National Strike Force

National Strike Force
United States Coast Guard. · Public domain · source
Unit name	National Strike Force
Dates	1973–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Coast Guard
Type	Response force
Role	Hazardous substance incident response
Command structure	United States Department of Homeland Security
Garrison	Elizabeth, New Jersey; Mobile, Alabama; Seattle, Washington
Notable commanders	Paul Zukunft; Thad Allen

National Strike Force is a specialized response component established to address hazardous substance incidents, including oil spills, radiological releases, and chemical discharges. It operates as an asset within the United States Coast Guard and coordinates with federal, state, and international partners such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Justice, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The unit provides technical expertise, rapid deployment teams, and specialized equipment to support responses to incidents like Exxon Valdez oil spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and incidents involving Amoco Cadiz-style releases.

History

The Strike Force was created in 1973 following increasing attention to maritime pollution incidents exemplified by events like the Torrey Canyon grounding and legislative milestones such as the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Early years saw cooperation with organizations including the United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Navy, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service during cases like the SS Jacob Luckenbach incident. During the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Strike Force elements worked alongside the National Transportation Safety Board, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and international responders from Canada and Norway. Post-1990s expansions integrated lessons from the M/T Haven disaster, the Braer spill, and incidents involving tankers referenced in International Maritime Organization forums.

Organization and Structure

The Strike Force is organized into regional teams based in locations including Elizabeth, New Jersey, Mobile, Alabama, and Seattle, Washington, aligning with United States Coast Guard Districts and coordinating with regional offices of the Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA. Command relationships involve the Department of Homeland Security and operational control can shift to unified commands under the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System. Leadership historically includes senior Coast Guard flag officers who have served in posts like Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, working with legal advisors from the United States Department of Justice and technical liaisons from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Mission and Operations

The primary mission is to provide rapid-response capability for hazardous substance releases, supporting missions such as oil spill mitigation, chemical incident containment, and radiological monitoring. Operational tasks include hazard assessment, shoreline cleanup coordination with agencies like the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, debris removal paired with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and environmental impact evaluation alongside the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Strike Force integrates with multinational frameworks like International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation and conducts operations in collaboration with maritime authorities such as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and port authorities in cities like Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles.

Training and Capabilities

Personnel receive training in hazardous materials response standards comparable to courses offered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and interagency programs run with the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Exercises are held with partners including the National Guard and multinational stakeholders from Canada, United Kingdom, and Japan to simulate incidents similar to Deepwater Horizon scenarios. Capabilities include scientific support teams, air reconnaissance coordinated with units like Air Station Clearwater, and shoreline assessment teams that work with academic partners such as Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Deployments and Notable Incidents

The Strike Force has been deployed to major incidents including the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the T/V Tropical incident, as well as responses to hurricanes such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy where hazardous materials were released. Internationally, Strike Force personnel have supported responses to tanker groundings like Prestige (oil tanker) and collaborated with International Maritime Organization teams during consultations after the Braer spill. Responses have also included coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency during industrial incidents and with the Department of Defense for complex site remediation.

Equipment and Resources

The unit maintains specialized equipment including oil containment booms deployed from response vessels, skimming systems compatible with platforms used in incidents like Deepwater Horizon, and mobile command centers interoperable with Incident Command System communications. Platforms and assets are often deployed from Coast Guard cutters such as those homeported in Boston, San Diego, and New Orleans, and rely on aviation support from air stations like Air Station Houston. Scientific instruments include portable gas chromatographs and radiological monitors similar to those used in Nuclear Regulatory Commission assessments and by National Institute of Standards and Technology–calibrated laboratories.

Legal Authority and Governance

Authority to act derives from statutes and regulatory frameworks including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Clean Water Act, and National policies enacted under the National Response Framework and National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Operations are coordinated under unified commands integrating agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and state emergency response organizations. Legal actions following incidents have involved coordination with the United States Department of Justice and enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation when criminal activity or negligence is alleged.

Category:United States Coast Guard Category:Emergency services in the United States Category:Environmental protection in the United States