Patrick Administration Delivers Oil Spill Response Trailers to North Shore Communities: Winthrop, Chelsea, Everett and Revere

More Trailers to be Delivered This Summer to Danvers, Lynn, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus and Swampscott

The Patrick Administration, represented by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Gary Moran, today presented Winthrop officials with one of the 10 emergency spill response equipment trailers that began arriving in North Shore communities this week.

Each trailer contains equipment that can be deployed quickly by local emergency response officials in case of an oil spill. They are also being delivered in the next few weeks to Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Lynn, Nahant, Peabody, Revere, Saugus and Swampscott.

"These trailers will give our partners in local government the vital emergency-response tools they need to protect our coastline and combat the damaging effects of an oil spill," said Governor Deval Patrick.

"Our coastline helps to shape Massachusetts' identity as the Bay State, and while the state's priority will always be to protect natural resources from environmental damage, we also need our partner communities to have the capability to respond in the event of an emergency," Deputy Commissioner Moran said during ceremonies held at the Winthrop Town Pier. "As history has shown, failing to do so only means longer, and ultimately more expensive, cleanups. Communities with these trailers will be ready, just in case."

"These spill response trailers will help us limit the damage of any future oil spills," House Speaker Robert DeLeo said. "As a representative of Winthrop and Revere, I am comforted to know that we are well-prepared to protect our shores in the event of an emergency."

"It is imperative that our communities are better prepared in the event of an unfortunate and potentially devastating mishap," said Senator Anthony Petruccelli (D-Boston). "The response trailers represent a proactive measure to further protect our coastal resources."

"As first responders to environmental damage events in and around our waters, we are grateful to have equipment to respond quickly and appropriately to protect our coastline and marine habitat," said Winthrop Town Manager James McKenna.

"The Coast Guard works closely with many port partners, including MassDEP and local harbormasters, to prevent oil from getting into our harbors," said Capt. John Healey, Commander of U. S. Coast Guard Sector Boston. "If there is a spill, it is critical to immediately deploy equipment to protect the public, the environment and the economic viability of our waterways. This partnership between the Coast Guard, MassDEP, and local communities is a great example of how we are all working together towards the same goal."

Deploying these trailers was a key part of the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 2004, legislation which was crafted in response to the massive oil spill of April 27, 2003. Approximately 98,000 gallons of industrial fuel oil spilled into Buzzards Bay after a tank barge struck a rocky outcropping, polluting nearly 100 miles of coastline, leaving 178,000 acres of shellfish beds closed for months during the cleanup, and killing more than 450 shore birds.

Two years later, in June 2005, the initial round of 14 marine spill response trailers were delivered to the vicinity of that spill, the Buzzards Bay region. Currently, the state has 48 spill response trailers in place - each costing $32,000 to purchase, stock, outfit and deliver. The Commonwealth intends to have 80 trailers in place within the next year at various coastal locations around the state, maintained and replenished by MassDEP.  

The funding to purchase and distribute these trailers and the equipment is provided from the Oil Spill Act Trust Fund, which has as its source a 2-cent-per-barrel fee on petroleum products shipped through state waterways into local ports.

Each trailer is 20 feet long by eight feet wide and is divided into three storage compartments containing: varying sizes and types of containment and absorbent boom; oil sorbent pads; speedy dry; inflatable bladders; portable generator; electric air compressor; anchors, anchor chains; buoys; tools (sledge hammer, spade); safety/personal safety equipment (lights, caution tape, first-aid kit, boots), ropes, ties, cables and a padlock.
 
The Trust Fund also provides training and educational programs to local first responders so that they will be prepared should an oil spill occur in their community, as well as access to current technological databases they need to prepare emergency response plans for their waterways.

For more information on MassDEP's oil spill response trailer program, turn to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/os/

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