B. In the event that the responsible party does not respond, it will 

 then be the responsibility of the U.S. Coast Guard (in coastal 

 waters) or the EPA (on inland waters). 



C. Chemical dispersants are not to be used without prior approval 

 from the OSC, the Department of Environmental Regulation, and the 

 EPA. Authorization will be on a case-by-case basis. 



D. The State will contract for removal of pollutants or cleanup 

 operations if the responsible party does not respond, if the U.S. 

 Coast Guard does not respond, or if the cleanup operations are not 

 satisfactory. If or when it becomes the responsibility of the 

 Department to contract for cleanup operations, the following ques- 

 tions should be considered: 



1. Can the local county supply the manpower and equipment? 



2. Is there a Florida Spillage Co-op in the region? 



3. Are there third party contractors within the region? 



E. All pollutants and contaminated debris, regarjless of who performs 

 the removal, must be disposed of in an area approved by the Florida 

 Department of Environmental Regulation. 



III. Damages 



Any person claiming to have suffered damages as a result of a discharge 

 of pollutants may apply within 12 months after the cause of action 

 occurred. Damage claim forms are to be furnished by the regional 

 office. Whenever a discharge occurs and there is a responsible party, 

 the claimant's legal agents or insurance agents must be identified. 

 In the majority of spills, the responsible party is known, and damage 

 claims can be coordinated through this party's insurer. Spills of 

 unknown origin that cause damage should.be handled in the following 

 way: 



A. The party suffering damages should request a damage claim form. 

 Whenever a claim form is submitted, an investigation is conducted 

 to ascertain the validity of the claim. 



B. Estimates are needed for the cost of work in the area in which 

 damages occurred, e.g., cost per foot for hauling or hourly rate 

 for hauling. 



IV. Reports 



The following reports are to be completed on all spills investigated 

 by the Department: 



A. Preliminary Report. 



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