COMDTINST 16000.27
4. BACKGROUND.
a. NIMS provides a consistent, nationwide approach for Federal, State, local, and tribal
governments; the private sector; and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to work together
effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic
incidents regardless of cause, size, or complexity. The NIMS includes a core set of concepts,
principles, and terminology to provide for interoperability and compatibility among Federal,
State, local, tribal, and private sector capabilities. Reference (a) identifies these as the Incident
Command System (ICS); multi-agency coordination systems; training; identification and
management of resources (including systems for classifying types of resources); qualification
and certification; and the collection, tracking, and reporting of incident information and incident
resources.
b. The NRP is an all-hazard, all-discipline plan and is a specific application of NIMS for events
that are designated as Incidents of National Significance, which includes credible threats or acts
of terrorism, major disasters, and emergencies. The NRP is the core operations plan for national
incident management. It details the federal coordinating structures and processes that will be
used during an Incident of National Significance.
c. The NRP does not alter the statutory responsibilities of Federal, State, local, or tribal
departments and agencies and is built on existing systems and best practices. The plan
distinguishes between national-level incidents that require coordination by the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), which are termed Incidents of National Significance, and the
majority of incidents that will be handled through existing emergency authorities and plans by
responsible jurisdictions and agencies such as the Coast Guard.
d. Funding processes are not changed by the NRP or NIMS. Specifically, there is no change to the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Oil Spill
Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF), or Stafford Act funding processes. Funding issues are further
discussed in Enclosure (2).
e. The NRP was fully implemented on April 14, 2005, beginning an initial 240-day assessment and
testing period after which revisions are anticipated.
(1) On April 14, 2005, the NRP superseded the Federal Response Plan (FRP), the US Domestic
Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN), the Federal Radiological Emergency
Response Plan (FRERP), and the Interim NRP, and incorporated other national interagency
plans such as reference (f). Plans currently under development, including the National
Maritime Security Plan (NMSP) and Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan (MIRP), will
align with the NRP.
(2) Commencing on April 14, 2005, departments and agencies assigned coordinating, primary,
and support roles under the NRP were required to immediately staff the NRP organizational
structures as needed.
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