water quality standards and other controls over pollution and main- 

 taining controls over certain uses or modifications of the estuarine zone ; 



(7) Coordinating Federal estuarine and coastal management activi- 

 ties, and providing means for integrating these with those of State, local, 

 and regional agencies; 



(8) Monitoring developments in coastal areas and evaluating the 

 effectiveness of the national program — in cooperation with States; and 



(9) Assuring adequate consideration for the protection of estuarine 

 values in the formulation of river basin development programs by rec- 

 ognizing the impacts of upstream water quality and related land re- 

 source development on the estuaries. 



Specific recommendations for legislation and other action to carry out 

 the national p>olicy and achieve these goals were submitted in the study. 



The National Multi-Agency Oil and Hazardous Materials Pollution Con- 

 tingency Plan of 1968 established a pattern for a coordinated response among 

 the Departments of the Interior, Transportation, Commerce, Defense, and 

 Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Office of Emergency Preparedness 

 in the event of a pollution emergency. The Department of the Interior is 

 responsible for administering, developing, and revising the plan. Through 

 national and regional plans, the expertise of all agencies involved are brought 

 to bear in case of an emergency. 



The plan provides for a National Inter- Agency Committee concerned with 

 plans and policies for response to pollution incidents. It develops procedures 

 for the coordinated reaction not only of Federal agencies, but also State, 

 local, and private groups. The Committee reviews regional plans, reports 

 on the handling of major or unusual incidents, and makes recommendations 

 on training, research, equipment stockpiling, and other matters to assure 

 preparedness. 



A National Operations Center is maintained as are several regional cen- 

 ters. The National Center monitors reports of pollution incidents received 

 from regional operations centers. If an incident exceeds the capability of a 

 regional group, is interregional, or becomes a major hazard to life, property, 

 or national security, a National Joint Operations Team can be activated to 

 provide advisory assistance and coordination. 



Actual direction of pollution control efforts during an incident rests with 

 a predesignated on-scene commander. The Coast Guard is assigned the re- 

 sponsibility of furnishing on-scene commanders for coastal waters, the Great 

 Lakes, and major inland navigable waters; the Department of the Interior 

 will provide commanders for other areas. Response to a pollution incident 

 may pass through several phases, depending upon the severity of the situation. 

 Initial discovery and notification may be followed by containment and 

 countermeasures ; cleanup, restoration, and disposal; and finally, recovery 

 of damages and enforcement. 



Santa Barbara Oil Spill 



A recent example of the plan in action was offered in the activity following 

 the Santa Barbara offshore oil spill. 



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