'Operation Blue Trident', DEC's Homeland Security Training Exercise, Taking Place On East End

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has kicked off a new initiative, "Operation Blue Trident," a multi-agency Homeland Security training exercise, on the East End this week.

Operation Blue Trident, the DEC said in a release, will deploy more than 100 personnel from 23 local, state and federal agencies in a series of exercises across the East End, including radiological detection training, navigational boating safety, marine fisheries compliance, and environmental monitoring operations.

On Thursday, environmental conservation officers were working with East End maritime law enforcement agencies to conduct "coordinated radiation/nuclear detection training exercises" in Gardiners Bay, with a command post at Stony Brook University's Southampton ‎campus.

The 24-vessel deployment took place in East End waters and residents were advised that it was just a training exercise and should not be alarmed.

"This full-scale exercise, the first training of its kind in eastern Long Island, will consist of marine and on-shore elements" through Sunday.

The marine component on Thursday and Friday will employ 24 vessels at various locations across the East End, with more than 50 DEC police and civilian support staff and 50 law enforcement officials from various federal, state and local law enforcement and emergency management agencies, according to a release from the DEC.

New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced the kickoff of Operation Blue Trident.

"Long Island is a vital gateway to the New York metropolitan area, and we must be fully prepared to handle any crisis that threatens the well-being of New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "Preparedness, organization and coordination are key in any emergency response, and this exercise will help ensure that New York is ready and able to deal with anything that threatens our heath, environment, or security."

The exercise, which is being led by DEC environmental conservation officers with support from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, is the first training of its kind in eastern Long Island and is constructed in accordance with federal Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program guidelines.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos added, "DEC's environmental conservation officers who patrol our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment, our natural resources and public health."

The operation is slated to unfold in two phases.

Phase I was a shore-based water quality initiative that took place from Aug. 2 to 16 to identify and remove threats to Long Island waterways, with inspection of marinas and facilities to investigate petroleum bulk storage, pesticides, and sewage point-source discharges to ensure regulatory compliance.

Phase 2, which runs through Aug. 19, focuses on the structured Homeland Security/radiological training in actual maritime operations and will include navigational safety, foreign vessel interdiction, and marine fisheries and water quality compliance efforts, the release said.

DEC and Suffolk County Police will also "conduct tactical weapons of mass destruction training, enhancing the skills needed to intercept illicit radiological materials in rapidly emerging situations. The East End Task Force and partners will be conducting 'Op Shield' activities over the course of the weekend, focusing on navigational safety and boating while impaired enforcement, while ECOs will address threats to water quality such as unsecured marine sanitation devices, threats to fisheries stocks, and general navigational safety," the release said.

Goals of Operation Blue Trident include improving maritime counter-terrorism capabilities and agency responses to natural and man-made disasters through real-world threat exercises; local, state and federal agencies working jointly to help prevent the illicit transport of materials posing a significant public safety threat; enhancing partnerships and improving coordination with agencies that protect Long Island and the metropolitan New York City area; protecting Long Island water quality from pollution and sewage threats; improving boater safety and protecting marine fisheries through navigational enforcement; and educating the boating public on homeland security issues, including the 'See Something - Say Something' Safeguard New York campaign to get the public to recognize suspicious activity."

The same multi-agency planning, coordination and operations employed for Operation Blue Trident will prove highly valuable in any other large-scale possible disasters such as oil spills or plane crashes, officials said.

"Also this week, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Counter Terrorism will conduct approximately 70 counter terrorism exercises to test their suspicious activity reporting programs," the release said. "Law enforcement teams will visit a wide variety of locations on Long Island, including mass gathering sites, truck rental companies, various retail stores, marinas and other public locations. After each visit, Homeland Security, federal, state and local partners discuss encounters with each location to point out successful actions and areas of improvement."

The DEC has coordinated similar joint training exercises like this in the past on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and, just last year, Operation Clear passage on Lake Champlain.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Roger L. Parrino, Sr. explained the reason for the training. "The consequences associated with the malicious use of nuclear and other radioactive materials by nefarious state or non-state actors, could be catastrophic. It is imperative that all maritime law enforcement teams regularly conduct this type of exercise along the state's waterways," he said.

And, added New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, "Operation Blue Trident is an important exercise to protect our water quality, environment, and our homeland security. At a time of increased risk to New York's security, law enforcement must be prepared for all eventualities."

Patch photos courtesy of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.