Texas A&M University Spill Incident Management System

PREPARED BY

ROY W. HANN, JR, Ph.D. ,P.E., DEE
AND GEORGE ALAN FRANTZ, ME

The TAMU-SIMS was developed to provide spill response activities with the same effective management structure as found in ICS but with substantial modifications tailoring it to oil and hazardous substance spill scenarios. The traditional ICS organisation is focused on rapidly eliminating an immediate threat to life and property whereas TAMU-SIMS is geared much more toward environmental protection as well as emergency response.

The organizational structure of a TAMU-SIMS response is designed to begin developing from the time an incident occurs and expand and contract depending on the size, situation and complexity of the spill. The USCG or EPA On-Scene Commander (OSC) will generally establish a Unified Command consisting of the OSC, designated Staff Incident Manager, and the designated Responsible Party Incident Manager, with technical, operational, and support personnel supplied by one or more of these entities as needed. Each of the members must be qualified to fill their position.

As such, TAMU-SIMS can be utilized for any type or size of Oil Spill whether small enough to involve only industry with government oversight up to a spill of National Significance (SONS) involving the national incident command team, multiple federal, state, and local agencies, industry, cooperatives, and the public.