SENATOR ANDREWS: How many Coast Guard vessels are currently assigned to Grenada? When will they return to the 7th District? Are they performing any direct Coast Guard missions while detailed to Grenada?

ANSWER: There are no Coast Guard vessels currently assigned in Grenada nor are there any more scheduled for assignment there. The last Coast Guard vessel assigned in Grenada was the USCGC MORRO BAY, which departed Grenada on April 15, 1985 and has returned to her homeport of Yorktown, Virginia.

OBJECT CLASS BREAKDOWN

SENATOR ANDREWS: Provide for the record the object class breakdown for operating expenses shown on pages 239-242 of House FY 1985 Hearing Volume 1.

RETIRED PAY

SENATOR ANDREWS: What level of inflation for medical care was realized during FY 1984, estimated for FY 1985 and assumed in the FY 1986 budget request?

ANSWER: Historically, medical care costs have experienced a much higher rate of inflation than the general economy. Our budget reflects this fact. In 1984, medical care realized a 10.4 percent inflation rate. In 1985, we estimate a 12.6 percent rate and in 1986, we assumed a 12.4 percent rate of inflation.

PAY SUPPLEMENTAL

SENATOR ANDREWS: What absorption rate is assumed for the Operating Expense Pay Supplemental of $18 million and $1.468 million for Reserve Training?

ANSWER: The pay raise supplemental absorption rates are 30% for Operating Expenses and 4% for Reserve Training appropriations.

SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)

achieve its

SENATOR ANDREWS: What is the current Search and Rescue effective rate? Will the Coast Guard 85 percent goal by 1986? If not, why not?

ANSWER: A planning analysis done several years ago looked at what SAR effectiveness the Coast Guard might hope to achieve. Different scenarios were considered, using different resource levels. A simplistic effectiveness formula was developed to contrast results. It attempted to determine effectiveness by dividing the number of lives saved by the number of lives saved plus the number of lives lost. Under a scenario of unconstrained resources, the Coast Guard estimated that the maximum effectiveness that could be attained in SAR was 85 percent. However, no further effort was made to refine the knowingly oversimplified measurement formula. Nor, was this methodology ever used as the basis for determining budgetary requirements. Consequently, the Coast Guard has discontinued any attempts to measure SAR program effectiveness this way.

SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)

SENATOR ANDREWS: What is the current assessment of nonemergency SAR response? Is the towing policy under review, and if so, when and in what ways might it be modified?

ANSWER: In fiscal year 1984, the first year for which data on commercial responses was collected, approximately 2 percent of reported non-emergency assistance cases were handled by commercial firms. We do not forecast any significant increase in that figure. We have requested legislation to require operators of commercial towing vessels under 26 feet to be licensed. Our policy is constantly under review, and as our operating units, commercial operators, and the public gain experience and familiarity with it we will consider appropriate modifications to it; however, no major changes are under consideration at this time - only minor tune-ups.