Several New York State agencies released a status report Dec. 1 outlining 66 actions taken to protect New York’s communities and environment from the potential risks associated with the transport of crude oil. In the past year there have been several major accidents with oil trains around the country, and several minor accidents locally as rail traffic has increased around Albany and through the Hudson Valley. Governor Andrew Cuomo defended his state's safety record by attacking the federal government. “Over the past six months, our administration has taken swift and decisive action to increase the State’s preparedness and better protect New Yorkers from the possibility of a crude oil disaster,” Cuomo said. “Now it is time for our federal partners to do the same. The federal government plays a vital role in regulating this industry, and Washington must step up in order to expedite the implementation of safer policies and rules for crude oil transport.” The state reports shipments of volatile crude oil from the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota cross nearly 1,000 miles of New York State, and says it has recently increased rail safety inspections; trained first-responders in the Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo and took part in three preparedness training exercises sponsored by Canadian Pacific railroad and Global Partners LLP; updated response plans; and also asked industries to increase their safety. Read the full report here.