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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM AND MOTIVA ENTERPRISES DEVELOPING GEOGRAPHIC RESPONSE PLANS FOR THE PROVIDENCE RIVER AND UPPER NARRAGANSETT BAY PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and Motiva Enterprises LLC are developing plans to enhance protection of environmental resources along the Providence River and Upper Narragansett Bay in the event of releases into the waterways.Called geographic response plans, the contingency plans will provide tailored responses to protect specific sensitive areas from impacts following an oil spill. The map-based strategies can save time during the critical first few hours of a spill response by showing responders where sensitive areas are located and where to place spill protection resources. The project is designed to not only develop protection strategies but also to validate the geographic response plans through field exercises. In addition, the methods developed in this study will serve as the blueprint for similar future plans for other areas of the bay. The plans will be incorporated into the existing Area Contingency Plan for Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts. Motiva is contributing $100,000 toward the development of the geographic response plans, which are expected to be completed by October by Nuka Research of Plymouth, MA, and maintained by DEM in the public domain. DEM, which is guiding the effort, has created a stakeholders' work group to participate in the development of the plans, and held a project kick-off meeting at the end of March. "We share a priority with Motiva to continually improve our capability to Narragansett Bay and the waterways that enter into it, as they are critical to the state's environment and economy," said Michael J. Mulhare, P.E, DEM's emergency response administrator. "The new geographical response plans will dramatically enhance current response measures, and we appreciate Motiva's assistance in helping us jump-start this process." "The waterways are vital to our operations and to this region," said Michael J. Sullivan, Motiva Petroleum Products terminal manager. "With a long history of providing much-needed energy to this area, we believe in using the waterways responsibly and contributing to the long-term care of our state's natural resources." The Motiva Petroleum Products Terminal has operated in Providence since 1907. For more information on the geographic response plans in development, visit the project website at http://rigrp.nukaresearch.com. -30- |
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