CG-MER

Office of Marine Environmental
Response Policy (CG-MER)

 

COMMANDANT (CG-MER)
U.S. Coast Guard
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE, STOP 7516
Washington, DC 20593

Domestic Preparedness and Planning Division (CG-MER-4)

MISSION

CG-MER-4 serves as program manager for preparedness and planning initiatives including development of area contingency plan (ACP) and regional contingency plan (RCP) policies and ensures plans under the national response system align with the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). In Alignment with the ACP review process, CG-MER-4 leads the national review panel each year and ensures recommended updates are established within the revised plan. Additionally, CG-MER serves as program manager for the Spills of National Significance (SONS) Program training and exercise activities and supports 5RI as the chair of the SONS Executive Steering Committee. CG-MER-4 serves as the Coast Guard’s liaison for quality partnerships with MER related industry stakeholders.  Additionally, CG-MER-4 administers the Vessel Response Plan (VRP) Program, to include review and approval of VRPS and shipboard oil pollution emergency plans (SOPEP) as well as designing and implementing improvements to the program (e.g. Western Alaska Planning Criteria, and alternate planning criteria). MER-4 provides the Coast Guard representative for the Preparedness for Response Exercises Program (PREP) and the PREP Compliance, Coordination and Consistency Committee (PREP4C), and manages the Government Initiated Unannounced Exercise (GIUE) Program for all CG units.  Finally, CG-MER-4 serves as the CG’s administrator and principal representative for the National Response Team (NRT) and as the chair for the Preparedness Committee. 

General Solicitation for Public Feedback on the Coast Guard Establishment of Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking feedback related to the Coast Guard's mandate to create planning criteria for vessel response plans (VRPs) distinct to the Western Alaska and Prince William Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) zones. The Coast Guard is tasked with developing planning criteria suitable for operating areas within the Western Alaska and Prince William Sound COTP zones where it is determined that national planning criteria (NPC) are inappropriate for vessels operating in these areas.

The Coast Guard seeks public feedback as part of the consultation requirements for establishing the Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria (WAKOSPC) identified in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (CGAA 2022). Please send any feedback to USCGMORPAG@uscg.onmicrosoft.com. For information about this document, call or email Lieutenant Commander Charron McCombs, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 571-608-8488, email charron.l.mccombs@uscg.mil.

The Solicitation for Public Feedback is provided at the link below. 

Public feedback on WAKOSPC.

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