ALCOAST 316/24 - AUG 2024 2023 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 191100Z AUG 24   MID120001352766U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 316/24
SSIC 1600
SUBJ: 2023 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS AWARD
RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 281235Z MAR 24/ALCOAST 142/24
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141510Z MAY 24/ALCOAST 218/24
1. I am pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 RADM
Sidney A. Wallace Award for Excellence in Marine Environmental
Response and Preparedness (Wallace Award). The Wallace Award
recognizes units and individual members who exemplify the highest
standards of professionalism and initiative embodied by RADM Wallace
throughout his career. The 2023 awardees were selected from
impressive nominations submitted IAW REFs (A) and (B).
Thank you to all who dedicated time to highlight both unit and
individual achievements. A panel convened and reviewed the
nominations based on the following criteria:
     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, 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. The 2023 Wallace Award Individual Response recipient is MSTC
Weldon "TJ" James, stationed at Sector Honolulu. Notably, he played
a critical role in the response to the devastating Western Maui
Wildfires. He facilitated collaboration among state and local
partners, provided crucial safety protocols, and ensured that
cultural considerations were respected during the response efforts.
Additionally, following the crash of a Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft,
MSTC James efficiently managed the incident as the Federal On-Scene
Coordinator (FOSCR), provided critical drone footage for the
US Navy's MISHAP Review Board, contributed to the development of
standard operating procedures for USCG's Short-Range Unmanned
Aircraft System (SR-UAS) capabilities, and identified best practices
to improve future disaster response efforts. MSTC James'
professionalism and effective communication have strengthened
relationships among county, state, federal, and industry partners.
3. The 2023 Wallace Award Unit Response recipient is Marine Safety
Unit (MSU) Lake Charles. MSU Lake Charles mobilized quickly upon
notification of a lightning strike that caused a catastrophic fire
at a cargo storage tank containing over 1.9 million gallons of
Naphtha, resulting in an 18-hour fire, damage to two tanks, and a
$10 million loss in product. MSU Lake Charles established an
emergency safety zone, implemented booming strategies, and
facilitated the disposal of 9.5 million gallons of contaminated
firewater through deep well injection in Texas. MSU Lake Charles
collaborated with the Research and Development Center to create
a handheld device application for pre and post-storm damage
assessments, later adapted for pollution scenarios. MSU Lake
Charles' innovative approach facilitated over 100 preliminary
assessments and set a new standard for using technology in
pollution response efforts.
4. The 2023 Wallace Award Individual Preparedness recipient is
MSSR3 Ann Marie Borkowski, stationed at Sector Anchorage.
Identifying a gap in Incident Management Division (IMD) readiness,
MSSR3 Borkowski developed an IMD Readiness Audit tool to assess
the division's mission performance. Her efforts led to overall
preparedness enhancement for 15 Pollution Responders (PR) and
Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representatives (FOSCR). As Chair of
the Arctic and Western Alaska Area Contingency Plan (ACP)
Sub-Committee, she coordinated with multiple agencies to update
the ACP, led a workshop for the CG-MER re-architecture project,
and also created a handheld app for damage assessments, improving
response efficiency with integrated infrastructure data. MSSR3
Borkowski's initiative and forward-thinking actions had resounding
positive service-wide impacts in support of the MEP mission.
5. The 2023 Wallace Award Unit Preparedness recipient is Sector
New York. Sector New York collaborated with the Atlantic Strike
Team (AST) to conduct a full-scale equipment deployment exercise
that mobilized over $1 million worth of response equipment,
involved over 140 participants from various agencies and
organizations, and revitalized its Area Committee, which now
includes core state and federal partners from New York and
New Jersey, as well as a wide range of stakeholders. These
interagency efforts were critical to the response of the major
fire on the MN Grande Costa d'Avorio at the Port of Newark, NJ.
Sector New York established an incident command post,
collaborated with state and local responders, and successfully
extinguished the fire after six days. They also handled the removal
of 238,000 gallons of fuel, 1,200 vehicles, and 134 containers,
preventing a significant pollution incident.
6. The 2023 Wallace Award Team recipient is the Western Maui
Wildfire ESF-10 Team. Following the issuance of a Presidential
Major Disaster Declaration in August, 2023, the State of Hawaii
requested U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) assistance for managing pollution,
hazardous materials, and debris in Lahaina Harbor. The Incident
Management Team (IMT) developed a detailed Mission Assignment
Statement of Work (SOW) for the Emergency Support Function #10
(ESF #10) mission, which included the assessment, removal, and
disposal of pollutants and wreckage. The IMT addressed significant
obstacles including restricted access to Lahaina due to ongoing
searches for human remains, security concerns, and uncertainties
about airborne contaminants. They ensured responder safety, employed
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV),
side scan sonar, and diver surveys to map potential pollution
sources and vessel targets. The IMT developed a cultural response
plan, hired a cultural monitor and conducted training to build trust
with the community.
7. Bravo Zulu to all our above winners. The efforts of all
members are commendable and in keeping with the legacy of
RADM Sidney A. Wallace. The selection process was thorough and
thoughtful. All units and members should be proud of their
continued efforts to support the MER mission.
8. In addition to the extraordinary achievements noted by the
Wallace Award Unit and Individual recipients, I applaud the
continued environmental response and preparedness efforts
conducted on a day-to-day basis. Stay safe in the field and we
look forward to reviewing next year's submissions. Semper Paratus!
9. POC: LT Allison Wrieden, COMDT (CG-MER-1) at
Allison.M.Wrieden@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2260.
10. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director of Emergency Management
(CG-5RI), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.