United States 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 United States. This document outlines existing response structures at the federal level to serve as a reference for all U.S. states and territories and support regional and national planning efforts. The Guide seeks to capture the most likely response structures and actions at the federal level, with the understanding that state and local agency involvement is a critical component of an effective response. The Guide highlights organization roles and responsibilities as well as common challenges that have been identified by stakeholders, along with recommended actions.