What Must Be Included in a Facility Response Plan

Facility Response Plans (FRPs) must:

Be consistent with the National Contingency Plan and applicable Area Contingency Plans
Identify a qualified individual having full authority to implement removal actions, and require immediate communication between that person and the appropriate federal authorities and responders
Identify and ensure availability of resources to remove, to the maximum extent practicable, a worst-case discharge
Describe training, testing, unannounced drills, and response actions of persons on the vessel or at the facility
Be updated periodically
Be resubmitted for approval of each significant change

For a complete list of FRP requirements, please review the FRP rule.

Appendix F of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation (40 CFR 112) (90 pp, 1.2MB, About PDF) includes a model Facility Response Plan. Key elements include:

Emergency Response Action Plan, which serves as both a planning and action document and should be maintained as an easily accessible, stand-alone section of the overall plan
Facility information, including its name, type, location, owner, operator information
Emergency notification, equipment, personnel, and evacuation information
Identification and analysis of potential spill hazards and previous spills
Discussion of small, medium, and worst-case discharge scenarios and response actions
Description of discharge detection procedures and equipment
Detailed implementation plan for response, containment, and disposal
Description and records of self-inspections, drills and exercises, and response training
Diagrams of facility site plan, drainage, and evacuation plan
Security (e.g., fences, lighting, alarms, guards, emergency cut-off valves and locks, etc.)
Response plan coversheet