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Preventing Oil Pollution draft Buzzards Bay Action Plan 19

About the new Buzzards Bay CCMP Action Plans
The Buzzards Bay NEP is now updating our 1992 landmark Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to reflect the great progress achieved since that plan was finalized. It will include new goals, objectives, and recommendations to meet the environmental needs for Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed into the next decade of the 21^st century. This new document will also meet the requirements for a Massachusetts Watershed Action Plan, which will enable new funding opportunities through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

On this page is a draft action plan from the updated Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and planned 2009-2014 Watershed Action Plan. The text on this page is a public draft provided to invite comment and discussion of the subject by residents and stakeholders. It may contain goals and recommendations that have not yet been endorsed or approved by the Buzzards Bay Steering Committee. The views or information contained here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the US Environmental Protection Agency.

We want your feedback on this action plan. First, please read the entire action plan Oil spill Action Plan. Then at the bottom of this page click the "rate this action plan" button to provide comments on each goal, objective and recommendation contained in this Action Plan. Based on your feedback, we will update and revise all the action plans in the new CCMP.

Read the .

Action Plan 19: Preventing Oil Pollution Overview

Draft date: September 10, 2008

Goals

CCMP Goals

Goal 1. Reduce the amount of petroleum hydrocarbons entering Buzzards Bay.

Goal 2. Minimize the occurrence of oil spills in Buzzards Bay, both large and small.

Goal 3. Minimize the environmental effects from oil inputs to Buzzards Bay.

CCMP Objectives

Objective 1. To promote a regional strategy for preventing oil spills and hydrocarbon discharges.

Objective 2. To promote a coordinated regional strategy for responding to large oil spills.

Objective 3. To implement a source-reduction plan for chronic inputs of hydrocarbons into Buzzards Bay.

Objective 4. To provide adequate facilities for the collection of waste oil from cars and boats.

Objective 5. To take enforcement actions against the illegal discharge of oil.

Recommendations and Committments

Recommendation 19.1 The US Coast Guard shall update the area oil spill contingency plan every five years to ensure that current state and municipal priorities are included in the plan, and incorporate the. This plan shall incorporate the Geographic Response Plan for Buzzards Bay.

Recommendation 19.2 The US Coast Guard shall update the navigation rules in Buzzards Bay to match the oil spill act requirements adopted by Massachusetts, including requiring pilotage and escorts for oil tankers and tank barges through the all of Buzzards Bay.

Recommendation 19.3 NOAA shall develop a GNOME oil spill trajectory model for Buzzards Bay.

Recommendation 19.4 NOAA and the USCG will implement a PORTS technology real time buoy tidal condition system to compliment the VRMS system and GNOME model.

Recommendation 19.5 CZM and DEP will work with Buzzards Bay municipalities to ensure that local priorities are included in the USCG area contingency plan.

Recommendation 19.6 DEP shall fund the testing of deployment strategies included in the Geographic Response Plan for Buzzards Bay as directed by the statewide OSA Strategic Plan.

Recommendation 19.7 DEP will work with the USCG and Buzzards Bay Municipalities to coordinate and fund regional oil spill response drills for Buzzards Bay communities to improve preparedness, and better utilize oil spill response equipment and the Geographic Response Plans to enhance coordination of local, state and federal response agencies. DEP shall continue to use oil spill fund fees to ensure adequate equipment to both coastal and inland communities in the Buzzards Bay watershed to provide first response to land and ocean based spills.

Recommendation 19.8 DEP will initiate the inspection and maintenance of the oil spill response trailers provided to Buzzards Bay municipalities.

Recommendation 19.9 DEP shall complete and post the Buzzards Bay Geographic Response Plan online.

Recommendation 19.10 EOEEA with assistance from DEP shall establish a Oil Spill Damage Assessment Response Panel to develop protocols for the collection of data in the hours and days after a spill that will be used in later damage assessment evaluations.

Recommendation 19.11 The New Bedford Harbor Development Commission, the USCG, and Mass DEP and should work together to establish a bilge water/waste oil collection facility in New Bedford Harbor.

Recommendation 19.12 The BBAC shall annually update its first responder contact list and equipment inventory for Buzzards Bay communities and provide this information to the USCG and DEP.

Recommendation 19.13 The BBAC work with Mass DEP to review and update the Buzzards Bay mutual aid protocol adopted in the 1990s to better address and govern the purchase and use of oil spill equipment by the towns.



Read the Complete September 2008 draft Oil spill action plan then use the feedback form below.

Feedback Form

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