NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS
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APPENDIX A
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF KEY ORGANISATIONS
A.1 The purpose of this Appendix is to clarify the roles and responsibilities of lead bodies and key support organisations during a marine pollution incident.
UK GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Department
for Transport
A.2 Major marine pollution
incidents require work on a wide range of issues apart from those directly connected with salvage and
clean up operations. DfT has policy responsibility for several of these issues.
Shipping Policy
A.3
Shipping Policy has policy responsibility for marine pollution from shipping.
Shipping Policy does not contribute to operational decisions during an incident. However,
as part of its policy sponsorship role, it assesses the effectiveness of MCA’s approach to incidents
within the framework of the Agency’s objectives. It also provides advice on maritime liability
and compensation issues.
Ports Division
A.4
Ports Division has policy responsibility for the ports industry. It is
sponsor for the Port Marine Safety Code and the associated Guide to Good Practice on port marine operations.
The division does not contribute to operational decisions during an incident. It provides
general advice on the legal duties and powers of harbour authorities, although it is more appropriate
to refer questions about a particular case to the authority concerned.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
A.5
DfT's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is responsible for investigating
accidents involving or occurring on board UK registered ships worldwide, any other ships in UK waters,
or any other ships at the discretion of the Secretary of State. The fundamental purpose of these
investigations is to determine the circumstances and the causes, with the aim of improving the safety
of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future. Their purpose is not to apportion
liability; nor, except so far as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose of an investigation,
does the MAIB seek to apportion blame.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
A.6
MCA is an executive agency of DfT. The Agency is responsible for:
A.7 During an incident, the role of the Chief Executive is to continue managing the Agency as a whole. The Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring that Ministers are kept informed of incident progress, liaising with the Chief Executive on matters of MCA policy. The SOSREP controls salvage operations and liaises closely with the MCA’s Directorate of Operations. The SOSREP has the decisive voice in the decision making process in a marine salvage operation that involves the threat of significant pollution. The Director of Operations and the Deputy Director of Operations act as SOSREP’s stand-in in the event of the SOSREP being unavailable. The Directorate of Operations is responsible for search and rescue, counter pollution, survey and inspection, enforcement action, clean up operations at sea. The Counter Pollution and Response Branch are responsible for maintaining the UK Government’s stockpiles of equipment. MCA’s marine surveyors, some of which are also trained as Marine Casualty Officers (MCOs), may need to board a casualty to carry out port state control inspections and to offer advice on the seaworthiness of a ship.
Department of Trade and Industry
A.8
DTI's Energy and Resources Unit is responsible for licensing exploration and
regulating development of the UK's oil and gas resources, including environmental regulation. The
Energy Resources and Development Unit's Licensing, Exploration and Development Unit is responsible for
oil and gas development and production, metering, transportation and pipeline authorisation. The
Offshore Environment and Decommissioning section is responsible for prevention of oil pollution and
offshore environmental issues including approving oil spill response plans for the offshore industry
as required under the OPRC Convention and the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations.
DTI consults with the MCA prior to approving or rejecting operators oil spill contingency plans.
A.9 The Offshore Environment and Decommissioning Branch deal with environment policy and regulation, operations and enforcement and decommissioning.
Department for Constitutional Affairs
A.10
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has responsibilities for the
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. MCA informs the Devolution and Crown Dependencies Branch
of DCA of any incident or proposed counter pollution action affecting these islands. However,
operational communication between the Isle of Man is governed by the terms of the joint Operating Agreement.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
A.11
Defra works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals
and plants. Its remit is the pursuit of sustainable development - weaving together economic, social
and environmental concerns. Defra therefore:
Defra plays a major role in the protection of the marine environment and sea fisheries.
A.12 Defra tests and approves any oil treatment products manufactured for use in UK waters on behalf of all UK fisheries departments. For England, Marine Environment Division, Defra approves any use of dispersants in shallow and coastal waters and advises on use of dispersant in deeper water. For Wales, Marine Environment Division, Defra acts in this capacity on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.
A.13 Defra representation at an Environment Group meeting close to the scene of an incident is most likely to be from the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) and possibly also the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA)
A.14
MFA, an Executive Agency of Defra, operates 20 fisheries offices at fishing
ports. MFA provides local input to oil spill contingency planning. Many of its staff have
had seagoing experience in addition to their day-to-day role of supporting and regulating the fisheries
industry.
Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
(CEFAS)
A.15 CEFAS, an Executive Agency of
Defra, is an internationally recognised centre for fisheries science, aquaculture and protection of
the environment. It provides a wide range of research, consultancy and training services in environmental
impact assessment; environmental research and monitoring; aquaculture health and hygiene; and fisheries
science and management. It carries out toxicity testing of UK approved oil treatment products
on behalf of Defra. It also provides advice to Defra during marine pollution incidents, including
on the appropriate use of dispersants.
Marine and Fisheries Directorate (MFD) and Marine Consents
and Environment Unit (MCEU)
A.16 MFD seeks
on behalf of the Government to ensure clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans
and seas by addressing issues such as the over-exploitation of commercial fish stocks, the release of
pollutants, the degradation of ecosystems through human activities, invasive species and climate change.
It has a broad interest in counter pollution activities.
A.17 In particular Marine Environment Division within MFD has responsibilities for the protection of the marine environment; responds to marine emergencies in support of the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations; coordinates Defra response to oil and chemical spills at sea; and approves oil dispersants and their use.
A.18 Marine Environment Division also contains the Marine Consents and Environment Unit (MCEU). MCEU is responsible, on behalf of the Secretary of State or Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for the administration of a range of applications for statutory licences and consents to undertake works in tidal waters and at sea in UK waters and beyond; including marine developments, offshore energy, coast defences, dredging and waste disposal. The Unit also administers certain applications on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government for which it is the licensing authority in Welsh waters.
A.19 MCEU works in close partnership with the Licensing and Consents Unit of the DTi with regard to the consenting of offshore renewable energy generation schemes. It similarly maintains close links with the DfT Ports Division, particularly in respect of proposed works associated with ports and harbours.
Environment Agency
A.20
The EA is responsible for protecting and improving the environment (air, land
and water) in England and Wales. The EA regulates:
A.21 The EA has wide ranging powers of inspection, regulation and enforcement particularly in relation to pollution control. Although not an emergency service, the Agency is a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingency Act 2004. It operates a 24 hour incident response service to incidents that have caused or have the potential to cause harm to human health, the natural environment (air, land and water) or property.
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
A.22
The FSA is an independent non-Ministerial UK government department set up by
an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food
in the UK.
A.23 During incidents and emergencies, the FSA is responsible for providing advice on all food safety and standard issues. Where there appears to be a risk to consumers the Agency is responsible for issuing Orders made under Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act. These Orders will restrict the movement, sale or supply of certain foods (this may include all foods or specific foods) and agricultural products in a specified area(s). It is aimed at protecting consumers from food that may be or may become hazardous.
A.24 Offices in London, Aberdeen, Cardiff and Belfast are responsible for leading the FSA response in respect of any food safety incidents occurring in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
Government
Offices for the Regions
A.25 The Government
Offices (GOs) act as a link between local responders and Government, both for planning and responding
to emergencies. A Regional Resilience Team has been established in each of the GOs to co-ordinate
this response. The GOs take a multi agency and cross departmental view of an event and add value
by sharing this wider view with local responders and Government Departments. A GO which wishes
to be represented at a Shoreline Response Centre may apply to the Chair of the SRC’s Management Team.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
A.26
The FCO is responsible for advising on, and dealing with, any international
relationship matters that might arise from counter pollution operations. This includes the use
of the intervention powers, prosecutions, and flag state referrals in respect of foreign ships. MCA
keeps the FCO informed from an early stage where it anticipates that a marine pollution incident in
UK waters could affect the UK’s bilateral relations with another State. The FCO may wish to warn
neighbouring States of pollution threats and other incidents that might affect them.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
A.27
The HSE is responsible for regulating health and safety offshore. There
is a legal requirement for owners and operators of offshore installations to report accidents and emergencies
to the HSE. The HSE provides advice, support, and information in the event of a major offshore
emergency through its Offshore Safety Division's major incident response team. The HSE booklet
Dealing with Offshore Emergencies sets out their roles and responsibilities.
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
Centre
for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards
A.28 The HPA is an independent body charged with protecting the health and well being of everyone in England and Wales. The role of the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards during chemical incidents, which could either potentially or actually threaten public health is to provide authoritative advice to front line responders, public health specialists (including those based in the four regional Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland), the Department of Health and devolved administrations and other agencies involved.
A.29 Advice provided will cover:
Health
Protection Scotland (HPS)
A.30 HPS is a division
of National Services Scotland within NHS Scotland. HPS acts on behalf of the Scottish Executive
to provide a 24/7 service to the 15 NHS Boards and 32 Local Authorities in support of the local management
of incidents involving public health hazards, and provides a co-ordinating role at national level within
Scotland. HPS provides scientific, medical, statistical and epidemiological support to Health
Protection professionals at all stages of incident response and follow-up, including risk assessment,
risk management and risk communication.
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
A.31
The MOD is responsible for dealing with pollution incidents from warships and
other MOD ships operated for non-commercial purposes.
A.32 In the event of an incident at sea, where the MOD is not directly involved and subject to operational commitments, the MOD may provide assistance on a cost reimbursement basis to MCA. This could only consist of appropriate capabilities available at the time of the incident. Any request for MOD assistance of any kind should be addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Duty Officer.
A.33 Under normal arrangements for giving Military Aid to the Civil Authority (MACA), the MOD may, on a cost reimbursement basis, and subject to availability, provide equipment and personnel to shoreline local authorities to assist in dealing with shoreline pollution.
UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO)
A.34
The UKHO supplies hydrographic, oceanographic and other such information to
the Royal Navy. It offers unclassified charts and publications to the merchant navy and other
users of the sea. The Hydrographic Office also issues notices to mariners warning them of hazards
to navigation.
A.35 The UKHO also advises on the definition of the extended pollution zone, as well as provides environmental and tidal information. The UKHO is the authority responsible for the issue of Radio Navigational Warnings for the UK Continental Shelf and the NE Atlantic. Where appropriate and if requested, the UKHO issues radio navigational warnings to vessels to keep clear of any anti pollution operations.
UK Meteorological Office
A.36
The Meteorological Office is responsible for the issue of Meteorological Maritime
Safety Information for NW Europe and the NE Atlantic. They provide weather and oceanographic forecast
information that enable the calculation of likely wind drift and direction of pollution, and also run
3-D hydrodynamic models of the NW European Shelf which can provide forecasts of ocean currents (and
winds) for input into some spill models, together with atmospheric dispersion models for chemical releases.
On request, they can provide a forecaster at the scene of a major incident to provide up-to-date
and accurate weather forecasts to those in control.
NATURE CONSERVATION ORGANISATIONS
A.37
Four organisations deal with nature conservation issues in Great Britain; English
Nature (EN), Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and Joint Nature
Conservation Committee (JNCC). The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) is the equivalent organisation
in Northern Ireland.
A.38 As part of the response to a marine pollution incident, these organisations, through the Environment Group:
Joint Nature Conservation
Committee
A.39 The JNCC is the forum through
which the three country nature conservation agencies – CCW, EN, and SNH – deliver their statutory responsibilities
for Great Britain as a whole and internationally. These responsibilities contribute to sustaining and
enriching biological diversity, enhancing geological features, and sustaining natural systems.
A.40 The JNCC’s Marine Advice and Seabirds at Sea Team are able to provide specialist advice to the country agencies and assist in monitoring and surveillance operations during major incidents. JNCC also deals with marine pollution incidents occurring outside territorial waters.
English Nature
A.41
EN is the Government agency that champions the conservation of wildlife and
geology throughout England. EN’s work includes:
Action Plan targets :
A.42 Following publication of the draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill in February 2005, English Nature, the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency’s Landscape, Access and Recreation division are working towards integration as a single body; Natural England. It will work for people, places and nature with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed – so they can be enjoyed now and for future generations
A.43 EN advises on incidents in territorial waters around England (that is, south of 55°50’N on the east coast, all of the south coast, and the west coast south of 51°20’N and between the Dee Estuary and 54°30’N).
Countryside Council for Wales
A.44
The main statutory functions of the CCW are to advise the National Assembly
for Wales on countryside and wildlife matters. It also has statutory responsibility for wildlife
conservation on land and at sea; for certain landscape conservation matters; for promoting enjoyment
of the countryside; and for encouraging public understanding of the environment of Wales. CCW
advises Government on the conservation and wildlife implications of maritime incidents in Wales and
in UK territorial waters adjacent to Wales. In addition the Council has statutory nature conservation
responsibilities in respect of Great Britain and international obligations that it delivers with English
Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Scottish Natural Heritage
A.45
SNH is a statutory non-departmental public body established by the Natural Heritage
(Scotland) Act 1991. It is ultimately accountable to the Scottish Parliament. Its statutory aims
are to secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland's natural heritage and to foster understanding
and facilitate enjoyment of it. SNH provides advice to Government on nature conservation in Scotland.
A.46 SNH advises on incidents in the internal waters and territorial sea of UK waters adjacent to Scotland (that is the area defined by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 1126).
DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATIONS
Northern
Ireland - Department of the Environment (DOE)
A.47 DOE
is responsible in Northern Ireland for the development of policy concerning the environment and natural
heritage, including the marine environment and the living resources that it supports. In Northern
Ireland the Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is the
licensing authority for fisheries.
Environment and Heritage Service
A.48
EHS is an executive agency within the Department of Environment, and is the
lead agency responsible for implementing environmental legislation and policy in Northern Ireland. EHS
aims to protect and conserve Northern Ireland’s natural heritage and built environment, to control and
regulate pollution and to promote the wider appreciation of the environment and best environmental practices.
A.49 EHS operates under both NI and European Union legislation that covers:
A.50 Three EHS technical Directorates – Environmental Protection, Natural Heritage and Built Heritage respectively – are directly involved in regulating and protecting each of the above facets of the environment of Northern Ireland.
A.51 EHS is the FEPA (Food and Environment Protection Act 1985) licensing authority for Northern Ireland and as such regulates the use of oil dispersants or any oil treatment products in water depths of less than 20 metres, or within one nautical mile, which requires the approval of the Department.
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
(SEERAD)
A.52 SEERAD is responsible for advising
Scottish Ministers on policy relating to:
A.53 SEERAD also sponsors the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Water (SW) and is assisted by three Executive agencies; Fisheries Research Services (FRS), Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA).
A.54 From April 2000 the Department’s responsibilities for food safety and standards were transferred to the Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) which advises the Executive on those matters formally through the Health Department. SEERAD retains close links with the FSAS on these matters.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
A.55
SEPA is a non-departmental public body responsible for the protection of the
environment in Scotland. It is ultimately accountable to the Scottish Parliament. In the marine
context, SEPA is responsible for maintaining and improving the environmental quality of the inland,
coastal and tidal areas of controlled waters12 adjacent
to Scotland. Its functions are similar to those of EA described above.
Fisheries Research Services
A.56
Fisheries Research Services (FRS) is the Scottish centre for research on fisheries,
aquaculture and the aquatic environment. It is an executive agency of SEERAD and supports policy
and stewardship of living aquatic resources. FRS comprises the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory,
Pitlochry and Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen. The Marine Laboratory provides expert scientific advice
on fisheries, fish and shellfish cultivation and other marine environment matters, including the effects
of pollution. It is also responsible on behalf of Scottish Ministers for licensing deposits in
the sea under Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA). This latter responsibility
includes authorising the use of chemical dispersants in shallow waters adjacent to Scotland.
Wales - National Assembly For Wales
A.57
Lead responsibility for the protection of the natural environment including
marine pollution as a result of oil spillages from shipping in Wales and inside the UK territorial sea
adjacent to Wales rests with the Environment Division of the Assembly Government. In addition
the Department of Environment, Planning and Countryside is responsible for policy on fish, and the protection
of fisheries, including liaison with the fishing industry up to 12 miles offshore.
A.58 On behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, Defra approves any use of dispersants in shallow and coastal waters and advises on use of dispersant in deeper water adjacent to Wales.
OTHER ORGANISATIONS
Local
Authorities
A.59 Local
authorities have no specific statutory duty to plan for, or carry out, shoreline clean up, but have
the power to do so. Maritime local authorities and EHS fulfill their responsibilities by working
in partnership with other agencies to reduce, control or mitigate the effects of coastal oil or chemical
pollution. Where local authorities, and EHS, the emergency services, certain health bodies, the
environmental regulator and the MCA have individually or collectively, assessed the risk and the effects
of coastal oil or chemical pollution and where it is considered necessary, they prepare, publish and
maintain response plans.
A.60 MCA supports local authorities by maintaining stockpiles of beach cleaning equipment; providing training courses on contingency planning and oil spill response; by providing hands-on demonstrations of beach-cleaning equipment and booming exercises; and by participating in local authority training exercises.
Harbour Authorities
A.61
Harbour authorities are responsible for maintaining the safe and efficient use
of the harbour by all those who wish to do so. They must exercise their functions having regard
to the environment. They have a specific duty to prepare for, and to respond, to marine oil pollution
incidents within their jurisdiction. If they cannot contain the incident using their own resources,
they may rely on additional resources available through mutual support agreements with other harbour
authorities, oil companies and local authorities, or through formal agreements with oil spill contracting
companies as set out in their oil spill response contingency plan. Many harbour authorities are
also Category 2 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Harbour authorities may also
call upon MCA.
Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs)
A.62
SFCs are responsible for the management of inshore fisheries in England and
Wales out to six miles from baselines. They exercise control through the operation of bylaws.
They can introduce these bylaws both to protect the fisheries concerned or (since the Enforcement
Act 1995) to conserve the wider marine environment. SFCs are also responsible for the enforcement
of certain EU and national legislation in furtherance of the common Fisheries Policy.
British Nuclear Group
A.63
British Nuclear Group, for and on behalf of the Government’s Nuclear Commissioning
Authority and Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited, operate vessels that may be used for the safe carriage
of packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and spent radioactive fuel. All transports are
conducted in accordance with national and international regulations relating to the safe transport of
INF Code material. Should an incident involving one of these vessels occur then British Nuclear
Group would work with MCA and provide support and assistance.
British Wind Energy Association (BWEA)
A.64
The British Wind Energy Association is the trade and professional body for the
UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978 and with over 310 corporate members,
BWEA expanded its mission in 2004 to champion wave and tidal energy.
National Park Authorities
A.65
The statutory remit for National Park Authorities in England and Wales includes
landscape, nature conservation and public enjoyment and understanding (of the National Parks). National
Park Authorities also have a duty to foster the social and economic well being of communities within
the National Parks. They may provide detailed local knowledge, and staff with ecological and other
expertise relevant to pollution response.
A.66 The National Parks whose boundaries include coastline are:
Oil
Industry
A.67 The major oil companies have
resources for oil recovery and other counter pollution operations. The companies may be able to
provide tankers and other ships on charter and may be a source of technical information on tankers and
tanker operations. They also have contingency plans for dealing with spills in oil terminals operated
by them.
A.68 All operators are required to have an approved oil spill contingency plan in place for each of their installations operating on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). Within these plans their intended actions in the event of an incident involving their installation are detailed, including details of any service providers.
UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA)
A.69
UKOOA is the representative organisation for the companies that operate offshore
oil and gas production facilities on the UK Continental Shelf.
Marine Insurers
A.70
Shipowners generally have two types of insurance: “hull” insurance and “liability”
insurance. A shipowner’s hull insurance covers damage to the ship’s hull or machinery and a proportion
of traditional salvage awards. Liability insurance covers the shipowner’s liability to third parties,
including the costs of reasonable measures taken to prevent or minimise pollution and special environmental
awards to salvors.
A.71 Most shipowners take out liability insurance by entering their ship with one of the members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs. P&I clubs are mutual, non-profit making associations that insure their members (shipowners, charterers, managers, and operators) against third party liabilities, including pollution liabilities. Each P&I Club has full time managers who look after the day-to-day business of the club, including dealing with claims for compensation.
A.72 Cargo owners normally have cargo insurance to cover loss suffered by the cargo owner in the event of damage to, or loss of, the cargo during the course of a voyage and a proportion of traditional salvage awards.
The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC
Fund)
A.73 The IOPC Fund provides compensation
(up to a limit) for pollution damage caused by persistent oil carried by tankers if, and to the extent
that, compensation available from the shipowner is inadequate.
International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF)
A.74
ITOPF has a staff of technical experts to respond to marine oil spills anywhere
in the world. Its principal role is to give practical advice on clean up techniques and the mitigation
of damage. It normally performs this service at the request of shipowners, P&I Clubs, and
the IOPC Fund. ITOPF gives guidance on what counter pollution operations are likely to be considered
reasonable and proportionate, bearing in mind the provisions of the relevant treaties and the IOPC Fund’s
claims admissibility guidelines.
The Offshore Pollution Liability Association Ltd (OPOL)
A.75
OPOL is an oil industry body set up as a company limited by guarantee which
administers a voluntary strict liability compensation scheme for all UK offshore operators. The
OPOL Agreement requires each operator to accept strict liability, subject to a few exceptions, for pollution
damage and the cost of remedial measures.
The UK Spill Association (UK Spill)
A.76
UK Spill is the trade association that represents the oil spill response industry
in the United Kingdom. Its members include equipment manufacturing companies, service contractors,
and consultants. They have expertise in oil pollution prevention, control, and clean up at sea,
along coastlines and inland. UK Spill has a service contract with MCA, the terms of which include
the maintenance of the national equipment database for use in spill incidents.
Chemical Industry Association (CIA)
A.77
CIA or individual companies may be a source of information on the properties
of hazardous substances and advice on pollution response.
National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC)
A.78
The NCEC provides 24 hour advice on chemical hazards to the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency and to the emergency services. The NCEC has developed extensive databases to aid the rapid
identification of chemicals and their associated hazards. The NCEC also provides 24 hour chemical
spill modeling capability to MCA.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA)
A.79 When alerted by the relevant statutory nature conservation agency during a marine pollution incident, the RSPCA, SSPCA or USPCA:
National Trust and
National Trust for Scotland
A.80 The National
Trusts are major coastal landowners in the UK and their staff can be a valuable source of local expertise
and knowledge.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
A.81
The RSPB:
British
Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
A.82 The BTO:
World Wide Fund for Nature
UK (WWF)
A.83 The WWF may contribute to the
work of evaluation committees or inquiries that take place after a marine pollution incident.
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