Opinion ID: 27770
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Nature of Coast Guard's Actions vis-á-vis the CABOT

Text: 35 Having established the legal principle that the Coast Guard had a mandatory duty to abate potential threats of oil pollution, we now address the final question in our analysis of voluntariness: Did the Coast Guard actually act here as a salvor or as a pollution abater? The evidence demonstrates, beyond question, that Captain Marsh and Commander Whiting acted under the FWPCA and not as salvors. Captain Marsh consistently cited 33 U.S.C. § 1321 in his letters to the Foundation. Commander Whiting testified that he was the representative of the On-Scene Coordinator established by § 1321, and that the Coordinator — Captain Marsh — was operating under the National Contingency Plan in mitigating the threat posed by the CABOT. Commander Whiting's deposition also included the following exchange: 36 Q What permission did the Coast Guard get or need from the Museum Foundation to take the actions it took? 37 A No permission from the Foundation. The on-scene coordinator in this particular place, acting to abate substantial [sic] threat to public safety, took action required of him under the National Contingency Plan. He doesn't have a choice to act. He has a duty to act. 38 Q Why were the tugs required to stand by the Ex-USS CABOT after the allision? 39 A ... 40 It was the continued determination by the Captain of the Port, by the on-scene coordinator Captain Marsh, that assistance continued to be required on the CABOT. 41 The United States tries to trivialize this testimony as that of a non-lawyer, and also argues that a servicemember's perceptions of his duty do not bind the Coast Guard. The government's arguments are not convincing. This testimony, and the letters sent to the Foundation, accurately invoked or described mandatory provisions of the FWPCA which applied perfectly to the context. Captain Marsh and Commander Whiting expressed that they were acting pursuant to mandatory statutory provisions in § 1321; the Coast Guard told the Foundation it was doing so; and the Coast Guard indisputably exercised its authority under that statute when it took control of the CABOT.