Albany County NY : County Executive McCoy Marks 3rd Anniversary of Advocacy for Residents in Light of Oil Train Threat to Region

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January 11, 2017

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today marked the unofficial anniversary of the county's advocacy for residents concerned about the hazards of the expansion of oil train traffic and processing in Albany's South End. In January of 2014, McCoy expressed concerns about the public participation and comment process to the Department of Environmental Conservation regarding a plan by Global Partners to build a new facility in Albany. The County Executive issued an order directing a moratorium on the expansion of the processing of crude oil at the Port of Albany and subsequently he has established an Expert Advisory committee to examine a broad range of concerns relative to crude oil issues including better safety standards for oil tanker cars; treating crude oil at the source to lower volatility; improved rail braking systems and moving residents of Albany's Ezra Prentice Homes out of harm's way. Additionally, he has written numerous letters to state and federal regulators, proposed legislation requiring shippers to notify local officials of train derailments in a timely fashion, convened an Albany County Crude Oil Transportation Summit with first responders in areas affected by rail accidents and called for the DEC to issue a Summary Abatement Order for the facility.

'My office has been deeply involved in this issue from the start,' said McCoy. 'We've seen too many incidents across the country where public safety has been compromised due to a lack of planning and information given to elected officials and the public. We will continue to work with the state and federal government to do everything we can to protect the public.'

There have been some significant milestones in the last two years including heightened scrutiny of rail facilities and infrastructure by the state, and a recent decision by DEC requiring Global Partners to update its permit application to address concerns raised by the county's Department of Health regarding noxious odors and emissions produced by the facility. In addition the county is a party in a lawsuit filed in federal court earlier in 2016 charging that Global operated in violation of the Clean Air Act. That litigation is pending.

McCoy has worked closely on this case with EarthJustice and has also tapped into local environmental experts like Peter Iwanowicz, the Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York. Iwanowicz served as chair of the county's Expert Advisory Committee on Crude Oil Safety in Albany County and put forth recommendations on measures that should be implemented to protect the public.

The County Executive has also called on the DEC to require a full state Environmental Impact Study to be conducted for the Global site in Albany. The county contends that the proximity of the Ezra Prentice Homes and the residents living nearby are in harm's way due to the emissions produced by the facility and tanker car traffic just a few feet from a residential neighborhood. The County Executive also lauded the EPA for issuing a Notice of Violation to Global in July of 2016 charging the company with failing to comply with the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act and the New York State Implementation Plan.

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