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3.1 Navy Incident Command System

3.2 Incident Management 3.2.1 Responding Activity Responsibilities
3.2.2 NOSC Responsibilities

3.3 NOSC Response Organization 3.3.1 Incident Command
3.3.2 NOSC OHS Incident Spill Management Team 3.3.2.1 Incident Commander 3.3.2.2 Deputy Incident Commander 3.3.3 NOSC Command Staff 3.3.3.1 Safety Officer 3.3.3.2 Legal Office 3.3.3.3 Public Affairs Officer 3.3.3.4 Government Liaison Officer 3.3.4 Functional Sections
3.3.5 ICS Branch/Unit Duties & Responsibilities
3.3.6 Response Team Support

3.4 Area Response Center

Table 3.1: Incident Command Position Duties

NOSC/IC Deputy NOSC/IC

Table 3.2: NOSC Incident Command Staff

Safety Officer

Government Liaison Officer

Public Affairs Officer

Legal Officer

Chapter 3: RESPONSE MANAGEMENT - UNIFIED COMMAND AND COMMAND STAFF

3.1 Navy Incident Command System

As required by the NCP and to be consistent with the __________ (name of Area/Areas)__________ Area Contingency Plans, COM and Navy activities within the COM AOR will use an ICS organization consistent with the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) when responding to OHS spills. Figure 3.1 shows the Incident Command Organization contained in Area Contingency Plans. This command structure is compatible with the NOSC’s normal command organization and allows for improved communications and integration with the Federal and State OSCs organizations and spill management systems.

The ICS organization is designed to expand or contract readily, as required, to effectively manage the spill response. For small spills, the functional sections may be sufficiently staffed by the activity from which the spill originated. For large incidents a fully staffed structure using COM personnel, support personnel from other Navy activities, and other federal and state agency personnel may be required.

Organizational requirements are provided by the Navy's multi-tiered response structure. The Incident Commander can activate personnel as required based upon the spill size and complexity. The Incident Commander position may be filled by either the Commander of the responding Navy facility or COM as the NOSC, depending on the circumstances of the spill. In the event of a spill from a ship outside the boundaries of a Navy Facility and within the COM AOR, the NOSC will act as Incident Commander. If the NOSC assumes direction of the overall response, the Commander of the responding activity will normally be assigned a staff position, such as the Deputy Incident Commander. The identity of the Navy Incident Commander must be clear at all times to all concerned.

3.2 Incident Management [top]

3.2.1 Responding Activity Responsibilities

A Navy facility or ship that originates or discovers a spill or release is responsible for control, containment, and cleanup. If this cleanup is beyond its capabilities, that activity shall request assistance from COM.

Upon notification of a spill incident, the activity shall:

Figure 3.1: Incident Command Organization

3.2.2 NOSC Responsibilities [top]

COM, as the NOSC, is responsible for directing and/or coordinating all oil and hazardous substance spill responses within its AOR. In this capacity, COM will provide assistance to the FIC and be prepared to assume direct control of the response if the response exceeds the capabilities of the FIC spill management team. Assistance may include mobilization of other local and regional Navy assets within the AOR, mobilization of SUPSALV resources, augmentation of the activity spill management team, or activation of Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) response contractors or other commercial response organizations. For any spill with the potential to exceed the capability of the FIC, the NOSC will activate the spill management team described herein, and will commence augmentation and relief of the FIC's spill management team as appropriate. The duties of the NOSC, when acting as the Incident Commander, are outlined in Table 3-1. As the response organization grows, the identity of the Navy's Incident Commander must be clear at all times.

3.3 NOSC Response Organization [top]

The COM response organization is shown in Figure 3.2 and described herein. Members of the Command Staff and the Functional Section Chiefs are identified by name and listed, along with 24 hour phone numbers, in the OHS recall bill maintained by the Command Duty Officer (CDO) (see Figure 3.3).

3.3.1 Incident Command [top]

The Incident Command Staff is responsible for coordinating interests of the responsible party, federal, state and local agencies, and public and private interests to achieve strategic decision-making for spill cleanup. It jointly determines objectives, strategies, and priorities of the response. Personnel from other members of the Incident Command may be assigned to the functional sections of the ICS.

3.3.2 NOSC OHS Incident Spill Management Team [top]

The NOSC Spill Management Team is designed to interface with the Area response organization and is shown in Figure 3.3.

3.3.2.1 Incident Commander

The NOSC is the Navy Incident Commander for spills beyond the capability of the originating facility or ship, and is the Navy member of the Unified Command (see Table 3-1).

3.3.2.2 Deputy Incident Commander

The NOSC may designate a Deputy Incident Commander to assist in carrying out Incident Commander responsibilities. The duties of the Deputy IC are listed in Table 3-1.

3.3.3 NOSC Command Staff [top]

The Command Staff reports directly to the NOSC and the Deputy Incident Commander. Members of the Command Staff are also available as advisors in their specialties to the functional section chiefs. The duties of the staff are listed in Table 3-2.

3.3.3.1 Safety Officer

The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe situations and developing measures for assuring personnel safety. The Safety Officer will correct unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority, although the Officer may exercise emergency authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts when immediate action is required. The Safety Officer maintains awareness of active and developing situations, ensures the preparation and implementation of the Site Safety Plan, and includes safety messages in each Incident Action Plan. See Table 3-2 for a description of the Safety Officer's duties.

3.3.3.2 Legal Officer

The Legal Officer provides legal advice to the NOSC or Deputy Incident Commander on all aspects of response operations. The potential for extensive liability and numerous claims for damage requires that the Legal Officer be prepared to advise on claims filing procedures, documentation requirements, and permitting regulations. The Legal Officer provides liaison with the Office of the Judge Advocate and other Navy legal resources. See Table 3-2 for a description of the Legal Officer's duties.

3.3.3.3 Public Affairs Officer

The Public Affairs Officer is responsible for developing and releasing information about the incident to the news media, to incident personnel, and to other appropriate agencies and organizations. In a large spill incident the Incident Command will establish a Joint Information Bureau (JIB) and a Joint Information Center (JIC). In a Navy spill incident the NOSC Public Affairs Officer will initiate the establishment of the JIB and JIC. The Public Affairs Officer may head the JIB or may assign another specialist. The coordination of information release is vital to avoid public confusion and adverse impact on response/recovery operations. The Public Affairs Officer will plan and coordinate VIP arrangements establishing a protocol office when required. See Table 3-2 for a description of the Public Affairs Officer's duties.

3.3.3.4 Government Liaison Officer

The Government Liaison Officer is the point of contact for personnel assigned to the incident from assisting or cooperating agencies. There are many federal, state, and local government agencies that have an interest in and capabilities to assist response operations that are not otherwise included in the Incident Command System. The Government Liaison Officer will provide liaison with those agencies and convey information, requests, and legally constituted directives to the Incident Commander and Section Chiefs. See Table 3-2 for a description of the Government Liaison Officer's duties.

3.3.4 Functional Sections [top]

The duties and responsibilities of the functional sections are introduced below and detailed in Chapters 4(operations), 5 (planning), 6 (logistics), and 7 (finance).

The Operations section directs and coordinates all tactical operations within the response area. It assists the Planning section in defining response goals and operational goals detailed in the incident action plan, develops mission assignments and schedules to accomplish the goals, identifies resource requirements, and, as appropriate, recommends release of resources. The Operations section also evaluates and reports the results of response operations.

The Planning section is responsible for collecting and evaluating information about the incident and response. It develops action plans to accomplish stated response goals and objectives, evaluates alternative strategies and operational plans based on changing requirements, documents all response actions, and disseminates technical and environmental information to concerned parties.

The Logistics section is responsible for supplying all resources required to carry out the response and to support continuing operations.

The Finance section is responsible for handling all accounting services and personnel administrative matters.

3.3.5 ICS Branch/Unit Duties and Responsibilities [top]

The number of personnel required in Operations, Planning, Logistics or Finance varies with the magnitude and circumstances surrounding the source and cause of the event. Section Chiefs will be familiar with the possible tasks that their sections might be required to perform. They will ensure that effective command and control is maintained as the organization expands. In an Incident Command organization, some Section Chiefs and Branch Chiefs may come from organizations other than the Navy.

3.3.6 Response Team Support [top]

3.4 Area Response Center [top]

The COM emergency response center is established at the COM Command Center or the _______________ Quarter-deck for non-working hours. Even with a specially equipped emergency response center, additional space and dedicated phone lines may be required for major pollution responses. If the emergency response center requires a security clearance for entry, an unclassified space will be required when an Incident Command Center is established (see Figure 3.3 for location and phone number).