On April 11, 2016, the United States Coast Guard announced the updated 2016 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines (81 FR 21362). PREP was developed to establish a workable exercise program that meets the intent of section 4202(a) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). PREP provides a mechanism for compliance with the exercise requirements. PREP is a unified federal effort and satisfies the exercise requirements of the:

• U.S. Coast Guard (USCG),
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and
• Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

Completion of the exercises described in the PREP Guidelines is one option for maintaining compliance with OPA 90‐mandated federal oil pollution response exercise requirements.

2016 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines (PDF)