Vessel Response Plans (VRPs) apply within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone to tankers of any size and non-tank vessels greater than 400 gross tons that carry oil of any kind, whose cargo is bound to or from a U.S. port. Ref: 33 CFR 155 Sections 1015 and 5015.
VRPs must plan for the impact of a spill based on the oils carried onboard covered vessels.
Each vessel has unique oil volumes in terms of fuel and cargo. VRPs document pre-planning for 15 response resource categories needed for oil spill response.
Types and amounts of equipment are calculated using planning standards, known as National Planning Criteria (NPC), contained throughout the regulations.
Alternatives to NPC, known as Alternative Planning Criteria (APC), may be proposed to provide equivalent response resource capability.
APC may include different timing, amounts, types, and strategies for response resources.
Following the publication of the Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) National Guidelines for Vessel Response Plans, the Coast Guard’s Arctic District has developed initial interim guidance as vessel owners, operators, and APC administrators develop and renew alternatives.
This document identifies areas for consideration as alternatives are submitted for operation in Alaska.
In the future, the Arctic District will develop a regional APC policy with stakeholder input to address Alaska-specific issues and ensure APCs provide an equivalent level of planning, response, and mitigation to the National Planning Criteria.
Any input provided on this guidance will be considered during development of the regional APC policy. The documents below provide the Arctic District APC guidance and the National APC guidelines.
Arctic District APC Guidance National APC Guidelines
Comments, questions, and suggestions may be submitted to: D17-APC-Comments@uscg.mil
Alternatives have enabled substantial growth of response resources across logistical hubs throughout Alaska.
(Graphic provided for illustration purposes only.)