scope:

PURPOSE.

This Manual provides information to the members of senior Coast Guard leadership who have the potential of being assigned to lead a spill response when a discharge of oil or release of hazardous substances becomes a SONS. This policy governs the procedural transition to a SONS and the policy on roles and functions of the added layer of the response organization-namely, the NIC staff-that is brought into play throughout the SONS event. This Manual is intended to augment the policy in Reference (l), which governs oil spill response more broadly.