ACN 120/18 - NOV 2018 THE INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT (IAA) BETWEEN USCG AND NOAA OFFICE OF RESPONSE AND RESTORATION FOR COORDINATION AND FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES REGARDING UTILIZATION OF ERMA AS A COMMON OPERATING PICTURE

united states coast guard

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE CANCEL DATE 06 NOV 2019


R 071524 NOV 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N16000//
ACN 120/18
SUBJ: THE INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT (IAA) BETWEEN USCG AND NOAA OFFICE OF RESPONSE AND
RESTORATION FOR COORDINATION AND FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES REGARDING UTILIZATION OF ERMA
AS A COMMON OPERATING PICTURE
A. Interagency Agreement between U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States
Coast Guard Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy and the U.S. Department
of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service
Office of Response and Restoration for Coordination and Funding of Activities Regarding
Utilization of the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) as a Common
Operating Picture (COP)
1. This ACN announces the promulgation of REF (A) and can be found on COMDT (CG-MER)
Portal page: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgmer/SitePages/Home.aspx. IAA is located
in the "ERMA" folder within "MER Libraries".
2. ERMA is a NOAA online mapping tool that aids in spill preparedness and planning by
integrating data in a centralized, easy-to-use format for environmental responders and
decision makers. It integrates static and real-time data such as Environmental Sensitivity
Index (ESI) maps, vessel locations, as well as weather and ocean information to assist in
coordinating emergency response efforts and situational awareness for human and natural
disasters. 
    a. The website to access ERMA is: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial
-data/environmental-response-management-application-erma/.
    b. ERMA can be accessed utilizing Microsoft Edge, FireFox, or Chrome, however it is not
supported by Internet Explorer.
    c. To obtain an account, users should initially contact their regional Scientific Support
Coordinator (SSC) to advise of the intent as the SSC will be the sponsor when requesting an
account online. A step-by-step process can be found on the COMDT (CG-MER) Portal page under
Announcements: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgmer/SitePages/Home.aspx.
3. The Interagency Agreement:
    a. Standardizes use of ERMA as the COP for USCG-led training, exercises, and responses
to discharges of oil and releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants.
    b. Establishes a formal framework for policy decisions and use of ERMA to support USCG
activities, i.e. conducting training and exercises, referencing Geographic Response
Strategies (GRS), and data visualization on Abandoned & Derelict Vessels (ADVs) to include
tracking ADVs.
    c. Provides guidance on how USCG units can request assistance from NOAA, through Regional
Scientific Support Coordinators, including services which would require funding.
    d. Provides details on developing a Scope of Work for services requested.
    e. Provides information for processing payments/transfers of funds.
4. POC: LCDR Johna N. Rossetti, COMDT (CG-MER), Johna.N.Rossetti@uscg.mil.
5. Released by Ms. Dana Tulis, Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy.
6. Internet release is authorized.