Oil spill prevention is about keeping oil spills (technically called oil discharges) from damaging the environment. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations address an onshore or offshore facility's preparedness and its ability to prevent, control, and respond to an oil discharge. Additionally, EPA strives to limit the damage done by oil spills through regulations requiring the immediate notification of a discharge of a harmful quantity of oil. In the event of an oil discharge, EPA prefers to have responsible parties finance the cleanup of the parties’ own oil discharges. When the responsible party is unknown or refuses to pay, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund may cover removal costs and/or damages that are not recovered from a responsible party.