comdtinst m16114.32c - U.S. Coast Guard

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 5 – Mission Types
I.4.a. Oil Spill
When responding to an oil spill, unit personnel should be prepared to
take the following actions:
(01) Report discharges (and threatened discharges) through the chain
of command. If the information can be determined safely, include
the following:
a) Nature, amount, and location of the pollutant.
b) Apparent potential impact on public health and the environment
(e.g. environmentally sensitive areas, water intakes, beaches,
etc.).
c) Countermeasures that seem necessary to adequately contain,
control, or remove the pollutants.
(02) Unit personnel must remain aware of the potential that
discharges/spills contain hazardous materials and must use
appropriate risk assessment tools in accordance with the ORM
process prior to taking any action.
NOTE
No specific containment mitigation investigation or sampling should be undertaken
without express permission of the COTP and then only within the bounds of
appropriate hazardous waste training.
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