Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Appendix 1-C: Important Reference Documents The National Preparedness System outlines an organized process for everyone in the community to move forward with their preparedness activities and achieve the National Preparedness Goal (NPG). The National Response Framework (NRF) is the nation’s comprehensive, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. It overviews key response principles, roles, and structures that guide national response. The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) is the federal government’s blueprint for responding to oil spills and hazardous substance releases. Key elements of the NCP include: The National Response Team (NRT) and Regional Response Teams (RRTs) are established to plan, coordinate, and provide guidance for responses at the national and regional levels. The National Response Center (NRC) is the central point for reporting all pollution incidents. The On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) is authorized to direct all response activities and submit reports on removal actions. A unified command structure is established for managing responses and coordinating personnel and resources from federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT), and responsible parties. Federal agencies have specific responsibilities and may provide assistance based on their expertise and capabilities. The NCP defines the objectives, authority, and scope of Federal Contingency Plans, including the NCP, Regional Contingency Plans (RCPs), and Area Contingency Plans (ACPs). National priorities and the general pattern of response are established, with special considerations for spills of national significance and worst-case discharges. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund provides funding for responses to oil releases, with the responsible party liable for federal removal costs and damages. The NCP Product Schedule lists dispersants and other products that may be used in response actions. The lead agency is authorized to initiate appropriate removal action for hazardous substance releases based on various threats and factors affecting public health or the environment. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) , also known as Superfund, has two primary focuses. First, it aims to clean up inactive hazardous waste sites. Second, it establishes the liability for cleanup costs on arrangers and transporters of hazardous substances, as well as on current and former owners of facilities where hazardous substances were disposed. The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 streamlined and strengthened the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil can clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so. Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) sets the requirements for facilities that manufacture, process, or store certain hazardous or toxic chemicals of certain thresholds on-site. It requires them to report annually to the state and local governments and report any accidental releases in a timely manner. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from cradle to grave. This includes generating, transporting, treating, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste. RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 requires industry to report on the storage, use, and release of certain chemicals to federal and STLT governments. It also requires these reports to be used to prepare for and protect their communities from potential risks.
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