Ölverschmutzung
The location of the oil spill determines which authority responds. Oil spills that occur in coastal waters are the responsibility of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) while the Environmental Protection Agency covers inland oil spills. It is required by US federal law that any discharge of oil that creates a film or sheen on the water surface be reported to the National Response Center. The Center then dissipates information to the USCG which acts as the federal on-scene coordinator.