New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Representatives will announce the start of ‘Operation Clear Passage’, a three-day, multi-agency Homeland Security exercise and water quality/navigational-boating enforcement event on Lake Champlain.

WHO:  DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos

           NYS DSHES Representative Daniel Albert

           Representatives from agencies involved in the operation will also be attending:  the New York  State Police, the New York State Park Police, the NYS Naval Militia, the New York  State Intelligence Center (NYSIC), the New York 2^nd Civil Support Team, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. Partners from Vermont include, the Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Wardens, the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue, and the Vermont Department of Health.  Federal agencies participating include, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, along with the Canadian Border Patrol.  

WHAT:  Operation Clear Passage, the maritime and land based training, which runs from July 22-24, will feature over 17 vessels and more than 75 personnel from 17 federal, state and international agencies conducting law enforcement, homeland security and environmental monitoring operations throughout the weekend.

(Visuals: Commissioner Seggos and agency representatives will be on hand to announce the start of Operation Clear Passage with several of the 17 vessels involved in the operation at the docks).

WHERE:  Treadwell Bay Marina, 214 Bouchard Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, west shore of Lake Champlain

WHEN:  9:30 a.m., Friday July 22, 2016