Response Planning Public Review

Welcome to the SPAR Response Planning Public Review page. This page is designed to help you navigate important information concerning Alaska’s plans for federal and State response to an oil discharge, or substantial threat of a discharge of oil and / or a release of a hazardous substance. ADEC, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Region 10, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) District 17 and Sector Anchorage, Sector Juneau, and Marine Safety Unit Valdez manage response operations in accordance with these planning documents. Here you will find a concise overview of information with links to detailed information for Alaska’s government planning documents.

Currently Under Review

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Regional Response Team’s Wildlife Protection Committee (Pribilof Islands Working Group) are seeking public input on proposed updates to the Pribilof Islands Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Oil Spill Response, Version 2023.1 (January 2023). The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for responders and planners when addressing wildlife concerns during an oil spill response in the vicinity of the Pribilof Islands. This guidance document is incorporated by reference into the Arctic and Western Alaska Area Contingency Plan and is considered a companion document to the Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Oil Spill Response in Alaska.The public comment period for this document begins on January 9, 2023 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (Alaska Standard Time) on February 7, 2023.

No Longer Under Review

Arctic & Western Alaska Area Contingency Plan (AWA ACP) Public Review: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Coast Guard were seeking public input on the proposed update of the Arctic and Western Alaska Area Contingency Plan (AWA ACP) Public Review Draft dated September 2022. The purpose of the ACP is to provide guidance to federal, state, tribal, and local response area planners. The public comment period for this plan closed on November 3, 2022.
Prince William Sound Area Contingency Plan Public Review 2022: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Coast Guard were seeking public input on the proposed update of the Prince William Sound Area Contingency Plan (ACP) Public Review Draft dated April 2022. The purpose of the ACP is to provide guidance to federal, state, tribal, and local response area planners. The public comment period for this plan closed on May 11, 2022.
Alaska Regional Contingency Plan: The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, were seeking public input on the proposed update of the Alaska Regional Contingency Plan (RCP) Public Review Draft dated June 2021. The public comment period for this plan concluded at 11:59 p.m. on August 6, 2021.The purpose of the RCP is to provide guidance to area planners and Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) members. When you move the information about the RCP public review, as discussed, please make sure the past public comments remain accessible. We will have a finalized RCP to be put on the website towards the end of this month.
Southeast Alaska Area Contingency Plan: The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Coast Guard were seeking public input into Version 2018.1 of the Southeast Alaska Area Contingency Plan.
Alaska Inland Area Contingency Plan, version 2, 2020: The AIA ACP serves as a primary guidance during a response to an oil discharge or hazardous substance release. This ACP describes the strategies of a coordinated federal, state, tribal, and local response to a discharge, or substantial threat of a discharge of oil and/or a release of a hazardous substance within the Alaska Inland Area boundaries.
Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Oil Spill Response: The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Regional Response Team were seeking public input on the Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Oil Spill Response in Alaska (WPG), version 2020.
Proposed Changes To Alaska’s Planning Structure (July 2018): Decommissioning the Unified Plan and Sub-area Plans to a Regional Contingency Plan and four Area Contingency Plans

For More Information

Contact DEC: decsparplanning@alaska.gov