*** National (US) SAR Policy *** Date: Mon, 1 Jul 96 10:02:29 EDT From: "Derrick E. Young" To: Subject: re:SAR Lawsuit in California (update) I find it very interesting. According to the National SAR Policy Manual, which covers all SAR activities in the US, SAR is a voluntary activity. It is NOT required! However, if a SAR activity is stated, it must be done right. This means that it cannot be suspended or terminated until all "victims" are accounted for. That is why the US Coast Guard still carries SAR cases from the 30's and 40's as still open, they have not been able to account for all of the victims. Now, the National SAR Policy Manual (based on Title 14 US Code - I think - will check when I get home) - that you can only use trained personnel. This should help the California case. I will post a message in the morning that gives the exact portion of the US Code that authorizes and defines SAR as well as additional information on the National SAR Policy Manual. For those of you that are interested, the Policy Manual is the result of international treaty agreements and covers all SAR activities. Thanks for the updates. Keep'm coming. Derrick SAR & Navigation instructor - US Coast Guard Auxiliary Date: Tue, 2 Jul 96 9:31:31 EDT From: "Derrick E. Young" To: Subject: California SAR Case & Notes (long) I indicated yesterday that I would forward information on the US Code and the National SAR Manual as it MAY relate to the California case. So here goes. SAR is authorized in the US in accordance with the International SAR Treaties and Laws. For Maritime SAR, refer specifically to 14 USC 2 and 88. These statutes permit the USCG to rescue persons and property in distress and to establish and maintain rescue facilities. Domestic SAR activities are authorized by a 4 page document known as the National Search and Rescue Plan (NSRP). This plan expresses the authority and responsibilities of the participating agencies (FCC, DOT, DOD, Commerce, Interior, NASA and FEMA). This plan was developed in response to the International Civil Aviation Organization (IACO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreements. These conventions require the establishment of a national civil system with internationally recognized aeronautical and marine SAR coordination responsibilities. Since no single organization has sufficient SAR resources, this plan establishes the principle that "all available resources" (to include federal, state, local and private) MAY BE used to respond to cases of persons and property in distress. As a result of the NSRP, there is a National Search and Rescue Manual (NSRM). Volume 1 of the NSRM describes the system and volume 2 is the Planning Handbook. Most of you are probably familiar with Volume 2. As it is used as an operational and reference library by civil SAR operations. The important thing to note from the NSRM is that the SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) has the responsibility to determine what resources will/will not be used. Based on the needs of the mission, quality and amount of the resources available the SMC makes a decision. For me, I will not use untrained or inexperienced personnel unless I can team them with trained personnel. IMHO, the SMC in the California case acted correctly in not using the friends and relatives in the search. As all of you are aware, the job of the SMC is not an easy one. Just because most folks seem to forget the planners and support staff, thanks for all of your help in making SAR missions successful. Hope this helps. Derrick Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 11:15:48 -0300 From: Phil Jennex To: sar-l@islandnet.com Subject: Re: California SAR Case & Notes (long) As a point of interest to all those Canadian users of this news gp., If you change a few words here, like the name of the Federal Act, and the names of the agencies (IE# Federal, Provincial, and Municiapal) etc the same applies to all of us. The Canadian equivalent to a SMC is a SAR Co-ordinator who works at our RCC's and for Provincial only responsibilities a Zone Controller who works for EMO. Phil Jennex MCTS Training Dept. CCGC Sydney, NS --------------------------------