and hazardous substances pollution discharges. These actions include con- 

 tainment, dispersal, and removal of the pollutant. The plan also provides 

 for protection and conservation of fish and wildlife populations and their 

 habitats. 



The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has been assigned major re- 

 sponsibilities under the National Contingency Plan. DOI is a primary member 

 of the National Response Team (NRT), Regional Response Teams (RRT's) and 

 Local Response Teams. In accordance with provisions of the National Contin- 

 gency Plan, the FWS published its Pollution Response Plan for Oil and Hazard - 

 ous Substances in 1977. This plan has been augmented by the development of 

 FWS Regional Pollution Response Plans. I shall highlight the provisions of 

 the FWS Pollution Response Plan. 



FWS POLLUTION RESPONSE PLAN 



The Pollution Response Plan provides guidelines for meeting FWS respon- 

 sibilities under the National Contingency Plan. Guidance is provided within 

 a matrix to augment rapid decisionmaking for the protection and conservation 

 of fish and wildlife resources and their habitats during pollution emergencies. 



FWS Pollution Incident Notification and Coordination 



The pollution incident notification and coordination process is perhaps 

 the most important aspect of the Pollution Response Plan. Once the FWS is 

 notified of a pollution incident it is imperative that the appropriate per- 

 sonnel are advised of the potential threat to fish and wildlife resources 

 and habitats immediately. 



Figure 1 provides a flowchart of notification and coordination pathways 

 for FWS response to pollution incidents. This illustration provides for a 

 tiered notification and coordination pathway limiting the number of contacts 

 necessary by the Field Response Coordinator (FRC), Regional Pollution Response 

 Coordinator (RPRC), and the National Pollution Response Coordinator to a 

 manageable number in view of the plans which they may need to implement to 

 protect and conserve fish and wildlife resources. Regional Pollution Re- 

 sponse Plans have been developed to facilitate the coordination of FWS activi- 

 ties during spill emergencies within each FWS Region. 



Responsibilities of FWS 



Although prevention is recognized as the best method for reducing im- 

 pacts to fish and wildlife resources and their habitats from oil and hazard- 

 ous substances, additional spill incidents are likely to continue at high 

 levels. The FWS involves itself in prespill planning and actual spill re- 

 sponse to limit the impacts of oil and hazardous spills on fish and wildlife 

 resources. The responsibilities of the FWS once spill incidents occur and 



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