National Response System

Are You Ready?

More Than 30,000 

Environmental Emergencies 

Occur Each Year

 Leadership. Partnerships. Solutions.
The National Response System

Each year, our environment and communities are threatened by more than 

30,000 hazardous chemical releases, oil discharges, and other toxic spills. 

The National Response System (NRS) ensures that these threats are 

effectively managed through its network of people, plans, and resources. The 

NRS comprises federal, state, and local governments that work together to 

protect Americans from threats to our land, air, and water. 

The NRS is described in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances 

Pollution Contingency Plan, or NCP, found in 40 C.F.R. part 300.

The NRS comprises federal, state, and local 

governments that work together to protect Americans 

from threats to our land, air, and water.

The FOSC coordinates or directs on-scene response 

resources and efforts during a pollution incident.

Key Components of 

the National Response 

System

Leadership

Federal On-Scene Coordinators 

(FOSCs)

The FOSC is a key player during an oil 

or hazardous chemical emergency. The 

FOSC coordinates or directs on-scene 

response resources and efforts during 

a pollution incident. Actions may include 

sampling and monitoring, controlling the 

source of the release, on-site treatment, 

and off-site waste disposal. The FOSC also 

oversees area planning, provides access to 

the expertise of the NRS federal member 

agencies, and is a valuable source of support and information to the local response 

community. The FOSC is pre-designated by 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) for inland areas and by the U.S. 

Coast Guard (USCG) for coastal areas. 

There are more than 250 EPA and USCG 

FOSCs located throughout the U.S.

The Department of Defense and the 

Department of Energy provide FOSCs for 

hazardous substance pollution incidents at 

their facilities or under their jurisdiction. 

Regional Response Teams (RRTs)

The RRTs ensure that the multi-agency 

resources and expertise of the NRS are 

available to support the FOSC as needed 

during a pollution incident. There are 13 

RRTs, one for each of the ten EPA federal 

regions, plus one for Alaska, one for the 

Caribbean, and one for Oceania. The RRTs 

are comprised of representatives from the 

15 federal NRS member agencies, plus 
Regional Response Teams

state representatives, and are co-chaired 

by the EPA and USCG. Each RRT develops a Regional Contingency Plan that 

describes the policies and procedures 

for a quick and effective response to pollution incidents. More detailed plans are 

developed at the sub-regional level by 

Area Committees and at the local level by 

Local Emergency Planning Committees 

(LEPCs). The State Emergency Response 

Commission (SERC) supervises and 

appoints members to the LEPCs. Together, 

SERCs, LEPCs, and Area Committees 

ensure effective preparedness among all 

levels of government and between private 

sector and public response efforts.

The National Response Team (NRT)

The NRT is comprised of the 15 federal 

member agencies of the NRS, each with 

responsibilities and expertise in various 

aspects of emergency response to pollution incidents. With nationwide responsibilities for interagency planning, policy, 

and coordination, the NRT ensures that 

the most valuable tool in an emergency 

— readiness — is available for pollution 

incidents of all sizes and kinds. Prior to an 

incident, the NRT provides policy guidance 

and assistance. During an incident, the 

NRT may be activated if needed to provide national-level advice and assistance, 

as well as access to member agency 

resources that could not be provided at the 

RRT level. The EPA serves as chair of the 

NRT, and the USCG serves as vice chair. 

In addition to interagency coordination, 

the NRT also engages the private sector 

in prevention, preparedness, and response 

efforts. The NRT encourages innovation 

and collaboration to increase the effectiveness and reduce the cost of industry 

compliance with planning and response 

regulations. The NRT does not receive 

direct appropriations for its activities.

The National Response Center (NRC)

The NRC is the communications core of 

the NRS. It is staffed 24 hours a day and 

receives more than 30,000 incident notifications each year. From these notifications, 

NRC watchstanders generate reports and 

relay them to the appropriate FOSCs and 

to the SERCs. Federal law requires the 

responsible party to report oil spills, gas 

and hazardous liquid pipeline releases, 

chemical releases, and radiological releases to the NRC.

The NRT ensures that 

the most valuable tool 

in an emergency — 

readiness — is available 

for pollution incidents of 

all sizes and types.

Regional Response Teams (RRTs) 

(cont'd)
Partnerships

One of the important features of the NRS 

is that no presidential declaration of a 

disaster is necessary to obtain federal 

support. A single phone call to the FOSC 

through the NRC allows immediate activation of the NRS.

International 

Involvement

The NRT plays an advisory role during 

international incidents in responding to 

government-to-government requests for 

international preparedness and response 

assistance. The EPA and USCG have 

established joint inland and coastal contingency plans, respectively, with Mexico and 

Canada to facilitate coordinated and integrated federal response to significant polluting incidents along shared boundaries. 

These joint plans also provide a mechanism for cooperative responses among 

all levels of government. At the request 

of the Co-chairs of the Canada-U.S. 

International Joint Advisory Team (IJAT) 

and the Mexico-U.S. Joint Response Team 

(JRT), the NRT serves in a consultative 

capacity if any of these agreements are 

activated. The IJAT and JRT are the policy 

and advisory bodies with overall responsibility for the maintenance, coordination 

and implementation of these agreements. 

Moreover, the NRT, in an advisory capacity, coordinates long-term preparedness, 

training, and response assistance to the 

Panama Canal Authority.

The NRS functions whenever there is a 

dangerous release, whether the incident is 

accidental or intentional.

National Response Framework – Disasters and 

Terrorist Incidents

The National Response Framework (NRF) provides the overarching framework for coordinating federal, state, local, and private sector response efforts to domestic incidents. Under 

the NRF, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) coordinates federal response efforts 

for incidents requiring significant federal interaction, such as emergencies and disasters 

declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Act, and terrorist incidents. When the 

incident involves an actual or potential release of hazardous materials, DHS may activate 

an annex to the NRF called Emergency Support Function (ESF) #10 – Oil and Hazardous 

Materials Annex. The activation of ESF #10 brings the resources of the NRS to support the 

federal response. The FOSCs, RRTs, and NRT would function under ESF #10 as described 

elsewhere in this brochure.
Solutions

Logistical Support, Technical 

Assistance, Scientific Expertise, 

and Coordinating Capability

Together, the 15 member agencies of 

the NRS provide solutions for effective 

response to a wide range of pollution incidents, both foreign and domestic.

In addition, each agency can provide 

access to technical assistance, scientific 

expertise, logistical support, or coordination capabilities associated with its 

specific responsibilities and expertise. The 

NRT and RRTs coordinate planning and 

can access assets and capabilities of its 

member agencies to support FOSCs and 

state and local responders. The following 

are only a few examples of each NRS 

agency’s capabilities.

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA’s Forest Service, Agricultural 

Research Service, and other agencies 

have personnel, laboratory, and field 

capabilities to evaluate, monitor, and control situations where natural resources, 

including soil, water, wildlife, and vegetation, have been impacted by hazardous 

substances and other natural or manmade emergencies. Further, the Forest 

Service offers additional equipment to the 

response effort.

Department of Commerce,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA)

NOAA, through the Scientific Support 

Coordinators, provides scientific information and expertise to mitigate the impacts 

of oil and hazardous substance releases 

on natural resources in coastal and 

navigable water areas. NOAA’s expertise includes environmental chemistry, 

contaminant transport in air and water, 

weather forecasts, oceanographic conditions, marine fisheries, marine mammals, 

hydrographic surveys, geodetic positioning, satellite imagery, and high resolution 

digital aerial photography.

Department of Defense (DOD)

For response to contaminant release 

incidents, DOD’s Supervisor of Salvage 

& Diving, the Army Corps of Engineers, 

and the Chemical Biological Radiological 

Nuclear & High-Yield Explosives 

The NRT and RRTs can access the key assets and capabilities of the 15 

member agencies of the NRS to support other federal agencies, states, and 

local responders in their efforts to mitigate the danger to public health and the 

environment from a hazardous release.

ESF #10 addresses environmental 

hazards from natural disasters such as 

hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. In addition, the NRS can provide critical assets 

to mitigate dangers to public health and 

the environment from terrorist incidents 

involving chemical, biological, and radiological materials, including weapons of 

mass destruction. The FOSCs, RRTs, and 

NRT actively participate in counterterrorism preparedness activities to help foster 

a coordinated federal, state, and local 

response.

National Response 

Framework – Disasters 

and Terrorist Incidents 

(cont'd)
Department of the Interior (DOI)

Through its bureaus and offices, and 

based on its extensive land and resource 

management responsibilities, DOI provides scientific expertise to FOSCs to 

help protect sensitive natural, recreational, and cultural resources and areas. DOI 

also provides experts on remote sensing; 

mapping (including GIS); surface and 

ground water contamination; contaminant 

transport; oil, gas, and mineral development; and oil spill response, and is available to facilitate environmental recovery.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

DOJ, in coordination with legal counsel 

of the federal agencies and departments 

involved, provides expert advice on legal 

questions arising during an incident. 

DOJ also represents the federal government in litigation relating to hazardous 

substance, oil, chemical, or biological 

releases. Through the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation (FBI), DOJ is the lead 

federal agency for the coordination of law 

enforcement and investigative activities in 

response to threats or acts of terrorism.

Department of Labor (DOL)

DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) has the responsibility and authority to ensure that response 

workers are protected and to determine if 

response sites are in compliance with safety and health standards. In this role, OSHA 

provides consultation and enforcement 

Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS) 

HHS’s Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) and National Institute of 

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 

provide worker health and safety training, 

while the Agency for Toxic Substances 

and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has 

established a surveillance system to 

evaluate the human health exposures to 

hazardous substances in emergencies. 

During an incident, CDC and ATSDR 

also advise the FOSC on human health 

threats and the prevention or mitigation of 

exposure to hazardous substances.

Consequence Management Response 

Force (CCMRF) have extensive expertise 

in containment, collection, and mitigation. This is in addition to DOD's National 

Guard capabilities which can include a 

WMD Civil Support Team (CST) and 

a CBRNE Enhanced Response Force 

Package (CERFP).

Department of Energy (DOE) 

DOE’s National Nuclear Security 

Administration is ready to respond to any 

type of nuclear/radiological accident or 

incident domestically or internationally, 

including monitoring, assessment, and 

working with local, state, and federal 

agencies and officials to resolve the situation. 
as appropriate and requires adequate 

training, controls, and personal protective 

equipment to ensure that responders are 

properly protected during a response.

Department of State (DOS)

DOS helps coordinate international 

response efforts when discharges or 

releases cross international boundaries 

or involve foreign flag vessels. DOS also 

coordinates requests for NRS assistance 

from foreign governments.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration (PHMSA) manages 

national transportation safety programs 

for hazardous materials and oil by all 

modes of transportation and pipelines. In 

addition, the PHMSA provides technical 

assistance to the planning and response 

communities, including publication of the 

DOT Emergency Response Guidebook. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA provides FOSCs and coordinates 

preparedness and response for hazardous substance releases and oil discharges in the inland zone. 

EPA has a number of special teams 

that can assist FOSCs, including the 

Environmental Response Team, National 

Decontamination Team, and Radiological 

Emergency Support Team. These Teams 

have highly trained scientists, engineers, 

and other technical experts who provide 

training and specialized assistance in 

Presidentially declared disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Act. 

FEMA is responsible for providing hazardous materials response guidance and 

training for emergency first responders in 

the coastal zone.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

USCG reports directly to the Secretary 

of DHS. USCG provides FOSCs and 

coordinates government and industry 

activities for oil spills and hazardous substance releases. USCG Strike Teams are 

specially trained and equipped to respond 

to oil spills and chemical releases. USCG 

also develops and delivers exercise and 

training programs for the NRS.

For more information on the NRS, as 

well as preparedness and response 

tools, visit our web site at www.nrt.org.

multimedia sampling and analysis, hazards assessment, cleanup techniques, 

and waste management. 

General Services Administration (GSA)

GSA provides logistical and telecommunications support during an incident. This 

support may include providing space, telephones, transportation, supplies, equipment, and procurement-related services.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (USNRC)

USNRC regulates civilian nuclear facilities 

and nuclear materials. USNRC is the lead 

federal agency during radiological events 

involving licensees and provides expertise 

during other radiological incidents.

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA)

FEMA, which is part of DHS, is the 

lead agency for administering financial and technical assistance during a 
Report Oil and Chemical Spills 

to the National Response Center 

(800) 424-8802

National Response System

Leadership. Partnerships. Solutions.

www.nrt.org

National Response Team • c/o U.S. EPA, Mail Code 5104A

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20460

March 2010