ALCOAST 014/21 - JAN 2021 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2020 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS AWARD

R 121701Z JAN 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS
ALCOAST 014/21
SSIC 16000
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR THE 2020 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND
PREPAREDNESS AWARD
A. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness
Manual, COMDTINST M16000.14 (series)
1. This message solicits nominations for the RADM Sidney A. Wallace
Award for Excellence in Marine Environmental Response and
Preparedness (Wallace Award) for the 2020 calendar year.
The purpose of the Wallace Award is to provide recognition
to those members who exemplify the high standards of
professionalism and initiative embodied by RADM Wallace
throughout his career. The Wallace Award includes two categories:
Individual and Unit Excellence. Units eligible include Sectors,
Marine Safety Units, National Strike Teams, and District Response
Advisory Teams (DRATs). The Wallace Award recognizes Coast Guard
individuals and units for the following:
   a. Excellence in the area of marine environmental response
and preparedness;
   b. Contributions to the Marine Environmental Response (MER)
program;
   c. Efforts to improve coordination and cooperation among all
MER partner agencies, the industry, and the public;
   d. Professional conduct in carrying out program assignments;
   e. Innovations in response and preparedness to pollution
incidents; and
   f. Furthering the goals and objectives of the MER program.
2. RADM Sidney A. Wallace served as the first Program Manager
and Chief of the Marine Environmental Protection (MEP) Program
and Division. Under his leadership, the MEP Program quickly
achieved prominence in marine environmental response and
preparedness among federal and state agencies, industry, and
non-governmental organizations. He implemented the provisions
of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970, which, among
other things, created the National Response System (NRS).
RADM Wallace was a frequent delegate to the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and was a delegate to the
International Marine Pollution Conference in 1973, which adopted
the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships (MARPOL), the main international convention covering
prevention of pollution to the marine environment from vessels.
He later served as Chair of IMO’s Marine Environment Committee
during work on the International Convention on Oil Pollution
Preparedness Response and Cooperation (OPRC).
3. Throughout this challenging year, Coast Guard personnel have
displayed exceptional resourcefulness, initiative and innovation
in marine environmental response and preparedness during the
COVID-19 pandemic while also continuing to ensure the safety
of responders and the environment. Commands are highly encouraged
to nominate Coast Guard individuals and units who innovated
pollution preparedness and response activities during the pandemic.
4. REF (A) outlines application information. Format requirements
and RADM Wallace's biography are posted on the COMDT (CG-MER)
Portal. Nominations are limited to two pages of text in a standard
memorandum format.
5. Nominations must be received NLT COB Tuesday, 2 March 2021.
Individual and Unit nominations must be submitted electronically
as an email attachment to the POC listed below. Recipients of
the 2020 Wallace Award will be announced via ALCOAST. 
6. POC: LT Justin R. Valentino, COMDT (CG-MER) at
justin.r.valentino@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2248.
7. Ms. Dana Tulis, Director, Emergency Management (CG-5RI), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.