National Search And Rescue Committee

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National Search and Rescue Committee logoThe NSARC is a coordinating and deliberative body of Federal agency representatives that share a common interest for the national improvement of civil search and rescue policy, procedures, effectiveness, and standardization.  The purpose of the Committee is to coordinate and provide guidance for the implementation of the National SAR Plan (NSP).

During the National Search and Rescue Conference of 1973, conference participants recognized the administrative void and concluded that a permanent committee needed to be established in order to oversee the administrative safeguarding of the United States National Search and Rescue Plan and to act as a coordinating medium for discussions involving national SAR related matters.  Acting upon the Conference conclusion, the Secretary of Transportation, under DOT order 1120.28 dated 21 May 1974, established through a written inter-agency agreement the Interagency Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR) which was charged to carry out the aforementioned functions.  The title name given to the inter-agency committee remained in effect from 1974 until a 1999 revision to the inter-agency cooperation agreement changed the committee’s title name to the “National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC)”.

 

 

2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE * Washington DC 20593
Phone: (202) 372-2090 * Facsimile: (202) 372-8357*
Email NSARC Secretariat here

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United States Search and Rescue Publications

 

U.S. National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC) Interagency Agreement--2016
This Agreement provides for a federal-level Committee to coordinate civil search and rescue (SAR) matters of interagency interest within the United States.

National Search and Rescue Plan of the United States--2016


The National Search and Rescue Plan of the United States coordinates search and rescue (SAR) services to meet domestic needs and international commitments, as well as assign SAR Coordinator responsibilities for the U.S. aeronautical and maritime SAR Regions.

 

U.S. National Search and Rescue Supplement to the IAMSAR Manual -- 2018

This National Search and rescue Supplement (NSS), prepared under the direction of the National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC), guidance to Federal Agencies concerning implementation of the National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP). The NSS provides specific additional national standards and guidance that build upon the baseline established by the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.

(NOTE: International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) NSARC has adopted the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) as the primary guidance for federal conduct of civil search and rescue.  The IAMSAR Manual is sponsored jointly by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  It consists of a three volume set:  Volume I is Organization and Management; Volume II is Mission Co-ordination; & Volume III is Mobile Facilities)