ALCOAST 288/23 - AUG 2023 UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR SHIPPING OIL SAMPLES

R 101821Z AUG 23 MID120000362498U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 288/23
SSIC 16000
SUBJ: UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR SHIPPING OIL SAMPLES
A. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness
Manual, COMDTINST M16000.14A
B. Marine Safety Laboratory Oil Sample Handling & Transmittal Guide,
2013
C. Marine Environmental Response (MER) Oil Sampling Tactics,
Techniques, and Procedures (TTP), CGTTP 3-75.6
1. This ALCOAST announces the promulgation of the Shipping Oil
Samples Workbook. Multiple end users have expressed difficulties in
the process to print shipping labels to correctly send in oil
samples from a pollution case to the Marine Safety Laboratory for
testing and identification. Because of the incompatibility between
the Coast Guard Storefront enterprise updates and FedEx software
updates, users may not be able to correctly fill out and print the
Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods within the FedEx software.
Users should always try to first fill out the dangerous goods
documentation using the FedEx software, but if unable to correctly
do so, you may use the alternate method. FedEx has granted the Coast
Guard a policy exception, called an FX-18 extension, which allows
the agency to directly fill out a blank Shipper's Declaration of
Dangerous Goods form as an alternative. Users are directed to follow
the procedures outlined in the Shipping Oil Samples Workbook located
on the COMDT (CG-MER) sharepoint site, which can be found at:
(Copy and paste URL below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cgmer/mer1/FOSCR%20Documents/
Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2Fcgmer%2Fmer1%2FFOSCR%20Documents%2
FOil%20Sampling&viewid=8870513b%2D143b%2D48d8%2Db1be%2Da94d2bb32706

2. This workbook does not replace any existing policy, but provides
an alternate method to facilitate the shipping process. Where
discrepancies exist between this workbook and REFs (A)-(C), the
latter should be followed.
3. POC: LT Allison M. Wrieden, Allison.M.Wrieden@uscg.mil,
(202) 372-2260.
4. Ms. Dana Tulis, Director, Emergency Management (CG-5RI), sends.
5. Internet release is authorized.