ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to highlight and expand on key oil spill issues in inland and freshwater areas identified during the March 2000 Freshwater Spills Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event attracted approximately 250 participants with significant representation from industry, federal, state, tribal, and local governments, including international attendees. This paper has been developed based on well-received presentations; authors worked with symposium presenters to revise and update material for a broader audience. The symposium promoted coordination of prevention planning and response efforts among federal agencies, states, tribes, local communities, and industry. Prominent issues included scientific and technical aspects of spills and spill sources, fuels management, Indian tribes perspectives on regulation and prevention, and nontraditional spill sources and substances. Scientific and technical issues presented included oil spill research in the Great Lakes, and shoreline and wetland remediation techniques. The symposium also featured a discussion of opportunities for scientific investigation immediately following spills. Fuels management focuses on the entire oil life cycle from production, through refining, storage, and distribution. It encourages regulators that address different parts of the life cycle to understand each other's functions, and promotes better understanding of the oil industry among all regulators. Challenges for tribes include the need to prevent spills from rural storage facilities while maintaining fuel storage capacities that communities depend on. The Alaska Rural Bulk Fuel Consolidation Project demonstrates how to marshal resources to repair or replace decaying infrastructure. Tribal governments also face the challenge of regulating oil production, storage, and transportation facilities. Strong working relationships between states, tribes, and federal agencies help meet the challenge. Nontraditional oil spill sources and non-petroleum oils are increasing concerns. Major tire fires have resulted in large releases of pyrolitic oil. Tire fires present a variety of hazards to human health and the environment. Response to tire fires and associated oil releases requires coordination with multiple response entities. Responding to spills of vegetable oils can present challenges to small rural emergency response units. Efforts to address these issues, and other concerns specific to inland and freshwater spills, are vital to meeting the goal of full and effective implementation of oil pollution laws and regulations.