Final answer:
In the event of a spill within a USCG FOSC zone, the USCG and US EPA must be notified, along with state agencies and relevant local organizations. Commercial ships involved in such incidents need to submit a Ballast Water Report to the NBIC. Proper notification ensures coordinated response and regulatory compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a spill occurs within a United States Coast Guard (USCG) Field Operations Coordination (FOSC) zone, there are key personnel and organizations that must be notified promptly. These entities are responsible for responding to and managing environmental incidents, such as oil spills. The primary agency that needs to be informed is the USCG, as they have overarching responsibility for federal spill response. In addition, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) should be notified since they work in conjunction to regulate ballast water (BW) discharge nationally. Furthermore, facilities operating under the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule (SPCC) are required to have a written plan to address potential spills, which is enforced by the EPA. For BW specifically, commercial ships must submit a Ballast Water Report (BWR) to the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC), which was established by the USCG and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). It is essential to also notify state agencies and any relevant local organizations that align with federal regulations. The effective and swift notification of these entities helps ensure a coordinated response to limit environmental damage and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.