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.
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.