Supporting, Serving and Coordinating

National Park Service (NPS) managers are responsible for preserving and protecting public lands and, in some instances, surrounding waters and submerged lands. When an oil discharge or release of hazardous substances impacts or threatens to impact resources managed by the National Park Service, park resources may be at risk.

The NPS Spill Response Program:

  • Supports and advises parks and regions in the event of a hazardous spill that threatens park resources, including 24/7 assistance to parks when a hazardous spill occurs.

  • Serves as a contact for park staff on policy guidance in spill response activities and clean-up.

  • Coordinates with appropriate NPS staff to promote preparedness, planning, and spill response training.

Learn more about what to do if you see a spill, spills in national parks and the effects of oil spills through the links below.

Stairs lead down to a lighthouse on the Point Reyes National Seashore
What to do if you see a spill

Learn who to contact and what to tell them.

Oil stained birds perch on a San Francisco Bay rock after the Cosco Busan oil spill in 2007.
Spills in National Parks

Learn about the possible types of spills that could affect the National Park System.

Waves crash on a bedrock shelf along the shore of Lake Superior.
Park Preparation Plans

Several units of the NPS have prepared spill response plans - learn more about them here.

Last updated: September 9, 2022

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