COMDTINST 16000.14B — Marine Environmental Response And Preparedness

COMDTINST 16000.14B governs Coast Guard marine environmental response and preparedness policy, planning, and pollution response activities.

Search COMDTINST 16000.14B

  • Publication number: COMDTINST 16000.14B
  • Title: MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS
  • Date: 3/24/2025
  • Proponent: CG-5RI

View COMDTINST 16000.14B on armypubs.army.mil


It covers pollution response standards, contingency planning, preparedness, response coordination, enforcement, international agreements, and vessel destruction. It establishes requirements for response documentation, enforcement cases, facility response plans, and environmental review.

Applies to: It is intended to provide administrative guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is not intended nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party outside the Coast Guard.

Topics covered

  • Marine environmental response
  • Pollution response standards
  • Contingency planning
  • Facility response plans
  • Environmental law enforcement
  • International pollution agreements
  • Abandoned vessel destruction
  • Pollution response equipment

Questions and answers

What must be entered in MISLE after an investigation?

Every incident reported and subsequent investigation must be properly entered in MISLE. (paragraph 1)

What must each enforcement case have before proceeding?

Each enforcement case must be reviewed and certified by a designated MISLE case reviewer. (paragraph 1-17)

What are the requirements for reviewing facility response plans?

FRPs must be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved by the COTP. (paragraph 2)

What must units do before taking action to remove or destroy a vessel?

Units must facilitate the initiation of environmental and historical preservation review, including but not limited to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and/or National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA) consultations, prior to taking action. (paragraph 8)

What must a unit request for a foreign-flagged vessel?

Units must request a statement of no objection (SNO) from the vessels flag state and include the SNO in the destruction request package. (paragraph 3)

Ask Reggie.Bot a question about COMDTINST 16000.14B