in regional and local contingency planning and identifying key concerns in 

 local plans early on, these priorities will remain clear and fewer emergency 

 decisions will have to be made. As a result, less time will be required for 

 FWS response. 



Cost Recovery, Reimbursement, and Documentation 



The primary responsibility for cleanup resides with the spiller. If the 

 spiller is doing an adequate job of cleaning up, then the FWS's role is 

 limited to monitoring. Under these circumstances the FWS has to utilize its 

 resources and funding to protect, conserve, and enhance fish and wildlife 

 resources. The FWS Program Managers have all agreed that this is a worth- 

 while cost to be absorbed. It is also an incentive for polluters to clean 

 up their spills. 



If a spill occurs, and Federal or partial Federal cleanup is necessary, 

 reimbursement from the National Pollution Revolving Fund may be authorized 

 by the OSC. Such expenditures as per diem travel, overtime, equipment, and 

 supplies are covered by the Revolving Fund in accordance with 33 CFR 153. 

 Additional expenditures may be granted with prior approval from the OSC. 



The FWS has a responsibility to document all of its costs during spill 

 incidents in addition to noting environmental damages. Such information is 

 essential to receiving reimbursement for FWS expenditures on Federal spills 

 but, more importantly, to assess the spiller for damages incurred. As 

 stated in the preceding presentation, it is this information that is collected 

 during the time of spill response that is of utmost concern when legal cases 

 are pursued against spillers. The FWS has a responsibility to record its 

 actions during its response to pollution incidents so that they will be de- 

 fensible later. 



CONCLUSION 



The FUS responded to over 350 oil and hazardous substances spills during 

 Fiscal Year 1978. As of this workshop the FWS had already exceeded that num- 

 ber during Fiscal Year 1979. This is testimony to the need for more involve- 

 ment by the FWS in responding to oil and hazardous substances spills and the 

 commitment to be on the vanguard in protecting natural resources. The im- 

 plementation of the FWS Pollution Response Plan has undoubtedly contributed 

 substantially to sustaining the quality of sensitive fish and wildlife habi- 

 tats for continued uses by populations that require them. 



REFERENCES 



Committee on Environment and Public Works. 1978. Oil pollution liability and 

 compensation. S. Rep. No. 95-1152, 95th Cong., 2nd Session 6. 



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