Federal On Scene Coordinator - Planning Roles and Responsibilities

Planning Roles and Responsibilities

Under the NCP, OSCs have the responsibility to oversee development of the Area Contingency Plan (ACP) in the area of the OSC’s responsibility. The NCP states that the development of ACPs should be accomplished in cooperation with the RRT, and designated local and state representatives, as appropriate. In both contingency planning and spill response, the OSC is responsible for coordinating, directing, and reviewing the work of other agencies, Area Committees, RPs, and contractors to ensure compliance with the NCP and other plans applicable to the response.

In developing the ACP, the OSC must coordinate with state and local response organizations, including those represented on the State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). It is the OSC’s and Area Committee’s responsibility to ensure that the ACP provides for a well coordinated response that is integrated and compatible, to the greatest extent possible, with all appropriate response plans of local, state, and non-federal entities, and especially with SARA Title III local emergency response plans. The OSC should also include, to the extent possible, a discussion of relationships with potential RPs. In addition, the OSC must periodically conduct drills of spill removal capability, including fish and wildlife response capability, without prior notice, in areas for which ACPs are required and under relevant tank vessel and facility response plans. In the event of a significant discharge, OSCs should implement the ICS specified in the ACP.