All of the foregoing information provides a framework or pattern for 

 the Federal response to an oil or chemical spill. That framework can work 

 and work well if preplanning is carried out prior to the need for agencies 

 to make their capabilities available to the OSC/RRT. This means that FWS 

 personnel should know their counterparts in EPA, USCG, DOD, NOAA, and the 

 individual States. The converse is also true. The best method for accom- 

 plishing this is for the RRT to meet on a relatively routine basis, rather 

 than attempting to sort out responsibilities and authorities during a response 

 action. This has been done in several of the regions with good results; at 

 least names are now connected with telephone voices and faces. 



You have been given an overview of the National Contingency Plan, its 

 organization, and the agencies participating in its implementation. 



You have an important role and serious responsibilities involved in the 

 Federal response to an oil or chemical spill. 



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