R 041625Z JUN 12

ALCOAST 268/12
COMDTNOTE 16465
SUBJ: SPILL OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE (SONS) INSTRUCTION REVISION
A. COAST GUARD SPILL OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE RESPONSE MANAGEMENT,
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 16465.6
1. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE PROMULGATION OF REF A., EFFECTIVE 23
MAY 2012.
2. THIS REVISION INCLUDES LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE DEEPWATER HORIZON
RESPONSE AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON CLASSIFYING A SONS WITHIN THE
COASTAL ZONE, DESIGNATING A NATIONAL INCIDENT COMMANDER (NIC), AND
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COAST GUARD COMMANDS DURING A SONS.
3. THE NATIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLLUTION CONTINGENCY
PLAN (40 CFR 300) WAS AMENDED IN 1994 TO INCORPORATE PROVISIONS OF
THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990. THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDED PROVISIONS FOR
THE CLASSIFICATION OF A SONS AND DESIGNATION OF A NIC. THE COAST
GUARD HAS CONDUCTED SIX SONS EXERCISES SINCE 1994 TO TEST AND REFINE
SONS AND NIC DOCTRINE, WHICH SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR CONDUCTING THE
2010 DEEPWATER HORIZON SONS RESPONSE. THIS INSTRUCTION IMPROVES ON
THE BODY OF WORK CONDUCTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND IS THE
GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR FUTURE SONS EXERCISES AND RESPONSES.
4. REF A. IS POSTED ON THE CG DIRECTIVES SYSTEM WEBPAGE AT
HTTP://CGWEB.COMDT.USCG.MIL/CGDIRECTIVES/WELCOME.HTM OR
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/DIRECTIVES/.
5. RELEASED BY MS MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF INCIDENT MANAGEMENT AND
PREPAREDNESS POLICY.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.