[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 81 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10178]


[Federal Register: April 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 94-031]


Unified Command and Incident Command System

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
will be cosponsoring a workshop on the unified command and Incident 
Command System on May 20, 1994, in Alexandria, Virginia. The workshop 
will address issues relating to the unified command and Incident 
Command System and their use in oil and hazardous substance spill 
response. This notice announces the date, time and location of the 
workshop.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on May 20, 1994, from 9 a.m. to 
4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public workshop will be held at the Best Western Old 
Colony Inn, 625 1st Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Rhae Giacoma, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection (G-MEP-4), (202) 267-2616.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency 
Plan (40 CFR Part 300), required to be prepared and published by the 
President under 33 U.S.C. 1321(d), designated the U.S. Coast Guard and 
EPA as On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) for response to oil and hazardous 
substance spills. The Coast Guard is the designated OSC for coastal 
zone response; EPA is the designated OSC for the inland zone. 
Regulations issued by several agencies, including the Coast Guard, EPA 
and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), govern 
response efforts to oil and hazardous substance spills.
    OSHA regulations, ``Rules for Hazardous Waste Operations'' (29 CFR 
1910.120), require the implementation of an Incident Command System to 
effectively control and manage operations at an emergency site. The 
coverage of these regulations includes cleanup operations involving oil 
and hazardous substances. Revisions to the National Oil and Hazardous 
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan currently being considered 
include language describing the national response management structure 
as a ``unified command triangle'', where the OSC, a state-designated 
representative and a responsible party representative work together to 
achieve an effective and efficient response. This unified command 
response management structure is intended to meet OSHA requirements for 
an Incident Command System.
    There are several firefighting-based Incident Command Systems 
currently in use by local fire fighters around the country that are 
providing conflicting information as to the correct way to plan for 
spill response. This has caused confusion for oil and hazardous 
substance spill response planners attempting to develop an effective 
response structure.
    A number of On-Scene Coordinators, in guiding the Area Committees 
in the development of their Area Contingency Plans for pollution 
response, are attempting to develop a detailed response structure. Many 
are looking at the possibility of incorporating one of the 
firefighting-based Incident Command Systems into the response structure 
outlined in their Area Contingency Plans. Area Committees have raised 
questions regarding the best system for oil and hazardous substance 
spill response, or even whether use of these systems is appropriate. 
With increasing questions being raised, the Coast Guard and EPA decided 
to hold a public workshop to discuss the various issues relating to the 
unified command and Incident Command System and how they relate to oil 
and hazardous substance spill response.

Workshop Format and Schedule

    The workshop format will consist of a presentation by the Coast 
Guard and EPA on the national response management structure as outlined 
in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency 
Plan. This will be followed by a question and answer period and open 
discussion of the various issues relating to the unified command and 
Incident Command System as they relate to oil and hazardous substance 
spill response.

    Dated: April 19, 1994.
J.F. McGowan,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 94-10178 Filed 4-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M