacturing facilities and railroads) should be considered for focused strategy development.
If facilities are covered by FRPs, the plans will provide a base for the responding agencies to
develop strategies for most-likely and worst-case releases from these facilities.
G. Response management: roles and responsibilities
a NIMS compliance policy: The ACP should include a brief section that commits the AC to
NIMS compliance and references the Incident Management Handbooks and Field Operating
Guides that are used by participating agencies.
a Unified Command: One of the most important functions of the ACP is to address potential
jurisdictional conflicts and to provide solutions to these in advance of a response. This
section should identify the agencies that meet the criteria for participating in a UC, including
appropriate jurisdictional authority, ability to commit resources to the response, and
personnel that are trained and qualified to serve as Incident Commanders. Consideration
should also be given to the role of responsible parties in the UC. In areas where there are
multiple overlappingjurisdictions, this task may need to be broken down into scenario-based
organizations.
1 Dispersants or other oil emulsifiers are not utilized in freshwater and other inland environments because of the limited dilution available in fresh
waters, the use of freshwaters as a water supply, the limited toxicology information available for dispersants in fresh water, and the limited information
available as to fresh water effectiveness of dispersants. As of 2012, there are no dispersants that are effective in freshwater environments (dispersants
require salt as a catalyst).
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a Response Organizations: This section should provide guidance on NIMS-compliant response
organizations, identifying those entities with expertise relevant to specific positions and
providing models of organizational structures. The approach to this should be inclusive, by
defining appropriate roles for each AC participant. Particular attention should be paid to the
placement of resource trustees, technical experts and others that may be outside the normal
response community.
a Personnel training and qualification requirements/recommendations: This section should
address recommended levels of NIMS-ICS training for responders.
a Model Incident Action Plans: It may be appropriate for the ACP to include example lAPs for
specific scenarios (e.g., worst-case discharges).
a Mutual aid agreements: These exist at the federal, state and local levels. Federal
agreements (e.g., EPA-Coast Guard) and state agreements (e.g., EMAC) need not be
replicated in the ACP unless there are area-specific considerations which need to be
explained. Local agreements, particularly when they involve entities outside the bounds of
the ACP, should be referenced briefly.
a Public Information/JIC: The ACP should provide guidance to participants on the coordination
of public messages during a response, including reinforcing the role of the UC's PIO and
defining the relationship of the PIO to individual agencies' public information operations.
a Response to substantial threats to public health or welfare; spills of national significance
and worst case discharges: As described in 40 CFR 300.322 through 300.324, if the
investigation by the OSC shows that the discharge poses or may present substantial threat to
public health or welfare of the United States, the OSC shall direct all federal, state or private
actions to remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threat of such discharge, as
appropriate.
The ACP, when used in conjunction with other provisions of the NCP, shall be adequate to
remove worst case discharges as described above.
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Advanced Area Planning
A. NOAA Environmental Response Management Application
(ERMA)
ERMA® is a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool
designed to assist both emergency responders and environmental
resource managers who deal with incidents that may adversely impact
the environment. The application can assist in response planning and is
accessible to both the command post and to assets in the field during
an actual response incident, such as an oil spill or hurricane. The data
within ERMA also assists in resource management decisions regarding
hazardous waste site evaluations and restoration planning.
ERMA supports environmental preparedness, response, and recovery
efforts by:
a Providing integrated and timely information to improve decision-
making.
a Integrating and synthesizing various types of information on a single
map interface.
a Providing fast visualization of current information.
a Improving communication and coordination among responders and
stakeholders.
Access information for ERMA is available at http://'response.restoration.
noaa.gov/erma and is also included in Appendix D.
B. Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations
(CAMEO)
CAMEO is a system of software applications used widely to plan for
and respond to chemical emergencies. It is one of the tools developed
by EPA's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response
and Restoration to assist front-line chemical emergency planners
and responders. They can use CAMEO to access, store, and evaluate
information critical for developing emergency plans. In addition, CAMEO
supports regulatory compliance by helping users meet the chemical
inventory reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, also known as SARA Title III).
CAMEO also can be used with a separate software application called
LandView to display EPA environmental data and demographic/economic
information to support analysis of environmental justice issues.
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The CAMEO system integrates a chemical
database and a method to manage the
data, an air dispersion model, and a
mapping capability. All modules work
interactively to share and display critical
information in a timely fashion. The CAMEO
system is available in Macintosh and
Windows formats.
CAMEO was initially developed because
NOAA recognized the need to assist first
responders with easily accessible and
accurate response information. Since
1988, EPA and NOAA have collaborated to
augment CAMEO to assist both emergency
responders and planners. CAMEO has been
enhanced to provide emergency planners
with a tool to enter local information
and develop incident scenarios to better
prepare for chemical emergencies. The
Bureau of Census and the U.S. Coast
Guard have worked with EPA and NOAA to
continue to enhance the system.
The software is available for download from EPA's CAMEO web site:
http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/content/cameo/index.htm
C. LandView®6
The LandView database system allows users to retrieve census demographic and housing data,
EPA Envirofacts data and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS) information. The GNIS contains over 1.2 million records which show the official federally
recognized geographic names for all known places, features, and areas in the United States that
are identified by a proper name.
The LandView database software:
a Uses the Population Estimator function to calculate census demographic and housing
characteristics for user defined radii.
a Creates simple thematic maps of census data.
a Allows users to browse and query the census, EPA or USGS databases and show the query
results on the map.
a Provides the capability to locate a street address or intersection on a map based on TIGER/
Line® road features and address ranges.
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The MARPLOT mapping software:
a Creates large scale maps showing Census legal and statistical entities, EPA Envirofacts sites,
and USGS GNIS features. (A large scale map shows a small area with a large amount of
detail.)
a Allows users to customize the maps by varying the scale and controlling which map layers are
shown.
a Provides a search capability for map objects based on radius or map layer.
a Includes tools that allow users to add information to the maps.
a Can automatically retrieve LandView database information for user selected map objects.
Additional information is available at: http://www.census.gov/geo/landview/
D. RMP*Comp
RMP*Comp is a free program that calculates vulnerable zone distances based on the Risk
Management Program (RMP) Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis (both worst case
scenarios and alternative scenarios). The RMP*Comp program guides users through the process
of making an analysis.
The software is available for download from EPA's RMP*Comp web site:
httD://www.eDa.gov/osweroel/content/rmD/rmD como.htm
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Appendix A:
Statutory and Regulatory Authorities
CERCLA and EPCRA
Under CERCLA, EPA established both an
emergency response program designed to
stabilize or cleanup releases of hazardous
substances that pose a threat to human
health or the environment, and a remedial
response program to take actions consistent
with a permanent remedy (instead of or in
addition to removal actions) in the event of a
release or threatened release of hazardous
substances posing a threat to human health
or the environment. CERCLA also enabled
the revision of the NCR. The NCR provides
the guidelines and procedures to respond
to releases and threatened releases of
hazardous substances, pollutants, or
contaminants. The Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
amendments to CERCLA included provisions
to strengthen emergency response planning
at the state and local levels by requiring local
governments to prepare chemical emergency
response plans (40 CFR Part 355) and to
make information more readily available to
the public on hazardous chemicals that are
stored at facilities in their communities
(40 CFR Part 370).
Clean Water Act
Under 33 U.S.C. 1321 (j)(4) of the CWA, the
President is authorized to establish Area
Committees comprised of qualified personnel
from federal, state, and local agencies. These
committees are to prepare ACPs that detail
methods and procedures for responding to a
worst-case discharge, including the division of
responsibilities among various authorities in
a response. Each Area Committee is required
to submit this plan to the President for review
and approval. The authorities assigned to the
President under 33 U.S.C. 13210X4) for the
inland zone have been delegated by Executive
Order 12777 to the EPA Administrator, who
has in turn re-delegated these authorities
to EPA Regional Administrators. Regional
Administrators may further re-delegate the
authorities to the Division Director level.
Each Area Committee, under the direction of
the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) for
its area, has the following responsibilities:
a Prepare an ACP for its area;
a Work with state and local officials to
enhance the contingency planning of
those officials and to assure pre-planning
of joint response efforts, including
appropriate procedures for mechanical
recovery, application of countermeasures,
shoreline cleanup, protection of sensitive
environmental areas, and protection,
rescue, and rehabilitation of fisheries and
wildlife;
a Work with state and local officials
to expedite decisions for the use of
dispersants and other mitigating
substances and devices; and
a Update the ACP periodically.
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The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90)
OPA 90 establishes mechanisms for the
federal government to prevent and respond
to oil spills. OPA 90 extensively amended the
CWAto provide enhanced capabilities for oil
spill response and natural resource damage
assessment.
Title IV, Section 4202, National Planning
and Response System, amended subsection
311Q) of the CWA with respect to the National
Planning and Response System. It defines
Area Committee and ACP requirements and
deadlines for agencies. Pursuant to OPA
90 section 4202(b)(l)(A), the President
designates areas for which ACPs are
established. As stated above, the President
delegated to EPA the responsibility for
designating the areas and appointing the
committees for the "inland zone". Under the
CWA, ACPs are developed by Area Committees
under the direction of the FOSC for their area.
OPA 90 Section 4202(b)(l)(A) also requires
that in designating areas, the President will
ensure that all navigable waters, adjoining
shorelines, and waters of the exclusive
economic zone are subject to an ACP.
Under the National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) response
and planning framework, the territory of the
United States is covered by thirteen Regional
Response Teams (RRTs) and Regional
Contingency Plans (RCPs). The zones of
the thirteen RRTs follow the ten standard
federal regions, except for the following three
subregional areas that have their own RRT:
(1) Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
(2) Alaska; and (3) Hawaii, Guam, Northern
Mariana Islands, Pacific Island Governments,
and American Samoa (See Figure 1, next
page). The inland areas of the thirteen RRTs
serve as the designated areas for the inland
zone. The USCG designates areas for the
Coastal Zone. These coastal zone areas are
based on the 48 USCG Captains of the Port
(COTP) areas. The areas covered by COTPs are
smaller than the RRT areas and include major
river systems associated with the ports.
Unless otherwise designated, the RRTs serve
as the Area Committees for the Inland Zone.
RRTs are composed of representatives from
federal, state, and Tribal governments.
See also the April 24,1992 Federal Register
Notice (57 FR 15198): Designation of Areas
and Area Committees Under the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990 (Document posted at
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site jprofile.
aspx?site id=3857]
The National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
(NCP)
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) provides for
the coordinated and integrated response by
the federal government, as well as state and
local governments, to prevent, minimize, or
mitigate a threat to public health or welfare
posed by discharges of oil and releases
of hazardous substances, pollutants, and
contaminants. The NCP is authorized by
CERCLA and the CWA as amended by OPA 90.
Section 300.210 of the NCP provides for three
levels of contingency plans under the NRS,
including: The NCP, Regional Contingency
Plans (RCPs), and ACPs. These plans are
available for inspection at EPA Regional
offices or USCG district offices.
Under the direction of a FOSC and subject
to approval by the lead agency, each
Area Committee, in consultation with the
appropriate RRTs, USCG District Response
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Figure 1
13 Regional Response Team Areas
Alaska
Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands
Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Pacific Island Governments,
and American Samoa
Groups (DRGs), the USCG National Strike
Force Coordination Center (NSFCC),
Scientific Support Coordinators (SSCs), Local
Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs),
and State Emergency Response Commissions
(SERCs), will develop an ACP for its designated
area. This plan, when implemented in
conjunction with other provisions of the
NCP, will be adequate to remove a worst-
case discharge of the NCP, and to mitigate
or prevent a substantial threat of such a
discharge, from a vessel, offshore facility, or
onshore facility operating in or near the area.
In developing the ACP, the FOSC will
coordinate with affected SERCs and LEPCs.
The ACP will provide for a well-coordinated
response that is integrated and compatible,
to the greatest extent possible, with all
appropriate response plans of state, local,
and non-federal entities, and especially with
Title III local emergency response plans.
The ACPs are required to include the following
elements:
a A description of the area covered by
the plan, including the areas of special
economic or environmental importance
that might be damaged by a discharge;
a A detailed description of the responsibilities
of an owner or operator and of federal,
state, and local agencies in removing a
discharge, and in mitigating or preventing
a substantial threat of a discharge;
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a A list of equipment (including firefighting
equipment), dispersants, or other
mitigating substances and devices,
and personnel available to an owner or
operator and federal, state, and local
agencies, to ensure an effective and
immediate removal of a discharge, and
to ensure mitigation or prevention of a
substantial threat of a discharge (this
may be provided in an appendix or by
reference to other relevant emergency
plans (e.g., state or LEPC plans), which
may include such equipment lists);
a A description of procedures to be followed
for obtaining an expedited decision
regarding the use of dispersants; and
a A detailed description of how the plan
is integrated into other ACPs and tank
vessel, offshore facility, and onshore
facility response plans approved by the
President, and into operating procedures
oftheNSFCC.
Area Committees are required to incorporate
into each ACP a detailed annex containing a
Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments
Plan that is consistent with the RCP and NCP.
The annex will be prepared in consultation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), and other interested natural resource
management agencies and parties. The annex
will provide the necessary information and
procedures to immediately and effectively
respond to discharges that may adversely
affect fish and wildlife and their habitat and
sensitive environments, including provisions
for a response to a worst-case discharge.
The Stafford Act
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act)
describes the programs and processes by
which the federal government provides disaster
and emergency assistance to state and local
governments, tribal nations, eligible private
nonprofit organizations, and individuals
affected by a declared major disaster or
emergency. The law establishes the process for
requesting and obtaining a Presidential disaster
declaration, defines the type and scope of
assistance available under the Stafford Act, and
sets the conditions for obtaining assistance.
The Stafford Act covers all hazards, including
natural disasters and terrorist events.
The NCP is an operational supplement to
the National Response Framework (NRF).
The NRF was issued by the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) and is an
overarching guide that describes how the
nation responds to all types of domestic
emergencies, including natural disasters and
terrorist incidents. It describes the roles of
federal, state, local, and tribal governments,
as well as non-governmental organizations
and the private sector. Under the NRF, DHS
coordinates the federal response to incidents
requiring significant Federal coordination,
which includes incidents for which the
President issues a disaster declaration under
the Stafford Act. FEMA may utilize Stafford Act
funds to reimburse EPA for specific emergency
response activities related to actual or
potential hazardous materials (hazardous
substances, pollutants, contaminants, and oil)
incidents through the NRF under Emergency
Support Function (ESF #10) - Oil and
Hazardous Materials Response, when there is
an Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration.
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Response to oil and hazardous materials
incidents is generally carried out in
accordance with the NCR. NCR structures
and response mechanisms remain in place
when ESF #10 is activated, but coordinate
with NRF mechanisms. During Stafford Act
responses, some procedures in the NCR may
be streamlined or may not apply.
ESF #10 may be activated by DHS for
incidents requiring a more robust coordinated
Federal response, such as:
a A major disaster or emergency under the
Stafford Act;
a A federal-to-federal support request (e.g.,
a federal agency, such as the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) or
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
requests support from ESF #10 and
provides funding for the response
through the mechanisms described in the
Financial Management Support Annex); or
a An actual or potential oil discharge or
hazardous materials release to which
EPA and/or USCG respond under CERCLA
and/or CWA authorities and funding, for
which DHS determines it should lead the
federal response.
As described in the NRF core document, some
federal responses do not require coordination
by DHS and are undertaken by other federal
departments and agencies consistent with
their authorities. Federal responses to oil
and hazardous materials incidents under the
authorities of CERCLA and the CWA that do
not warrant DHS coordination are conducted
under the NCR. EPA or USCG may also request
DHS to activate other NRF elements for such
incidents, if needed, while still retaining
overall leadership for the federal response.
Homeland Security Presidential
Directives (HSPD)/Presidential Policy
Directives (PPD)
The Presidential Policy Directive on National
Preparedness is effective as of March 30,
2011, and replaces Homeland Security
Directive (HSPD) 8 (National Preparedness)
and HSPD-8 Annex I (National Planning).
Plans developed under HSPD-8 and Annex I
remain in effect until rescinded or otherwise
replaced.
EPA has also been directed to operate under
the following Executive Branch directives:
Management of Domestic Incidents - HSPD-5
HSPD-5 was issued to improve management
of domestic incidents by establishing a
single, comprehensive national incident
management system. The Homeland Security
Act of 2002 created the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) and assigned the
Secretary of Homeland Security responsibility
for coordinating federal emergency operations
within the United States. Federal emergency
operations include preparing for, responding
to, and recovering from terrorist attacks, major
disasters, and other emergencies. DHS has
the authority to coordinate federal resources
when any one of several conditions occurs: 1.
a federal department or agency requests their
assistance, 2. the resources of state and local
authorities are overwhelmed and they request
federal assistance, 3. more than one federal
department or agency is substantially involved
in responding to an incident, 4. the President
directs the Secretary to assume responsibility
for managing the domestic incident.
HSPD-5 also recognizes the role that
state, tribal, and local governments;
nongovernmental organizations; and the
private sector play in managing incidents.
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Initial responsibility for managing domestic
incidents generally falls on state and local
authorities. When their resources are
overwhelmed, or when federal property is
involved, the federal government provides
assistance.
In order to provide a consistent, coordinated,
nation-wide approach for emergency
operations across all levels of government,
HSPD-5 directed DHS to develop and
administer a National Incident Management
System (NIMS) and a National Response
Framework. Together, NIMS and the NRF
provide an approach for federal, state, and
local governments to effectively prepare
for, respond to, and recover from domestic
incidents, regardless of cause, size, or
complexity.
Critical Infrastructure Identification.
Prioritization. and Protection - HSPD-7
HSPD-7 establishes a national policy for
federal departments and agencies to identify
and prioritize critical U.S. infrastructure
and key resources and to protect them
from terrorist attacks. Federal departments
and agencies will work with state and
local governments and the private sector
to accomplish this objective. HSPD-7 also
identifies Sector-Specific Agencies which,
under DHS' overall coordination, lead efforts
to protect specific critical sectors and key
resources.
In addition, HSPD-7 requires DHS to develop
a comprehensive, integrated National Plan
for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources
Protection.
Sector-Specific Agencies
Sector-Specific Agencies are agencies
responsible for ensuring the protection of a
particular resource or part of the national
infrastructure. EPA is designated as the
Sector-Specific Agency for drinking water and
water treatment systems. In addition to being
responsible for collaborating across all levels
of government, assessing vulnerabilities,
and promoting the use of risk-management
strategies, EPA must: 1. work with the water
sector to reduce the consequences of
catastrophic failures not caused by terrorism,
2. collaborate with the private sector to
continue the development of information
sharing and analysis mechanisms, 3. report
to DHS on the Agency's efforts to identify,
prioritize, and coordinate the protection of
critical infrastructure and key resources.
National Preparedness - PPD-8
National Preparedness Goal
PPD-8 calls for development and maintenance
of a National Preparedness Goal defining the
core capabilities necessary to prepare for the
specific types of incidents posing the greatest
risk to the security of the United States. The
Goal will establish concrete, measurable,
prioritized objectives to mitigate specific
threats and vulnerabilities - including regional
variations of risk - and emphasize actions
intended to achieve an integrated, layered,
accessible and all-of-Nation/whole community
preparedness approach while optimizing the
use of available resources.
DHS, in coordination with other executive
departments and agencies, and in
consultation with state, local, tribal and
territorial governments, the private and
non-profit sectors and the general public,
submitted the first edition of the National
Preparedness Goal in September 2011. The
Goals defines success as:
36
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A secure and resilient Nation with the
capabilities required across the whole
community to prevent, protect against,
mitigate, respond to, and recover from the
threats and hazards that pose the greatest
risk.
The core capabilities contained in the goal
are essential for the execution of each of the
five mission areas: Prevention, Protection,
Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. To
assess both preparedness capacity and
gaps, each core capability includes capability
targets for which measures will be developed.
The Goal will be reviewed regularly to
evaluate consistency with applicable policies,
evolving conditions and the National Incident
Management System.
National Preparedness System
The Directive requires a description of
the National Preparedness System - an
integrated set of guidance, programs and
processes, enabling the Nation to meet
the National Preparedness Goal. Designed
to guide domestic efforts of all levels of
government, the private and nonprofit sectors
and the public, the National Preparedness
System includes guidance for planning,
organization, equipment, training and
exercises needed to build and maintain
domestic capabilities in support of the
National Preparedness Goal.
The System description identifies
six components to improve national
preparedness for a wide range of threats
and hazards, such as acts of terrorism, cyber
attacks, pandemics and catastrophic natural
disasters. The system description explains
how the nation will build on current efforts,
many of which are already established in the
law and have been in use for many years.
These six components include:
a Identifying and assessing risks;
a Estimating capability requirements;
a Building or sustaining capabilities;
a Developing and implementing plans to
deliver those capabilities;
a Validating and monitoring progress
made towards achieving the National
Preparedness Goal; and
a Reviewing and updating efforts to
promote continuous improvement.
The System will include a series of
integrated national planning frameworks
covering prevention, protection, mitigation,
response and recovery and be built upon
scalable, flexible and adaptable coordinating
structures. These frameworks are intended to
align key roles and responsibilities to deliver
capabilities and provide a unified, integrated,
accessible system with common terminology.
The National Preparedness System includes
interagency and departmental operational
plans that support each national planning
framework with corresponding planning
guidance for state, local, tribal and territorial
governments.
Other key aspects of the National
Preparedness System described in PPD-8
include:
a Resource guidance, including
arrangements enabling the ability to
share personnel;
a Equipment guidance, aimed at
nationwide interoperability;
a National training and exercise program
guidance; and
a Recommendations and guidance for
businesses, communities, families and
individuals.
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PPD-8 also calls for a comprehensive
approach to assess national preparedness.
The approach involves measuring operational
readiness against target capability levels
identified in the Goal.
Campaign to Build and Sustain Preparedness
DHS is tasked with coordinating a
comprehensive campaign to build and sustain
preparedness nationwide. The campaign will
enhance national resilience, federal financial
assistance, federal preparedness efforts,
and national research and development
through proactive public outreach and
community-based and private sector
programs. The campaign will also tap into
existing preparedness efforts across all levels
of government and the private and non-profit
sectors for a unified approach.
National Preparedness Report
The first annual National Preparedness
Report was delivered to the President in early
2012. The report will be based on progress
towards achieving the National Preparedness
Goal and will serve as a tool to inform the
President's budget annually.
Prepared and delivered by DHS, the report
requires close coordination with all executive
departments and agencies having a role in
national preparedness efforts and substantial
input from state, local, tribal and territorial
governments as well as the private and non-
profit sectors and the general public.
ERA'S Role Under PPD-8
EPA will participate in the development
and execution of the Interagency Planning
Frameworks, response activities, training
and exercises and contribute to the National
Preparedness Report annually.
Clean Water Act and NCR Area Plan Requirements
Requirement
When implemented in conjunction with the NCP, be adequate to remove a
worst-case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such
a discharge, from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility operating in or
near the area.
CWA NCP
A description of the area covered by the plan, including the areas of special
economic or environmental importance that might be damaged by a
discharge.
A detailed description of the responsibilities of an owner or operator and of
federal, state, and local agencies in removing a discharge, and in mitigating
or preventing a substantial threat of a discharge.
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Requirement
A list of equipment (including firefighting equipment), dispersants, or other
mitigating substances and devices, and personnel available to an owner or
operator and federal, state, and local agencies, to ensure an effective and
immediate removal of a discharge, and to ensure mitigation or prevention of
a substantial threat of a discharge (this may be provided in an appendix or
by reference to other relevant emergency plans (e.g., state or LEPC plans),
which may include such equipment lists).
CWA NCR
A description of procedures to be followed for obtaining an expedited
decision regarding the use of dispersants.
A detailed description of how the plan is integrated into other ACPs and tank
vessel, offshore facility, and onshore facility response plans approved by the
President, and into operating procedures of the NSFCC.
Compile a list of local scientists, both inside and outside the federal
government, with expertise in the environmental effects of spills of the types
of oil typically transported in the area, who may be contacted to provide
information or, where appropriate, participate in meetings of the scientific
support team convened in response to a spill, and describe the procedures
to be followed for obtaining an expedited decision regarding the use of
dispersants.
A detailed annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments
Plan that is consistent with the RCP and NCP. The annex will be prepared in
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other interested natural resource
management agencies. The annex will provide the necessary information
and procedures to immediately and effectively respond to discharges
that may adversely affect fish and wildlife and their habitat and sensitive
environments, including provisions for a response to a worst-case discharge.
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40
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Appendix 13:
f\rea Committees
1. Example AC membership list
a. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/
deDt/FR/Documents/009480.Ddf
2. Example AC documents
a. U.S. EPA National Inland Area
Contingency Planning Workgroup
Charter (January 2010) outlines the
vision, mission, objectives, goals,
organization, and function of EPA's
Inland Area Contingency Planning
Workgroup. (Document posted at
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site
profile.aspx?site id=3857]
b. U.S. EPA Inland Area Contingency
Planning Brochure (document posted
at http://www.epaosc.org/site/site
profile.aspx?site id=3857]
3. Example AC web sites
a. These Regional Response Team (RRT)
web sites include Regional and Area
Contingency Plans and other useful
planning information:
- RRT-1 (Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island and Connecticut):
http://www.rrtl.nrt.org/production/
NRT/RRTl.nsf/AIIPaZes/rrtlPlans.
html
- RRT-4 (Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee):
http://www.nrt.org/production/
NRT/RRTHome.nsf/Alloages/
newrrt iv-opsmanual.htm
- RRT-5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin):
http://www.rrt5.org/plans.php
- RRT-9 (Arizona, California, Nevada):
http://www.rrt9.ore/eo/site/2763/
- RRT-10 (Idaho, Oregon, Washington):
http://www.rrtlOnwac.com/
NWACP/Defaultasox
b. EPA Region 8 (Colorado, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming) ACP:
h ttp://www. epa.gov/region8/
Dreoaredness/acD.html
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42
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Appendix C:
ACP Formats, Scope and Organization
1. EPA ACP Model
a. Model Area Contingency Plan, Volumes
I & II (March 1993): Document posted
to http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_
profile.aspx?site id=3857
2. EPA-onlyACPs
a. EPA Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont) ACP:
http://www.epa.gov/regionl/er/iacp/
index.html
b. EPA Region 3 (Delaware, District of
Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Virginia):
Draft document posted to http://www.
epaosc.org/site/site _prof//e.aspx?s/'te
/of=385 7
c. EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)ACP:
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.
cgi?Dockev=500012JS.txt
d. EPA Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska): ACP:
http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/
superfund/integratedj3lan.htm
3. EPA-USCG joint ACP-related
a. Region 5:
http://www.rrt5.org/acp/bodv/
Region5ACP-RCP revMav2011.pdf
b. Region 9:
http://www.rrt9.org/external/content/
document/2763/495643/l/RRT-IX%20
Re£ional%20Contingencv%20Plan.Ddf
c. Region 10 ACP:
http://www.rrtlOnwac.com/NWACP/
Default.aspx
4. Sub-area plans
a. EPA Region 5 sub-area plans:
- Minneapolis-St. Paul:
http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/
twincitiesplan.pdf
- Northern Michigan:
http://www.great-lakes.net/
partners/epa/northmi/
- Quad Cities:
http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/
quadcitiesplan.pdf
- Upper Mississippi:
http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/
umrplan.pdf
- Peoria, Illinois:
http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/
peoriaplan.pdf
b. Alaska Sub-area plans:
http://www.akrrt.org/plans.shtml
c. Open and Restricted sub-area plan
example (Omaha-Council Bluffs)
(Documents posted at
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_
profile.aspx?site id=3857]
5. Geographic response plans
a. Lower and Middle Columbia River:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/
spills/preparedness/GRP/
ColumbiaRiver/ColumbiaRiver.htm
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b. Recommendations for Geographic
Response Plan (GRP) Approaches
(Document posted at
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site
pmfile.aspx?site id=3857]
6. International contingency plan
a. Mexico-United States Joint Contingency
Plan: http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/
chem/ipmicp-e.pdf
b. Canada-United States Joint Inland
Pollution Contingency Plan:
http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/er/
us can icp eng.pdf
Canada-U.S. Joint Inland Pollution
Contingency Plan Regional Annexes
and the geographic areas they cover
are listed below:
- Annex I - CANUSWEST (1998) -
includes the combined border of the
Yukon Territory and British Columbia
with U.S. EPA Regions 8 and 10
(Washington, Idaho, Montana, and
Alaska):
http://www.canuswest.com/
document.aspx
- Annex II - CANUSPLAIN (2001)
- includes the combined border
of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and
Manitoba with U.S. EPA Regions 5
and 8 (Minnesota, Montana, and
North Dakota):
http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/
chem/canusplain.Ddf
- Annex III-CANUSCENT (2001)-
includes the border of Ontario with
U.S. EPA Regions 2 and 5 (New York
and Minnesota):
http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/
chem/canuscent.pdf
- Annex IV-CANUSQUE-includes
the inland boundary of Quebec with
U.S. EPA Regions 1 and 2 (New
Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and
New York): In draft.
- Annex V-CANUSEAST (2005)-
includes the inland boundary of New
Brunswick with U.S. EPA Region 1
(Maine):
http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/
chem/canuseast.pdf
7. USCG ACP references
a. Commandant Instruction 16471.3:
Area Contingency Plan Organization,
Content, Revision Cycle, and
Distribution (August 2000):
http://www.uscg.mil/directives/
CJ/16000-16999/CI 16471 3.Pdf
b. ACP Development Memo (February
2005) (Document posted at http://
www.epaosc.org/site/site profile.
asox?site id=3857]
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Appendix D:
Toote
1. Mapping tools
a. Minimum Essential Elements for GIS:
Document posted to
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site
profile.aspx?site id=3857
b. Example map formats
- EPA Region 1:
http://www.epa.gov/regionl/er/
iacp/maps.html
- EPA Region 10 jurisdictional
boundary tool:
http://gisl.ene.com/eparlO/
c. Software:
- LandView® Q:
http://www.census.gov/geo/
landview/
d. Web resources
- EPA OSC support site:
http://www.epaosc.org/main/maps.
aspx
- Compendium of e-mapping
applications:
http://www.ehssoftserve.com/geo
mapsinfo.htm
(registration required)
- NOAAERMA fact sheet:
http://www.crrc.unh.edu/erma/
ORR ERMA03121Qgenl.pdf
- NOAAERMA:
http://response.restoration.noaa.
gov/erma
2. Example Sensitive Area inventories
a. EPA Region 5 Fish and Wildlife annex:
http://www.rrt5.org/acp/docs/App8
FishWildlifeAnnex.pdf
3. Hazard assessment examples
a. Natural disaster-related hazards
- Region Q Natural Disaster
Workgroup: http://www.epaosc.org/
site/site profile.aspx?site id=4907
4. Historical preservation resources
a. National Park Service list of historic
preservation officers:
http://www.nps.gov/nr/shpoHst.htm
5. Riverine spill modeling
a. Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission (ORSANCO)modeling tool:
http://www.orsanco.org/emergencv-
response-program
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Appendix E:
Contact/Notification
1. Example ACP contact list (Document
posted to:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.
aspx?site id=3857]
2. Example Incident Notification lists
a. Omaha-Council Bluffs notification list
(Document posted to:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_
profile.aspx?site /cf=3857)
b. Truckee River incident notification list
(Document posted to:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_
pmfile.aspx?site id=3857]
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Appendix F:
Resource Inventory Development
1. Example response resource inventories
a. EPA Region 10 equipment inventory:
http://www.rrtlOnwac.com/
Equipment.aspx
b. EPA Environmental Response Team
equipment inventory information:
- Two Turner C7 Fluorometers,
including one 50 Meter Cable:
Contains multi sensor array, but
primarily used for in-water detection
of crude or refined oil, could be
integrated into existing vessel CTD
platform.
http://www.turnerdesigns.com/
products/submersible-fluorometer/
cyclops-7-submersible-fluorescence-
and-turbidity-sensors
- Turner 10AU Flow Thru Fluorometer:
"Old Reliable" Model, has a pump
and internal lamp, bench top
application, can run individual
samples or pump/flow thru
continuous sampling, can use for
dye tracer studies also, could use to
monitor DW intakes or other water
intakes for oil contamination.
http://www.tumerdesigns.com/t2/
doc/manuals/lOau manual.odf
Site Lab UV3100 from CyberSense:
Recently acquired, for soil and water
samples, simple extraction required,
bench top portable application,
applies UV fluorescence to extract
yielding numeric concentration, can
analyze oil fractions for TPH, GRO,
DRO, and PCBs, purchase standards
for calibration. http://www.cvsense.
com/images/upload/docum/
CTPN200518 UVF3100 PAH%20
TPH%20and%20PCB.odf
PhotoVac Voyager Portable GC:
Analysis for VOCs, Chlorinated
solvents, benchtop and potentially
used over the shoulder for
compounds in air, can use heating
element to purge volatiles in water
and analyze headspace, good
sensitivity, mostly spills or site
characterization applications, also
soil gas.
http://www.equipcoservices.com/
Ddf/manuals/ohotovac vovager.odf
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50
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Appendix G:
Response Strategy Development
1. Oil spill counter-measure examples
a. Dispersant authorization
Subpart J of the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP) directs EPA
to prepare a schedule of dispersants,
other chemicals, and oil spill mitigating
devices and substances that may
be used to remove or control oil
discharges.
- NCP Subpart J: Use of Dispersants
and Other Chemicals - 40 CFR
300.900 - 300.920 (current rule):
http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/
docs/oil/cfr/900 920.pdf
- September 15,1994, National Oil
and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan; Final Rule. 59 FR
47384 (current regulations):
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-
1994-09-15/html/94-22347.htm
b. Dispersant pre-approval examples
- RRT-6 FOSC Dispersant Pre-approval
Guidelines and Checklist:
http://www.losco.state.la.us/
pdf docs/RRT6 Dispersant
Preapproval 2001.pdf
- Use of Dispersants in Region IV:
http://www.nrt.org/production/
NRT/RRTHome.nsf/Resources/
DUP/$file/l-RRT4DISP.PDF
c. Cleaning agents
d. Bioremediation
- epaosc.net:
http://www. epaosc.org/site/doc
list.asox?site id=ERTREAC016
- Literature Review on the Use of
Commercial Bioremediation Agents
for Cleanup of Oil-Contaminated
Estuarine Environments:
http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/
docs/oil/edu/Htreviewbiormd.pdf
- Guidelines for the Bioremediation of
Oil-Contaminated Salt Marshes:
http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/
docs/oil/edu/saltmarshbiormd.pdf
- Guidelines for the Bioremediation of
Marine Shorelines and Freshwater
Wetlands:
http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/
docs/oil/edu/bioremed.pdf
- National Response Team Fact Sheet
on Bioremediation Technologies:
http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/
docs/oil/edu/biofact.pdf
e. In-Situ Burning
- Inland In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills:
Regulations and Authorizations:
http://www.epa.gov/oein/docs/oil/
fss/fss09/dehaven.pdf
- NOAA guidance for monitoring in-situ
burning operations:
http://response.restoration.noaa.
eov/ISB
- http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZvPURL
c£i?Dockev=30002UZK.txt
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f. Dispersant Monitoring System 4.
- NOAA Special Monitoring of Applied
Response Technologies (SMART):
http://response.restoration.noaa.
gov/smart .-
o.
2. FRP-related response strategies
a. Example oil spill tactical response plan:
(Document posted at:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_
profile.aspx?site id=3857]
3. Sensitive resource-related response
strategies 6.
a. Examples can be found at:
- http://www.epa.gov/osweroel/
content/fss/OOtable.htm
- http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/
web/content/fss/09table.htm
National Response Team Subsea and
Surface Dispersant Guidance
a. The guidance is currently under
development/review.
Memo from Mathy Stanislaus, OSWER
Assistant Administrator, dated Nov. 2,
2010, to the Regions requesting updates
to the ACPs.
a) Link to the memo can be found at:
http://www.epaosc.org/sites/3857/
files/ACP%20memo.pdf
Mechanical cleanup technologies
a. Examples can be found at:
- http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/oil/
edu/oilspill book/chap2.pdf
- http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/
learning/oiltech.htm
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Appendix H:
R£<3ourc£<3 for
Development
in ACP
1. EPA Regional and Headquarters offices
contact information (contacts for ACP
matters):
http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/
regional.htm
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Appendix I:
Volunteers
The National Response Team (NRT) has released the NRT Use of Volunteers Guidelines for
Oil Spills. The Guidelines can be found on the NRT Website (www.nrt.org: Guidance, Technical
Assistance & Planning; Use of Volunteers Guidelines for Oil Spills) or by clicking this link:
httD://www.nrt.or£/Droduction/NRT/NRTWeb.nsf/AIIAttachmentsBvTitle/SA-1080NRT Use
of Volunteers Guidelines for Oil Spills FINAL signatures inserted Version 28-Sept-2012.
pdf/$File/NRT Use of Volunteers Guidelines for Oil Spills FINAL signatures inserted
Version 28-SeDt-2012.Ddf?OpenElement
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Appendix J:
Acronyms
ACP
CAMEO
CERCLA
CERCLIS
COTP
CWA
DHS
DoD
DOT
DRG
EMAC
EPA
EPCRA
ERMA
ESA
ESF
FEMA
FHWA
FMCSA
Area Contingency Plan
Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Information System
Captains of the Port
Clean Water Act
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Defense
Department of Transportation
District Response Group (USCG)
Emergency Management Assistance Compact
Environmental Protection Agency
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Environmental Response Management Application (NOAA)
Endangered Species Act
Emergency Support Function
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Highway Administration (DOT)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (DOT)
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FOSC
FRA
FRP
FRS
GIS
HHS
HSPD
1C
ICS
JIG
LEPC
MCP
NCP
NEBA
NGO
NIMS
NOAA
NRF
NRS
NSFCC
OEI
OEM
Federal On-Scene Coordinator
Federal Railroad Administration (DOT)
Facility Response Plan
Facility Registry System
Geographic Information System
Department of Health and Human Services
Homeland Security Presidential Directive
Incident Commander
Incident Command System
Joint Information Center
Local Emergency Planning Committee
Mobile Command Post
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
Net Environmental Benefits Analysis
Non-Governmental Organization
National Incident Management System
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Response Framework
National Response System
National Strike Force Coordination Center (USCG)
Office of Environmental Information (OEI)
Office of Emergency Management (EPA)
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OPA90
OSC
PHMSA
PPD
PPE
RCP
RMP
RRT
SERC
SSC
TRI
UC
USCG
US DA
USGS
VRP
Oil Pollution Act of 1990
On-Scene Coordinator
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)
Presidential Policy Directive
Personal Protective Equipment
Regional Contingency Plan
Risk Management Plan
Regional Response Team
State Emergency Response Commission
Scientific Support Coordinator
Toxics Release Inventory
Unified Command
United States Coast Guard
United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Geological Survey
Vessel Response Plan
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&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20450
Otfice of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5104A)
EPA-540-B-13-001
March 2013
www.epa.gov/oem/
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