Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide

The purpose of the Guide is to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following any natural disaster or event that generates large amounts of marine debris in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This document outlines existing response structures at the territorial, municipal, and federal levels to facilitate a coordinated and timely response to marine debris in the Commonwealth. It highlights organization roles and responsibilities and includes an overview of permitting and compliance requirements that must be met before marine debris removal work begins. While roles and responsibilities can overlap or shift during a response, the Guide seeks to capture the most likely response structure and actions with the understanding that flexibility is an inherent component of an effective response.

The Comprehensive Guidance Document serves as a complete reference for marine debris response in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The accompanying Field Reference Guide only includes the most pertinent information for quick reference in the field and during emergency response operations, as well as a contacts table.