ALCOAST 171/25 - APR 2025 RELEASE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS POLICY

R 081211Z APR 25   MID180001717816U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 171/25
SSIC 16000
SUBJ: RELEASE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND
PREPAREDNESS POLICY
A. Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness,
COMDTINST 16000.14B
B. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness
Manual, COMDTINST M16000.14A
C. Government Initiated Unannounced Exercise (GIUE), CGTTP 3-75.7
1. This ALCOAST announces the promulgation of REF (A) and
cancellation of REF (B).
2. REF (A) represents a complete revision to REF (B) and prescribes
policy and guidance for Coast Guard marine environmental response
operations and preparedness activities. Major changes include:
    a. Introduces the "four pillars" of marine environmental
response that sets the foundation to enable Federal On Scene
Coordinators (FOSCs) to plan, prepare for, respond to, investigate,
and enforce oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents.
    b. Incorporates and consolidates policy from six other Commandant
Instructions. Those affected directives can be found in Paragraph 4.
of the letter of promulgation in REF (A).
    c. Revises pollution preparedness policy on topics such as
Area Contingency Plans, Area Committees, environmental and
other consultation requirements, and GIUEs to ensure compliance with
current standards and improve overall effectiveness. Guidance for
GIUEs was removed to create a standalone TTP, REF (C).
    d. Expands and clarifies the ability to delegate FOSC authority,
as well as clarified the guidance for assigning an incident specific
FOSC/ Federal On Scene Coordinator's Representative (FOSCR).
    e. Adds a requirement to notify COMDT (CG-MER) when an FOSC
authorizes a deviation from a Vessel Response Plan (VRP) during a
response.
Note: Deviations related to change of salvors requires Congressional
notification, facilitated by CG-MER.
    f. Provides information on the roles of the Marine Safety
Specialist Response (MSSR) within the Marine Environmental
Protection mission set.
    g. Provides amplifying information on vessel destruction.
    h. Expands the marine environmental response and preparedness
awards program.
    i. Changes Pollution Responder to Environmental Response
Investigator (ERI) to expand focus on the investigative aspect of
incident response. Codifies the recent requirement to complete the
Hazardous Materials Incident Response (HMIR) course as a
prerequisite for the ERI qualification.
3. Each Coast Guard Sector, Marine Safety Unit, and other units
exercising and/or supporting FOSC authority are encouraged to
conduct a safety stand down within 30 days of the issuance of this
ALCOAST. The purpose of this stand down should be to review the
significant updates in the newly published Marine Environmental
Response and Preparedness (MERP). To accommodate unit operational
needs, the stand down may be conducted over multiple days. The goal
of the stand down is to ensure that personnel exercising, operating,
and/or supporting FOSC authority fully understand and can correctly
implement the new policies and responsibilities, with particular
emphasis on responder safety.
4. POC: CDR Alberto Martinez, COMDT (CG-MER) at
Alberto.D.Martinez@uscg.mil or via Teams. Feedback and
recommendations for future updates may be sent to
MERManualComments@uscg.mil.
5. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director of Emergency Management
(CG-5RI), sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.