00C25 ENVIRONMENTAL - RESPONSE TOOLS

NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) identifies concepts and principles that direct how to manage emergencies regardless of their cause, size, location or complexity. NIMS provides a consistent, nationwide approach and vocabulary for multiple agencies or jurisdictions to work together to deliver the core capabilities needed to respond to an incident.

NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK

The National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide to how the U.S. responds to all types of disasters and emergencies. It is built on scalable, flexible, and adaptable concepts identified in the National Incident Management System to align key roles and responsibilities across the nation. This Framework describes specific authorities and best practices for managing incidents that range from the serious but purely local to large-scale terrorist attacks or catastrophic natural disasters. Under the National Response Framework numbered Engineering Support Functions (ESF) are identified. SUPSALV is assigned as a Special Team in ESF #3 Debris Removal, and ESF #10, Oil and Hazardous Substance Spill Response.

INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

The Navy is required by presidential directive, the National Contingency Plan (NCP) and the NRF to use a NIMS based Incident Command System (ICS) response structure when responding to an oil spill or hazardous substance emergency. Depending on the size of the spill, the USCG, EPA, State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local city mayors would potentially be involved in a spill response and the personnel from all agencies must work together. The ICS structure divides an emergency response into five functional areas: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance.

The Navy's response organization, outlined below, provides the organizational structure for response to all Navy OHS incidents. If an incident is more complex or exceeds the NOSC's response capability, the Navy's response organization would be expanded to include a Unified Command, which includes the federal, state, and local On-Scene Commanders.