EPA/USCG ESF #10 Support for Stafford Act Response
This is an overview of what an ESF #10 response looks like when it is activated by FEMA during a Stafford Act response.
FEMA generally starts the process of coordinating a federal Stafford Act response by activating its Regional Response Coordination Centers (RRCCs) in the FEMA regional offices that are in the impacted area. ESFs that might be needed are deployed to the RRCC. The EPA Region and USCG District in the impacted area send ESF #10 personnel to the RRCC. (Both EPA and USCG respond if the incident impacts both the inland and coastal zones – and they coordinate their response at the field and headquarter (HQ) levels as needed.)
If requested, EPA/USCG can also send ESF #10 representatives to state/local emergency operations centers (EOCs). During an ESF #10 response, EPA/USCG coordinate closely with our state environmental agency counterparts.
As the response progresses, FEMA establishes an Initial Operating Facility (IOF)/Joint Field Office (JFO) in each State affected by the incident to assess the damage and determine the need for federal assistance. Again, EPA Regions and USCG Districts deploy ESF #10 representatives to the IOF/JFO if requested by FEMA.
When ESF #10 receives a tasking from FEMA to conduct field work, the initial ESF #10 personnel are deployed by the EPA Regions/USCG Districts in the incident area -- unless incapacitated by the incident – and additional support can be provided if needed by other EPA Regions/USCG Districts. At the incident scene level, EPA and USCG sometimes co-locate as an ESF #10 UC, and sometimes establish separate ESF #10 ICPs, but coordinate activities through a UC approach.
For larger-scale incidents, FEMA may also activate its National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) to monitor or oversee a response. In that case, EPA and USCG HQ deploy ESF #10 representatives to the NRCC if requested by FEMA. EPA and USCG may also activate their HQ operations centers to monitor or oversee larger-scale ESF #10 responses.
So, as you can see, EPA and USCG use a decentralized approach where ESF #10 on-scene deployments are led by EPA Regions/USCG Districts.
The constructs of the NRS carry over to all hazards response under the NRF.
