What federal agency oversees the implementation of the National Contingency Plan (NCP)?

• A. Department of Energy (DOE)
• B. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• C. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• D. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer: (D)

The National Contingency Plan is the framework for how the federal government responds to releases of hazardous substances and oil, and the agency that oversees its implementation is the Environmental Protection Agency. This is because CERCLA—the statute that created the plan—gives EPA the lead role in coordinating federal response, maintaining the National Response System, designating on-scene coordinators, and aligning federal actions with state and local efforts. Other agencies have specialized roles in emergencies—FEMA handles broader disaster management, OSHA focuses on worker safety at sites, and DOE handles energy-related concerns—but they are not the primary overseers of the NCP. The EPA leads the coordinated federal response under the NCP to ensure effective and consistent actions across incidents.