COMDTINST 16010.9
(6) Local port stakeholders should view the Coast Guard's involvement as assistance,
guidance, and support. It is not the intention of the Coast Guard to mandate or to control
these organizations, but it is the Coast Guard's intention to actively promote and encourage
the establishment and expansion of the scope of these organizations where necessary to
address the myriad of issues facing ports such as security, mobility and environmental
protection. COTPs should encourage and facilitate private stakeholder leadership of HSCs
and local MTS committees. Temporary COTP leadership may be necessary for their
establishment, but for long term relationships Coast Guard membership vice leadership is
desirable.
(7) In coordinating, supporting or participating in the activities of HSCs and other local MTS
committees, COTPs should be aware of the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA) as implemented by reference (e). HSCs and other local MTS committees will
not be advisory committees under FACA if they are organized and run in accordance with
the guidance contained in reference (b). However, departure from that guidance, for
example, through Coast Guard control of a committees' governance or agenda, could
convert an HSC or other local MTS committee into an advisory committee required to
comply with the provisions of FACA. Any questions on this matter should be referred to
your servicing legal office or Commandant (G-LRA).
(8) A web-based communication medium has been developed by the Coast Guard to provide
inter-HSC/MTS committee dialogue as well as linking local committees to coordinating
bodies at the regional and national level. The "National Harbor Safety Committee
Website," will act, as the name implies, as an information clearinghouse. Its Internet
address is http://www.uscg.mil/harborsafety. COTPs should highly encourage all HSCs or
other local MTS committees to participate in this communication/information hub. All
issues related to the website including technical or content issues should be directed to
Commandant (G-MWP-1). The site is expected to be used to exchange best practices,
success stories and lessons learned between local coordinating committees and to facilitate
communication and awareness of critical, regional or national MTS issues to the national
level.
(9) Although not required by reference (a), Regional MTS Committees can provide an
important forum for dealing with MTS issues that are common to more than one local
committee, but which cannot be effectively dealt with at the local or national level. To be
effective, these committees must facilitate the efforts of the HSCs or other local MTS
committees without becoming an added bureaucratic level that hinders communication
between the local committees and ICMTS or MTSNAC. Areas and Districts should review
the summaries of the Regional Dialog Sessions, reference (d), and bring together the key
MTS leaders that attended these meetings to decide the next step in improving regional
coordination of MTS issues. As with HSCs or other local MTS committees, the Coast
Guard should encourage private sector leadership that will increase the ownership of the
MTS Initiative by private stakeholders. Issues regarding regional coordination should be
referred to Commandant (G-MWP-1).
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