U.S. Navy Ship Salvage Manual Volume 6 - Oil Spill Response

S0300-A6-MAN-060The NOSC may assume direct control of response activities when an oil spill exceeds theresponse capability of a NOSCDR, affects areas beyond Navy property, is catastrophic or for anyother reason. This may be done, for example, to harmonize response operations between two adjacentNOSCDRs.1-5.1.3 On-Scene Operations Team (OSOT). The OSOT is the NOSCDR’s team of trained personnelwho make the initial response to an oil spill. Their goal is to control and contain the spill.Personnel from the waterfront near potential spill areas typically make up the team. The secondmajor effort of the OSOT is to remove oil and clean up after the spill. Environmental restorationstarted by the OSOT usually requires personnel and equipment from and coordination with otheragencies, particularly the EPA Remedial Program Manager. The NOSCDR or NOSC supportstaff provides safety, health, security, public affairs and legal personnel services to the OSOT. Asan alternative to forming OSOTs from military personnel or DOD employees, NOSCDRs maymake arrangements to access commercial response personnel, including in-place contracts,arrangements to utilize Coast Guard or EPA Basic Ordering Agreements or other mechanisms. Insome instances, naval installations may participate in oil spill response cooperatives. Spillresponse cooperatives are defined in Paragraph 3-3.5.1-5.2 Navy Fleet (Offshore) Spill Response Organization. In additions to their responsibilitiesas shoreside area coordinators, CINCPACFLT and CINCLANTFLT are charged with establishingoil and hazardous spill contingency plans and response policies within their ocean operatingareas. Numbered fleet commanders function as fleet NOSCs under the Fleet CINCs. Fleet NOSCshave responsibilities generally similar to those of shoreside NOSCs with several important differences:• In waters outside U.S. jurisdiction, the NOSC does not function as the FOSC and nocoordination with the NRT or RRT is required.• Fleet NOSCs must coordinate responses with shoreside NOSCs and RRTs when a spilloccurs within or threatens U.S. coastal waters (12-nautical mile zone).• Fleet NOSCs must ensure required foreign government notifications are made andcoordinate responses with foreign government response organizations when a spilloccurs within or threatens foreign territorial waters.Fleet NOSCs designate at least one fleet NOSCDR to provide operational assistance for large orcomplex fleet-originated oil spills. The fleet NOSCDRs are normally fleet salvage unit commanders.Fleet NOSCDRs oversee response efforts for Navy OHS spills within preassigned areas andsupport the fleet NOSC for Navy response in other areas.Navy ships are required to have personnel prepared to initiate immediate actions to mitigateeffects of a spill. COMNAVSEASYSCOM has developed a shipboard oil spill cleanup and containmentkit to provide a quick “first aid” response. The cognizant fleet or shoreside NOSCDRwill mobilize appropriate response assets and direct response actions for spills beyond the ship’slimited capability.1-12