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1771 <br />tourists and visitors from other countries, given Florida's <br />popularity as a vacation destination, further complicating <br />the emergency response to such an event. <br />As a major industrial nation, the U.S. produces, distributes, <br />and consumes large quantities of oil. Petroleum-based oil <br />is used as a major power source to fuel factories and <br />various modes of transportation, and in many everyday <br />products, such as plastics, nylon, paints, tires, cosmetics, <br />and detergents ( Environmental Protection Agency, 1998). <br />At every point in the production, distribution, and <br />consumption process, oil is stored in tanks. With billions of <br />gallons of oil being stored throughout the country, the <br />potential for an oil spill is significant, and the effects of <br />spilled oil can pose serious threats to the environment. <br />In addition to petroleum-based oil, the U.S. consumes <br />millions of gallons of non -petroleum oils, such as silicone <br />and mineral -based oils and animal and vegetable oils. Like <br />petroleum products, these non -petroleum oils are often <br />stored in tanks that have the potential to spill, causing <br />environmental damages that are just as serious as those <br />caused by petroleum-based oils. To address the potential <br />environmental threat posed by petroleum and non-petrt )leum <br />oils, the U.S. Environmental protection Agency has <br />established a program designed to prevent oil spills. The <br />program has reduced the number of spills to less than 1 % <br />of the total volume handles each year (Environmental <br />Protection Agency, 1998). <br />Indian River County has about 22 miles of Atlantic Ocean <br />coastline that is subject to contamination caused by an oil <br />spill. By Executive Order, the responsibility for preparing <br />response plans for coastal oil spills is designated to the <br />Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Florida <br />Marine Patrol. The Florida Coastal Pollutant Spill Plan has <br />been prepared to coordinate response procedures and <br />recovery efforts after a spill. There are to active oil field <br />regions in Florida: Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the <br />Panhandle, and Collier, Dade, Hendry, and Less counties in <br />southwest Florida. <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 32