Environmental Protection and Response

The Rescue and Environmental Response Branch maintains and operates an inventory of marine pollution countermeasures equipment at 10 depots located at strategic points in the Region.

The Branch responds to all ship source spills throughout the Region, as well as mystery spills on the Great Lakes, either as the primary responder or as a monitor on behalf of the people of Canada. Its role is to ensure the rapid and environmentally friendly clean-up of substances that are harmful to the environment, as well as to provide advice and response capabilities to other government departments. In addition to environmental response and prevention, the branch provides service in contingency planning for Coast Guard and advice to industry. Contingency planning officers are continually working with industry and environmental groups, response organizations, and other governments, including that of the United States, to develop, update, test and exercise contingency plans to be ready in the event of a spill.