Question: Apparently our District 9 Coast Guard has issued a letter stating that VSC's done in the area of Michigan's St Clair Lake( not Federal Waters) must have Dated Flares to be issued an Auxiliary Decal. This may be a good idea, but the requirement is not documented anywhere in our Auxiliary Communications. Probably, 75% of the vessels here in Lake St Clair will never motor the 40 miles to enter the Federal Waters of Lake Huron or Lake Erie. Currently this D9 letter is only hearsay, but if true and binding, I would hope that it's validity would be confirmed in our Auxiliary Publications.
Answer: There are specific items for many states as well as local areas, that is why the form has the item "State and/or Local Requirements" which must be checked off for issuance of the VSC Decal.
This is the responsibility of your DSO-VE and your SO's and FSO's when it comes to training your local VE's. Issuance of that on a national level would just cause confusion for the other 99% which is why the general training covers the Federal Regulations.
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