What is the role of the National Response Team (NRT)?

The role of the National Response Team (NRT) is fundamentally focused on coordinating federal response efforts for oil spills and hazardous substances. When a significant oil spill occurs, multiple federal, state, and local agencies may be involved in the response efforts. The NRT provides a framework for these agencies to work together effectively, ensuring that the response is comprehensive and well-coordinated.

Option A accurately reflects this responsibility, as the NRT's primary purpose is to ensure effective communication and coordination among the various stakeholders involved in oil spill incidents. Through this cooperative structure, the NRT helps streamline operations, optimize resource use, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the response actions.

The other choices pertain to different regulatory and operational areas that fall outside the specific mandate of the NRT. For instance, overseeing hazardous waste assessments pertains to other agencies that focus on waste management and environmental protection, while compliance with agricultural regulations and drinking water quality management are handled by respective agencies focused on these specific sectors. These areas do not reflect the NRT's primary function of coordinating pollution response efforts.