NP–GUI–023: National Plan coordination of cross-border incidents

Control agency to actively establish and maintain situational awareness of the incident, including:

• Current location and extent of the pollution; and 
• Predicted movement of the pollution.

• Control agency to evaluate the situation to determine whether the interests of another jurisdiction are likely to be impacted by the incident.

Notify adjacent jurisdictions

• Control agency to notify all jurisdictional authorities that may be impacted by an incident at the earliest opportun

AGREE incident coordination arrangements   

Jurisdictional authorities, in consultation with their respective appointed Control agency, to agree incident coordination arrangements for the entire incident.

Where appropriate a ‘lead’ Jurisdiction Authority and Control Agency should be agreed. In this instance a Change of Control Agency may be required. Refer to Change of Control Agency Protocol document.

Where a lead Jurisdictional Authority and Control Agency is not appropriate, a Joint Strategic Coordination Group comprising of senior representatives from each Jurisdictional Authority and Control Agency should be established to ensure effective coordination across two or more jurisdictions.

The agreed incident coordination arrangement to include:

• Overall coordination and control structure
• Timings and protocols on any transfers of jurisdictional authority and/or control agency
• Agreed key objectives and priorities
• Maintenance of a common operating picture and sharing of modelling and other intelligence
• Resource commitments and allocations between jurisdictions, including National Plan resources
• Public information strategy, including community engagement and media arrangements
• Executive government communication arrangements
• Issues resolution protocols

DOCUMENT the decision

• The decision and reasons for incident coordination arrangements are to be documented as appropriate within the respective jurisdiction.

IMPLEMENT agreed incident coordination arrangements

Jurisdictional authorities and control agencies to implement the agreed incident coordination arrangements, including establishment of agreed coordination and control structures.

MONITOR effectiveness of agreed incident coordination arrangements  

Jurisdictional authorities and control agencies to monitor the effectiveness of the agreed incident coordination arrangement and seek improvements as necessary through the agreed coordination and control structures and issues resolution.