The National Contingency Plan is the basis for Federal action to minimize pollution damage from discharges of oil or hazardous substances. In accordance with this law, Federal agencies assist in the development and evaluation of national, regional, and local oil and hazardous substance pollution contingency plans. This coordinated planning enables communities to prevent or lessen the harm that could accompany a hazardous materials release.

Working together as part of the National Response Team (NRT)—composed of 14 Federal agencies—experts publish guidance on emergency response planning and stand ready to assist States in the event of a major chemical emergency. As co-chairs of the NRT, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) play key roles in environmental protection. The two agencies share specific responsibility for waterway protection, EPA having primary responsibility for most inland waters and the USCG handling responsibility for coastal water and some specifically-designated Federal navigable waterways such as Lake Michigan.

The NCP covers how to identify and investigate hazardous waste sites that could potentially pose such a serious threat to public health that the situation would be considered an emergency. It also specifies how to analyze costs and evaluate the best cleanup options, and details roles and responsibilities for Federal, State, and local governments in carrying out these requirements.