Legal Definitions - National Response Center

The National Response Center is a central communication hub in the United States, based in Washington, D.C., that serves as the sole federal point of contact for reporting all oil spills and releases of hazardous substances into the environment.

When an incident involving a hazardous material occurs, individuals, companies, or local authorities are legally required to report it to the National Response Center. The Center then promptly relays this critical information to the appropriate federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the U.S. Coast Guard, ensuring a rapid and coordinated federal response to protect public health and the environment.

Here are some examples of when the National Response Center would be involved:

• Example 1: Maritime Oil Spill
  A large cargo ship experiences a mechanical failure while navigating coastal waters, leading to a significant leak of its heavy fuel oil into the ocean. The ship's crew or the U.S. Coast Guard, upon discovering the spill, would immediately contact the National Response Center. The Center would then alert federal agencies like the Coast Guard and the EPA, enabling them to quickly mobilize resources for containment, cleanup, and environmental impact assessment.

• Example 2: Industrial Chemical Release
  An industrial chemical plant suffers an accidental rupture in a storage tank, releasing a cloud of toxic gas into the air that drifts towards a nearby residential area. The plant's emergency response team, after initiating their internal safety protocols, would be legally obligated to report this incident to the National Response Center. The NRC would then inform relevant federal authorities, such as the EPA, who can provide expert guidance, additional resources, and oversight to manage the hazardous release and ensure public safety.

• Example 3: Transportation Accident Involving Hazardous Materials
  A freight train derails in a rural area, and several tank cars carrying highly flammable industrial solvents are breached, spilling their contents onto the ground and near a small stream. Local emergency services or the railroad company would contact the National Response Center to report the incident. The NRC would ensure that federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the EPA, are immediately notified so they can dispatch specialized hazardous materials teams, assess the environmental threat, and coordinate a multi-agency effort to contain the spill and mitigate its impact.