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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 TESTING GEOGRAPHIC RESPONSE PLANS FOR THE PROVIDENCE RIVER AND UPPER NARRAGANSETT BAY PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and Motiva Enterprises LLC are conducting field tests to enhance protection of environmental resources along the Providence River and Upper Narragansett Bay in the event of releases into the waterways.For the past six months, DEM and Motiva have co-chaired an industry-agency work group that has developed geographic response plans for 29 sites in Upper Narragansett Bay and the Providence River. These contingency plans 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. DEM and Motiva initiated an on-water testing program last week to validate select geographic response plans through field exercises. So far, field tests have been held at sites in East Providence, Barrington, and Bristol. Participants have included city and town officials, DEM Emergency Response Personnel, the U.S. Coast Guard, and contractors. Additional field tests are being conducted from October 7 through October 9 at sites in Providence, East Providence, Cranston, and Warwick. The methods developed and tested 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 November by Nuka Research and Planning Group, LLC of Plymouth, MA, and maintained by DEM in the public domain. The deployment tests have been conducted by trained oil spill responders from Clean Harbors Environmental Services and Coast Line Services. The East Providence Fire Department will also be participating in this week's test. "The DEM, Motiva and organizations that would be first responders, all share the goal of protecting Narragansett Bay and the waterways that enter into it," said Michael J. Mulhare, P.E, DEM's emergency response administrator. "By testing our techniques to protect sensitive sites throughout the upper Bay, we are improving our spill response capabilities and providing valuable training and hands-on experience to the parties involved in case they're ever needed." Michael J. Sullivan, Motiva Petroleum Products terminal manager, said, "We have a long history of providing gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products to this area and 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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