ACN 101/17 - SEP 2017 GOVERNMENT INITIATED UNANNOUNCED EXERCISE (GIUE) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2018

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                 CANCEL DATE  12 SEP 2018

R 130840 SEP 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N16000//
ACN 101/17
SUBJ:  GOVERNMENT INITIATED UNANNOUNCED EXERCISE (GIUE) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2018
A. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness Manual,
COMDTINST M16000.14 (series)
1. In 2015, the Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy (CG-MER), reinvigorated
the Coast Guard GIUE program by releasing new GIUE policy which has since been
incorporated into REF (A). This policy established consistent exercise design, execution
and documentation across the Coast Guard. It also defined the number of GIUEs required
at each unit. This message establishes the FY18 GIUE requirements for each Captain of
the Port (COTP; Sector and Marine Safety Unit (MSU)).
2. As stated in REF (A), GIUEs are a cornerstone of the area oil spill exercise cycle
and a key tool for COTPs to evaluate oil spill response preparedness. As such,
COMDT (CG-MER) will continue to require the maximum number of GIUEs permitted under
regulation and the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines,
while also taking into account the number of candidates available within each COTP Zone.
Units that wish to adjust their requirements should route a memo, via their chain of
command, with adequate justification to support a reduction. GIUE requirements will be
published annually.
FY18 GIUE Targets:
MSU Duluth                                              1   
MSU Houma                                             4   
MSU Pittsburgh                                         4   
MSU Port Arthur                                        4   
MSU Savannah                                         2   
MSU Valdez                                              1   
Sector Anchorage                                      4   
Sector Buffalo                                           2
Sector Boston                                           4   
Sector Charleston                                     2   
Sector Columbia River                               4   
Sector Corpus                                           4   
Sector Delaware Bay                                 4   
Sector Detroit                                           2   
Sector Guam                                            2   
Sector Hampton Roads                              4   
Sector Honolulu                                        4   
Sector Houston-Galveston                         4   
Sector Jacksonville                                   4   
Sector Juneau                                          4   
Sector Key West                                       1 every 3 years   
Sector Lake Michigan                                4 
Sector Long Island                                   4   
Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach                 4   
Sector Lower Mississippi                           4   
Sector Maryland-National Capitol Region    4   
Sector Miami                                           4   
Sector Mobile                                          4   
Sector New Orleans                                 4   
Sector New York                                      4   
Sector North Carolina                               4   
Sector Northern New England                    4   
Sector Ohio Valley                                    4   
Sector Puget Sound                                  4   
Sector San Diego                                      2   
Sector San Francisco                                 4   
Sector San Juan                                        4   
Sector Southeast New England                   4   
Sector Sault Ste. Marie                              1   
Sector St. Petersburg                                4   
Sector Upper Mississippi                            4 
   A. GIUEs (conducted and successfully completed) are routinely reported to DHS and
COMDT (CG-DCO) as service-wide performance measures. It is unsatisfactory for units
not to meet their GIUE requirements. Units should perform GIUEs throughout the year.
Ideally, COTPs required to conduct four GIUEs per FY should conduct one exercise
each quarter. This facilitates meeting minimum requirements while also ensuring plan
holders are capable of responding in year-round conditions. Units that fail to meet
their FY GIUE target shall route a memo to COMDT (CG-MER), through their District and
Area, outlining why they did not complete the required exercises and how they intend
to meet the requirements going forward. GIUE shortfall memos should be received by
COMDT (CG-MER) within 60 days of the end of each FY. A template is posted on the
COMDT (CG-MER-1) portal page.
   B. Coordinating GIUEs with other agencies benefits both plan holders and governing
agencies alike by enhancing the relationships between agencies and allowing broader
training opportunities, all while reducing the burden on plan holders. To facilitate
joint GIUEs when partnering agencies have lengthy documentation procedures, units
may delay issuing the results letter to the plan holder when requested by the other
exercise evaluating agencies. Normally, FOSCs have 10 business days to complete the
documentation, but at the request of another agency, the FOSC may coordinate to issue
the documentation at similar times. When this occurs, the FOSC shall inform their
District within 10 days of the completed GIUE stating the details, to include the
exercise results and reason for the delay. This allows the District to log the
completed GIUE in COMDT (CG-MER-1) portal page for COMDT (CG-MER) reporting purposes.
   C. The intent of GIUEs is to ensure that plan holders are capable of responding to
an average most probable discharge (AMPD). Therefore, units shall not conduct multiple
GIUEs at the same time to intentionally strain an Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO).
Testing an OSRO's ability to respond to multiple AMPDs simultaneously is not within the Coast
Guard's jurisdictional authority or within the intent of the GIUE program.
   D. The guidance defined in paragraphs 2.B-2.C will be incorporated into
REF (A), which will be released within the next year.
3. POC: MST1 Justin E. Hoffer, COMDT (CG-MER-1), 202-372-2265 or Justin.E.Hoffer@uscg.mil.
4. Released by Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy.
5. Internet release authorized.