The Unified Command (UC) - Although a single Incident Commander normally handles the command function, an ICS organization may be expanded into a Unified Command (UC). The UC is a structure that brings together the "Incident Commanders" of all major organizations involved in the incident in order to coordinate an effective response while at the same time carrying out their own jurisdictional responsibilities. The UC links the organizations responding to the incident and provides a forum for these entities to make consensus decisions. Under the UC, the various jurisdictions and/or agencies and non-government responders may blend together throughout the operation to develop common strategy without relinquishing any agency's authority.

The UC is responsible for overall management of the incident. The UC directs incident activities, including development and implementation of overall objectives and strategies, and approves ordering and releasing of resources. Members of the UC work together to develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, share information, maximize the use of available resources, and enhance the efficiency of the individual response organizations.

The UC may be used whenever multiple jurisdictions are involved in a response effort. These jurisdictions could be represented by:

• Geographic boundaries (e.g., two states, Indian Tribal Land).
  
  
• Governmental levels (e.g., local, state, federal).
  
  
• Functional responsibilities (e.g., fire fighting, oil spill, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)).
  
  
• Statutory responsibilities (e.g., federal land or resource managers, responsible party under OPA or CERCLA) or
  
  
• Some combination of the above.
  
  

Actual UC makeup for a specific incident will be determined on a case-by-case basis taking into account the following:

• The specifics of the incident.
• Determinations outlined in existing response plans; or
• Decisions reached during the initial meeting of the UC.

The makeup of the UC may change as an incident progresses, in order to account for changes in the situation. The UC is a team effort, but to be effective, the number of personnel should be kept as small as possible..

Frequently, the first responders to arrive at the scene of an incident are emergency response personnel from local fire and police departments. The majority of local responders are familiar with National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) ICS and are likely to establish one immediately. As local, state, federal, and private party responders arrive on-scene for multi-jurisdictional incidents, responders would integrate into the ICS organization and establish a UC to direct the expanded organization. Although the role of local and state responders can vary depending on state laws and practices, local responders will usually be part of the ICS/UC.

Members in the UC have decision-making authority for the response. To be considered for inclusion as a UC representative, the representative’s organization must:

• Have jurisdictional authority or functional responsibility under a law or ordinance for the incident.
• Have an area of responsibility that is affected by the incident or response operations.
• Be specifically charged with commanding, coordinating, or managing a major aspect of the response; and
• Have the resources to support participation in the response organization.

In addition, UC representatives must also be able to:

• Agree on common incident objectives and priorities.
• Have the capability to sustain a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week commitment to the incident
• Have the authority to commit agency or company resources to the incident.
• Have the authority to spend agency or company funds
• Agree on an incident response organization
• Agree on the appropriate Command and General Staff position assignments to ensure clear direction for on-scene tactical resources.
• Commit to speak with “one voice” through the Information Officer or Joint Information Center (JIC), if established
• Agree on logistical support procedures; and
• Agree on cost-sharing procedures, as appropriate.

UC members bring their authorities to the UC, as well as the resources to carry out their responsibilities. The UC members may change as the response transitions out of emergency response and into long-term cleanup. Members in a UC have a responsibility to the UC, and also to their agency or organization. These individuals in the response management system do not relinquish agency authority, responsibility, or accountability. The addition of a UC to the ICS enables responders to carry out their own responsibilities while working cooperatively within one response management system. Under the National Contingency Plan (NCP), the UC may consist of a pre-designated OSC, the state On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), the Incident Commander for the Responsible Party (RP), and the local emergency response Incident Commander.

Generally, for spills on federal lands or resources, federal land and resource managers have authorities and responsibilities comparable to those of local and state responders and federally recognized Indian tribes. For this reason, federal land and resource managers should be invited to participate in the UC for spills on federal lands and resources under their control. Similarly, for incidents on tribal lands of federally recognized Indian tribes, a representative from the Indian tribe must be invited to participate in the UC.