The coast of the Canadian Beaufort Sea has been analyzed into segments, and for each the shoreline character and sensitivity were described in detail and a protection and cleanup plan developed. These “miniplans” together provide a regional response plan and define resource and logistic requirements for spills of different sizes in any part of the Canadian Beaufort Sea. In the event of a spill, low-altitude videotape reconnaissance surveys would first define the location of the oil and be followed by ground surveys to document the oiling conditions and to develop cleanup recommendations and strategies. Such information would be collected systematically, using standardized forms and terminology, and could be archived in a data base or Geographical Information System (GIS).