SCHUMER URGES DHS TO AWARD SECURITIES GRANT FOR FOUR NEW CAMERAS AT PORT OF OSWEGO WOULD MAKE OSWEGO MOST SECURE PORT IN GREAT LAKES SYSTEM

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged Dept. of Homeland Security to approve grant funding for the Port of Oswego to bolster port security through the purchase of four additional security cameras. Schumer joined the City of Oswego Police Dept., the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Border Patrol in pushing for funding from the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), which would make the Port of Oswego a security hub for federal law enforcement officials. The Port of Oswego is a bustling multimodal transportation port located in Central New York and it serves a major point of arrival and departure for shipping coming into and out of the region, going to and from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Schumer noted that it is a critical hub for economic development throughout the Upstate New York region and a national point of interest for homeland security. The security investment will provide and support the local law enforcement with the necessary tools to increase safety measures at the Port of Oswego Authority and thus open the port up to additional shipments, continued Schumer.

 

"The Port of Oswego is not just 'any port in a storm' for international shipping; it is the first port of call on the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence and a highprofile entry point for goods from Canada and international ports around the world. Increasing its security capabilities by adding four additional security cameras just makes sense, for national security and for the economic potential of the Port of Oswego," said Schumer. "The Port of Oswego is a growing economic engine for the region and with the addition of further security, it will be able to handle shipments of all security levels, and thus its value as a regional resource will continue to grow."

The Port of Oswego has applied for this grant in collaboration with the City of Oswego Police Dept., the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Border Patrol. The grant would provide $20,000 for four additional security cameras that would give port security a 360degree view of the entire port. Stationing four additional cameras at Oswego would bring the total amount of security cameras to thirty, and make the Port of Oswego the most security port in the Great Lakes System.

In 2011, Schumer fought hard to secure over $160,000 of homeland security funding which allowed the Oswego port to build and install a 17camera Integrated Surveillance System at the Port of Oswego Authority.  At the time, Schumer argued that because the investment in a hightech Integrated Surveillance System at the Oswego Port was accessible to all levels of law enforcement, it constituted a major step towards increasing safety and emergency preparedness in Oswego Harbor. The funding came at a crucial time when other cuts might have impacted preparation for a local or national emergency, but the award helped to ensure that the port remained safe and secure. It has helped expand port recovery and resiliency capabilities; and further capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other nonconventional weapons.

"The good news is, thanks to previous funding, the Port of Oswego is already a secure entrypoint for international goods. But for pennies on the dollar, we have the opportunity to shore up any remaining security gaps and make Oswego the most secure port in the Great Lakes system-and that's a smart investment," continued Schumer.

The Port of Oswego is the first U.S. port of call and deepwater port on the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway. Located on Lake Ontario on route to the interior of North America, the Port is accessible from any international port in the world. The Port of Oswego's strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts it less than 350 miles from 60 million people. The Port of Oswego services up to 80 deep draft vessels, 30 barges, 1050 railcars, 7,000 truck shipments and more than one million tons of cargo each year.

The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) provides funding for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and State and local government agencies required to provide port security services. The purpose of the PSGP is to support increased portwide risk management; enhanced domain awareness; conduct training and exercises; expansion of port recovery and resiliency capabilities; and further capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other nonconventional weapons.

A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to Administrator Fugate appears below:

Dear Administrator Fugate:

 

I write today on behalf of the Port of Oswego, located in the City of Oswego, New York. The Port of Oswego is a bustling multimodal transportation port located in Central New York and it serves a major point of arrival and departure for shipping coming into and out of the region, going to and from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. It is a critical hub for economic development throughout the Upstate New York region and a national point of interest for homeland security.

 

In 2011, I worked with the Port to secure a Department of Homeland Security grant for $160,000 for seventeen new cameras, giving the Port a major new security overhaul. Today, we are requesting additional funding for four additional security cameras to finish the goal of giving security officers a 360degree view of port operations. Additionally, this funding will bring the total number of cameras to 30.

 

Working in tandem, the City of Oswego Police Department, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Border Patrol collaborated and advocated for this funding application because it will make the Port of Oswego the most secure port in the Great Lakes system. As a result, the port will continue handling highsecurity shipments and serve as a security hub for federal law enforcement agencies.

 

The Port of Oswego services up to 80 deep draft vessels, 30 barges, 1050 railcars, 7000 truck shipments and more than one million tons of cargo each year. This port is a growing economic engine for the region and with the addition of further security, its potential will only increase and its value as a regional resource will be significantly enhanced.

 

Please feel free to contact my Regional Director, Angelo Roefaro should you require any further information as it relates to this port security grant submission.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles E. Schumer

U.S. Senator

 

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