[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