Patrick Administration Delivers Oil Spill Emergency Response Trailers
to Taunton River Area Communities

MassDEP Program Provides Equipment to Fall River, Acushnet, Berkley, Dighton,
Freetown, Somerset and Swansea

The Patrick Administration, represented by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Laurie Burt, today presented Fall River officials with one of the seven emergency spill response equipment trailers that began arriving in Taunton River area 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 to Acushnet, Berkley, Dighton, Freetown, Somerset and Swansea.

"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 Heritage State Park in Fall River. "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."

"No city ever wants to be affected by an oil spill, but in the event that it does happen we need to be ready to protect our community and its natural resources," said Fall River Mayor Robert Correia. "Timing is important during an oil spill and with this emergency response trailer, it will allow Fall River to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively. I want to thank Governor Deval Patrick and his environmental team, lead by Commissioner Burt, for giving Fall River the tools it needs to keep our coastline protected."

"This program highlights the state's commitment to help cities and towns respond to oil spills in a timely and adequate fashion. It is a proactive measure to protect our waterways from serious disasters," said State Senator Joan M. Menard. 

"Preserving our natural resources is one of our highest priorities," said Representative Michael J. Rodrigues of Westport. "The partnering of state and local government to provide these oil spill response trailers stresses the importance of protecting our coastal waters at all costs."

"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Oil Spill Response Trailers add a tremendous amount of protection capacity," said Capt. Ray Perry, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast New England. "Time is critical during any release, and this new equipment is positioned and deployed with the aid of computer programs to best protect our most precious shoreline. Just as important are the many and diverse responders that MassDEP trains to deploy the equipment. It is a reminder of the indispensable partnership that exists between our state, federal and private sector emergency responders." 

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 69 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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