COMDTINST 16151.1C 16 MAR 1993
4.
b. Flood Control: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) has the responsibility for
flood control and determines if icebreaking will assist in the regulation and/or operation of an
effected waterway. Upon request of the appropriate ACOE authorities, the Coast Guard may,
pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 141(a) and 14 U.S.C. 88(a), provide ice management facilities and
services to aid in the prevention of floods and hazardous water stages caused by ice
obstructions. The Coast Guard may also provide ice management facilities and services for
flood control in direct response to requests from other federal, state or local governmental
agencies or private interests. However, since responsibility for flood control is vested in the
ACOE, the Coast Guard must consult with the cognizant ACOE officials before undertaking
icebreaking for flood control to determine if the operation will interfere with regulation and/or
operation of the effected waterway. Icebreaking for flood control shall be conducted to the
extent Coast Guard resources are available and can be effectively used.
c.
Facilitation of Navigation: Executive Order 7521 directs the Coast Guard to "assist in
keeping open to navigation by means of icebreaking operations ... channels and harbors
in accordance with the reasonable demands of commerce ..." Subject to the following
considerations, the Coast Guard will comply with this mandate as follows:
(1)
Critical waterways which are normally open to navigation in the winter: The
Coast Guard will conduct icebreaking operations as needed to facilitate
navigation.
(2)
Critical waterways which are normally impassable without icebreaker assistance
in the winter: The Coast Guard will continue to meet the reasonable demands of
commerce as in the past. However, vessel owners and operators in these areas
will be encouraged to assist in reducing the need for Coast Guard icebreaking
assistance by providing for themselves, by using vessels adequately powered and
constructed to move safely through ice covered waterways without Coast Guard
help, by rescheduling voyages until ice conditions ease, etc.
(3)
Commercial Icebreaking: The Coast Guard will not normally interfere with
private enterprise in conducting icebreaking operations to facilitate navigation.
If
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