UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

_________________________________

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Complainant

vs.

GEORGE HAROLD SCHOTT 

Respondent

_________________________________ Docket Number 2019-0040

Enforcement Activity No. 5762058

DECISION AND ORDER

The undersigned held a hearing in Tampa, Florida from August 28, 2019 through August 

29, 2019. At the conclusion of the hearing, the parties waived their right to file post-hearing 

briefs, and the undersigned rendered an oral decision. See 33 C.F.R. § 20.902; 33 C.F.R. § 

20.710. The undersigned found the allegation contained in the Coast Guard’s Complaint proved. 

Specifically, the undersigned found George Harold Schott (Respondent) violated 46 U.S.C. § 

7704 by being a user of dangerous drugs. Further, the undersigned revoked Respondent’s 

Merchant Mariner Credential as a sanction for this violation. The hearing transcript contains the 

record of the hearing in its entirety, including the oral decision and sanction.

WHEREFORE,

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Merchant Mariner Credential 000352496 and all other 

Coast Guard licenses, certificates and documents issued to Respondent, George Harold Schott, 

are hereby REVOKED. If he has not already done so, Respondent must immediately surrender 
all Coast Guard issued credentials to the Coast Guard, Sector St. Petersburg, 600 8th Ave. SE, St. 

Petersburg, FL 33701. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE service of this Order on you serves as additional notice of 

your right to appeal as set forth in 33 C.F.R. §§ 20.1001-20.1004.1 (Attachment B). As 

discussed at the hearing, the appeal time runs from the date the oral decision was rendered, 

August 29, 2019. A copy of the transcript will be provided to either party if requested. 

SO ORDERED.

__________________________________________________

Brian J. Curley

US Coast Guard 

Administrative Law Judge

Date: September 03, 2019

 1 Respondent was provided with his appeal rights at the hearing.
ATTACHMENT A

WITNESS AND EXHIBIT LIST

Coast Guard Witnesses

1. Kevin Edwards

Coast Guard Exhibits

1. Notification of Random Drug Test Selection 

2. Certification of Performance 

3. Austin Langeneck’s DOT Urine Drug Testing Training Certificate of Completion

4. Custody and Control Form 

5. Brian A. Brunelli’s Curriculum Vitae

6. Federal Register Excerpt 

7. Custody and Control Form 

8. Laboratory Report

9. Kevin Edwards’ Curriculum Vitae

10. Kevin Edwards’ MRO Certification 

11. MRO Case Notes

12. Test Results (specimen collected 2019-01-07)

13. Custody and Control Form

Respondent Exhibits

A. Letter Dated June 18, 2018

B. Invoice

C. Prescription from Renata Teytelbaum

D. CBD Titration Schedule

E. Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card

F. Custody and Control Form

G. Test Results (specimen collected 2019-01-07)

H. Custody and Control Form

I. Test Results (specimen collected 2018-07-24)

J. Test Results (specimen collected 2018-04-11)

K. Test Results (specimen collected 2017-06-08)

L. Test Results (specimen collected 2016-02-04)

M. Consortium Renewal Invoice

Respondent Witnesses

1. George Schott (Respondent)
ATTACHMENT B

NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS

33 C.F.R. § 20.1001 General.

(a) Any party may appeal the ALJ's decision by filing a notice of appeal. The party shall 

file the notice with the U. S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge Docketing 

Center; Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk; Room 412; 40 S. Gay Street; Baltimore, 

MD 21201-4022. The party shall file the notice 30 days or less after issuance of the 

decision, and shall serve a copy of it on the other party and each interested person.

(b) No party may appeal except on the following issues:

(1) Whether each finding of fact is supported by substantial evidence.

(2) Whether each conclusion of law accords with applicable law, precedent, and 

public policy.

(3) Whether the ALJ abused his or her discretion.

(4) The ALJ's denial of a motion for disqualification.

(c) No interested person may appeal a summary decision except on the issue that no 

hearing was held or that in the issuance of the decision the ALJ did not consider 

evidence that that person would have presented.

(d) The appeal must follow the procedural requirements of this subpart.

33 C.F.R. § 20.1002 Records on appeal.

(a) The record of the proceeding constitutes the record for decision on appeal.

(b) If the respondent requests a copy of the transcript of the hearing as part of the record 

of proceeding, then, --

(1) If the hearing was recorded at Federal expense, the Coast Guard will provide 

the transcript on payment of the fees prescribed in 49 CFR 7.45; but,

(2) If the hearing was recorded by a Federal contractor, the contractor will 

provide the transcript on the terms prescribed in 49 CFR 7.45.

33 C.F.R. § 20.1003 Procedures for appeal.

(a) Each party appealing the ALJ's decision or ruling shall file an appellate brief with the 

Commandant at the following address: U.S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge 

Docketing Center; Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk; Room 412; 40 S. Gay Street; 

Baltimore, MD 21201-4022, and shall serve a copy of the brief on every other party.

(1) The appellate brief must set forth the appellant's specific objections to the 

decision or ruling. The brief must set forth, in detail, the --

(i) Basis for the appeal;

(ii) Reasons supporting the appeal; and

(iii) Relief requested in the appeal.
(2) When the appellant relies on material contained in the record, the appellate 

brief must specifically refer to the pertinent parts of the record.

(3) The appellate brief must reach the Docketing Center 60 days or less after 

service of the ALJ's decision. Unless filed within this time, or within another 

time period authorized in writing by the Docketing Center, the brief will be 

untimely.

(b) Any party may file a reply brief with the Docketing Center 35 days or less after 

service of the appellate brief. Each such party shall serve a copy on every other party. 

If the party filing the reply brief relies on evidence contained in the record for the 

appeal, that brief must specifically refer to the pertinent parts of the record.

(c) No party may file more than one appellate brief or reply brief, unless --

(1) The party has petitioned the Commandant in writing; and

(2) The Commandant has granted leave to file an added brief, in which event the 

Commandant will allow a reasonable time for the party to file that brief.

(d) The Commandant may accept an amicus curiae brief from any person in an appeal of 

an ALJ's decision.

33 C.F.R. § 20.1004 Decisions on appeal.

(a) The Commandant shall review the record on appeal to determine whether the ALJ 

committed error in the proceedings, and whether the Commandant should affirm, 

modify, or reverse the ALJ's decision or should remand the case for further 

proceedings.

(b) The Commandant shall issue a decision on every appeal in writing and shall serve a 

copy of the decision on each party and interested person.