Prevention & Response Branch - Oil Team

The Superfund Oil Team receives more than 6,000 emergency responses each year involving the release, or threatened release, of oil and hazardous substances, potentially affecting both large and small commmunities and the surrounding natural environment. The majority of emergency responses within Region 6 are handled swiftly and effectively by local firefighters and other emergency officials. Behind the scenes, a vast National Response System (NRS) involving federal, state, and local officials is hard at work supporting the men and women on the front lines. The USEPA Emergency Response Program coordinates and implements a wide range of activities to ensure that adequate and timely response measures are taken in communities affected by hazardous substances and oil releases where state and local first responder capabilities have been exceeded or where additional support is needed. 

The Environmental Protection Agency utilizes the National Response System (NRS) routinely and effectively responds to a wide range of oil and hazardous substance releases. It is a multi-layered system of individuals and teams from local, state, and federal agencies, industry, and other organizations that share expertise and resources. The purpose of the NRS is to ensure timely and efficient spill control and cleanup activities to minimize threats to human health and the environment. 

At the heart of the system is the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), a regulation developed to ensure that the resources and expertise of the federal government are available immediately for oil or hazardous substance releases when the magnitude of the incident is beyond the capabilities of local and state responders. The NCP provides the framework for the National Response System and establishes how it works.