COMDTINST 5090.1 — U.s. Coast Guard Environmental Planning Policy

COMDTINST 5090.1 governs U.S. Coast Guard environmental planning policy and compliance with federal environmental mandates.

Search COMDTINST 5090.1

  • Publication number: COMDTINST 5090.1
  • Title: U.S. COAST GUARD ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY
  • Date: 4/23/2019
  • Proponent: CG-47

View COMDTINST 5090.1 on armypubs.army.mil


The publication addresses environmental planning for proposed Coast Guard actions in domestic and foreign locations, including environmental impacts and related mandates. It requires compliance with specified references, use of implementing procedures, and documentation of environmental decisions and commitments.

Applies to: All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements, must comply with the provisions of this Instruction and References (f) and (g).

Topics covered

  • Environmental planning policy
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • NEPA compliance
  • Environmental mandates
  • Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Decision Support System
  • Memoranda for the Record
  • Records of Environmental Consideration
  • Categorical exclusions

Questions and answers

Who must comply with COMDTINST 5090.1?

All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements, must comply with the provisions of this Instruction and References (f) and (g). (paragraph 2)

What must Coast Guard personnel use to assess environmental impacts?

References (a) and (b) are the primary environmental mandates that establish an appropriate environmental planning process for assessing the impacts of Coast Guard proposed actions and also assist in assuring compliance with other applicable environmental mandates. (paragraph 4)

When must environmental planning occur?

The term “environmental planning” in this Instruction means the process required by Reference (a) or (b) during project or program planning, development, and design, and prior to execution of a proposed action to determine the potential for significant environmental impacts and/or significant harm from a proposed action. (paragraph 4)

What actions do not require Reference (a) compliance?

Actions that do not require compliance with Reference (a) are: actions listed as not being major federal actions in 40 C.F.R. § 1508.18(a) of Reference (c), actions lacking any discretion, actions conducted by the President of the United States (POTUS), actions expressly exempt by law or an executive branch waiver, actions where another law expressly prohibits or makes compliance impossible, and actions carried out outside the United States and its territories and possessions and outside Antarctica.

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