Security Levels

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 Sector Sault Sainte Marie
Response Department

The Chief, Response Department is responsible for the direction and employment of all assigned Coast Guard response forces.  Under the direction of the Sector Commander and in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies, the Chief, Response Department shall:

Direct all Coast Guard security enforcement, incident response, and mitigation operations in support of Maritime Homeland Security (MHLS)/Maritime Homeland Defense (MHLD) concepts of operation, including execution of:

Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS).

Enforcement of Laws and Treaties (ELT).

Recreational Boating Safety (RBS).

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety (CFVS) enforcement.

Migrant Interdiction.

Counter Drug Operations.

Defense Operations (DO).

Incident response and mitigation operations, including execution of search and rescue (SAR), environmental, pollution, and all hazards response.

Supervise response operations in any mission area that involves more than one Sector unit, or in the Sector Commander’s judgment is most efficiently dealt with at the Sector level.

Coordinate operations with the SCC to ensure COP and MDA.

Ensure the professional training, qualification, and development of all assigned personnel and the operational readiness of all assigned assets; i.e., small boats.

Serve as SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) unless assumed by the Sector Commander or the Deputy Sector Commander.

Coordinate an effective SAR, pollution, and all-hazards incident management response program.

Direct and oversee all Sector small boat stations.

Provide proper risk assessment and operational support as needed.

Coordinate with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and other maritime stakeholders to ensure the continuity of safety, security, and environmental protection response operations.

Coordinate with the Prevention Department, Contingency Planning Staff, and other Sector elements to conduct response and security mission planning as a tactical process, including but not limited to addressing commander’s intent, concept of operations, execution, monitoring, and feedback.

Coordinate closely with other DHS agencies and with other federal, state, and local partners as may be required to jointly respond and mitigate the effects of maritime threats and vulnerabilities.

Internal/External Relationships:  The Chief, Response Department must carefully consider many elements and interests affecting maritime safety and security and ensure liaison with all interested parties.  Relationships with all federal, foreign, state, local, and tribal agencies, and commercial or civic groups involved in or with interests in SAR, ELT, RBS, CFVS, PWCS, and DO should be established and continuously fostered.  Close coordination with the Chief, Prevention Department and Sector staff elements is necessary to prevent duplication of effort.  These elements and parties include but are not limited to:

Agencies and groups based on the geographic arrangement and character of waters and facilities within the COTP zone.

State and local LE, environmental, fish and wildlife agencies, and fire departments.

Environmental action groups.

Regional Response Team (RRT).

Department of Homeland Security (DHS):  All agencies.

Department of Commerce (DOC):  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service (NWS).

Department of Defense (DOD):  All agencies where applicable to response operations and defense/Maritime Defense Zone (MDZ) operations.

Department of the Interior (DOI):  Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Department of Justice (DOJ):  Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of the Attorney General, U. S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Department of the Treasury. 

Department of State (DOS).

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

3.  Coast Guard Resources:  Chief, Response Department shall also ensure that liaison is established at the appropriate command level with District, Area, and Headquarters units or special teams whose services or resources may be required in performing Sector missions.  Representative resources are listed in Appendix D.

Response Department Staff:  The Response Department staff consists of the Assistant Chief, Response Department, Incident Management Division, Enforcement Division, Sector Command Center, Ready For Operations (RFO) Team, and Response Units as described below.

Assistant Chief, Response Department:  The Assistant Chief, Response Department is responsible for the daily oversight of all Response Divisions and subordinate units and shall assume the role of Acting Chief, Response Department in his/her absence.
I
ncident Management Division:  Under the direction and supervision of the Chief, Response Department, the Chief, Incident Management Division shall:

Coordinate Sector environmental response operations within the AOR.

Ensure the training and readiness of all environmental response personnel and equipment within the AOR.

Coordinate operations and logistics for pollution incidents, major marine casualties, terrorism, natural and terrorist disaster relief and mitigation, port contingencies, marine fire fighting, and marine transportation emergencies.

Support the Sector Contingency Planning and Force Readiness Staff in directing and monitoring Sector-wide preparedness operations for pollution, marine casualties, terrorism, natural disasters, port contingencies, marine fire fighting, and marine transportation emergencies.

Enforcement Division:  Under the direction and supervision of the Chief, Response Department, the Chief, Enforcement Division shall:

Coordinate all enforcement of laws and treaties missions within the Sector.  This includes:

Short term operational planning and execution of Coast Guard and certain multi-agency drug interdiction operations within the Sector.

Short term operational planning and execution of Coast Guard and certain multi-agency Alien Migrant Interdiction operations within the Sector.

Short term operational planning and execution of Coast Guard and certain multi-agency missions directed at the protection and preservation of natural resources, especially the fishery resources.

Enforce other federal statutes and international agreements in the waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, except those statutes, treaties, and other international agreements related to commercial vessel safety, boating safety, port safety and security, and marine environmental protection.

Support the Contingency Planning Staff in the administration of maritime and tactical law enforcement training among Sector operational units.

Assist in the administration of the Sector law enforcement program.

Serve as Sector liaison for mobilization and military readiness, including assistance to landside and waterside port security.

Provide process and policy guidance to Sector units regarding security boardings and control measures in accordance with Commandant standards.

Provide liaison with DOD, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to leverage strengths in law enforcement and homeland security.

Cooperate with the Prevention Department in tactical management of the Maritime Homeland Security Program and execution of MHLS policy.

Ensure the maritime security of the Sector AOR through the use of operational assets.

Manage the armory, armory personnel, and weapons training programs.

Ready for Operations Division:  Under the direction and supervision of the Chief, Response Department, the Ready for Operations Division shall

Oversee the standardization, configuration management, and readiness attainment; i.e., Ready For Operations, for all Sector units using members from the Response, Prevention, and Logistics departments.  Establish and maintain readiness measures for the Sector.

Exercise general supervision over the operational readiness of small boats assigned to Sector units.  Establish configuration control, operating limits and policies and ensure replacement of non-standard boats.

Response Units:  The following units shall function as Response Units and shall be considered sub-units of Sector Sault Ste. Marie.

Stations:  The following stations shall function as Sector Sault Ste. Marie Response units as needed.

Station/Aids to Navigation Team St. Ignace
Station Sault Ste. Marie
Station Marquette
Station/Aids to Navigation Team Portage
Station Bayfield
Station Duluth
SAR Detachment N. Superior








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Last Modified 1/26/2012