Crude oil spill response capabilities will be enhanced across New York State with a series of actions announced today by state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s direction, New York is working with federal and local partners to develop and implement plans to effectively mitigate the risks posed by the high volume of crude oil being transported through New York and to strengthen our spill response capabilities,” Commissioner Martens said. “This year’s State Budget provided additional resources to enhance crude oil transport safety and make us better prepared to respond to a crude oil spill along the state’s rail or river transportation corridors. We are working with local communities to implement additional safeguards.”

The state’s enhanced spill response capabilities are part of ongoing efforts under Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 125, which directed multiple state agencies and authorities to develop and improve safety procedures and response preparedness to better protect New York’s communities and environment from the potential risks associated with the transport of crude oil.

Enhanced Spill Response Capabilities

After the successful completion of a pilot project in Clinton County, DEC will now develop Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) and deploy specialized spill response equipment along rail corridors statewide used for crude transport. DEC selected Parsons Engineering of Syracuse to assist in the development of the GRPs. 

Using funding from the 2015-16 Enacted Budget and the expanded authority provided by the recent revisions to the New York State Navigation Law, DEC is working with state and local response agencies in 21 counties to complete in-depth reviews of sensitive resources along the crude-by-rail transportation corridors, and identify key locations where GRPs will be created to improve spill preparedness and responses.  The GRPs will include specific strategies and tactics to respond to crude oil incidents in sensitive areas near the rail corridors that county emergency planning committees will help identify. 

DEC will use the plans to purchase and deploy critical response equipment (e.g., oil absorbent booms, pumps, etc.) to aid local incident response efforts in the crude-by-rail corridors. DEC staff and contractors will train local responders and the equipment will be maintained by DEC through a contractor.

Beginning in 2014, DEC met with Emergency Officials in Clinton County to discuss plans and conduct a pilot project to improve planning and preparedness in the crude-by-rail corridor.  DEC collected information from local and other sources on sensitive human populations, critical infrastructure and vulnerable environmental areas. DEC used this information to formulate plans to protect residents in the region. 

Building on this pilot project, the expanded efforts will include significant collaboration with DEC’s local, state and federal response partners, including county hazmat teams, local fire departments, the State Department of Transportation, the State Department of Health, the State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other organizations. It is anticipated the GRPs for all 21 counties will be completed by April 2016.

New York’s Actions to Prevent and Prepare for Potential Crude Oil Incidents

This year’s state budget raised the state’s Oil Spill Fund cap from $25 million to $40 million to ensure the solvency of the fund, and also provided up to $2.1 million annually to plan and prepare for potential crude oil incidents. In addition, the budget funds eight new DEC staff and six additional employees at the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) dedicated to oil spill planning, training and response.

The budget also increased fees for most oil imported into New York State to 13.75 cents per barrel from 12.25, and increased the surcharge for oil transshipped through the state from 1.5 cents per barrel to 13.75 cents. The fee for crude oil imported into the state and consumed by in-state end users remains at 12.25 cents per barrel.

No other state in the nation has been as aggressive as New York in pursuing action that will help to ensure the public and the environment are protected from accidents related to the transport of crude oil. These actions build upon what New York State has already done as a result of Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 125. Over 60 actions the State has taken can be found in the December 2014 report at: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-significant-progress-better-protect-new-yorkers-crude-oil-rail.