Strategic Preparedness and Communication Framework for Marine Oil Spills: Alaska Region Coastal Parks

Docken, Lisa

Enhanced interagency information-sharing protocols during marine oil spill response exercises help ensure that the National Park Service (NPS) coastal parks in Alaska fulfill their legal mandate as a natural resource Trustee under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and the National Contingency Plan 40 C.F.R §§ 300.1 - 300.3. In collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), this paper outlines NPS’s role in an interagency response framework designed to clarify responsibilities and improve readiness across 11 park units specific to impacts of coastlines and the marine environment. Emphasizing early-stage communication planning, the approach strengthens legal compliance, staff preparedness, and rapid coordination to protect ecologically and culturally sensitive areas. NPS personnel play a critical role during spills threatening park coastlines, including participation in Unified Command, timely sharing of habitat data, support for environmental assessments, and collaboration with Trustee agencies on Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDA). While each incident varies in scale and scope, we present a flexible protocol highlighting the key steps and potential roles NPS may undertake. By fostering communication planning and strong partnerships, NPS ensures effective collaboration in protecting Alaska’s national park coastlines during marine oil spill emergencies. We present this summary reference document we list all relevant Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR) under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) that involve or apply to the National Park Service, outline Alaska coastal National Park Service involvement in a marine spill during the first 72 hours, and outline recommended improvements to oil spill preparedness for the Alaska’s coastal parks.