also in the planning process may be summarized as follows: to provide a 

 member or alternate member on the NRT and RRT, to develop and implement re- 

 gional response capabilities for the protection of endangered species, 

 wildlife, and fisheries resources and their associated habitats; and, to 

 coordinate Federal response activities should a FWS representative be the 

 first Federal person on the scene. 



It is often necessary for FWS personnel to temporarily coordinate 

 Federal response to spills when incidents occur on lands managed by the FWS 

 or when spills occur in areas in which a FWS representative is the closest 

 Federal official. 



The FWS shares additional spill responsibilities with the States and 

 other Federal agency representatives. In cooperation with State and other 

 Federal agency representatives the FWS has responsibility: to prepare for, 

 oversee, and/or implement dispersal of wildlife from areas contaminated by 

 or threatened by pollution discharges; to determine how, by whom, and where 

 contaminated endangered species and wildlife under FWS jurisdiction will be 

 handled in the event of a spill; to provide the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) 

 with recommendations of actions for protection of fish and wildlife re- 

 sources, including, but not limited to endangered species, migratory birds, 

 marine mammals, estuarine and inland fisheries and their habitats; and, 

 to assist in documenting environmental damage caused by oil and hazardous 

 substances discharges for use in legal actions and in predicting' impacts of 

 future discharges. 



Criteria for FWS Response 



The number of spills occurring in U.S. waters far exceeds the capability 

 of the FWS to respond to all incidents. Criteria have been developed for re- 

 sponse actions that will provide the necessary protection of fish and wild- 

 life resources and their habitats during pollution emergencies. Through pre- 

 spill planning we are able to respond to these spills in which sensitive fish 

 and wildlife resources stand to be damaged and where populations stand to be 

 jeopardized. 



The FWS responds to all major oil spills and others in which there is 

 potential for impacts to natural resources. The size classes of oil spills 

 are noted in Table 1. The size classification of a spill may be elevated 

 by its relative threat to the public health which includes fish and wildlife. 

 The size of a spill alone is not indicative of the resulting threat of 

 damages to fish and wildlife resources and habitats. The nature of the oil, 

 the time of year, the location of the spill, climatological factors, and 

 other elements will affect the vulnerability of fish and wildlife resources 

 and habitats to oil spills. 



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