The Marine Oil Spill Prevention & Response Act (MOSPRA) grant program provides MassDEP the opportunity to fund projects proposed by local governments, non-profits, and other stakeholders that benefit coastal communities and advance the goals of MOSPRA.
Overview of MOSPRA Grant Program
In 2003, the barge B-120 grounded at the entrance to Buzzards Bay. In response to that grounding and subsequent oil spill, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted Chapter 251, Acts of 2004, An Act Relative to Oil Spill Prevention and Response in Buzzards Bay and Other Harbors and Bays of the Commonwealth (also known as the Massachusetts Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act or MOSPRA or simply the Oil Spill Act), on August 4, 2004.
A key element of the Act is a Trust Fund managed by MassDEP to ensure that the Massachusetts coastline is protected from oil spills, via spill prevention and response efforts and programs that include: (a) improvements to vessel navigational systems and infrastructure; (b) development of spill response plans for local, regional, and/or state responders; (c) procurement and maintenance of spill response equipment for local, regional, and/or state responders; (d) development and implementation of spill response drills and exercises; and (e) implementation of spill prevention/response research efforts.
In 2020, MassDEP initiated a grant program to fund projects that will enhance the protection of the Massachusetts coastline in accordance with the Oil Spill Act and M.G.L. Chapter 21M. The first round of grants was awarded in 2021 to nine applicants totaling $214,308.59. MassDEP posted a solicitation for a second round of grant applications in the fall of 2023.
Additional Resources
2024 MOSPRA Grant Award
MassDEP would like to congratulate the fifteen MOSPRA grant recipients during the second grant round of MOSPRA grants. MassDEP received a wide variety of applications representing projects that advance the goals of MOSPRA in important yet different ways. A total of $691,588.50 has been awarded as part of the second grant round. This is more than a 3-fold increase from the first round of grants conducted in 2021. The grant awards are summarized below:
| Awardee | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Barnstable | Purchase Four Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) cameras and night vision equipment for oil spill detection in low visibility conditions. | $74,085 |
| USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Incorporated (Fall River) | Survey the USS Kennedy for onboard oil and dispose of all oil products. | $145,880 |
| New England Wildlife Center (Weymouth) | Train wildlife first responders, purchase additional wildlife response kits, and provide additional veterinary space for impacted wildlife. | $75,000 |
| Boston Harbor Docking Pilots, Inc | Purchase seven vessel navigational systems and associated infrastructure. | $40,152 |
| Boston Harbor Pilot Association, LLC | Purchase nine vessel navigational systems and associated infrastructure. | $48,422 |
| Town of Bourne Fire/Rescue & Department of Natural Resources | Conduct four oil spill training sessions for all Bourne Fire Rescue and Department of Natural Resource staff. | $15,000 |
| Town of Bourne Fire/Rescue | Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) training and certification for eight department staff. | $5,500 |
| Buzzards Bay Coalition (New Bedford) | Evaluate potential dockside bilge water pump-out sites and complete conceptual design. | $91,222 |
| Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills (C-O-MM) Fire District | Conduct marine oil spill training for 51 department members. | $26,775 |
| Fall River Fire Department | Conduct First Responder oil spill training at Battleship Cove. | $13,200 |
| Hingham Police Department | Purchase a hand-held thermal imaging camera and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV or drone) and train/certify four pilots. | $60,000 |
| Lynn Fire Department | Purchase drone software, laptop computer, and drone operating time for mapping approximately five miles of coastline. | $14,373 |
| Salisbury Fire Department | Purchase a drone unit and associated equipment, software and training. This will be a shared resource with Salisbury, Amesbury, Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, and Merrimack. | $14,233 |
| Saugus River Watershed | Develop site-specific spill response plans and preparedness training for Saugus and Pines Rivers. | $45,500 |
| Town of Plymouth Harbormaster | Purchase two drone units that will aid in prevention of and response to marine oi/hazardous material spill incidents in Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth Bay, and Cape Cod Bay. This will be shared with Kingston and Duxbury. | $22,244 |
Additional Resources
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Open DOCX file, 47.01 KB, MOSPRA 2020 Grant Recipients (English, DOCX 47.01 KB)
Future Grant Opportunities
MassDEP hopes to issue a third round of grants during 2025. Please check the MOSPRA webpage in the spring of 2025 for additional information.
Future grant opportunities will continue to fund projects which advance the goals of the Massachusetts Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, including those that prevent oil spills (e.g., navigational aids), enhance response to spills (planning/training), or increase our understanding of oil spills and their short- and long-term effects. Projects must be based and implemented in Massachusetts.