1. NW Area Committee
We represent the interagency coordinating body at the regional level. The RRT and NWAC. These two groups are required under the NCP and OPA. This slide shows all the agencies that we count as our members.

2. What is an Area Committee?
Interagency group charged with pre-planning for oil spills
Comprised of any player who has a role in oil spill response
Spatial boundaries defined by EPA/USCG
Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(4)(A)

3. Who is on an Area Committee?
Fire Department
Tribes
Local Health Dist.
Industry
NGOs
Private Citizens
State Police
State Health Department
State Env. Reg.
USCG
EPA
NOAA
DOI
DoD, DOE, etc.
Area Committee members include anyone who has a role in oil spill response. 3

4. What is an Area Contingency Plan?
A local/regional blueprint for oil (and hazmat) response
Contact information
Policy decisions
Sensitive resource information
Local/Regional response resources
Mandated by OPA 90 Section 4202(C) 4

5. Response Ramp Up
Local Fire/Hazmat Team responses, generally rely on mutual aid from nearby jurisdictions;
State responders provide secondary response support, if needed;
Federal responders provide the backstop by providing response support to the locals and State, if resources and funding is exhausted or unavailable
During an actual response, specific State and Federal agencies are available as secondary responders. Their requirement is to:
Support local responders as requested
Fulfill statutory requirements to protect human health and the environment

6. Response Support
When local capabilities and/or funds are overwhelmed, NWAC agencies could provide surge capacity and expertise
When federally protected natural resources are impacted, NWAC agencies may be obligated to respond
RRT/NWAC Goal: Strong relationships and understanding of roles/responsibilities ahead of time to ensure good coordination during the incident
How does it work, really?
State and Federal resources provide surge capacity and funding when local resources are overwhelmed.
We come in and integrate with existing incident management. Ideally we enter into unified command with the other primary response entities.
We all know that strong relationships and accurate expectations are key to good coordination during the incident. The NWAC works to build those two features.
We document that work in the NWACP.
Another way we support response is to enable “local capacity building” by funding training for locals. Let us know if you have specific needs.

7. Examples of “Surge” SILVERTIP PIPELINE SPILL Funding
Specialized equipment/capability
Air monitoring
Government to Government Tribal Coordination
Cleanup Contractors

8. Who supports locals during a Response?
Marine
State
Inland

9. Northwest Area Committee Federal State Tribal Local Non-Profit
Industry
Members are any entity with response interest in region. This includes all RRT members as well as county and city agencies and the private sector.
Regional Response
Team 10
Federal
State
Tribal
Member agencies are identified in NCP. Each of 15 Federal Agencies and State Lead Agency have one vote when the RRT assembles during a response.
NW Area Committee
US EPA, R10
USCG, Sector Seattle
USCG, Sector Portland
RRT 10
US EPA, R10
USCG, D-13
I know the RRT and NWAC relationship is confusing. Let’s summarize it.
In R10, these groups meet together.

10. Regional Response Team
NW Area Committee
The pre-planning done by the RRT and NWAC is contained in the NWACP. This plan outlines how the federal and state agencies will coordinate during a response. If Washington requests assistance, we will provide it within the structure and policies that are agreed to in this plan.
Regional Response Team

11. NWACP Concept of Operations
Rapid notification of Federal, State, and local governments to permit assessment and response, if necessary
National Response Center,
Relies on the principle of escalation
Utilizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) principles
These are some underlying concepts that run through the entire plan.
We rely on spillers or witnesses to rapidly self-report. Since we have no network of people watching for spills, we require individuals and facilities to call spills into the NRC, and from there we can implement our call down procedures and let everyone know who needs to know.
The Principle of Escalation is that an incident should be handled at the most local level possible. The majority of spills are handled by locals, and this plan is not implemented to deal with them.
Unified Command – FOCS, SOSC, TOSC, LOSC, RPOSC

12. Unified Command Diagram Directly from NWACP, Page 2000-2
Note: The timeframe for this structure will follow the initial response by first responders.
FOSC
This is how we anticipate Local Incident Commanders and Tribal Incident Commanders being included.
Please note: we realize that this structure does not apply to the initial response conducted by first responders.
I’d also mention that the reason the FOSC is at the top is because statutorily, we are responsible for “managing” NCP responses.
SOSC
RPIC
Tribal/
other OSC
LOSC

13. Concept of Operations, cont.
Provides for access to considerable resources and expertise as situations requires
Covers all spills regardless of nature, cause or source
oil and hazmat
fixed facility and transportation
inland and coastal
natural and man-made disasters

14. Useful NWACP Tools For oil spills on water with GRPs
Clearwater/Lochsa, Spokane, Pend Oreille
For large incidents
Contact information for State and Federal Resources
Technical response resources
For local contingency planning
Information on State and Federal capabilities (equipment, expertise, funding)
Reference for role State and Feds are ready to fill
GRPs have information you need to make a response more effective, in an easy to use format. Just pull the GRP for the correct location, and head to the field.
ICS – If asked to fill an ICS position you’re unfamiliar with, turn to the appropriate section fo the plan, and you will find position-specific roles and responsibilities.
Local Planning – make sure local plans integrate with State and Federal plans. We want to make sure you know what we can provide, and what we can’t provide.
Technical Reference – In Planning Section, information on …????

15. Purpose of the GRP’s
Prioritize natural, cultural and significant economic resources
Allow for immediate and proper action
First responders know what actions to take
Includes:
Area maps
Prioritized booming strategies
Access points
Staging areas
This meets the OPA 90 requirement for pre-planning, and has been completed for the following rivers in Idaho:

16. WHAT IS A GRP?
A response orientated contingency plan providing the framework for initial response decisions
SPR 99.5
Spokane River Waters below Post Falls Dam , Collection, 600ft
Protecting: Downstream habitat; freshwater wildlife
Notify City of Post Falls Parks Department: River speeds may warrant use of shorter sections of boom and cascade configuration. Visited and Not Tested 09/2009
SPR N
Spokane River Waters above Post Falls Dam
Notification : Energy/Power Generation Water Intakes – Post Falls Dam
Call Avista GCC at

17. Direct input route: Task Forces Steering Committee NW Area Committee
Gov. Agencies
NW Area Committee
US EPA, R10
USCG, Sector Seattle
USCG, Sector Portland
Non-Profits
Contractors
Industry
Public
Task Forces
Steering Committee
RRT 10
US EPA, R10
USCG, D-13
2012 Task Forces:
Places of Refuge
Derelict Vessels
Shoreline Cleanup (SCAT)
Cultural and Historic Preservation
Dispersants and In Situ Burn
General Community Outreach
GRPs/Advanced Recovery
Wildlife Task Force
We talked about the RRT being a subset of the Area Committee. Duet o overlapping missions and the shared NWACP, the 2 groups work through one steering committee and one set of workgroups.
The RRT/NWAC identifies gaps in the plan. Workgroups conduct planning to fill the gaps. Workgroups are made up of ____________
Standing workgroups are ___________

18. NWAC Plan Evolves and Responders are Informed
“Integration with Reality”
GRP Workshops
NW Area Committee
US EPA, R10
USCG, Sector Seattle
USCG, Sector Portland
Exercises
Drills
Outreach
RRT 10
US EPA, R10
USCG, D-13
Fro the plan to reflect reality, and be useable to responders, there has to be a lot of two-way communications between the public, responders, and the planners. Here are some ways that the plan breaths and evolves _______________________
NWAC Meetings
Annual Plan Review

19. How to get the plan, and connect with the NWAC
Josie Clark Heather Parker
RRT10 Coordinator, EPA RRT10 Coordinator, USCG