Governor Cuomo’s Concerns about Crude Oil Transport Should be followed by Immediate Actions to Protect New York Communities and the Environment
March 6, 2014
Riverkeeper Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2014
Contact: Tina Posterli, 914-478-4501 x 239, tposterli@riverkeeper.org
Statement from Riverkeeper
“Governor Andrew Cuomo’s statement during an interview on ‘The Capitol Pressroom’ that New York State and federal government need to do more to prepare for the influx of trains transporting crude oil, is welcome news. However, the governor’s strong statements and initial call to federal agencies to strengthen regulations and controls over rail and vessel shipments of these hazardous materials needs to lead to swift, tangible state actions. The governor conceded that he needed more details on Global Partners’ proposed Port of Albany facility before he could weigh in on its plan to heat and transport thick, heavy crude through Albany and down the Hudson River. Given that Governor Cuomo clearly recognizes the danger of transporting volatile crude, he should direct the DEC to immediately require a full environmental impact statement that evaluates the potential impacts connected with all of Global’s current and proposed operations in the Port of Albany and in New Windsor, New York, and provide all potentially impacted communities with the opportunity to fully participate in that environmental review. Anything less does not honor the governor’s repeated calls to take action to protect communities from the risks of crude oil transport.
The actions taken so far have done nothing to prevent this virtual pipeline from continuing to flow through our communities and waters. Knowing that the federal government isn’t doing enough, the governor should take the next step and call for a moratorium on crude oil shipping by rail and vessel until heightened risks are reduced or eliminated.”
Related campaigns
Spill prevention and preparedness
Working to protect the Hudson and its communities from the threats posed by anchor strikes and spills
Remediating and preventing contamination
Cleaning up decades of pollution and preventing more requires scientific understanding, targeted legal action, and sustained advocacy
Water quality monitoring
Riverkeeper is the go-to source for information about the quality of the water along the Hudson River and its tributaries