The Fish and Wildlife Service, with its statutory responsibility and 

 its field organization, has primary authority for protecting wildlife resources 

 from damage and for restoring these resources after damage. In this role, 

 FWS personnel are expected to coordinate the activities of State and local 

 forces, including volunteers, and to serve as the OSC's expert on the extent 

 of wildlife damage suffered or anticipated in connection with a spill operation. 

 The FWS has recognized its responsibilities and is moving in the direction 

 of a national program to support the various OSCs. Also, as a result of 

 several spills that severely affected wildlife, the FWS has recommended several 

 amendments to the plan. It is anticipated that these amendments will be pub- 

 lished in the near future. 



The U.S. Geological Survey, because of its responsibilities and expertise 

 on Outer Continental Shelf operations, provides the OSC for spills occurring 

 on Outer Continental Shelf leases and advises the NRT, RRTs and OSCs with 

 respect to damage control on oil production facilities. 3 



The National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management are mentioned 

 because they administer many square miles of Federal -owned land. Many of 

 these Federal lands are traversed by pipelines, rivers, and highways. On 

 many occasions, BLM and MPS personnel and the Federal officials in closest 

 proximity to a spill incident serve as the OSC until the predesignated OSC 

 becomes involved. In addition, these agencies can provide equipment and 

 manpower for spill cleanup operations when appropriate. 



Another department with agencies that can provide vital support to the 

 OSC/RRT/NRT operation is the Department of Commerce. Of particular importance 

 are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Mari- 

 time Administration. The NOAA provides \/ery useful services directly to the 

 OSC. These include near- and long-term weather forecasting, spill trajectory 

 measurements and projections, and information on commercially valuable fisheries 

 resources. Maritime Administration involvement is primarily with the NRT, 

 to which consultation on ship construction and U.S. merchant fleet charac- 

 teristics are provided. 



Of the primary agencies, the Department of Defense (DOD) is discussed 

 last. This is not because DOD's involvement and support is of less importance 

 than that of other agencies. The DOD, through the armed services, provides 

 equipment and manpower, expertise on ship salvage (through the Navy Supervisor 

 of Salvage) and on the navigable rivers, ports, and channels that constitute 

 the navigable waters of the United States (through the Army Corps of Engineers), 

 and Air Force airlift capability. The Army helicopter fleet, in addition, 

 has provided invaluable transport of specialized equipment. 



As previously stated, there are five advisory agencies: the Department 

 of State (DOS); the Department of Justice (DOJ); the Department of Housing 

 and Urban Development (HUD); the Department of Health, Education and Welfare 

 (DHEW); and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). Each 

 of these agencies brings unique capabilities to the plan organization. 



3 



See August 1971 DOI-DOT MOU concerning respective responsibilities 



under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency 

 Plan. 



27 



