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AWO EXPRESSES REGRET TO GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY OVER BUZZARDS BAY SPILL, PLEDGES INDUSTRY COOPERATION

The following letter was sent today from the American Waterways Operators to the Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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May 9, 2003
The Honorable Mitt Romney
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State House - Room 360
Boston, MA 02133


Dear Governor Romney:

As the national trade association for the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry, the American Waterways Operators (AWO) would like to express its regret over the recent barge accident and oil spill in Buzzards Bay. We also want you to know that you can count on our cooperation in the effort to develop solutions to prevent an accident of this type from happening again.

The members of AWO have made a strong commitment to transport petroleum products safely, protect the environment, and achieve our goal of zero oil spills. This commitment has yielded tangible results over the last decade. Oil spills in the United States are today at a historic low. The tank barge industry has effectively reduced the volume of oil spilled by fully 92% since the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 99.99998% of oil transported by tank barges is delivered safely. In 2000, spills from barges accounted for just 9.3% of marine spill volume, less than tank ships, cargo ships, and marine transportation facilities. Furthermore, owners of tug and barge units have made a significant capital investment in replacing or retrofitting their fleets with double hull vessels well ahead of the single hull vessel retirement schedule established by OPA 90. Today, more than two-thirds of the U.S. tank barge fleet is already double-hulled.

AWO members have achieved these significant accomplishments in large part due to the establishment of the AWO Responsible Carrier Program (RCP), an award-winning, Coast Guardrecognized safety management and environmental protection program that exceeds federal regulations. As a condition of membership in AWO, all AWO members must undergo periodic audits by independent, third-party auditors to demonstrate compliance with the RCP.

The U.S. tank barge industry is working hard to meet our goal, as well as the expectation of our customers and the American public, of moving oil safely and securely, with not one drop entering our precious marine environment. We know there is more work to do to achieve that goal, and we pledge our commitment to continue the effort.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Allegretti