ALCOAST 040/18 - FEB 2018 MANDATED USE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

R 081124 FEB 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC //CG-4//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N05090//
ALCOAST 040/18
COMDTNOTE 5090
SUBJ:  MANDATED USE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
A. National Environmental Policy Act, 42 USC, et seq.
B. Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act,
40 CFR 1500-1508.
C. Department of Homeland Security Directive 023-01-01, Implementation
of the National Environmental Policy Act. 
D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141132 NOV 17/ ALCOAST 338/17.
1. References (A) and (B) establish the requirement that every federal
agency must analyze the potential environmental impacts of their
proposed actions.  Reference (B) stipulates agencies are to categorize
each of their actions as a categorical exclusion (CATEX), an
environmental assessment (EA), or an environmental impact statement (EIS). 
2. Reference (C) is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Policy
implementing the requirements of References (A) and (B), and establishing
the requirement for DHS components to utilize the DHS Environmental
Planning and Historic Preservation Decision Support System (DSS). DHS authorized
the Coast Guard to postpone the use of the DSS until the Coast Guard CATEXs
published in the Federal Register were corrected. In preparation for the
transition to the DSS, COMDT (CG-47) and DHS have hosted sessions to train
Coast Guard personnel in the use of the DSS system. Reference (D) provided
notification of training sessions through 20 December 2017. Additional
training opportunities will be scheduled to meet demand.
3. On Monday, 05 March 2018, all Coast Guard personnel are required to use
the DSS for the preparation and storage of all CATEX documentation
[Records of Environmental Consideration (REC)] and for the storage of all
final EAs, EIS's, and Findings of No Significant Impact and/or Records of
Decision under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related final
environmental compliance documents. Related final environmental compliance
documents that must be loaded into the DSS include, but are not limited to:
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Biological Assessments or Evaluations,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) Section 7 concurrence letters, final FWS and/or NMFS Biological Opinions,
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 concurrence letters, final
Memorandums of Agreement, Programmatic Agreements, Program Comments, and
Alternative Procedures, Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Incidental Harassment
Authorizations, Letters of Authorization, and Plans of Cooperation, permits
issued under the Archeological Resources Protection Act, Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, or Clean Water Act, Clean
Air Act Conformity Determinations, and Coastal Zone Management Act
consistency determinations. A more complete list of related environmental
compliance documents that must be loaded into the DSS is available on the
USCG specific information page located on the COMDT (CG-47) DSS Portal page and
at https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg47/EPHP/DSS/default.aspx. 
4. Preparation of Memoranda for the Record (MFR) is optional. If Coast Guard
personnel wish to prepare MFRs, then the MFR document must be completed. The
MFR document template can be found at http://cglink.uscg.mil/4f5caf5b.
The DSS can not be used to create an MFR. Should the DSS determine an MFR is
appropriate, the Environmental Reviewer will instruct the preparer to
complete the MFR template form, and remove the action from the DSS.
5. Directions on where and how to upload related environmental compliance
documents into the DSS can be found on the COMDT (CG-47) DSS Portal page and
the Coast Guard Specific Information page on the DSS.
6. Any Coast Guard DSS user can access the DSS application from any Coast Guard
computer using their Common Access Card (CAC) via the following link:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg47/EPHP/DSS/default.aspx.
7. First time users, should go to the section entitled, “DSS
Component Specific Information” on the DSS landing page, or the COMDT (CG-47)
DSS Portal page to view all Coast Guard specific information on the use of the
DSS. It is important that Coast Guard DSS users understand DSS rules
specific to the Coast Guard and have access to information such as: how to
enter your user information into the DSS, how and where to send an action for
environmental review, what to enter in the DSS “Area/Region” field, and who
to contact if system administration support is needed.  The COMDT (CG-47) DSS
Portal page and the Coast Guard Specific Information page of the DSS contains
basic instructions on use of the DSS, information on uploading of related
environmental compliance documents, USCG MFR and REC forms to download and
use if at any time the DSS system is not functional, a DSS User Feedback
Form, USCG DSS training slides, Coast Guard NEPA policy and guidance, and
other appropriate Coast Guard specific information.
8. Point of contact: Ms. Kebby Kelley, COMDT (CG-47), 202-475-5690,
kebby.kelley@uscg.mil.
9. RDML M. W. Bouboulis; Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics, sends.
10. Internet release authorized.