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National Plan Operations Group - Oil 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 NPOG1 members endorsed an outline of a structure for three Working Groups to carry out tasks assigned by the Operations Group. The purpose of the Oil Operations Working Group (OOWG) is to consider issues such as the National Contingency Plan, oil spill response equipment and training, fixed wing aerial dispersant spraying and contingency plan audits. The foregoing issues are representative, but not all inclusive, of the range of oil operation activities that the Working Group may be called upon to address.
Membership
The OOWG will be chaired by AMSA, with membership comprising AMOSC, AAPMA, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia. 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 OOWG will draw on additional expertise as necessary from National Plan stakeholders to undertake specific tasks.
Terms of Reference
Recognising:
- 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;
- State/NT legislation, under the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances;
- Australian Institute of Petroleum, under the Memorandum of Understanding on Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response, and;
- Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre, under the Master Service Contract, and;
- the role of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as the overall managing agency for the Plan with responsibility for ensuring the overall effectiveness of the integrated arrangements.
The Role of the NPOG Oil Operations Working Group is:
- to address operational, technical 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;
- to monitor the performance and effectiveness of the operational, technical and administrative aspects of Australia’s oil 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 oil pollution response capability is maximised. This will include the standing review of issues associated with:
- the National Contingency Plan;
- State, Regional, Local Contingency Plans;
- Oil spill response equipment procurement, location, storage, maintenance and availability;
- National Plan training;
- Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability;
- 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 oil spill response;
- monitor the implementation of changes to operational, technical and administrative procedures following the analysis of major oil spill incidents;
- 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
Meeting Frequency
Meetings of the OOWG should normally be held following each meeting of NPOG, being twice a year and, additionally, when there are adequate issues of importance to be addressed. Meetings may be held by teleconference.