The ANCAP Oil Spill Contingency Plan objectives are:
• Set the action to be taken in situations of environmental pollution caused by oil spills, associated with the activities of ANCAP, so that when spills occur act promptly and effectively to minimize environmental impacts and mitigate the consequences, meaning spill any discharge, escape, disposal, spilling, leaking, pumping or release of hydrocarbons.
• Establish the responsibilities that allow the integration of the different areas involved, in order to maximize efficiency in responding to spills.
• "Being part of the National Contingency Plan, as provided by law No. 16,688.
• Implement measures to prevent oil spills.
• Determine the resources and staff training needed for spill control.
According to the provisions of the National Contingency Plan, spills are classified according to their magnitude:
Minor, the volume spilled is less than 15 m3;
Medium, when the volume spilled is between 15 and 100 m3, and
Higher when the volume is greater than 100 m3.
Current national legislation on the subject, is as follows:
• Decree-Law Nº 14,145 of 01/23/1974. Treaty of Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front.
• Decree-Law Nº 14,521 of 11/5/76.Tratado the Statute of the River Uruguay and Argentina.
• Law No. 14,780 of 10/5/78.Uruguay IMO member.
• Law No. 14,879 of 04/17/1979. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS 74/78.Regla 21 of Cap. V incorporates the International Code of Signals.
• Dec-Law No. 14,885 of 04/24/1979. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (London, 1973) and its Protocol (London, 1978), MARPOL 73/78.
• Law No. 15,955 of 6/15/1988, Amendments to MARPOL 73/78 (1985).
• Law 16,226 of 29/10/1991, on penalties for offenses concept of maritime waterways and ports, including oil spills.
• Law No. 16,272 OF 06/11/1992, Cooperation Agreement between Republic of Uruguay and Argentina to prevent and combat incidents of water pollution caused by oil and hazardous substances (1987).
• "Act of coordination" between the Coast Guard from Argentina and Uruguay to implement the Convention referred to and compatible Contingency Plans.
• Law No. 16,287 of 7/29/1992, the Convention on the Law of the Sea
• Law No. 16,521 of 7/24/1994, the International Convention for Cooperation, Development and Control of Pollution by Oil (OPRC/90)
• Law No. 16688 of 12/22/1994, Prevention and Surveillance System to possible contamination of the waters of national jurisdiction from ships, aircraft and naval craft.
• Law No. 16,820 of 9/4/1997, approves:
A-International Convention on Civil Liability for Damage caused by Pollution of the Sea by Oil (CLC, 1969 and Protocol 1992), IMO.
B-International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution (FUND, 1971 and Protocol 1992), IMO.
• Law No. 17,033 of 11/20/1998. Standards relating to the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Republic.
• Law No. 17,121 of 09/06/1999. It is committed to the Navy through the National Naval Prefecture, coordination and control of the activity of assistance and rescue boats, naval or deficiencies in distress or wrecked in the waters of national jurisdiction or sovereignty of the Republic or ports .
• Law No. 17,220 of 11/11/1999. Prohibiting the introduction in any form or under any regime in areas under national jurisdiction, all types of hazardous wastes.
• Decree 436/980 of 19/08/1980. Regulations for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Oil and other substances due to vessel operating in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, IMO, Law No. 13,833 of 29 / 12/69 and the Treaty of Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front.
• Decree 100/991 of 02.26.1991, Regulations for Use of Aquatic Spaces, Coastal and Harbor.
• Decree 103/995 of 24.02.1995, Establishment of National Emergency System.
• Decree 371/995 of 10.02.1995, Rules of Organization and Functioning of the National Emergency System.