**4C-HO-2, NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN BRIEFING PAPER**

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**USDA Forest Service**

**Fire and Aviation Management**

### Briefing Paper

###  Date: December 3, 2004

**Topic:** National Response Plan (NRP)

**Issue:** Forest Service (FS) responsibilities in the NRP

**Background:** The Homeland Security Act and Homeland Security
Presidential Directive #5 (HSPD-5) mandated the development of a
National Response Plan (NRP) predicated on the new National Incident
Management System (NIMS). The NRP and NIMS are intended to provide the
structure that coordinates the capabilities and resources of the federal
government and private sector into a unified national approach to
emergency management. The NRP replaces the Federal Response Plan (FRP).

**Key Points:**

The NRP consists of the following sections:

-   The Basic Plan provides the structure and the process for a national
    approach to incident management. It includes planning assumptions,
    concepts of operations, incident management actions, roles and
    responsibilities, authorities and implementation guidance.

-   Emergency Support Function (ESF) Annexes provide detailed
    descriptions of the mission, policies, structure and
    responsibilities of Federal agencies for coordinating resources and
    support.

-   Support Annexes provide guidance and describe functional processes
    and specific administrative requirements needed to implement NRP
    incident management objectives.

-   Incident Annexes describe the mission, policies, concepts of
    operations, and responsibilities in specific Incidents of National
    Significance scenarios.

The FS is the primary agency for Emergency Support Function #4 -
Firefighting.

ESF #4 - Firefighting manages and coordinates firefighting activities,
including the detection and suppression of fires on Federal lands, and
provides personnel, equipment, and supplies in support of State, local,
and tribal agencies involved in rural and urban fire fighting
operations.

In addition, the FS is a support agency for 11 of the 15 Emergency
Support Functions in the NRP.

The following attachment describes the ESF support activities the FS may
be tasked to provide during a national emergency and the information
contained within the Support and Incident annex sections of the NRP.

**Contact:** John Schulte, Disaster and Emergency Operations,
505-842-3252

**National Response Plan (NRP), Emergency Support Function (ESF)
Annexes**

The ESF's provide the structure for coordinating Federal interagency
support for Incidents of National Significance. The ESF structure
includes mechanisms used to provide Federal support to States and
Federal-to-Federal support, both for declared disasters and emergencies
under the Stafford Act and for non-Stafford Act incidents.

# **The FS support responsibilities for the following Emergency Support Functions are:**

# 

# **Emergency Support Function #1 -- Transportation** 

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide staffing to the
    National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) ESF #1 and the Regional
    Response Coordination Center (RRCC) ESF #1 (air space coordinator,
    aviation management specialist, etc) when requested. In addition, FS
    may be requested to provide transportation assets when FS assets are
    the most effective method.

-   No change for FS from the Federal Response Plan (FRP).

-   DOI is also listed as a support agency. DOI may be tasked to provide
    staffing, transportation assets, support resources (mechanics,
    pilots etc.) and aviation safety teams.

**Emergency Support Function #2 -- Communications**

-   As support agencies, FS and DOI may be tasked to provide
    telecommunications support to ESF #2 through assets located at the
    National Interagency Fire Center. Support services include:
    Providing radio communications systems for support of incident
    response operations; Provide engineers, technical personnel, and
    liaison staff; Provide National Interagency Radio Support systems
    for use by damage reconnaissance teams to report information from
    the incident area to the Joint Field Office (JFO); Provide a
    communications officer to accompany radio systems for the purpose of
    user training and operator maintenance indoctrination; and Provide
    additional radio systems required for the establishment of a JFO
    radio net.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

**Emergency Support Function #3 -- Public Works and Engineering**

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide engineering and
    contracting/procurement personnel and equipment to assist in
    emergency removal of debris, demolition, repair of roads and
    bridges, temporary repair of essential public facilities, and water
    supply.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is also a support to this ESF under the NRP and may be tasked
    for similar support.

# **Emergency Support Function #5 -- Emergency Management (new functions)**

-   All federal agencies are listed as support agencies to this ESF.
    Support agencies may be tasked to provide personnel to the Emergency
    Response Team (ERT), JFO, RRCC, or NRCC, and to assist ESF
    operations and provide reports to ESF #5.

-   This is a change from the FRP. Impacts to the FS are unknown at this
    time as this ESF has not been fully developed at FEMA.

# **Emergency Support Function #6 -- Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services** 

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide available
    departmental resources (e.g., cots, blankets, sleeping bags,
    personnel) for shelters and logistical guidance and support.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is listed as a support agency to provide similar items.

# **Emergency Support Function #7 -- Resource Support** 

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide staff and support
    for mobilization centers.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is not listed as a support agency.

# **Emergency Support Function #8 -- Public Health and Medical Services** 

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide personnel,
    equipment, and supplies to support deployed Federal health and
    medical teams in a disaster area.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is not listed as a support agency.

# **Emergency Support Function #9 -- Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)**

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide equipment and
    supplies from the Interagency Cache System and to allow use of
    Interagency Fire Center contract aircraft.

-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is not listed as a support agency.

# 

# **Emergency Support Function #10 -- Oil and Hazardous Materials Response** 

-   As a support agency, FS may be tasked to provide support activities.
    Support activities may include: Measure, evaluate, and monitor the
    impact of the emergency incident on natural resources under USDA's
    jurisdiction, primarily the national forests; Provide predictions of
    the effects of pollutants on soil and their movements over and
    through soil; Assists in developing protective measures and damage
    assessments; Provide technical assistance and logistical support.

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-   No change for FS from the FRP.

-   DOI is also listed as a support agency to this ESF.

# **Emergency Support Function #11 -- Agriculture and Natural Resources (new functions)**

-   FS is not addressed as a support agency for this ESF although we may
    be tasked by USDA for assistance.

-   DOI is listed as a support agency to this ESF. DOI may be tasked to
    provide Incident Management Teams in support of a response involving
    Natural and Cultural Resources and Historic Properties (NCH).

-   These are new additions to this ESF under the NRP

# **Emergency Support Function #12 -- Energy** 

-   FS is not addressed as a support agency for this ESF.

-   DOI is listed as a support agency to this ESF.

# **Emergency Support Function #13 -- Public Safety and Security (new ESF)**

-   FS may be tasked to provide trained personnel and security
    resources, and, as appropriate, Federal public safety and security
    authorities for areas under their jurisdiction.

-   This is a new ESF under the NRP.

-   DOI is listed as a support agency to provide similar items.

# **Emergency Support Function #14 -- Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation (new ESF)**

# FS is not addressed as a support agency for this ESF.

-   This is a new ESF under the NRP.

-   DOI is listed as a support agency to this ESF.

# **Emergency Support Function #15 -- External Communications (new ESF)**

-   Depending on the nature, and scope of the incident, all Federal
    Departments and Agencies support the NRP and are responsible for
    providing appropriate support for ESF #15 as required.

-   This is a new ESF under the NRP. Impacts to the FS are unknown at
    this time as this ESF has not been fully developed at FEMA.

**National Response Plan (NRP), Support Annexes**

The Support Annexes describe the framework through which Federal
departments and agencies coordinate incident management. The actions
described in the Support Annexes are not limited to particular types of
events but are overarching in nature and applicable to nearly every type
of incident. The support annexes address the following areas:

1.  **Financial Management:** Provides basic financial management
    guidance for all participants in NRP activities.

2.  **International Coordination:** Provides guidance for international
    coordination in support of the Federal Government's response to a
    domestic Incident of National Significance.

3.  **Logistics Management:** Provides an overview of the overall
    logistics management function for Incidents of National
    Significance.

    -   FS is addressed in this annex as a support agency to logistics
        activities at Mobilization Centers.

4.  **Private-Sector Coordination:** Describes the policies,
    responsibilities for Federal incident management activities
    involving the private sector during Incidents of National
    Significance.

5.  **Public Affairs:** Describes the interagency policies and
    procedures used to mobilize Federal assets to coordinate messages to
    the public in response to Incidents of National Significance.

6.  **Science and Technology:** Describes the national framework through
    which DHS-Science and Technology Directorate (DHS/S&T) coordinates
    with other Federal agencies.

7.  **Tribal Relations:** Describes the policies and responsibilities
    for coordinating Federal incident management activities with tribal
    governments and communities during Incidents of National
    Significance.

8.  **Volunteer and Donations Management:** Describes the coordinating
    processes used to ensure utilization of unaffiliated volunteers and
    unsolicited donated goods during Incidents of National Significance.

9.  **Worker Safety and Health:** Provides guidelines for implementing
    worker safety and health support functions during Incidents of
    National Significance.

**National Response Plan (NRP), Incident Annexes**

The Incident Annexes address contingency or hazard situations requiring
specialized application of the NRP. The Incident Annexes address the
following situations:

1.  **Biological Incident:** Outline the actions and responsibilities
    associated with a disease outbreak of known or unknown origin
    requiring Federal assistance.

2.  **Catastrophic Incident:** Establishes the strategy for implementing
    and coordinating a national response to a catastrophic incident. A
    more detailed and operationally specific NRP Catastrophic Incident
    Supplement (NRP-CIS) that is designated "For Official Use Only" will
    be approved and published independently of the NRP Base Plan and
    annexes.

-   FS is addressed in the NRP-CIS. Response activities and
    responsibilities include mobilization of IMT's, sourcing of agency
    owned aircraft, activating Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and
    conducting Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) Code Red
    requirements.

3.  **Cyber Incident:** Discusses policies and responsibilities for a
    cyber Incidents of National Significance impacting critical national
    processes and the national economy.

4.  **Food and Agriculture Incident:** (not published at this time.)

5.  **Nuclear/Radiological Incident:** Provides an organized and
    integrated capability for a response by Federal agencies to
    terrorist incidents involving nuclear or radioactive materials.

6.  **Oil and Hazardous Materials Incident:** Describes roles and
    responsibilities for managing oil and hazardous materials incidents.

7.  **Terrorism Incident/Law Enforcement and Investigation:** Describes
    the Federal law enforcement and investigative response to all
    threats or acts of terrorism within the United States.