Global Partners Conducts Annual Drill at Albany Terminal October 30

Albany, NY — As part of its extensive emergency response preparedness program, Global Partners held an emergency response drill today at its Albany terminal located near the Port of Albany. Representatives from local emergency response organizations participated, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Albany Port Authority, the Albany County Fire Department and Fire Coordinator, Albany County Emergency Management, the Albany County Department of Health, the City of Albany Fire Department, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Tom Keefe, Global’s vice president of Environmental Health and Safety Operations, facilitated the event. “Global’s emergency response planning begins with comprehensive training of our employees. In addition, it is critical that our training is performed with local emergency responders, which allows for greater understanding of procedures and familiarity with the facility and on-site equipment,” Keefe said.

The drill simulated the response to a release of crude oil to the Hudson River from the failure of a pipe during the loading of a barge. The goal of the drill was to improve response and preparedness efforts by exercising the terminal’s response plans including; coordination of local emergency response command and control, integration of federal, state and local resources, regulatory and other notifications and spill response procedures.  This was a table-top review of procedures and protocols. No equipment was deployed during the event.