Lawmakers in Albany County have passed legislation that penalizes operators of local crude oil storage and transfer facilities that fail to report spills in a timely manner.
The Times Union of Albany reports that the law passed Tuesday night was driven by the rise of the Port of Albany as a crude oil rail hub.
Under the new legislation, companies must report petroleum spills to county emergency management officials within 30 minutes of any accident or possible "threat of a release."
Operators who fail to do so could face jail time and fines of up to $20,000.
County Executive Dan McCoy says he fully supports the law, citing the fact that federal transportation safety officials predict one "major" spill every year for the next decade.
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