ABSTRACT The confluence of managing risk, achieving preparedness, partnership, and effective pollution response actions is a “sine qua non” for minimizing water pollution and damage to the environment and natural resources. To succeed, the U.S. Coast Guard is implementing a new computer-based tool called SPEARS for use by Coast Guard on scene coordinators for incidents involving hazardous chemical or oil pollution. Highly capable, versatile, and user friendly, SPEARS uses state of the art technology, databases, mathematical models, and digital maps to manage information and support decision making for risk management, planning, exercises, and pollution response.