NW Area Committee and the NW Area Contingency Plan

What is an Area Committee? Interagency group charged with pre-planning for oil spillsInteragency group charged with pre-planning for oil spills Comprised of any player who has a role in oil spill responseComprised of any player who has a role in oil spill response Spatial boundaries defined by EPA/USCGSpatial boundaries defined by EPA/USCG Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(4)(A)Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(4)(A) 2

3 Who is on an Area Committee? Fire DepartmentFire Department TribesTribes Local Health Dist.Local Health Dist. IndustryIndustry NGOsNGOs Private CitizensPrivate Citizens State PoliceState Police State Health Department State Env. Reg. USCG EPA NOAA DOI DoD, DOE, etc. Area Committee members include anyone who has a role in oil spill response.

4 What is an Area Contingency Plan? A local/regional blueprint for oil (and hazmat) responseA local/regional blueprint for oil (and hazmat) response –Contact information –Policy decisions –Sensitive resource information –Local/Regional response resources Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(C)Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(C)

Response Ramp Up Local Fire/Hazmat Team responses, generally rely on mutual aid from nearby jurisdictions;Local Fire/Hazmat Team responses, generally rely on mutual aid from nearby jurisdictions; State responders provide secondary response support, if needed;State responders provide secondary response support, if needed; Federal responders provide the backstop by providing response support to the locals and State, if resources and funding is exhausted or unavailableFederal responders provide the backstop by providing response support to the locals and State, if resources and funding is exhausted or unavailable

Response Support When local capabilities and/or funds are overwhelmed, NWAC agencies could provide surge capacity and expertiseWhen local capabilities and/or funds are overwhelmed, NWAC agencies could provide surge capacity and expertise When federally protected natural resources are impacted, NWAC agencies may be obligated to respondWhen federally protected natural resources are impacted, NWAC agencies may be obligated to respond RRT/NWAC Goal: Strong relationships and understanding of roles/responsibilities ahead of time to ensure good coordination during the incidentRRT/NWAC Goal: Strong relationships and understanding of roles/responsibilities ahead of time to ensure good coordination during the incident

Examples of Surge SILVERTIP PIPELINE SPILLSILVERTIP PIPELINE SPILL FundingFunding Specialized equipment/capabilitySpecialized equipment/capability Air monitoringAir monitoring Government to Government Tribal CoordinationGovernment to Government Tribal Coordination Cleanup ContractorsCleanup Contractors

Who supports locals during a Response? MarineStateInland

RRT 10 US EPA, R10 USCG, D-13 NW Area Committee US EPA, R10 USCG, Sector Seattle USCG, Sector Portland Northwest Area Committee Federal State Tribal Local Non-Profit Industry Members are any entity with response interest in region. This includes all RRT members as well as county and city agencies and the private sector. Regional Response Team 10 Federal State Tribal Member agencies are identified in NCP. Each of 15 Federal Agencies and State Lead Agency have one vote when the RRT assembles during a response. In R10, these groups meet together.

NW Area Committee Regional Response Team

NWACP Concept of Operations Rapid notification of Federal, State, and local governments to permit assessment and response, if necessaryRapid notification of Federal, State, and local governments to permit assessment and response, if necessary –National Response Center, Relies on the principle of escalationRelies on the principle of escalation Utilizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) principlesUtilizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) principles

Unified Command Diagram Directly from NWACP, Page FOSC Tribal/ other OSC RPIC LOSC SOSC Note: The timeframe for this structure will follow the initial response by first responders.

Concept of Operations, cont. Provides for access to considerable resources and expertise as situations requiresProvides for access to considerable resources and expertise as situations requires Covers all spills regardless of nature, cause or sourceCovers all spills regardless of nature, cause or source –oil and hazmat –fixed facility and transportation –inland and coastal –natural and man-made disasters

Useful NWACP Tools For oil spills on water with GRPsFor oil spills on water with GRPs Clearwater/Lochsa, SnakeClearwater/Lochsa, Snake For large incidentsFor large incidents Contact information for State and Federal ResourcesContact information for State and Federal Resources Technical response resourcesTechnical response resources For local contingency planningFor local contingency planning Information on State and Federal capabilities (equipment, expertise, funding)Information on State and Federal capabilities (equipment, expertise, funding) Reference for role State and Feds are ready to fillReference for role State and Feds are ready to fill

What is a Geographic Response Plan (GRP)? GRPs provide initial booming strategies to be deployed in the first hours of a persistent oil spill response.GRPs provide initial booming strategies to be deployed in the first hours of a persistent oil spill response. GRPs constitute the Federal and State OSC orders during the initial phase of the spill.GRPs constitute the Federal and State OSC orders during the initial phase of the spill.

Purpose of the GRPs Prioritize natural, cultural and significant economic resourcesPrioritize natural, cultural and significant economic resources Allow for immediate and proper actionAllow for immediate and proper action First responders know what actions to takeFirst responders know what actions to take Includes:Includes: –Area maps –Prioritized booming strategies –Access points –Staging areas

Lochsa/Clearwater GRP

Additional Information in GRPs Fish and wildlife resourcesFish and wildlife resources Seasonal overflight restrictionsSeasonal overflight restrictions LogisticsLogistics Site description including risk assessmentSite description including risk assessment IDAHO GRPs: Spokane River, Lower Snake River, Pend Oreille, Clearwater/LochsaSpokane River, Lower Snake River, Pend Oreille, Clearwater/Lochsa

RRT 10 US EPA, R10 USCG, D-13 NW Area Committee US EPA, R10 USCG, Sector Seattle USCG, Sector Portland Steering CommitteeTask Forces Public Contractors Industry Non-Profits Direct input route: Gov. Agencies 2013 Task Forces: Endangered Species Act Compliance Shoreline Cleanup (SCAT) Emerging Risks In Situ Burn General Community Outreach Incident Command Post Wildlife Task Force Lessons Learned

RRT 10 US EPA, R10 USCG, D-13 NW Area Committee US EPA, R10 USCG, Sector Seattle USCG, Sector Portland GRP Workshops Exercises Drills Outreach NWAC Meetings NWAC Plan Evolves and Responders are Informed Integration with Reality Annual Plan Review

How to get the plan, and connect with the NWAC Josie ClarkHeather Parker Josie ClarkHeather Parker RRT10 Coordinator, EPA RRT10 Coordinator, USCG RRT10 Coordinator, EPA RRT10 Coordinator, USCG