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r 1® Page 2 <br />The Spokesmen <br />Pre -planning is vital to ensure that designated persons or positions have the <br />responsibility to speak to the audiences and the procedures for gathering and <br />disseminating information. <br />Normally, the spokesman will represent the agency, company or group with the <br />responsibility for directing cleanup, or a combinatiaon of agencies, companies, and <br />groups. <br />Development of a central information source as quickly as possible is essential. <br />Each participant in an oil spill program, should have clearly defined who would <br />speak on his behalf should he become involved in a spill incident, and have a clear <br />channel for feeding information to central information source. <br />a. The First Man On -Scene <br />It will be inevitable that the first man on the scene may have to deal with one <br />or several of the audiences. His primary job is to assess and report, but he <br />should also be aware that courtesy and tact in dealing with requests for <br />information by the various audiences are important. While he may not be in a <br />position to answer these requests, he should ensure the information will be <br />provided as soon as possible and pass these requests to the appropriate <br />spokesman. <br />The urgency of the situation may restrict his role in providing public <br />information to little more than an honest promise to have the information <br />provided. He also has to be fully aware of the dangers of providing anything <br />more than general information initially and must refrain from speculation on <br />the cause and responsibility. <br />b. The Public Relations Representative (John Roscoe) <br />John Roscoe will take on the information function either at the scene or from <br />The Customer Company's office to assist in preparation and release of <br />information, and to advise appropriate coordinating participants on public <br />relations aspects associated with containment and cleanup of a spill. <br />The public relations representative should have a procedure established to be <br />followed in event of a spill which includes a clear-cut channel for receiving <br />notice of a spill and obtaining continuing data on the spill, plus a plan for <br />disseminating information to the various audiences. <br />The Information <br />Initial statements must be confined to facts that will not be in dispute, such as: <br />a. Identification of the location, name of installation or carrier involved, etc. <br />b. Time of the accident <br />c. Type of oil or product spilled <br />d. Action being taken to combat the spill <br />