Area Contingency Planning (ACP) Handbook - Version 2.0

Area Contingency Planning (ACP)

Handbook Version 2.0 August 2018

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Table of Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................1

Section 1: Overview of Area Planning

............................................................................................................3

A. What is an Area Contingency Plan (ACP)? ...............................................................................................3

B. How is an ACP developed? ......................................................................................................................4

C. What are the benets 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

................................................................................................7

Section 3: Area Committees

............................................................................................................................9

A. Initial AC recruitment .............................................................................................................................9

B. Project management ...............................................................................................................................9

C. Initial AC meeting ................................................................................................................................ 10

D. AC organization ................................................................................................................................... 10

E. AC operations ...................................................................................................................................... 11

F. AC activities and responsibilities .......................................................................................................... 11

Section 4: Scope and Content of the ACP

.................................................................................................... 15

Section 5: Essential Plan Elements............................................................................................................... 17

A. Maps .................................................................................................................................................... 17

B. Contacts and notication ..................................................................................................................... 17

C. Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 18

D. Sensitive areas ...................................................................................................................................... 19

E. Hazard analysis .................................................................................................................................... 19

F. Response strategies and worst-case discharges .................................................................................... 21

G. Response management: roles and responsibilities ............................................................................... 21

Section 6: Advanced Area Planning

............................................................................................................. 23

A. GeoPlatform ......................................................................................................................................... 23

B. EPA GeoPlatform .................................................................................................................................. 24

C. NOAA Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) ..................................................... 24

D. Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) ................................................... 24

E. LandView

6 ........................................................................................................................................ 26

F. RMP*Comp ......................................................................................................................................... 26

Appendix A: Statutory and Regulatory Authorities .................................................................................... 27

CERCLA and EPCRA

...................................................................................................................................... 27

Clean Water Act

............................................................................................................................................ 27

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90)

...................................................................................................... 27

The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP)

......................................... 29

The Stafford Act

............................................................................................................................................ 29

Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD)/Presidential Policy Directives (PPD)

............................. 30

Management of Domestic Incidents – HSPD-5

............................................................................................. 30

National Preparedness - PPD-8

..................................................................................................................... 31

Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience - PPD-21

............................................................................... 32

Appendix B: Area Committee Resources

..................................................................................................... 35

Appendix C: Selected ACP Formats, Scope and Organization

.................................................................... 37

Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools

................................................................................................. 39

Appendix E: Sample Contact/Notication Lists

......................................................................................... 41

Appendix F: Resource Inventory Development List

................................................................................... 43

Appendix G: Response Strategy Development Samples.............................................................................. 45

Appendix H: Guidelines for Volunteers

...................................................................................................... 49

Appendix I: Acronyms

................................................................................................................................. 51

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK iii

Disclaimer

This document is intended solely for the guidance of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees. It is not

intended and cannot be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party in litigation

with the United States of America. EPA reserves the right to act at variance with this document and to change it at any time

without public notice. It does not substitute for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

(CERCLA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), or EPA’s regulations, nor is it a regulation itself.

This Handbook includes links to documents and information on non-EPA sites. Links to non-EPA sites and documents do not

imply any ofcial 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

pointers to information on topics related to area contingency planning that may be useful to EPA staff and other stakeholders.

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 appropriate.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOKiv

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 1

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 United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (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 specic geographic domains, with

many physical and jurisdictional variables, there can be no ‘one size ts all’ plan format, but maintaining 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 initially developed by EPA’s Area Planning Workgroup during 2011 and 2012, revised in 2014, and

updated in 2018. It incorporates the accumulated knowledge of years of contingency planning experience. Although ACPs

are specically mandated by the Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), EPA’s

responsibilities under other laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

(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 discharges, hazardous substance 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 le from EPA’s Ofce of Emergency Management web site at

https://www.epa.gov/oil-spills-prevention-and-preparedness-regulations/area-contingency-planning-handbook.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK2

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 3

Section 1: Overview of Area Planning

A. What is an Area Contingency

Plan (ACP)?

An ACP is a reference document prepared for the use of

all agencies engaged in responding to environmental

emergencies in a dened 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

(GRPs), which are more limited in scope than ACPs.

Under federal law (OPA 90) and regulation (National Oil

and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan,

commonly referred to as the National Contingency Plan

or NCP), all U.S. territory is divided into jurisdictional

zones for purposes of removal and response actions. The

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is designated the lead agency

for planning and response in the coastal zone and certain

major inland water bodies, and EPA is designated the

lead for the inland zone, with certain exceptions for

areas managed by the Department of Defense (DoD).

While this EPA Handbook is focused on inland zone

planning, it is important to note that EPA also has a role

in coastal zone planning, specically regarding oil spill

countermeasure concurrences and authorizations. USCG-

lead coastal plans and EPA-lead inland plans covering

adjacent areas must be compatible. Appendix A provides

details on applicable statutory and regulatory authorities.

Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), section 311(j)(4)

species required elements for ACPs, including:

• When implemented in conjunction with the NCP,

the ACP must be adequate to remove a worst-case

discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial

threat of such discharge from a vessel, offshore facility,

or onshore facility operating in or near the area. A

worst-case discharge means: 1) in the case of a vessel,

a discharge in adverse weather conditions of its entire

cargo, and 2) in the case of an offshore facility or

onshore facility, the largest foreseeable discharge in

adverse weather conditions.

• 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 dened area, which may be a body of water, a

watershed or a political jurisdiction.

• 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 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 list of equipment (including reghting equipment),

dispersants, or other mitigating substances and devices,

and personnel available to an owner or operator;

federal, state and local agencies; and tribal governments

to ensure an effective and immediate removal of a

discharge, and to ensure mitigation or prevention of a

substantial threat of a discharge.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK4

• 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 scientic

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 description of how the plan is integrated with other

plans, including other ACPs and tank vessel, offshore

facility, and onshore facility response plans, and into

operating procedures of the National Response Unit.

• An advance planning and decision-making framework

for closing and reopening shing areas following a

discharge.

• Any other information the President requires.

• Be updated periodically.

In addition, there are other provisions of the CWA that

the NCP implements through required elements for ACPs.

These elements include:

• A detailed annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and

Sensitive Environments Plan (FWSEP). The FWSEP

annex must be developed in consultation with the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other

interested parties, including state sh and wildlife

conservation ofcials. The annex must address

sh and wildlife resources and their habitat, and

other areas considered sensitive environments, and

provide the necessary information and procedures

to immediately and effectively respond to discharges

that may adversely affect them, including provisions

for a response to a worst-case discharge (40 CFR

300.210(c)(4)).

• Guidelines for conducting specic 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(c)).

An ACP is not a rigid, prescriptive plan with step-by-

step instructions for responses. Rather it serves as a

mechanism to ensure responders have access to essential

area-specic information, as well as 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

agency stakeholders within the dened area, organized

as an Area Committee (AC). Under the direction of the

Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) for its area (33

U.S.C. 1321(j)(4)(B)), the AC is comprised of members

from qualied personnel of federal, state, and local

agencies, as well as members of federally recognized

Indian tribes, where applicable. The AC provides a forum

for these agencies to develop cooperative working

relationships while identifying issues and challenges

through preplanning of joint response efforts, 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 by consulting with Regional

Response Teams (RRTs) and others, as appropriate.

C. What are the benets of an ACP?

Responding to the immediate circumstances of an

environmental emergency can be a challenging task.

Overlapping jurisdictions and potentially divergent

interests of the parties involved can further complicate

the response. The ACP provides a mechanism for

planning for these potential complications prior to

an incident. The ACP is a useful tool for responders,

providing practical and accessible information about who

and what they need to know for an effective response.

The process for ACP development may be as benecial

as the nal product. The AC provides a forum for all

parties to identify problems, resolve conicts, and

become informed about the issues raised by actual

and potential incidents. The AC provides an effective

mechanism for communicating and 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 releases of hazardous substances,

pollutants or contaminants. The NRS functions through

a network of interagency and inter-government

relationships that are formally established and described

in the NCP as found in 40 CFR Part 300. The AC provides

a way for federal, state, local, and, where applicable,

tribal members to dene their most signicant concerns,

ensuring that those concerns will be considered should a

response be initiated or required.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 5

D. What are the statutory and

regulatory underpinnings of

the ACP?

ACPs were initially conceived as part of oil spill

legislation, but the ACP concept has grown beyond

that to encompass the prospect of responses to

environmental emergencies in general, including

hazardous substance releases, natural disasters and acts

of terrorism. There is a substantial foundation of laws,

regulations and executive orders that provide the basis

for ACPs, including the following:

Clean Water Act (1972): The CWA amended the Federal

Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1948 and

expanded the federal government’s authority to regulate

discharges to waterways. The Water Quality Improvement

Act, amended by the FWPCA, provided the 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-specic 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 or contaminants (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 Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution

Contingency Plan, commonly referred to as the National

Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 300, last substantial

amendments in 1994): The NCP is a federal regulation

that codies certain authorities and responsibilities of

designated federal agencies for responding to releases

of oil, pollutants and hazardous substances. The NCP

requires each federal Region, through its Regional

Response Team (RRT), to develop RCPs. ACPs exist under

the umbrella of the applicable RCP.

Executive Order 12580 (1987): Executive Order 12580

implements CERCLA, including delegating lead response

authorities to EPA and USCG and requiring the NCP to

provide for national and regional response teams (NRT

and RRTs).

Executive Order 12777 (1991): Executive Order

12777 implements OPA 90 by outlining emergency

response procedures for discharges of oil and hazardous

substances, including delegating authority to designate

areas, appoint AC members, determine the information

to be included in ACPs, and review and approve plans for

the inland zone to the EPA Administrator.

Presidential Directives: Homeland Security Presidential

Directives (HSPDs) and Presidential Policy Directives

(PPDs) are executive orders that address specic issues.

HSPD-5 covers incident management, and requires the

establishment of the National Incident Management

System (NIMS). PPD-8 focuses on improving the overall

preparedness of the nation to respond to emergencies.

PPD-8 replaces HSPD-8. PPD-21 addresses the protection

of the nation’s critical infrastructure. PPD-21 revokes

HSPD-7.

State Laws and Tribal Codes: Each state, territorial and

tribal entity has its own laws, codes, 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

process identies 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.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK6

E. What is the relationship of the

ACP to other plans?

The NCP regulation is the foundation for interagency

contingency planning, and establishes the authorities,

responsibilities and relationships of agencies when

responding to environmental emergencies. RCPs extend

the NCP model to a narrower regional focus, bringing

in states and other entities to focus on region-specic

concerns, as described below.

In Executive Order 12777, the President delegated

the authority to designate areas, appoint AC 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 RRTs, and the RRTs as the initial

ACs. The EPA Administrator also delegated Regional

Administrators the authority to designate different

geographic areas within their Regions and appoint

different AC members. Regional Administrators are

authorized to delegate the authority no lower than

the Division Director level. For this reason, a RCP may

function as an ACP if the EPA Regional Administrator

(RA) or their designee determines that there is no

need for formally dening multiple ACPs within a

region. Sub-regional concerns may also be addressed by

Sub- Area Plans, which are more limited in scope, but

include many of the same elements as ACPs. GRPs may

also serve to address sub-regional concerns since their

focus is on specic response strategies and tactics for

narrowly-dened areas. If the RA 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 and

federally recognized tribes for local representatives to

serve on the AC. Representatives from nongovernmental

organizations (NGOs) and the private sector may

participate in AC activities that are open to the public.

ACPs also interface with plans developed by state and

local authorities, and by vessel and facility owners/

operators, as well as with other ACPs in bordering

jurisdictions, such as those developed by USCG. The

diagram below illustrates the relationships between the

various plans.

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 below.

Relationship of Plans

International

Joint Plans

National Oil and Hazardous

Substances Pollution

Contingency Plan (NCP)

National Response

Framework (NRF)

Regional Contingency

Plans (RCPs)

Federal

Agency Internal

Plans

Facility

Response Plans

(FRPs)

Vessel

Response Plans

(VRPs)

State/Local

Plans

Area Contingency

Plans (ACPs)

Plans integrated with the ACP

Points of coordination with the NRS

Plans of the National Response System (NRS)

See summary of CWA ACP provisions in Appendix A.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 7

Section 2: Initial Steps/

Preliminary Analysis

The decision to initiate the development of an ACP separate

from the RCP or to update an existing ACP (or a Sub-Area

Plan or a GRP) should be preceded by an analysis by the

lead federal agency’s designated On-Scene Coordinator

(OSC). In considering this decision, it is important to keep

in mind that ACPs need to be adequate to remove a worst-

case discharge and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat

of such discharge from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore

facility operating in or near the area. The initial forum for

this analysis is most often the RRT because ACPs are reective

of areas encompassed within the RCPs. The stimulus for

developing a separate ACP or updating an existing ACP may

be lessons learned (e.g., a new worst-case discharge), the

experiences of agencies during the response to a major

incident, a pro-active effort to protect newly-identied

sensitive resources, or to address issues related to high-risk

facilities. There are no constraints on what the ACP-dened

areas are within the region provided they are within the RCP

jurisdiction (e.g., state jurisdictional boundaries, state need

for specic measures within its boundaries, geographical

determinants such as a watershed that encompasses sensitive

resources). Regardless, if the RRT determines that a separate

ACP should be considered, or if the AC determines that an

update to an existing ACP is needed, then the RRT or AC

should establish an ad hoc committee of interested agencies

to conduct an initial analysis, which should reect 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

identication of gaps and other inadequacies that

could be remedied.

2. Identication of the portions of existing plans that

are adequate and can be incorporated into a separate

or updated ACP.

3. Identication 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 is to identify specic problems

that the separate or updated ACP should address.

5. Identication of sensitive areas, including

environmental, cultural and economic resources.

6. Identication of jurisdictional overlaps/conicts.

7. Identication of high-risk facilities and critical

infrastructure.

8. Assessment of natural disaster risk and impact.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK8

9. Estimates of the time and resources required for

developing the separate ACP or updating an

existing ACP.

10. Identication of key qualied personnel of federal,

state, and local agencies, and federally recognized

Indian tribes, where applicable, that should be

invited to participate in the AC.

11. Assessment of the consequences of not developing a

separate ACP or updating an existing 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 marginal or no

environmental benet from developing a separate ACP or

updating an existing ACP, then the RCP should remain the

operative plan and function as the ACP, provided the RCP

meets the statutory obligation of an ACP.

If the conclusion of the initial analysis is that there would be

an environmental benet from developing a separate ACP, the

next step is to establish an AC. EPA, as the lead federal agency

for the inland zone, should be designated to conduct outreach

and provide information to potential AC members.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 9

Section 3: Area Committees

A. Initial AC recruitment

The rst task is to identify the qualied personnel of

federal, state, and local agencies, and federally recognized

Indian tribes, where applicable, 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 EPA, the agency responsible for the inland zone. This

rst invitation list may be supplemented with additional

invitees as the effort gains visibility, with the objective to

be as inclusive and comprehensive as possible.

Potential members include:

• Existing RRT member agencies

• 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

• Regional and local agencies

The LEPCs within the area should be the initial

contact point for developing a list of potential

participants

• Federally recognized Indian tribes, where applicable

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 potential incentives to encourage their participation.

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 by EPA 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.

B. Project management

Concurrent with the solicitation of participants, EPA, as

the agency responsible for the inland zone, should begin

scoping the project because the costs and the timeframe

will be important factors to potential AC members. Cost

and schedule estimates should be developed based on

previous experience. Other available ACPs that meet the

regulatory obligations should be reviewed to identify

an appropriate model and the AC for the selected model

should be contacted to obtain realistic costs and schedule

information. This rst estimate should include:

• Stafng requirements and costs

• Travel costs

• Contractor support requirements, sources, and costs

• Overall funding requirements and sources

• Time-line

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK10

C. Initial AC meeting

If responses to the solicitation indicate sufcient interest

by potential participating AC members to proceed with

the effort, an AC formation meeting should be planned.

EPA, as the agency responsible for the inland zone,

should prepare a brieng package for the meeting,

including the initial analysis and the presumptive

schedule and budget, and related materials. 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, as

appropriate, and to encourage the support of state, local,

and tribal co-hosts for this collaborative effort.

General elements of an initial meeting agenda include:

• Welcoming remarks by co-hosts

• Brieng by EPA, as the agency responsible for the

inland zone, on overall context, authorities, analysis,

AC functions, projected schedule, and budget

• Opportunity to review sample plans from other areas

• Opportunity for clarifying questions and dialog

• Opportunity to opt for non-participation or

information-only status

• 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 rst

formal meeting following the formation meeting

The initial meeting of the AC should focus on the

following basics:

• AC membership and organization

Mail and email lists

Identication of other possible AC members for

further solicitation

Agreement on chair/co-chair agencies

• AC protocols

Meeting locations and scheduling, record-keeping,

logistics

• Review of the initial analysis

Is the area covered by the ACP dened appropriately?

Are there errors or gaps in the initial analysis?

• General agreement on scope and schedule for ACP

development

• Review of resources available for ACP development, as

well as potential resource constraints

• Review of potential obstacles

• ACP format, focus, level of detail, and distribution

Subsequent AC meetings should focus on the specic

tasks of ACP development.

D. AC organization

The AC may consider various options as there are no

specic models or organizational requirements beyond

what has been discussed above. The formality of the

organization will mostly be a function of its size; smaller

ACs can be more informal and collegial, while larger ACs

may require more clearly-dened structure.

The qualied personnel of federal, state, and local

agencies, and of federally recognized Indian tribes,

where applicable, will likely fall into three groups:

• Key players: Those with an active interest and with

sufcient resources to play an active continuing role in

the AC.

• Supporting players: Those with active, but limited

interest or resources that may participate on specic

issues.

• Observers: Those that want to know about AC

activities, but have no active role.

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.

In addition, potential participants that are not members

of the AC, but wish to attend specic AC activities open to

the public may include representatives from:

• NGOs:

Entities such as industry associations and

environmental organizations

• Private sector entities, including regulated facilities:

Entities with facilities required to have FRPs and

others identied as high-risk in the initial analysis

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 11

• ACP development: The AC’s primary task is

to produce a nal ACP that meets all statutory

requirements, as well as NCP regulatory requirements

and the needs of the AC members.

• ACP publishing and distribution: Once the nal ACP

is developed, the AC should decide on the modes of

publication (e.g., hard copy, electronic, internet) and

the scope of distribution.

• 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 evaluating the ACP, the AC may

consider ndings from the OSC after-action analyses of

signicant incidents and exercises.

• ACP updates and modications: Technological

advances, jurisdictional and organizational changes,

infrastructure changes, and other factors may lead

to a perceived need to modify or update the ACP.

The AC should consider establishing an appropriate

update cycle. In addition, a means for providing

interim updates should be established for signicant

events that cannot be deferred to the update cycle

(e.g., identication of new worst-case discharge

scenarios from vessel response plans and FRPs that are

higher than the worst-case discharge in the current

ACP). Acting in this manner makes ACP version

control and date-stamping an essential part of ACP

management and enables all users to work with the

most current information.

• 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

brieng materials that provide a general overview of

the ACP.

• ACP Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments

Plan (FWSEP): In order to provide for coordinated,

immediate and effective protection, rescue, and

rehabilitation of, and minimization of risk of injury

to sh and wildlife resources and habitat, ACs are

E. AC operations

Each AC is headed by the FOSC for its area: EPA personnel

for the inland zone and USCG personnel for the coastal

zone. EPA will chair the committee in areas where joint

inland and coastal planning is conducted. 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 determines what levels of review are required,

both within the AC itself and for RRT member agencies.

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

nal approval. (See Appendix A, April 24, 1992 Federal

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 their support contractors and includes

the maintenance of les, 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 AC members 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 mailing addresses,

email addresses and phone numbers are accurate and

current. For those members of the AC with specic AC

responsibilities, back-up or alternate members should also

be identied 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 may include, but are not limited to:

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK12

required to incorporate into each ACP, a detailed

annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive

Environments Plan (FWSEP) that is consistent with

the RCP and NCP. The annex is to be prepared in

consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

NOAA, and other interested natural resource

management agencies and parties. The FWSEP annex

is to address sh and wildlife resources and their

habitat, and include other areas considered sensitive

environments in a separate section of the annex,

based upon AC recommendations. The annex will

provide the necessary information and procedures to

immediately and effectively respond to discharges that

may adversely affect sh and wildlife and their habitat

and sensitive environments, including provisions for a

response to a worst-case discharge. Such information

is to include the identication of appropriate agencies

and their responsibilities, procedures to notify these

agencies following a discharge or threat of a discharge,

protocols for obtaining required sh and wildlife

permits and other necessary permits, and provisions

to ensure compatibility of annex-related activities with

removal operations. The FWSEP annex requirements

under 40 CFR 300.210(c)(4)(ii) are available at

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title40-

vol30/pdf/CFR-2017-title40-vol30-sec300-210.pdf.

• ACP Environmental Tradeoff Analysis: The NCP

does not require the use of any specic methodology

to identify protective strategies that may minimize

the potential environmental impact of hazardous

substances releases or oil discharges. However, some

contingency planners have used Net Environmental

Benet Analysis (NEBA), a methodology for

identifying and comparing environmental tradeoffs

of alternative management options in the removal of

discharged oil or released hazardous substances to

address this goal. Environmental tradeoffs are often

characterized as the contrast between avoided loss

of environmental or ecological services attained by

using a given removal technique to remove the oil (or

combinations of various removal techniques) with the

potential environmental harm that another removal

technique or combination thereof may cause. When

developing ACPs, RRTs and ACs should use the best

available scientic information to assess environmental

tradeoffs. An environmental tradeoff analysis 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 (e.g., mechanical recovery);

Remediating contamination with alternative removal

techniques; and

A combination of the above.

This analysis involves agency personnel with

environmental responsibilities that include evaluating

environmental or ecological services (e.g., natural

resource trustees), assessing adverse impacts, and

evaluating removal actions. In addition, this type of

tradeoff analysis may be applied to environmental

management options. To do this, a balance of resource

managers and emergency responders from federal, state

and local agencies would coordinate in forming opinion,

guiding discussion and educating each other in processes

of importance and concern.

Each resource manager and emergency responder is

responsible for implementing their statutory obligations

and thus weighing the value of natural resources in a

manner that reects the agency’s mission. It is important

to note that, while environmental tradeoff analyses may

be useful in informing the selection of response options,

some response options (e.g., chemical countermeasures)

have applicable statutory and regulatory requirements

that must be considered and take precedence over any

environmental tradeoff analysis results.

An environmental tradeoff analysis has the potential

to assist resources managers with a wide array of

information, including the possibility that selected

removal alternatives may provide marginal or no

environmental benet relative to natural attenuation of

contaminants and ecological recovery. An alternative

removal option may provide marginal or no

environmental benet because:

The removal action is ineffective or inappropriate

(the action does not substantially change the risk);

The removal alternative causes environmental

injuries greater than the damage associated with

the contamination, the ecological injury from

contamination has been overestimated, or injuries

associated with removal were not properly

addressed; or

The removal alternative provides an environmental

advantage to one environmental compartment, but

causes unacceptable injuries to another.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 13

Environmental tradeoff analyses have the potential to

help resource managers plan a removal that minimizes

adverse environmental impacts relative to other

alternatives that are equally viable under the applicable

statute(s) and regulation(s). These analyses may be

useful when multiple alternatives minimize adverse

environmental impact, but the specic approach or

combination of options that would minimize damage is

not apparent without formal analysis.

See Appendix D for examples of sensitive areas inventories.

• ACP-based drills and exercises: Under 40 CFR

300.212, the OSC is to periodically conduct drills

of removal capability (including sh and wildlife

response capability), without prior notice, in areas for

which ACPs are required by 300.210(c) and under

relevant tank vessel and facility response plans. The AC

should encourage its members to use the ACP when

conducting drills and exercises 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 review process.

• 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 specic 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.

See Appendix C for examples of AC organization,

documents, agendas and processes.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK14

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 15

Section 4: Scope and Content

of the ACP

• ACP coverage: The area covered by the ACP may

be dened by geographic features, jurisdictional

boundaries, or both, at the discretion of the AC. Under

the direction of an OSC and subject to approval of EPA,

within the inland zone, each AC, in consultation with

the appropriate RRTs, USCG District Response Groups

(DRGs), the USCG National Strike Force Coordination

Center (NSFCC), Scientic Support Coordinators

(SSCs), LEPCs, and SERCs, is to develop an ACP for

its designated area. This plan, when implemented

in conjunction with other provisions of the NCP,

should be adequate to remove a worst-case discharge

under 40 CFR 300.324, 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. Within the ACP boundaries, sub-areas

may be dened where there are unique circumstances

that may require tailored response strategies.

• Areas of special economic and environmental

importance: The ACP is to include an inventory of

features within the area that require awareness by

responders when developing response strategies.

Examples of special economic and environmental

importance include:

Critical infrastructure: Utilities (such as drinking

water intakes, water and wastewater treatment

plants, and major electrical power plants and

transmission lines), transportation infrastructure

locations, corridors and facilities, and other

infrastructure elements may require specic

protection measures, special notication or access

protocols or have other unique attributes that

may affect a response. Other examples may be

recreational or commercially-signicant areas. The

ACP should identify these features and provide

guidance on how they should be considered in

response strategies.

Environmentally sensitive areas: The ACP is to

identify areas within its bounds that may require

tailored protection or response strategies due to

unique environmental attributes. These may be

endangered species habitats or other areas dened

by the AC. In each case, the ACP is to provide

guidance on how responders should incorporate the

needs of these areas into response strategies.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK16

Culturally sensitive areas/Traditional Ecological

Knowledge

: 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 xed

facilities and locations that present a high risk of

release of oil or hazardous substances. Once these

facilities and locations are identied, the ACP should

then address location-specic 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 under 40 CFR 112.20, the

ACP should reference or provide a link to the FRP or

other appropriate response plan. The ACP should also

reference and, whenever possible, link to plans and

other information developed by LEPCs within

its bounds.

Natural disaster impact areas: The ACP should

incorporate information relating to locations that

may be susceptible to natural disaster impact (e.g.,

ooding, earthquakes), and provide references or

links to related disaster response plans at the federal,

state, and local levels.

• Identifying and integrating with other plans: The

ACP is to identify and dene its relationship to other

contingency plans that are within, adjacent to, or

overlapping the ACP dened area. These plans should

be reviewed to ensure the ACP is consistent with them,

and the owners of these plans should be informed of

the ACP’s status and receive copies of the nal 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 notication

and coordination protocols with the adjacent entities.

Examples of other plans to consider include:

Adjacent RCPs and ACPs and international

border plans

State and local plans and private sector plans (FRPs

and Risk Management Plans (RMPs))

• Overall ACP formats: The AC should review example

formats for the ACP to determine the most appropriate

t 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 an effective ACP is portable, easy to

navigate, and accurate.

• ACP maintenance: Once the ACP is issued in nal

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 appropriate to reect signicant changes within

the dened 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.

• Downloadable and internet-accessible ACPs:

Consideration should be given to distribution of the

ACP in electronic form, to usability on smart phones,

tablets and PCs, and to providing access to the ACP

via internet.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the accumulated knowledge American Indians and Native Alaskans have about their environment.

It is important for scientic research, but is threatened by environmental change. EPA is working with tribal and Native Alaskan communities

to incorporate TEK into environmental science, policy, and decision-making.

See reference document Guidance for Preparing Tribal Emergency Response Plans in Appendices B and G.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 17

Section 5: Essential Plan Elements

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 eld and ease of

maintenance and updating. Appendix D provides links

to mapping tools that have proven useful during ACP

development in the past.

B. Contacts and notication

Contact and notication lists should be maintained for a

variety of purposes. These lists may include:

• Lists relating to the AC and the ACP itself, the rst of

which includes individuals and entities engaged in ACP

development and maintenance. Other lists may cover

those that receive ACP copies for information only.

• Lists related to response operations should cover both

immediate notications 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)/Unied 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

notication protocols, but reinforce and supplement

them by adding information specic to the area

covered by the ACP. Response operations lists should

include 24/7 contact information for all essential

response entities.

• 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 ofce numbers.

• List management should be through a central

administrative support control point.

In addition, to ensure national consistency and build

further redundancy into notication procedures, the

area and sub-area plans should also incorporate any

potential cross-boundary considerations for state, local,

and tribal jurisdictions. These may include reviewing

and strengthening notication procedures in areas

where RCPs cascade into applicable area and sub-area

planning, specically:

• Review ACPs to strengthen and update downstream

notications as needed;

• Secure appropriate actions to improve tribal

notications;

• Review notications with Canada, Mexico, the British

Virgin Islands, and applicable Oceania countries;

• Develop and regularly reassess all notication

call trees/protocols/contact lists/rosters, including

upon completion of notication/table top and/or

other exercises;

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK18

• Coordinate area planning with local, state and tribal

governments, as they are an essential part of the

response planning process.

C. Resources

The resources section of the ACP is perhaps the most

difcult to develop and manage, primarily because of

the sheer magnitude of developing an inventory of the

personnel, equipment and capabilities of all response

entities in the dened area, and the difculty of keeping

the inventory current. It is advisable that the AC detail

and focus on the capabilities of the response entities

and appropriate resources. If the IC/UC requires specic

information from a response entity, contact points can be

provided to obtain the most current information directly

from the provider.

Resource information is generally organized by 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.

• General capabilities: Each entity identied 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.

• Personnel: The inventory may include numbers of

available personnel, eld-deployment qualications

(including OSHA qualications), Incident Command

System (ICS) qualications, areas of technical and

scientic 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 identies as necessary.

• Equipment: Subcategories may include assessment,

soil/water/air sampling, eld categorization,

ambient monitoring, aerial survey/remote sensing,

transportation, eld logistics, transportation, heavy

equipment, booms, pumps, skimmers, personal

protective equipment (PPE), mobile command posts

(MCPs), communications, and data management.

• Laboratories: Identication of entities that have

access to analytical capability, general descriptions of

capability, and access procedures and contact points.

• 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 Use of Volunteers Guidelines for Oil Spills in

Appendix H).

In applying this guidance to the ACP, the AC should

ensure 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 workgroup 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.

If the AC determines that volunteer management may

be a signicant factor in responses, then additional

actions may be needed, such as inviting volunteer

organizations to attend specic AC meetings that are

open to the public, 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.

• 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

identied quickly.

See reference documents Review of Regional and Area Contingency Plans for Downstream Notications and In the Rearview Mirror:

Implementation of the Gold King Mine After-Action Review in Appendix E.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 19

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 Historic 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. In identifying

these sensitive areas, information in the FWSEP should

also be considered. For each feature or area identied, 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 identied,

but should be referenced as present in the general area.

This summary should include:

• Specic attributes (e.g., drinking water supply intake,

endangered species habitat)

• Recommendations on protective measures that may

be employed

• Description of any proscribed tactics

• Contact information for operators, trustees and others

with an interest in the sensitive area

• 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

This information is organized by the AC and, as described

previously, sensitive areas information is required under

the NCP. Areas with especially difcult or complex issues

should be considered for development of specic 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 Freedom of

Information Act (FOIA) request.

The ACP should ensure that the appropriate federal, state,

and tribal trustees for natural resources are promptly

notied of discharges and response activities are

coordinated with the affected natural resource trustees.

Additional information on notication and coordination

with natural resource trustees is available at https://

www.epa.gov/superfund/natural-resource-damages-

trustees.

Tools for identifying sensitive areas >

See Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools.

Methods for organizing sensitive area data >

See Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools.

Methods for displaying and accessing data >

See Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools.

E. Hazard analysis

The AC should establish a sub-committee to identify

potential sources of releases within the dened

area. These sources may include xed facilities or

transportation routes with high volumes of oil or

hazardous materials in transit. Consideration should also

be given to potential sources adjacent to the dened

area of the ACP, which may impact the area in the event

of a release. The rst 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 dened

sensitive area, the ACP may address A and leave B below

the threshold.

For each potential source identied, the ACP should

document the following:

• Source location (to be mapped)

• Operator, with contact and access information

• Types and quantities of materials that may be released

for a worst-case discharge from a vessel, onshore

facility, or offshore facility operating in or near the

area covered by the plan

• Special considerations for responders, including hazards

• Response capabilities of the operator

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK20

Tools for identifying potential sources:

• FRPs: EPA FRP Coordinators list posted at https://

response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Regional%20

FRP%20Coordinators_Dec.%202017.doc.

• 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.

• 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 U.S. Accident information for each

grade crossing is available.

• 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/safety-security/hazmat/hm-theme.htm).

• Hazmat facilities: Facilities covered by EPCRA

requirements must submit an Emergency and

Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form to the LEPC,

the SERC, and the local re department annually.

Facilities provide either a Tier I or Tier II form. Most

states require the Tier II form. Some states have

specic requirements in addition to the Federal Tier

II requirements. The EPA web site includes a list of

links to state Tier II reporting sites: https://www.epa.

gov/epcra/tier2-submit-software. 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 Service (FRS) is a centrally

managed database developed by EPA’s Ofce of

Environmental Information (OEI) that identies

facilities, sites or places subject to environmental

regulations or of environmental interest. FRS creates

high-quality, accurate, and authoritative facility

identication records through rigorous verication

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 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/enviro/html/i/index.html.

In general, all 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 ofces through the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information

(RCRAInfo) System (https://www.epa.gov/enviro/

rcrainfo-overview). 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, generally administered by

EPA, to locate, investigate, and clean up contaminated

sites throughout the U.S. The Superfund Enterprise

Management System, or SEMS, is available to

retrieve Superfund data formerly contained in

the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Information System

(CERCLIS) Public Access Database (https://cumulis.epa.

gov/supercpad/CurSites/srchsites.cfm).

• LEPC plans: Information on LEPCs can be found

at https://www.epa.gov/epcra/local-emergency-

planning-committees.

• RMPs: The Right-To-Know Network maintains a

Risk Management Plan (RMP) Database on its web

site (http://www.rtk.net/rmp/search.php). RMP

information may also be accessed at Federal Reading

Rooms: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/federal-reading-

rooms-risk-management-plans-rmp.

The AC should also consider which signicant facilities

may be vulnerable to impact by natural disasters, such as

oods or earthquakes.

Methods of organizing potential source information >

See Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools

Methods for displaying and accessing data >

See Appendix D: Selected Area Planning Tools

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 21

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.

• Assessment strategies: The AC should 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.

• Protection strategies: The AC should determine

the most effective methods of preventing impact to

sensitive areas.

• 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. The ACP must consider the worst-case

discharge from a vessel, onshore facility, or offshore

facility operating in or near the area covered by the

plan, and may also consider more likely scenarios.

Please refer to Appendix G.

• Oil-spill-specic strategies and plans (e.g., the

NRT Subsea Dispersant Guidance) including

countermeasures: Oil spill countermeasures include

dispersants

, in-situ burning (including accelerants),

bio-remediation, surface washing agents, solidiers

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 expediting decisions on countermeasure

use in the context of the dened ACP area. These issues

may include:

Areas where specic countermeasures may be

prohibited

Pre-authorization of specic countermeasures in

certain areas

Protocols for monitoring use and effectiveness

Assessment of potential impacts from

countermeasure use in adjacent planning areas

(e.g., coastal zone areas)

• Facility-specic strategies and plans: Facilities with

the potential for large-scale discharges or releases

(such as pipelines, large storage and manufacturing

facilities, and railroads) should be considered

for focused strategy development. If facilities are

covered by FRPs, the FRPs will provide a base for the

responding agencies to develop strategies for worst-

case discharges or releases and may also include most-

likely scenarios from these facilities.

G. Response management: roles

and responsibilities

• NIMS compliance policy: The ACP should include

a brief section that commits the AC to National

Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance

and references the Incident Management Handbooks

and Field Operating Guides that are used by

participating agencies.

• Unied Command: One of the most important

functions of the ACP is to address potential

jurisdictional conicts 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 Unied Command (UC), including

appropriate jurisdictional authority, ability to commit

resources to the response, and personnel that are

trained and qualied 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 overlapping jurisdictions, this task may need

to be broken down into scenario-based organizations.

• Response Organizations: This section should

provide guidance on NIMS-compliant response

organizations, identifying those entities with

expertise relevant to specic positions and providing

models of organizational structures. The approach

to this should be inclusive, by dening 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.

• Personnel training and qualication

requirements/recommendations: This section

should address recommended levels of NIMS-ICS

training for responders.

In the U.S., dispersants or other oil emulsiers 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. In general, the effectiveness of dispersants decreases as

the salinity of the water decreases given the same hydrophilic-lipophilic balance.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK22

• Model Incident Action Plans: It may be appropriate

for the ACP to include example Incident Action

Plans (IAPs) for specic scenarios (e.g., worst-case

discharges).

• Mutual aid agreements: These exist at the federal, state,

and local levels. Federal agreements (e.g., EPA-USCG)

and state agreements (e.g., EMAC) need not be replicated

in the ACP unless there are area-specic considerations

which need to be explained. Local agreements,

particularly when they involve entities outside the

bounds of the ACP, should be referenced briey.

• Public Information/Joint Information Center:

The ACP should provide guidance to participants

on the coordination of public messages during a

response, including reinforcing the role of the UC’s

Public Information Ofcer (PIO) and dening the

relationship of the PIO to individual agencies’ public

information operations.

• Response to substantial threats to public health

or welfare: As described in 40 CFR 300.322, 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.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 23

Section 6: Advanced Area Planning

Using the latest available technology to provide current area

planning data to eld responders is crucial in emergencies.

In today’s world of situational awareness, geospatial viewers,

Common Operational Pictures (COPs) and real-time eld

data collection/distribution, state and federal agencies are

looking to EPA area planners and RRTs to lead the way in

building a data-sharing environment. These agencies and

teams can benet from each other’s data and informational

awareness, especially in contingency planning and emergency

response. Sections of this Handbook covering area planning

information technology will be updated periodically

to promote the development of robust data sharing

environments using the latest tools. The following is a list

of available platforms that responders may use to share area

contingency planning data.

A. GeoPlatform

The Geospatial Platform (GeoPlatform) is an online

portal used to share geographic data, maps, and online

services. It is a strategic national resource that supports

the Federal Administration’s Open Government, Open

Data and Digital Government strategies to enhance

transparency, collaboration and participation. The

GeoPlatform provides a suite of well-managed, highly

available, and trusted geospatial data, services, and

applications for use by federal agencies and their state,

local, and tribal partners.

The GeoPlatform was developed by the member

agencies of the Federal Geographic Data Committee

(FGDC) through collaboration with partners and

stakeholders and is implemented to help agencies

meet their mission needs, including communicating

with and publishing data and maps for the public. The

GeoPlatform focuses on web applications that facilitate

participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-

centered design, and collaboration.

The portfolio of data, applications, and services provided

on the GeoPlatform is stewarded through the use of

open licenses and careful review. It is hosted on a cloud

infrastructure that maximizes geospatial interoperability.

The GeoPlatform provides streamlined access to National

Geospatial Data Assets and reduces data duplication.

GeoPlatform services and applications include:

• Marketplace: The collaborative GeoPlatform

Marketplace provides a listing of datasets that are

planned for acquisition by one or more of the

FGDC member agencies, which can reduce data

acquisition costs.

• Communities: The GeoPlatform incorporates the

concept of “communities”—interactive, topically

focused sections of the website that are managed

and used collaboratively by specic communities

of interest. The GeoPlatform supports a variety of

functionality for communities including establishing

web content, publishing spatial data and services,

building and sharing maps and mapping applications,

and discovering geospatial data, tools, and services

across a number of catalogs.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK24

• Dashboards: Theme and dataset lifecycle metrics

are published on the GeoPlatform in a series of

information dashboards that help users quickly and

easily review key information on progress toward

shared goals.

• ArcGIS Online (AGOL): ArcGIS Online allows users

to create interactive web maps and apps they can

share with anyone. Users can combine their own data

with data from Data.gov, Esri, and other contributors

to create maps for the work they do. Ready-to-use

basemaps, tools, templates, and datasets make it easy to

design and publish maps online.

• Web Map Viewer: The GeoPlatform Web Map Viewer

allows users to discover a wide range of spatial layers,

create map overlays using remote map services and the

user’s own content, and share maps openly for use by

other applications and websites.

Additional information is available at https://www.

geoplatform.gov/.

B. EPA GeoPlatform

The EPA GeoPlatform is a shared EPA technology

and governance framework, which encompasses a

community of expertise as well as a suite of geospatial

tools, data, and web services. The GeoPlatform facilitates

coordination and consolidation of mapping activities,

application development, and data management across

the Agency. Information within the GeoPlatform can be

accessed by EPA representatives and Agency partners.

GeoPlatform users have access to:

• A one-stop shop that delivers trusted, consistent data

and services

• Authoritative data to support informed decision making

• Reusable applications and services for governmental

and nongovernmental use

• A shared infrastructure that can host their data

and applications

The GeoPlatform is a focal point where government,

academic, private, and public data can be visualized

together to inform national and regional issues.

EPA’s GIS analysts use the GeoPlatform to develop maps

and conduct analysis that address organizational needs.

Multiple training options exist to help GeoPlatform

users develop cutting-edge GIS skills or refresh existing

capabilities. The GeoPlatform also includes a robust

stewardship group, the GeoPlatform Administrators,

with representatives from each ofce or region. Each

Administrator is a local GeoPlatform expert and provides

guidance about policies related to GeoPlatform use. To

facilitate online collaboration, EPA teams can create and

share Groups on the GeoPlatform.

Access information for GeoPlatform is available at

https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html or

http://intranet.epa.gov/gis/geoplatform.html.

C. NOAA Environmental Response

Management Application (ERMA)

ERMA

is an online mapping tool that integrates

both static and real-time data, such as Environmental

Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps, ship locations, weather, and

ocean currents, in a centralized, easy-to-use format for

environmental responders and decision makers. ERMA is

designed to:

• Aid in spill preparedness and planning.

• Assist in coordinating emergency response efforts and

situational awareness for human and natural disasters.

• Help dene the extent of potential environmental

impacts, supporting the Natural Resource Damage

Assessment process.

• Support ecological recovery and restoration efforts.

• Provide access to this information from anywhere with

an internet connection.

• Visualize data from a variety of sources, with the

ability to include additional media such as photos and

links to scientic reports.

• Tell a story or reconstruct the history of an event using

animated layers of information.

Access information for ERMA is available at https://

response.restoration.noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial-data/

environmental-response-management-application-erma/

and is also included in Appendix D.

D. 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 Ofce of

Emergency Management (OEM) and the NOAA Ofce

of Response and Restoration to assist front-line chemical

emergency planners and responders. They can use

CAMEO to access, store, and evaluate information critical

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 25

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.

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 rst 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 USCG have worked with EPA and NOAA to continue

to enhance the system.

CAMEO is a suite of four core programs that can be used

together or separately:

• CAMEOfm

• CAMEO Chemicals

• MARPLOT

• ALOHA

The CAMEO software suite is available for download at

https://www.epa.gov/cameo.

CAMEOfm - Database and Information

Management Tool

CAMEOfm is a database application that includes eight

modules (such as Facilities and Contacts) to assist with

data management requirements under the Emergency

Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Each year, facilities covered by EPCRA must submit an

emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form to

their LEPC, SERC, and local re department. Most facilities

submit a Tier II form, which contains basic facility

identication information, employee contact information,

and information such as storage amounts, storage

conditions, and locations for chemicals stored or used at

the facility. This information can be entered into CAMEOfm

manually or by importing a Tier2 Submit™ le. CAMEOfm

can also be used to navigate between ALOHA, MARPLOT,

and the CAMEO Chemicals desktop program.

CAMEOfm is available for download from https://www.

epa.gov/cameo/cameo-software.

CAMEO Chemicals - Chemical Response Datasheets

and Reactivity Prediction Tool

CAMEO Chemicals has an extensive chemical database

with critical response information for thousands of

chemicals. There are two primary types of datasheets in

the database: chemical datasheets and UN/NA datasheets.

Chemical datasheets provide physical properties, health

hazards, information about air and water hazards,

and recommendations for reghting, rst aid, and

spill response. UN/NA datasheets provide response

information from the Emergency Response Guidebook

and shipping information from the Hazardous Materials

Table (49 CFR 172.101). In addition to the information

on the datasheets, users can add chemicals to the

MyChemicals collection to see what hazards might occur

if the chemicals in the collection were mixed together.

CAMEO Chemicals is available as a website, mobile

website, mobile app, and desktop program. The mobile

app and desktop program formats can be used ofine.

CAMEO Chemicals is available for download at https://

www.epa.gov/cameo/cameo-chemicals-software.

MARPLOT - Mapping Application for Response,

Planning, and Local Operational Tasks

MARPLOT is a mapping application. The program comes

with several global background basemap options, with

maps in both street and satellite view. Users can add to

the information shown on the map by drawing their

own objects (such as chemical facilities, schools, or

response assets) or by importing layers of objects already

created by other sources. Map objects can be linked

to records in CAMEOfm, in order to store additional

information about these locations (such as emergency

contact information or site plans). Additionally, the areas

contaminated by potential or actual chemical release

scenarios can be displayed on the maps to determine

potential impacts and help users make decisions about

the degree of hazard posed by the releases.

MARPLOT is available for download at https://www.epa.

gov/cameo/marplot-software.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK26

ALOHA - Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres

ALOHA is an atmospheric dispersion model used

for evaluating releases of hazardous chemical vapors.

ALOHA allows users to estimate the downwind

dispersion of a chemical cloud based on the

toxicological/physical characteristics of the released

chemical, atmospheric conditions, and specic

circumstances of the release. ALOHA can estimate

threat zones associated with several types of hazardous

chemical releases, including toxic gas clouds, res, and

explosions. Threat zones can be displayed on MARPLOT

maps to help users assess geospatial information, such

as whether vulnerable locations (such as hospitals and

schools) might be impacted by the release or whether

other nearby factors (such as construction zones) might

complicate the response.

ALOHA is available for download at https://www.epa.

gov/cameo/aloha-software.

E. LandView

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 ofcial federally recognized geographic names for

all known places, features, and areas in the U.S. that are

identied by a proper name.

The LandView database software:

• Uses the Population Estimator function to calculate

census demographic and housing characteristics for

user dened radii.

• Creates simple thematic maps of census data.

• Allows users to browse and query the census, EPA or

USGS databases and show the query results on the map.

• Provides the capability to locate a street address or

intersection on a map based on TIGER/Line

road

features and address ranges.

Additional information is available at http://www.

census.gov/geo/landview/.

F. 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: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/

rmpcomp.

LandView 6 has not been updated using 2010 Census data. Please see the CAMEO MARPLOT application that provides some of the

functionality of LandView and uses more current data.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 27

Appendix A: Statutory and

Regulatory Authorities

CERCLA and EPCRA

CERCLA establishes both an emergency response program designed to stabilize or cleanup releases of hazardous substances

that pose a threat to public 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 public health or the environment. CERCLA also authorizes response to releases of pollutants or

contaminants which may present an imminent and substantial danger to public health or welfare. Executive Order 12580

delegates response authorities to EPA and USCG. CERCLA called for the revision of the NCP after the enactment of the

statute in 1980 and authorized revisions from time to time. The NCP provides the organizational structure and procedures

for preparing for and responding to discharges of oil and releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and 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 (or delegate) is authorized to establish Area Committees comprised of

qualied personnel from federal, state, and local agencies and of federally recognized Indian tribes, where applicable. The CWA

also provides for a detailed annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments Plan as part of the NCP per 33

USC 1321(d)(2)(M). Area 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

under CWA 311(j)(4)(C) to submit this plan to the President (or delegate) for review and approval. The authorities assigned

to the President under 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(4) 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.

Responsibilities for each Area Committee, under the direction of the FOSC for its area, include the requirements below, among

others listed in Section 1 of this Handbook:

• Prepare an ACP for its area;

• Work with state, local and tribal ofcials to enhance the contingency planning of those ofcials and to assure pre-

planning of joint response efforts, including appropriate procedures for mechanical recovery, disposal, shoreline

cleanup, protection of sensitive environmental areas, and protection, rescue, and rehabilitation of sheries and wildlife;

• Work with state, local and tribal ofcials to expedite decisions for the use of dispersants and other mitigating substances and

devices; and

• Update the ACP periodically.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90)

OPA 90 establishes mechanisms for the federal government to prevent and respond to oil discharges. OPA 90 extensively

amended the CWA to provide enhanced capabilities for oil discharge response and natural resource damage assessment.

See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2014-title33/pdf/USCODE-2014-title33-chap26-subchapIII-sec1321.pdf for the complete 2014

changes to the CWA statute.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK28

Title IV, Section 4202, National Planning and Response System, amended subsection 311(j) of the CWA with respect to the

National Planning and Response System. It denes Area Committee and ACP requirements and deadlines for agencies. Pursuant

to OPA 90 section 4202(b)(1)(A), the President is to designate areas for which ACPs are to be 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)(1)(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 U.S. 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 each have their

own RRT: (1) Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; (2) Alaska; and (3) Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacic

Island Governments, and American Samoa (See Figure 1). The inland areas of the thirteen RRTs serve as the designated

areas for the inland zone. 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, local, 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 https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Designation%20of%20Areas%20

Federal%20Notice_4-24-92.pdf).

Alaska

Hawaii

Guam

Northern Mariana islands

American Samoa

Pacific Island governments

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

Figure 1: 13 Regional Response Team Areas

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 29

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, tribal 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 ofces or USCG district ofces.

Under the direction of a FOSC and subject to approval by EPA, the agency responsible for the inland zone, each Area

Committee, in consultation with the appropriate RRTs, USCG DRGs, the USCG NSFCC, SSCs, LEPCs, and SERCs, is to develop an

ACP for its designated area. This plan, when implemented in conjunction with other provisions of the NCP, is to 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 coordinates with affected SERCs and LEPCs. The ACP provides 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 NCP, at 40 CFR 300.210(c)(3), provides that ACPs are to include the following elements:

• 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;

• A list of equipment (including reghting 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 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 description of procedures to be followed for obtaining an expedited decision regarding the use of dispersants; and

• 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.

Area Committees are to incorporate into each ACP a detailed annex containing a Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments

Plan (FWSEP) that is consistent with the RCP and NCP. The annex is to 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 is to address sh and wildlife resources and their habitat, and is to include other

areas considered sensitive environments in another section of the annex, based upon Area Committee recommendations. The

annex is to provide the necessary information and procedures to immediately and effectively respond to discharges that may

adversely affect sh and wildlife and their habitat and sensitive environments, including provisions for a response to a worst-

case discharge. Such information is to include the identication of appropriate agencies and their responsibilities, procedures to

notify these agencies following a discharge or threat of discharge, protocols for obtaining required sh and wildlife permits and

other necessary permits, and provisions to ensure compatibility of annex-related activities with removal operations.

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 nonprot organizations, and individuals affected by a declared major disaster or emergency. The law establishes the

process for requesting and obtaining a Presidential disaster declaration, denes 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.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK30

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 signicant federal coordination, which includes incidents for which the President issues a

disaster or emergency declaration under the Stafford Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may utilize

Stafford Act funds to reimburse EPA for specic 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. EPA may also

provide other assistance when requested by FEMA.

Response to oil and hazardous materials incidents is generally carried out in accordance with the NCP. NCP 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 NCP 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 major disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act;

• 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

• 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 NCP.

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)

Three Executive Branch directives directly affect EPA’s role in the national emergency response system:

• Management of Domestic Incidents – HSPD-5

• National Preparedness – PPD-8

• Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience – PPD-21

Management of Domestic Incidents – HSPD-5

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (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 U.S. 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, or

4. The President directs the Secretary to assume responsibility for managing the domestic incident.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 31

HSPD-5 also recognizes the role that state, tribal, and local governments; nongovernmental organizations; and the private

sector play in managing incidents.

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 (NRF). 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.

National Preparedness - PPD-8

PPD-8 on National Preparedness was signed by the President on March 30, 2011. PPD-8 replaces 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.

National Preparedness Goal

PPD-8 calls for the development and maintenance of a National Preparedness Goal dening the core capabilities necessary

to prepare for the specic types of incidents posing the greatest risk to the security of the U.S. The Goal establishes concrete,

measurable, prioritized objectives to mitigate specic 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-prot sectors and the general public, submitted the rst edition of the National Preparedness

Goal in September 2011 and the second edition in 2015. The Goal denes success as:

“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 ve 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 is reviewed regularly to evaluate consistency with applicable

policies, evolving conditions and the National Incident Management System.

National Preparedness System

The National Preparedness System is the instrument the nation employs to build, sustain, and deliver the ve core capabilities

described in the National Preparedness Goal in order to achieve the goal of a secure and resilient nation. The guidance,

programs, processes, and systems that support each component of the National Preparedness System are intended to enable a

collaborative, whole community approach to national preparedness that engages individuals, families, communities, private

and nonprot sectors, faith-based organizations, and all levels of government.

The National Preparedness System identies 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 builds on current

efforts, many of which are already established in the law and have been in use for many years. These six components include:

• Identifying and Assessing Risk;

• Estimating Capability Requirements;

• Building and Sustaining Capabilities;

• Planning to Deliver Capabilities;

• Validating Capabilities; and

• Reviewing and Updating.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK32

The System includes integrated National Planning Frameworks covering prevention, protection, mitigation, response and

recovery. The Frameworks set the strategy and doctrine for building, sustaining, and delivering the core capabilities identied

in the National Preparedness Goal. Integrated to ensure interoperability across all mission areas, the Frameworks describe the

coordinating structures and alignment of key roles and responsibilities for the whole community.

Other key aspects of the National Preparedness System described in PPD-8 include:

• Resource guidance, including arrangements enabling the ability to share personnel;

• Equipment guidance, aimed at nationwide interoperability;

• National training and exercise program guidance; and

• Recommendations and guidance for businesses, communities, families and individuals.

PPD-8 also calls for a comprehensive approach to assess national preparedness. The approach involves measuring operational

readiness against target capability levels identied in the National Preparedness Goal.

Building and Sustaining Preparedness

PPD-8 directs DHS to coordinate a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain preparedness nationwide, including public

outreach and community-based and private-sector programs to enhance national resilience, the provision of federal nancial

assistance, preparedness efforts by the federal government, and national research and development efforts.

National Preparedness Report

The National Preparedness Report evaluates and measures gains that individuals and communities, private and nonprot

sectors, faith-based organizations, and all levels of government have made in preparedness and identies where challenges and

opportunities for improvement remain. The report is based on progress towards achieving the National Preparedness Goal and

serves 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-prot sectors and the general public.

EPA’s Role Under PPD-8

EPA participates in the development and execution of response activities, training and exercises and contributes to the National

Preparedness Report annually.

Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience - PPD-21

PPD-21 was signed by the President on February 12, 2013 and establishes national policy on critical infrastructure security

and resilience. PPD-21 revokes HSPD-7 (Critical Infrastructure Identication, Prioritization, and Protection). Plans developed

pursuant to HSPD-7 remain in effect until revoked or superseded.

PPD-21 advances a national unity of effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure.

This endeavor is a shared responsibility among the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, and public and private

owners and operators of critical infrastructure. PPD-21 also renes and claries the critical infrastructure-related functions,

roles, and responsibilities across the federal government, as well as enhances overall coordination and collaboration.

Three strategic imperatives drive the federal approach to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience:

1. Rene and clarify functional relationships across the Federal Government to advance the national unity of effort to

strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience;

2. Enable effective information exchange by identifying baseline data and systems requirements for the Federal

Government; and

3. Implement an integration and analysis function to inform planning and operations decisions regarding

critical infrastructure.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 33

Sector-Specic Agencies

PPD-21 identies 16 critical infrastructure sectors and describes a national effort to share threat information, reduce

vulnerabilities, minimize consequences, and hasten response and recovery efforts related to critical infrastructure. Sector-

Specic Agencies are agencies responsible for ensuring the protection of a particular resource or part of the national

infrastructure. EPA is designated as the Sector-Specic Agency for drinking water and wastewater systems.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK34

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 35

1. Example AC outreach document

a. U.S. EPA Inland Area Contingency Planning Brochure: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/

ContingencyPlanningEPA%202.pdf

2. 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, Connecticut): https://nrt.org/site/site_

prole.aspx?site_id=38

• RRT-2 (New Jersey, New York): https://www.nrt.org/site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=24

• RRT-3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia): https://www.nrt.org/site/region_list.

aspx?region=3

• RRT-4 (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee): https://nrt.org/

site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=52

• RRT-5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin):

Region 5 Regional Contingency Plan / Area Contingency Plan: http://www.rrt5.org/RCPACPMain.aspx

Region 5 Sub-Areas: http://www.rrt5.org/SubAreas.aspx

• RRT-6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas): https://response.epa.gov/site/site_prole.aspx?site_

id=5083

• RRT-7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska): https://response.epa.gov/site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=6065

• RRT-8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming):

Region 8 Regional Contingency Plan: https://www.nrt.org/site/region_list.aspx?region=8

Region 8 Sub-Area Plans: https://nrt.org/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=32

• RRT-9 (Arizona, California, Nevada): https://community.apan.org/wg/rrt9/

• RRT-10 (Idaho, Oregon, Washington): https://www.rrt10nwac.com/nwacp/

• Alaska Regional Response Team: https://alaskarrt.org

• Caribbean Regional Response Team (CRRT) (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands): https://www.nrt.org/site/site_prole.

aspx?site_id=42

• Oceania Regional Response Team (ORRT) (Hawaii, Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa): https://nrt.org/

site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=88

3. Additional Resources for Assistance in ACP Development

a. EPA Regional and Headquarters ofces contact information (contacts for ACP matters): https://response.epa.gov/

sites/3857/les/2018%20ACP%20planning%20workgroup%20contacts.doc

b. EPA FRP Coordinators list: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Regional%20FRP%20Coordinators_Dec.%20

2017.doc

Appendix B: Area Committee

Resources

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK36

c. Highlights of Northwest Area Contingency Plan (NWACP) for EPA OSCs: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/

Highlights%20of%20NWACP%20for%20EPA%20OSCs.docx

d. EPA Region 10 Guidance for Preparing Tribal Emergency Response Plans (EPA-910-R-04-003): https://response.epa.

gov/sites/3857/les/Guidance_for_Preparing_Tribal_ERPs.pdf

• This guidance document is designed to assist tribes in developing emergency response plans to address oil and

hazardous materials spills; natural disasters such as oods, earthquakes, and res; and other types of emergencies.

e. EPA ACP Handbook: https://response.epa.gov/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=3857

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 37

Appendix C: Selected ACP Formats,

Scope and Organization

1. EPA Ofce of Inspector General Report 13-P-0152

a. EPA Could Improve Contingency Planning for Oil and Hazardous Substance Response (2013): https://response.epa.

gov/sites/3857/les/20130215-13-P-0152.pdf

2. EPA-only ACPs

a. EPA Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) Inland ACP: http://www.

epa.gov/region1/er/iacp/index.html

b. EPA Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia) Inland ACP: https://

response.epa.gov/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=2037

c. EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) Inland ACP: https://response.epa.gov/sites/5083/

les/NEW%20RRT%206%20Inland%20Area%20Contingency%20Plan%20--%20Final%20--%20January%2026,%20

2016.pdf

d. EPA Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) Regional Integrated Contingency Plan: https://response.epa.gov/

sites/6065/les/Region%207%20Integrated%20Contingency%20Plan_March%202018.pdf

3. EPA-USCG joint ACP-related

a. Region 2: https://www.nrt.org/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=47

b. Region 5: http://www.rrt5.org/RCPACPMain.aspx

c. Region 6: https://response.epa.gov/sites/5083/les/Region%206%20Regional%20Contingency%20Plan%20--%20

FINAL%20--%20May%2019%202015.pdf

d. Region 9: https://www.nrt.org/site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=85

e. Region 10: http://www.rrt10nwac.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.rrt5.org/Portals/0/docs/ACP-NorthernMI-EPAUSCG-Aug2015.pdf

• Quad Cities: https://www.epaosc.org/sites/6065/les/Quad%20Cities%20SACP_Public_April-2016.pdf

• Upper Mississippi: http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/umrplan.pdf

• Peoria, Illinois: http://www.umrba.org/hazspills/peoriaplan.pdf

b. EPA Region 8 T.E.R.A. Viewer: http://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

• EPA Region 8’s T.E.R.A. Viewer is an interactive, web-based application that is the primary method of disseminating

response strategies and other tactical Sub-Area Plan information. Sub-Area Plan documentation will be made available

on the RRT-8 website listed in Appendix B. The T.E.R.A. Viewer will allow the sub-area committee and RRT members

to update and maintain response-related information. The T.E.R.A. Viewer is available to sub-area committee members,

RRT members, and government agency personnel; however, a username and password must be obtained through EPA

Region 8 from Gina Cristiano at cristiano[email protected]v.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK38

c. Alaska Sub-Area Plans: https://www.alaskarrt.org/Documents.aspx?f=175

d. Public and restricted Sub-Area Plan example (Omaha-Council Bluffs)

• Public version: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/omaha_council_bluffs_subarea_plan.pdf

• Restricted version: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Restricted%20Omaha%20Council%20Bluffs%20

Subarea%20info%202.docx (restricted access; login required)

5. Geographic Response Plans

a. Lower and Middle Columbia River: https://www.rrt10nwac.com/GRP/

b. Recommendations for Geographic Response Plan (GRP) Approaches: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/

UMRBA_FSS09_GRP.pdf

6. International Contingency Planning

a. Mexico-United States Joint Contingency Plan: https://www.epa.gov/border2020/mexico-united-states-joint-

contingency-plan-2017

b. Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/us-canada-

joint-inland-pollution-contingency-plan

c. Canada-U.S. Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan Regional Annexes and the geographic areas they cover are listed

below: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/us-canada-joint-inland-pollution-contingency-plan-regional-annexes

• Annex I - CANUSWEST NORTH and SOUTH (2015) – includes the combined border of the Yukon Territory and

British Columbia with U.S. EPA Regions 8 and 10 (Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska)

• Annex II - CANUSPLAIN (2015) – includes the combined border of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with U.S.

EPA Regions 5 and 8 (Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota)

• Annex III - CANUSCENT (2013) – includes the border of Ontario with U.S. EPA Regions 2 and 5 (New York,

Michigan and Minnesota)

• Annex IV - CANUSQUE (2013) – includes the inland boundary of Quebec with U.S. EPA Regions 1 and 2 (New

Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York)

• Annex V - CANUSEAST (2013) – includes the inland boundary of New Brunswick with U.S. EPA Region 1 (Maine)

7. USCG ACP references

a. Commandant Instruction M16000.14A: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness

Manual (August 2016); Chapter 4: Area Contingency Planning Policy: https://media.defense.gov/2017/

Mar/29/2001723825/-1/-1/0/CIM_16000_14A.PDF

b. ACP Development Memo (February 2005): https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/ACP%20Development%20

Memo%202.pdf

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 39

Appendix D: Selected Area

Planning Tools

1. Mapping tools

a. Minimum Essential Elements for GIS: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/GIS%20MEE%20feb%2002%202.doc

b. Example map formats

• EPA Region 1: http://www.epa.gov/region1/er/iacp/maps.html

• EPA Region 10 jurisdictional boundary tool: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=a8a4f06c49914b0d8b19

730d6d6c9f3f

c. Software:

• MARPLOT: https://www.epa.gov/cameo/marplot-software

• LandView

6: http://www.census.gov/geo/landview/

d. Web resources

• EPA OSC support site: https://response.epa.gov/main/maps.Aspx

• Compendium of e-mapping applications: http://www.ehssoftserve.com/geo_mapsinfo.htm (registration required)

• GeoPlatform: https://www.geoplatform.gov

• EPA GeoPlatform (restricted to EPA users):

http://intranet.epa.gov/gis/geoplatform.html

https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

• NOAA ERMA: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial-data/environmental-response-management-

application-erma/

2. Sensitive Area resources

a. EPA Region 5 Fish and Wildlife annex (example sensitive area inventory): http://www.rrt5.org/Documentation/

Appendicies/App8_FishWildlifeAnnex.pdf

b. Draft Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments Annex to the Federal Region IX Regional Area Contingency Plan

(March 2007): https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=16205&inline=true

c. NOAA Ofce of Response and Restoration Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps: https://response.restoration.

noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial-data/environmental-sensitivity-index-esi-maps.html

3. Hazard assessment examples

a Natural disaster-related hazards

• Region 6 Natural Disaster Workgroup: https://response.epa.gov/site/site_prole.aspx?site_id=4907

4. Historic preservation resources

a. National Park Service list of historic preservation ofcers: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/state-historic-

preservation-ofces.htm

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK40

5. Riverine spill modeling

a. Applications of the Incident Command Tool for Drinking Water Protection: http://www.awra.org/meetings/

Sacramento2016/doc/PP/powerpoint/S2WSamuels.pdf

b. RiverSpill and the Incident Command Tool for Drinking Water Protection: A Case Study of the WV Chemical Spill:

https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/national-hydrography/hydrography-seminar-series-seminar-1-main-

presentation

6. Incident management

a. EPA ICS Incident Management Handbook: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Incident%20Management%20

Handbook_IMH.pdf

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 41

Appendix E: Sample Contact/

Notication Lists

. Example AC contact list

a. Region 7 Area Committee: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/files/R7%20ICP%20Appendix%20D.4%20AC%20

Contact%20List.pdf

2. Example incident notification chart

a. Omaha-Council Bluffs notification list: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/files/Omaha%20Council%20Bluffs%20

Subarea%20Notification%20chart.docx

b. Truckee River incident notification list: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/files/07_Red%20Tab%20Notification%

20 Truckee%20River%202011.pdf

3. Notification guidance

a. Review of Regional and Area Contingency Plans for Downstream Notifications (September 4, 2015): https://response.

epa.gov/sites/3857/files/Memo%20to%20RAs%20for%20Downstream%20Notifications%209-4-15.pdf

b. In the Rearview Mirror: Implementation of the Gold King Mine After-Action Review (January 13, 2017): https://www.

epa.gov/goldkingmine/rearview-mirror-implementation-gold-king-mine-after-action-review

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK42

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 43

Appendix F: Resource Inventory

Development List

1. EPA response equipment

a. Environmental Response Team (ERT): ERT provides EPA regional and headquarters ofces, federal, state and local

agencies, and foreign governments with experienced technical and logistical assistance in responding to environmental

emergencies, such as oil or hazardous materials spills. ERT also provides assistance in characterization and cleanup of

hazardous waste sites. ERT equipment includes:

• Two Turner C7 Fluorometers, including one 50 Meter Cable: Contains multi sensor array, but primarily used for

in-water detection of crude or rened oil, could be integrated into existing vessel CTD platform. http://www.

turnerdesigns.com/products/submersible-uorometer/cyclops-7f-submersible-uorescence-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/ow 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.turnerdesigns.com/t2/doc/

manuals/10au_manual.pdf

• Site Lab UV3100 from CyberSense: Acquired for soil and water samples, simple extraction required, bench top

portable application, applies UV uorescence to extract yielding numeric concentration, can analyze oil fractions for

TPH, GRO, DRO, and PCBs, purchase standards for calibration.

• 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/pdf/

manuals/photovac_voyager.pdf

Additional information about ERT response equipment is available at https://www.epa.gov/ert.

b. Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT): RERT is comprised of experts and specialized equipment used when

responding to radiological emergencies. The RERT can bring a number of different types of radiological monitoring,

sampling and analysis equipment to the site of a radiological emergency. EPA’s radiological monitoring equipment

includes:

• Mobile Environmental Radiation Laboratory (MERL): Capabilities include gamma analysis of soil, water, vegetation

and air particulate lter samples and gross alpha/beta radiation on air particulate lters and contamination swipes/

smears.

• Sample Preparation Laboratory: Provides radiation analyses for samples collected at an incident scene.

• Mobile Command Post: Self-powered command center equipped with satellite TV, internet, and radio for monitoring

response activities.

• Scanner Van: A rapid scanning system designed to nd gamma radiation sources in urban environments.

• Deployable Air Monitors: Designed for rapid deployment to domestic and overseas locations, providing real time data

communications using satellite and telephone.

• Field Monitoring and Sample Collection Equipment: Assets include handheld eld monitoring equipment to detect

alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation, high resolution in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry, and low-, medium-, and

high-volume air samplers.

More information about EPA’s RERT equipment is available at https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiological-emergency-

response-expertise-and-equipment#equipment.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK44

c. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management Advisory Team (CBRN CMAT): CBRN CMAT

prepares and supports the emergency response community 24/7/365 by providing expeditious and cost-effective

solutions based upon the best available science. It provides scientic expertise and response services during all phases of

crisis and consequence management with personnel and assets. For more information about CBRN CMAT, see https://

www.epa.gov/emergency-response/chemical-biological-radiological-and-nuclear-consequence-management.

CBRN CMAT response assets include:

• Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identication System (PHILIS): A mobile organic chemical laboratory for on-site

analysis of environmental samples contaminated with chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial compounds

(TICs) (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/les/2017-08/documents/philis_one_pager_aug2017.pdf).

• Airborne Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) Aircraft: Based near Dallas, Texas, and able to deploy within

one hour of notication, ASPECT is the nation’s only airborne real-time chemical and radiological detection, infrared

and photographic imagery platform. ASPECT is available to assist local, national, and international agencies supporting

hazardous substance response, radiological incidents, and situational awareness. ASPECT is available 24/7/365 and

can begin collecting data at any site in the continental U.S. within nine hours (https://www.epa.gov/emergency-

response/aspect).

• Biosafety Level 2 Enhanced Laboratory: Located in Denver, Colorado, the BSL-2E laboratory is equipped with molecular- and

micro-biological equipment that can test for the presence of BSL-1 and BSL-2 pathogens (https://response.epa.gov/

sites/3857/les/CMAD%20BSL-2E%20Laboratory%20Capabilities%20OSC%20Academy_2.pdf).

2. Example response resource inventory

a. EPA Region 10 equipment inventory: http://www.rrt10nwac.com/Equipment.aspx

3. Other response equipment

a. International spill equipment and materials providers listed on the International Spill Control Organization’s (ISCO) web

site: http://www.spillcontrol.org/index.php/2013-02-05-12-36-12/equipment-materials.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 45

Appendix G: Response Strategy

Development Samples

1. Oil spill countermeasure 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. As described in CWA 311(d)(2)(G), a “schedule”, prepared in cooperation with the states,

must identify

dispersants, other chemicals, and other spill mitigating devices and substances, if any, that may be used in carrying

out the Plan,

the waters in which such dispersants, other chemicals, and other spill mitigating devices and substances may be

used, and

the quantities of such dispersant, other chemicals, or other spill mitigating device or substance which can be used

safely in such waters.

• NCP Subpart J: Use of Dispersants and Other Chemicals - 40 CFR 300.900 - 300.920 (current rule): https://www.

epa.gov/emergency-response/40-code-federal-regulations-cfr-300900-920

• September 15, 1994, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; Final Rule. 59 FR 47384

(current regulations): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1994-09-15/html/94-22347.htm

• January 22, 2015, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; Proposed Rule. 80 FR 3380:

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-22/pdf/2015-00544.pdf

b. Dispersant preauthorization 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: https://nrt.org/sites/52/les/1-RRT4DISP.PDF

c. Cleaning agents

• Chemical Shoreline Cleaning Agents for Oil Spills: http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=30002UZK.txt

d. Bioremediation

• EPA OSC Response Website: https://response.epa.gov/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=ERTREAC016

• Literature Review on the Use of Commercial Bioremediation Agents for Cleanup of Oil-Contaminated Estuarine

Environments: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/literature-review-use-commercial-bioremediation-agents-

cleanup-oil-contaminated

• Guidelines for the Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Salt Marshes: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/

guidelines-bioremediation-oil-contaminated-salt-marshes

• Guidelines for the Bioremediation of Marine Shorelines and Freshwater Wetlands: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-

response/guidelines-bioremediation-marine-shorelines-and-freshwater-wetlands

• National Response Team Fact Sheet on Bioremediation Technologies: https://www.nrt.org/sites/2/les/bioremed_

FS.pdf

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK46

e. In-Situ Burning

• Inland In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills: Regulations and Authorizations: https://archive.epa.gov/emergencies/content/

fss/web/pdf/dehaven.pdf

• NOAA guidance for monitoring in-situ burning operations: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ISB

f. Dispersant Monitoring System

• NOAA Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART): http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/smart

2. FRP-related response strategies

a. Example oil spill tactical response plan: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Division%201%20(C1f)%20Map-

Photo%20Tab%204_1.pdf

3. Sensitive resource-related response strategies

a. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Oil Spill Response Fact Sheet: https://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/es-library/pdfs/

Oil_Response.pdf

b. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Region Spill Contingency Planning and Response: https://www.fws.gov/

midwest/es/ec/SpillResponse/index.html

4. National Response Team Subsea and Surface Dispersant Guidance

a. https://www.nrt.org/sites/2/les/NRT_Atypical_Dispersant_Guidance_Final_5-30-2013.pdf

5. Mechanical cleanup technologies

a. Mechanical Containment and Recovery of Oil Following a Spill: https://archive.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/oil/edu/

web/pdf/chap2.pdf

b. Use of Skimmers in Oil Pollution Response: http://www.itopf.org/knowledge-resources/documents-guides/

document/tip-05-use-of-skimmers-in-oil-pollution-response/

6. Bakken and Crude Oil Response Strategies

a. Crude Oil and Response Considerations (EPA Region 10): https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Bakken%20

Oil%20Spill%20Response%20NWAC.pptx

b. NRT Responder Awareness Training: Bakken Crude Oil: https://nrt.org/Main/Resources.aspx?ResourceType=Training

and Educational Materials&ResourceSection=3

c. Environment Canada Diluted Bitumen Studies: Initial World Class Phase 1 Results: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/

les/Diluted%20Bitumen%20Studies%20Sept%2016%202014.pptx

d. A Comparison of the Properties of Diluted Bitumen Crudes with Other Oils (Polaris Applied Sciences, 2013): https://

response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/COMPAR_BITUMEN_OTHER_OILS_-_A3S5G71.pdf

e. DHS Analysis – Bakken Crude Oil Flows by Rail: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Appendix%20B%20-%20

OCIA_Bakken_CrudeOil_byRail%20July%202014.pdf

f. DHS Analysis – Hazardous Liquid Pipeline and Rail Incidents (1985-2014): https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/

Appendix%20A%20-%20OCIA%20Pipeline%20and%20Rail%20Incidents%201985-2014%20April%202015.pdf

g. EPA Region 4 Aliceville Train Derailment: https://response.epa.gov/sites/3857/les/Aliceville%20EPA%20Presentation_

Emerging%20Oils%20WG_11-29-14.pptx

h. Effects of Diluted Bitumen on the Environment: A Comparative Study (Douglas Friedman, Ph.D.): https://response.epa.

gov/sites/3857/les/2-NAS%20brieng%20to%20ICCOPR%20Sept%2015.pdf

i. Understanding Oil Spills and Oil Spill Response (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/understanding-oil-

spills-and-oil-spill-response

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 47

j. Map of Crude Oil Transported by Rail (The Wall Street Journal): http://graphics.wsj.com/crude-oil-by-rail/

k. Oil Spill Response Strategies for Coastal Marshes during the Deepwater Horizon MC252 Spill: https://www.nrt.org/

sites/2/les/NRT_marsh_cleanup_overview_6-15.pdf

l. The Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel: The Behaviour and Environmental Impacts of Crude Oil Released into

Aqueous Environments (November 2015): https://rsc-src.ca/en/behaviour-and-environmental-impacts-crude-oil-

released-into-aqueous-environments

m. Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines: A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Effects, and Response (National

Academies of Sciences, 2016): https://www.nap.edu/catalog/21834/spills-of-diluted-bitumen-from-pipelines-a-

comparative-study-of

n. Final Bakken Crude Oil Worker Health and Safety Pilot Scale Studies (April 2018): https://response.epa.gov/

sites/3857/les/FINAL%20Bakken%20Study%20043018%20Rev%2001%20w%20Attachment%20A.pdf

7. Tribal guidance:

a. EPA Region 10 Guidance for Preparing Tribal Emergency Response Plans (EPA-910-R-04-003): https://response.epa.

gov/sites/3857/les/Guidance_for_Preparing_Tribal_ERPs.pdf

• This guidance document is designed to assist tribes in developing emergency response plans to address oil and

hazardous materials spills; natural disasters such as oods, earthquakes, and res; and other types of emergencies.

8. Oil spill research:

a. EPA Oil Spill Research Web Page: https://www.epa.gov/land-research/oil-spill-research

9. Publications:

a. Cleanup Publications: https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanup-publications

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK48

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 49

Appendix H: Guidelines for Volunteers

The National Response Team (NRT) released the NRT Use of Volunteers Guidelines for Oil Spills in 2012. The Guidelines can

be found on the NRT Website (www.nrt.org; Guidance, Technical Assistance & Planning; Use of Volunteers Guidelines for

Oil Spills) or through this link:

https://nrt.org/Main/Resources.aspx?ResourceType=Use%20of%20Volunteers%20for%20Oil%20Spill%20Guidelines%20

and%20MOU&ResourceSection=2.

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK50

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2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK 51

Appendix I: Acronyms

AC Area Committee

ACP Area Contingency Plan

ASPECT Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (EPA)

CAMEO Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations

CBRN CMAT Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management Advisory Team (EPA)

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

COTP Captains of the Port (USCG)

CWA Clean Water Act

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DoD Department of Defense

DOT Department of Transportation

DRG District Response Group (USCG)

EMAC Emergency Management Assistance Compact

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

ERMA Environmental Response Management Application (NOAA)

ESA Endangered Species Act

ERT Environmental Response Team (EPA)

ESF Emergency Support Function

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FGDC Federal Geographic Data Committee

FHWA Federal Highway Administration (DOT)

FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (DOT)

FOSC Federal On-Scene Coordinator

FRA Federal Railroad Administration (DOT)

FRP Facility Response Plan

FRS Facility Registry Service

FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act

FWSEP Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments Plan

GIS Geographic Information System

GRP Geographic Response Plan

HAZWOPER Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

HSPD Homeland Security Presidential Directive

IAP Incident Action Plan

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK52

IC Incident Commander

ICS Incident Command System

LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee

MERL Mobile Environmental Radiation Laboratory (MERL) (EPA)

MCP Mobile Command Post

NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan

NEBA Net Environmental Benets Analysis

NGO Nongovernmental Organization

NIMS National Incident Management System

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NRF National Response Framework

NRS National Response System

NRT National Response Team

NSFCC National Strike Force Coordination Center (USCG)

OEI Ofce of Environmental Information (OEI)

OEM Ofce of Emergency Management (EPA)

OPA 90 Oil Pollution Act of 1990

OSC On-Scene Coordinator

PHILIS Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identication System (EPA)

PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)

PIO Public Information Ofcer

PPD Presidential Policy Directive

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

RA Regional Administrator (EPA)

RCP Regional Contingency Plan

RERT Radiological Emergency Response Team (EPA)

RMP Risk Management Plan

RRT Regional Response Team

SEMS Superfund Enterprise Management System

SERC State Emergency Response Commission

SSC Scientic Support Coordinator

TEK Traditional Ecological Knowledge

TRI Toxics Release Inventory

UC Unied Command

USCG United States Coast Guard

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

2018 AREA CONTINGENCY PLANNING (ACP) HANDBOOK54

Oce of Land and Emergency

Management

(5104A)

EPA-540-B-18-002

August 2018

www.epa.gov/emergency-response

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency