The NPFC User Reference Guide (eURG) is designed to be a
reference tool during an oil or hazardous materials spill incident for
Coast Guard and EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSCs). It includes
all relevant Federal regulations, technical operating procedures (TOPs),
forms and sample letters, and other documentation designed to make funding
of recovery operations and recovery of Federal expenditures as efficient
and easy as possible.
Chapter 1- Introduction to OPA & the NPFC
An overview of the background, mission, and organization of the NPFC. |
| NPFC Mission Overview |
History of OPA and the OSLTF, NPFC roles & missions, Case
Teams, and Roles of those that use pollution funds. |
| NPFC Functional Contacts |
Points of contact, including Regional Managers, Senior
Management, their phone numbers and areas of responsibility. |
| Glossary |
Commonly used acronymsby the environmental response
community. |
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Chapter 2 -
Removal Actions: Oil and Hazardous Substances
Procedures for cost documentation of oil spills and hazardous substance releases. |
| Procedures for
Accessing the Funds |
Guidance describing procedures for USCG or EPA FOSCs
performing oil removal or hazardous material response
operations under the National Contingency Plan. |
| NPFC -
FOSC Financial
Management
Checklist |
A Checklist for CG and EPA FOSCs who use
the OSLTF Emergency Fund or CERCLA Superfund and must monitor
cost documentation during an oil spill or HAZMAT response. |
| NPFC - Accounting Data for Special Pollution Response Funds |
Accounting strings and Document Control Number formats for CG FOSCs and Strike Teams
when directly expending pollution response funds (OSLTF,
CERCLA, and Disaster) in the Coast Guard Accounting System. |
| Funds Management
During Incidents |
Processes for ceiling management and obligation
record keeping, as well as government credit card use procedures. |
| NPFC - Oil Removal Cost TOPs |
Guidance for determining valid removal costs for oil discharges
or substantial threats of discharges to the extent possible under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. |
| NPFC - CERCLA Removal Cost TOPs |
Guidance for hazardous material discharges to the
extent possible under CERCLA. Includes guidance for the National Strike Force (NSF) on use of CERCLA funding when supporting
EPA FOSCs. |
NPFCINST 16451.2
Cost Documentation TOPs |
NPFC TOPs for accessing the OSLTF. It includes procedures
for resource documentation, use of CANAPS, ceiling
management, and copies of forms. |
COMDTINST 7310.1M,
Standard Rates |
Rates used to reimburse the Coast Guard for certain spill-related
activities, used when filling out many of the forms
contained in the TOPs. |
| EPA
Action Memo Guidance |
EPA document provides guidance in the
preparation of action memos for Superfund removal operations,
particularly administrative record requirements for reserving
removal funding. |
| NPFC -
CANAPS Field User Tutorial |
Walks the user through each of the CANAPS Internet Wizard
functions. Includes instructions on what data is required to be
entered, screen shots for each step in the wizard, and sample
outputs. |
| NPFC - OSLTF Disbursements: Internal Controls & Audits |
Guidance on documentation and approval requirements
for disbursements from the OSLTF, which are subject to random
audits. |
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Chapter 3-
Designation
Methods for designating sources, notifying responsible parties, conducting investigations to identify sources and responsible parties under OPA. |
NPFCINST M5890.3A
TOPS Manual |
Technical Operating Procedures for
Designation of Source
under The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 |
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Chapter 4- State Access
Procedures for state access to the OSLTF and for State Governors to request payments of up to $250,000 for removal costs under OPA. |
| 33 CFR 133 |
33 CFR Part 133, State Access to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
for Removal costs Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Interim Rule. |
NPFCINST 16451.1
State Access TOPs |
Procedures for accessing the OSLTF, requirements for
documenting expenses, investigation requirements, and instructions for
submitting documentation for reimbursement. |
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Chapter 5-
Initiate Requests & NRD Claims
Process for the Initiation of Natural Resource Damage Assessment (INRDA) and regulations, procedures of natural resource damage (NRD) claims. |
| NPFC -
NRD Laws & Regulations |
Includes sections of the Oil Pollution Act related to natural resource damages (NRD) (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.); NOAA regulations on natural resource damage assessments (15 CFR 990) and USCG interim claims regulations (33 CFR 136). |
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Chapter 6-OPA Claims
Procedures for designation, advertising, and filing claims for removal costs or damages resulting from oil spills. |
| OPA Interim Claims Regulations |
Includes regulations for filing claims for
removal costs or damages resulting from oil spills (33 CFR
136); Notice of Designation requirements for a written notice
to the source of an oil discharge (136 CFR 305); and the advertisement section, which describes the need
for advertisements to potential claimants (136 CFR 309). |
NPFC
Claimant's Guide |
Guidance for anyone who has suffered a loss due to an oil spill. It
describes compensation available from the Oil Spill Liability Trust
Fund (OSLTF) and the process of submitting a claim. Includes Optional OSLTF Claim Form). |
NPFC
Claims Process & OSRO FAQs |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSROs) on submitting claims for uncompensated oil spill
removal costs to the National Pollution Funds Center and suggestions to make the claim preparation process easier and
the approval processes quicker. |
NPFC
Responsible Party Claim Submission Guidance |
Guidance for responsible parties (RPs) on how to submit a claim
for reimbursement of Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) removal
costs and damages that asserts either an affirmative defense or
an entitlement to a limit on liability. |
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Appendix A-MOUs
Memoranda of understanding/agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard/NPFC and other Federal agencies. |
| USCG, EPA & CNCS |
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS). |
USCG & EPA
(Oil) |
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) MOU Between the
U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. |
| USCG & EPA (CERCLA) |
Superfund/Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (CERCLA) MOU between the
U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. |
| NPFC & NOAA |
Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) MOU Between NPFC and NOAA |
| Endangered Species Act - MOA |
Endangered Species Act (ESA) MOU Among USCG, EPA, DOI (USFWS),
& NOAA (NMFS and NOS) |
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Appendix B- FOSC Funding Information
Overview for FOSCs on financial aspects of spill response issues. |
| FOSC Funding Information |
Provides an overview for FOSCs on financial aspects of spill response issues. |
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