Oil companies and other organizations handling oil and other hazardous 

 materials have been provided with an emergency toll-free telephone number 

 for reporting spills to the California State Office of Emergency Services. 

 When a spill, regardless of magnitude, occurs anywhere in California or in 

 the ocean contiguous to the State, the spill is reported by the responsible 

 party or by any observer to the Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento. 

 This office has a standby procedure for alerting State agencies that may have 

 responsibilities related to the spill. 



In all cases, a uniformed officer from the California Department of Fish 



and Game goes to the scene and estimates the magnitude of the spill and its 



potential adverse effects. If the spill poses a substantial threat to public 



health or welfare or to living resources, arouses public concern, or is likely 

 to be beyond the control of personnel or equipment of local organizations, 



he will recommend to the State Operating Authority that a pollution incident 

 be declared. 



The decision as to whether to contact the State Operating Authority rests 

 upon the judgment of the officer, rather than being tied to a factor of the 

 specific number of gallons spilled. If, in the judgment of the officer, the 

 extent and character of the spill do not warrant the declaration of a pollution 

 incident, the officer will investigate the cause and monitor the containment 

 and removal of the oil. 



When a pollution incident is declared: 



The State Operating Authority appoints a State agency coordinator. 

 The coordinator is a single State official who delegates mission 

 assignments to State agencies. He is usually a ranking officer 

 of the California Department of Fish and Game, who has command 

 experience and expertise in the containment and removal of 

 spilled oil. He has the added responsibility of coordinating 

 the State's efforts with the Federal agency coordinator, who 

 usually is a ranking Coast Guard officer. 



The State agency coordinator activates the designated public 

 information officer; the area Office of Emergency Services, 

 to coordinate local government input; and the Regional Water 

 Quality Control Board, to designate disposal sites and to 

 advise water users of the incident. 



Local Department of Fish and Game personnel establish a State 

 operations center near the spill location and the Federal 

 operations center. The State center serves as the State's 

 command and information center for the duration of the pollution 

 incident. 



Other members of the 13 agencies represented on the State 

 operating team are activated through the State agency coordinator 

 when their involvement is apparent or a need for their assistance 

 arises. 



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