Patrick Administration Delivers Oil Spill Response Trailers to South Shore Communities:
Weymouth, Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and Quincy

More Trailers Delivered This Summer to Duxbury, Kingston, Marshfield,
Plymouth and Scituate

The Patrick Administration, represented by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Laurie Burt, today presented Weymouth officials with one of the 11 emergency spill response equipment trailers that began arriving in South 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 Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Plymouth, Quincy, and Scituate.

"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," Commissioner Burt said during ceremonies held at George Lane Beach in Weymouth. "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."

Weymouth Mayor Sue Kay said, "Protecting our natural resources, including 12 miles of beautiful shoreline, has always been a priority in Weymouth, and having the tools to accomplish that is critical, so we're very grateful to the Patrick administration for including Weymouth in the distribution of Oil Spill Response Trailers."

Senator Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) noted, "In representing seven coastal towns on the South Shore, I know how fortunate we are to have such a rich and beautiful natural resource.  Given the investment we have made over the years to maintain and protect our coastline, I am pleased that we are now better equipped to more quickly respond and minimize harm in the event of an oil spill."

Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth) said, "I am happy Weymouth is receiving these valuable resources. Our coastal community is now better protected from environmental hazards."
Representative, Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) said, "Oil spills can have devastating effects for the environment and aquatic life. Not only will the trailers help to protect against the proliferation of physical damage, they will also help us to contain the cost of cleanup."

"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. "This partnership between the Coast Guard, MassDEP, and local communities is a great example of how we're 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 58 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/index.html.

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