FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



POLLUTION RESPONSE PLAN 



FOR OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 



Columbus H. Brown 



National Pollution Response Coordinator 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 



Washington, D.C. 



INTRODUCTION 



The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is responsible for the protection, 

 conservation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources and their habi- 

 tats through the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Fish and 

 Wildlife Coordination Act, National Wildlife Refuge Act, Anadromous Fish Con- 

 servation Act, Great Lakes Fishery Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and 

 other Federal laws. The FWS manages migratory bird populations and fisheries 

 through an extensive network of National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish 

 Hatcheries; and provides through its various Offices and Divisions technical 

 assistance to other government agencies, industry, academic institutions, and 

 private citizens to promote conservation and preservation of fish and wild- 

 life resources and their habitats. 



Oil spill incidents occur at a frequency of 10,000 annually in the 

 United States (USCG 1978). Though the number of hazardous substances spills 

 is not readily available from current statistics, a recent report by the 

 Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works estimates approximately 3,500 

 incidents involving chemicals on an annual basis (1978). Approximately 1,700 

 of these spills reach navigable waters each year. 



Incidents of oil and hazardous substances spills tend to be most fre- 

 quent in areas that sensitive fish and wildlife populations inhabit or those 

 where abundant populations once resided. The FWS expends considerable effort 

 to preserve sensitive fish and wildlife habitats from land and water develop- 

 ment and energy production activities; however, these habitats remain vulner- 

 able to accidental spills. Included are those habitats which are noted as 

 important spawning areas for fish, those critical to endangered species, and 

 those essential to migratory bird populations. 



AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 



Oil and hazardous substances spills intrude upon the mandates of many 

 Federal, State, and local agencies. The "National Oil and Hazardous Sub- 

 stances Pollution Contingency Plan" (40 CFR 1510) provides a mechanism for 

 coordinating Federal, State, and local actions to minimize damages from oil 



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