Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

Dominica's National Contingency Plan - Oil Pollution Clearance Scheme for Dominica - was approved in 1996. The National Plan provides a framework for government, industry and regional cooperation to ensure prompt and effective response to oil pollution incidents (actual or threatened). The Plan is an integral part of the National Disaster Plan, and is effective for the territorial waters of the Commonwealth of Dominica, its adjoining shoreline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The government lead agency is the National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO), represented by the National Disaster Coordinator in the office of the Ministry of Public Works and Ports. The Environmental Pollution Committee (EPC) would assist the lead agency in the event of a pollution incident and comprises representatives from different government departments and the oil industry. The Director of Forestry and Wildlife would chair the EPC.

At operational level, the Dominican Air and Sea Port Authority (DASPA) is the agency responsible for response operations and its General Manager would be the designated On-Scene Commander (OSC). He would be assisted by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force Marine Unit (DFMU).

The oil industry has agreed to provide Tier 1 response assistance in the event of a pollution incident.

Response Policy

The response strategy for Dominica is based on the combined approach of recovery/containment, the use of dispersants and manual shoreline clean-up. The use of dispersants needs the approval of the EPC.

Small quantities of oily beach material could be landfilled. Large quantities and bulk waste would have to be exported for final disposal.

Equipment

Government

There is no government-owned dedicated counter pollution equipment in stock on the island for offshore deployment and there are no local stockpiles of dispersants or application equipment. However, the Department of Works and the Dominican Fire and Ambulance Service (DFAS), as major sources of material, equipment and personnel, could be called upon by the EPC to assist in clean-up operations. The international airport of Dominica has limited capacity to handle aircraft transporting heavy equipment for clean-up operations.

Private

Rubis West Indies Ltd, West Indies Oil Ltd and National Petroleum all operate terminals. Rubis has clean-up resources comprising booms and skimmers sufficient to handle a small spill (Tier 1) at its facility at Rockaway industrial site. The three oil terminals are situated close to each other and would pool the available resources for the time being. Dominica Coconut Products Ltd (DCP) has purchased boom, skimmer and pumps that can also be used. In the event of a larger (Tier 2 or 3) spill, the oil companies are members of Oil Spill Response (Americas) Ltd (formerly Clean Caribbean & Americas) and would rely on their resources (Information from RAC-REMPEITC, 2015).

Previous Spill Experience

No major spills are known to have affected Dominica.

Hazardous & Noxious Substances

It is understood that to date no specific response arrangements are in place in case of an HNS spill. Such an incident would be dealt with in a similar manner as an oil spill incident.

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

Cartagena Convention - the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (a comprehensive, umbrella agreement for the protection and development of the marine environment with states of the Wider Caribbean Region).

Date of issue: June 2015