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MSRC was formed in 1990 to offer spill response services
and mitigate damage to the environment. These services
are available to organizations, including those involved
in the handling and transport of oil and other substances.
The capabilities of MSRC are also intended to help members
of the
Marine Preservation Association (MPA) satisfy their facility
and vessel response planning requirements mandated by the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90). OPA-90 requires that
those who transport petroleum and petroleum products in
U.S. coastal waters ensure by contract the resources necessary
to respond to a "worst case discharge" to the "maximum
extent practicable."
MSRC offers response capability intended to help satisfy
the following response planning requirements:
- Worst Case Discharge;
- Maximum Most Probable Discharge;
- Average Most Probable Discharge (as arranged, if requested);
- Shallow Water Response Capability; and
- Shoreline Protection and Cleanup;
MSRC offers these services in the "Oceans", "Inland",
and "Rivers and Canals" operating environments
on the U.S. East, Gulf and West coasts, the U.S. Caribbean
and the Hawaiian Islands. Today's MSRC also offers in situ
burn and dispersants services as well as international and
hazardous materials spill response on a case by case basis.
In 1999, MSRC added services in response to non-spill emergencies,
such as hurricanes, floods, fires, and other disasters.
To provide these services, MSRC relies on its extensive
inventory of owned response equipment. This equipment is
dedicated to spill response, and is stored and maintained
at MSRC's equipment pre-position sites across the US.
MSRC's capabilities are augmented by a network of over 100
participants in the Spill Team Area Responders ("STARs")
program, an affiliation of environmental response contractors
located at over 200 locations throughout the country.
In addition to the need for "hard" response equipment,
an effective spill response effort is successful only when
proper attention is directed to the human element of spill
response. This "softer" side of response capability
includes personnel training, subcontractor training, communications,
and equipment maintenance and repair programs. MSRC tests
all aspects of response through an internal Quality Assurance
program incorporating MSRC funded drills and inspections.
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