Commandant
2100 Second Street, S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
(202) 267-1907
COMDTINST 16478.5
OCT 19 1992
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 16478.5
Subj: Environmental Compliance Evaluation (ECE) Program
Ref: (a) Department of Transportation Order 5640.1C
(b) 51 Federal Register 25004, 9 July 1986
(c) Generic Protocol for Environmental Audits at Federal Facilities, EPA/130/4-89/002,
August 1989
1. PURPOSE. This instruction establishes policies, procedures, and responsibilities for the Coast
Guard Environmental Compliance Evaluation (ECE) program.
2.
APPLICABILITY. This instruction applies to all Coast Guard staffed shore facilities, and
vessels independently moored, in the U.S. and trust territories. Units not subject to
environmental requirements or that pose minimal environmental risk (i.e. purely administrative
facilities) may be exempted from the program by the cognizant Maintenance and Logistics
Command (MLC).
3.
BACKGROUND.
a.
The Commandant's Environmental Policy Statement challenges the Coast Guard to "be a
leader in ensuring our own facilities, operations, and personnel comply with
environmental standards".
b.
Federal agencies and industry have recognized the need to conduct internal
"environmental audits" to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental
requirements which are continuously evolving. Reference (a) requires the DOT operating
administrations to each implement environmental auditing programs. The Environmental
Protection Agency's policy and protocol with respect to federal agency environmental
auditing programs are contained in references (b) and (c).
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