Responding to Oil Spills on the Western Rivers: The Importance of Joint Agency Cooperation

The federal government's primary regulatory source for oil spill and hazardous substance release preparation and response is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. In accordance with the plan, when oil discharges enter or threaten areas, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has inland zone jurisdiction and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has coastal zone jurisdiction. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the EPA and USCG is a mechanism used to clarify Western Rivers response protocols. MOU and plan testing occured when the Spill of National Significance (SONS 2007) event took place in June 2007. The importance of cooperation between agencies is emphasized. Inserts present case studies on incidents in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, and Vicksburg, Mississippi.