Chapter 19. The United States Approach to Implementing the IMO Guidelines on Places of Refuge

The National Response System provides for effective management of pollution threats to the environment through a network of people, plans and resources. It is designed to support the predesignated Federal On-Scene Co-ordinator (FOSC) in co-ordinating the actions of federal, state and local governments, as well as industry and the responsible party, in response to pollution incidents. The planning, preparedness and response functions of the National Response System for pollution incidents of all sizes and kinds encompass a wide range of pre- and post-incident activities. At the national level, the National Response Team (NRT) co-ordinates the activities of the National Response System. International laws on liability and compensation have less relevance to a place of refuge request in United States waters and ports because the United States is not a party to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and the Fund Convention and their protocols. Keywords: CLC; National Response Team (NRT); place of refuge; United States government