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National Plan Operations Group - Chemical Operations Working Group Terms of Reference
The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances
The National Plan Operations Group was established pursuant to Recommendation 3 of National Plan Review 2000, as follows:
"It is recommended that a National Plan Operations Group be established to provide support to the National Plan Management Committee on day to day operational functions of the National Plan for both oil and chemical. The Operations Group comprise representatives of each of the key operational stakeholders of the National Plan, and be chaired by AMSA in recognition of its role as manager of the National Plan."
Purpose
At the first meeting of the National Plan Operations Group (NPOG), members endorsed an outline of a structure for three Working Groups to carry out tasks assigned by the Operations Group. The purpose of the Chemical Operations Working Group (COWG) is to consider issues such as the National Maritime Chemical Spill Contingency Plan, chemical response training and chemical response equipment. The foregoing issues are representative, but not all inclusive, of the range of chemical operation activities that the Woking Group may be called upon to address.
Membership
The COWG will be chaired by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council, with membership comprising the Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Queensland and Victoria. In view of the importance of a staggered membership rotation of members, the foregoing membership is not all inclusive but instead represents current Commonwealth, State and industry representation.
In addition to the standing membership, the COWG will draw on additional expertise as necessary from National Plan stakeholders to undertake specific tasks.
Terms of Reference
Recognising:
- The legislative responsibilities of each State/NT;
- the purpose of the National Plan is to maintain a national integrated Government/industry organisational framework capable of effective response to oil and chemical pollution incidents in the Australian marine environment;
- the respective roles and responsibilities of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, representing the Commonwealth; and
- the States/NT under the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.
The role of the NPOG Chemical Operations Working Group is:
- to address operational, technical, funding and administrative issues delegated to it by NPOG;
- to provide an operational forum to facilitate discussion and interaction between the various parties to the National Plan and other associated agencies with the aim of ensuring the operational and technical effectiveness of the Plan; and
- to monitor the performance and effectiveness of the operational, technical and administrative aspects of Australia’s chemical pollution response arrangements and report to NPOG on these arrangements.
To undertake this role the Working Group will:
- continually keep under review and monitor the effectiveness of operational, technical and administrative procedures and recommend to NPOG changes where appropriate to ensure Australia’s chemical pollution response capability is maximised. This will include the standing review of issues associated with:
- the National Maritime Chemical Spill Contingency Plan;
- State, Regional and Local chemical spill response contingency plans,
- chemical spill response equipment;
- Australian conformity with the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000;
- training in maritime chemical spill response; and
- national implementation of OSRICS;
- as appropriate, draw on additional expertise from National Plan stakeholders to review issue specific operational, technical and administrative procedures;
- monitor, assess and, where appropriate, recommend to NPOG the implementation of new technologies and procedures for chemical spill response;
- monitor the implementation of changes to operational, technical and administrative procedures following the analysis of major chemical spill response incidents and facilitate exchange of information;
- as directed by NPOG liaise with Commonwealth/State/industry and other agencies on specific operational, technical and administrative issues;
- prepare issue specific reports and recommendations to NPOG.