NCJ Number
189841
Date Published
July 1997
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article provides an overview of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Response System (NRS).
Abstract
The NRS is a Federal mechanism to prepare for and respond to hazardous materials releases. This multi-agency/multi-level system, whose primary objective is to support State and local responses, has been in existence for almost 30 years. Organization and components include Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on-scene coordinators (OSCs), regional response teams, EPA removal managers, other Federal agency OSCs, and response contractor support. Federal on-scene coordinators ensure proper notification, direct and coordinate all response efforts at site, maintain final decision-making authority, and ensure access to information by other interested, relevant parties. Special resources include Special Forces such as the Environmental Response Team (ERT) and the National Strike Force, and research, contract, and radiological laboratories. EPA’s ERT is a customized multi-disciplinary team of technical experts and includes equipment and resources and training at the Environmental Response Center. The ERT maintains an “around the clock” emergency response activation system and assists regions and other Federal agencies in responding to environmental emergencies and uncontrolled hazardous materials incidents. ERT also provides technical expertise on water and air quality criteria, health and safety protocols, ecological risk assessments, and other environmental concerns. Typical types of response actions carried out under the NRS include site safety plan development, sample collection and analysis, on-site treatment, and off-site disposal or treatment. The following response actions are not typically conducted by EPA or NRS agencies: disposal of non-hazardous waste; blood or medical waste cleanup; and oil spills that do not threaten surface water.