DEC AND OPRHP ANNOUNCE FINALIZATION OF “30x30” OPEN SPACE CONSERVATON STRATEGIES AND METHODOLOGY

 

Outlines Key Measures to Conserve 30 Percent of New York Lands and Waters by 2030 and Support a Greener, Healthier, and More Resilient New York State

Informs Open Space Conservation Grant Programs Funded Through the Environmental Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today announced the release of the final 30x30 Strategies and Methodology, a key milestone in advancing New York State’s commitment to conserving 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030. It outlines the State’s scientific framework, criteria, and strategic approach to identify, measure, and advance conservation efforts. The final document reflects extensive collaboration with State agencies, local governments, Tribal Nations, landowners, conservation organizations, and community stakeholders. 

Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 signed legislation codifying New York's commitment to conserve 30% of the State's lands and waters by 2030 in collaboration with a broad group of partners and stakeholders. 

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Conserving New York’s lands and waters is a priority of Governor Hochul and fundamental to protecting biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring the benefits of our natural resources can be enjoyed by future generations. The final 30x30 guidance document provides a clear, credible, and measurable path forward—one that recognizes the urgency of conservation while valuing collaboration, equity, and sound science.” 

OPRHP Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “New York’s state parks, historic sites, and protected landscapes play a critical role in achieving the goals of 30x30. This strategy reflects our commitment to stewardship, recreation, and partnerships that connect people to the outdoors while safeguarding the places that define our state.”

DEC and OPRHP released a draft of the 30x30 Strategies and Methodology on July 1, 2024, for public comment and held two virtual public meetings to facilitate meaningful public engagement, discussion, and comment. More than 400 public comments and recommendations were received, which were essential in developing a thoughtful and inclusive approach to achieving conservation goals. A summary of the public comments and a responsiveness summary can be found on DEC’s website. 

Progress Towards 30x30

To date, more than 23% of New York State’s lands and waters are conserved. Since 2022, DEC and OPRHP are making substantial gains towards the 30x30 goal with the conservation of more than 36,241 acres of open space through direct fee acquisitions and conservation easements, as well as new policies and programs that engage partnering landowners across the state. 

For instance, the newly announced Open Space Conservation Grant Program—with an available $25 million for land conservation partners to protect and conserve open space—will contribute directly to 30x30. Thanks to funding provided by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, municipalities, not-for-profits, and Indian Nations or Tribes can apply for grants to purchase land for permanent conservation. 

In addition, DEC collaborates with the Land Trust Alliance to award grants through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program and Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts that will result in the conservation of nearly 20,000 acres once all projects are completed (2022 – 2025). 

Recent DEC acquisition accomplishments include:

• Acquiring multiple land parcels to create the Cowee State Forest in 2024. Additional acquisitions since then have brought the total number of acres for the state forest to 4,574 (2022 through 2025).
• Acquiring more than 1,200 acres to create the Blue Hill State Forest in Western New York (2024).
• Permanently protecting more than 14,600 acres through the Raquette River Recreational Access and Follensby Pond Research Preserve conservation easements (2024).
• Adding more than 900 acres to the Forest Preserve in the Catskill Mountains (2025).
• Acquired more than 3,300 acres along Spruce Creek in Herkimer County to add to the Forest Preserve and create a new state forest (2025). 

Recent OPRHP acquisition accomplishments include:

• Adding 946 acres to the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (2022).
• Adding 179 acres to the Schunnemunk State Park (2022).
• Adding 763 acres to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park (2024).
• Adding 79 acres to Saratoga Spa State Park (2026).
• Partnering with The Nature Conservancy to add 203 acres to Fillmore Glen State Park and protect 72 acres of forested wetlands in Venice (2024).
• Adding nearly 300 acres to Minnewaska State Park (2025).
• Assisting Rockland County with their acquisition of the 236-acre Eagle Valley Assemblage (2025). 

Open Space Institute President and CEO Erik Kulleseid said, “Conservation is critical to ensuring a healthy future for New York’s people, wildlife, and communities, and the 30x30 framework sets a clear pathway for science based progress. OSI applauds Governor Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, and acting NYS Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser for their leadership in advancing methodology that will strategically maximize the state’s investments in protecting land and water while delivering real benefits for everyone across our state.” 

Help New York Achieve Our Goal: Submit Your Open Space Property to the Database

The 2025-26 enacted State Budget increased the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to a record $425 million, which included funding for the New York Natural Heritage Program to update and improve the New York Protected Areas Database (NYPAD). This spatial database is an essential resource for tracking 30x30’s permanently protected lands and a planning tool for State agencies, organizations, and individuals working to conserve New York’s lands and waters. If you are a land trust, municipality, or county that holds conserved open space (either land held in fee or a conservation easement), please check NYPAD’s interactive map to make sure your land is counted. If lands do not appear on the map, help us make it count by completing this short form. Sharing information on protected land can help us better track the progress of 30x30.

Mamdani Administration Releases “SPEED” Reforms to Deliver Affordable Housing Faster

 

Environmental review, permitting and lease-up reforms will cut development timelines by as much as two years  

  

Reforms include overhauling housing lottery system and changes to environmental review   

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson released the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (“SPEED”) report, a sweeping set of reforms to deliver affordable housing faster across New York City.

 

The reforms target every stage of the development process, including pre-development, permitting and lease-up, and will cut timelines for all affordable housing projects by eight months. For projects that require a zoning change, the reforms will reduce timelines by as much as two years.

 

“These delays are not inevitable. They are the result of broken systems and a failure of political will,” said Mayor Mamdani. “New Yorkers cannot afford to wait years for affordable housing while projects sit trapped in bureaucracy. SPEED is about making government deliver – faster, fairer and at the scale this crisis demands.”  

 

“Our administration is tackling the housing crisis with the urgency that New Yorkers deserve. With these investments and procedural changes, we will cut months or even years off of the affordable housing development timeline – months that New Yorkers can spend in permanent housing instead of instability,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “I’m grateful for the work of the SPEED Task Force, agency partners, and everyone who helped identify ways to build a more effective government.”  

  

“This administration is clear-eyed in our mission to prove that government can deliver quickly and at scale,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “Whether overhauling permitting through SPEED or pursuing Alternative Delivery contracting, we're slashing project timelines in half. Faster, more efficient execution means more families in homes and better outcomes for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”  

  

“With the housing crisis impacting New Yorkers every day, we must do everything we can to deliver affordable homes more quickly — and streamlining regulations through SPEED will help us do exactly that,” said Department of City Planning Director Sideya Sherman. “By reducing the pre-certification timeline for many projects from two years to six months, we will get shovels in the ground and New Yorkers into homes faster — while maintaining a fair and thorough review process. These commonsense reforms are a critical part of our broader effort to meet the urgency of the moment and build a more equitable and affordable New York City.”  

  

“Our housing crisis demands that we move faster. The SPEED report lays out a vision for overhauling our affordable housing lease-up process that will significantly improve the timeline and user-experience for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on the Housing Connect lottery system. By cutting application approval times in half — to under 100 days — families can move in sooner,” said Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. “Together with permitting and development changes, we’re cutting 8 months off the timeline from inception to move-in day. This will help us get more families into affordable housing faster, making a real difference for thousands of New Yorkers. We won’t let red tape and outdated systems stand between families and the affordable housing they deserve.”  

  

“In the face of the ongoing affordability crisis and the city’s anemic rental vacancy rate, this administration must continue to be unapologetically pro-housing,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The Mayor’s SPEED report is a comprehensive blueprint that will unlock strategies to facilitate the efficient and safe construction of more badly needed housing for New York City families. More than just reshaping the development process so that we are responsive to the challenges of construction while taking advantage of new opportunities, today’s announcement sends a message to the industry that the five boroughs are the best place to plan their next building project.”  

 

“We are proud to be part of this whole of government response to tackle the housing crisis with creativity, urgency and bold initiative,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton. “We are cutting the red tape, reducing administrative burdens, and collaborating with key stakeholders to streamline processes and expedite connections to deeply affordable housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. We applaud the Mamdani Administration’s commitment to creating affordable housing at an unprecedented speed and scale by leaving no stone unturned to create efficiencies across agencies and prioritizing the needs of housing insecure New Yorkers across the city.” 

  

The SPEED reforms will make City processes faster and more accountable across four stages of development: environmental review and planning; pre-development and financing; permitting and approvals; and marketing and lease-up.   

  

As a part of the overhaul, the administration will cut the “pre-certification” process for many projects requiring zoning changes from roughly two years to six months. The City will also reduce the permitting timelines for both new construction and office-to-residential conversion projects by approximately five months.  

  

To move New Yorkers into completed affordable housing more quickly, the City will also overhaul the City’s housing lottery system. The Mamdani administration will implement immediate improvements while building a more flexible long-term system that is fair, transparent and easier to navigate.  

  

The reforms will cut the time between construction completion and move-in in half – from 210 days to fewer than 100 days.  

  

The reforms were developed by the SPEED Task Force, which Mayor Mamdani created by executive order his first day in office. The Task Force held roundtables with more than 100 industry experts, advocates, developers, builders and trade organizations and received more than 500 recommendations that informed the final reforms.   

  

None of the reforms require legislative action or change the City’s discretionary approval process for projects.  

  

These reforms build on additional housing initiatives launched by the administration, including the City’s first-ever Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) and the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track program. Together, those initiatives will reduce the pre-development timelines for affordable housing projects by more than two years.   

  

“We can't build the New York City of 2050 with an environmental review process from the last century,” said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Reforming how we study the impacts of new rezoning initiatives and development projects on our transportation network will speed up the process of getting much needed housing built, and it will help us better understand the multi-modal transportation needs of New Yorkers.”  

  

“NYC Parks was proud to collaborate with sister agencies on the SPEED Task Force to increase efficiency for developers working near parkland or conducting tree work,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “With the rollout of these reforms, this administration continues to ensure that government is delivering results for working New Yorkers.”  

  

“Solving our housing crisis will require reducing barriers at every stage of the pipeline, from permitting to lease-up,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine. “These reforms target key points along the housing creation timeline to do exactly that. Recent efforts to spur housing creation in New York City—from last year’s City Charter changes, to my office’s NYC Housing Investment Initiative to finance new construction and preservation, to the SPEED reforms—are mutually reinforcing. I applaud this Administration’s focus on addressing the housing crisis, and I look forward to continuing this work together to ensure New Yorkers can afford to live in the city we all love.”  

Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Arrest of Uncle & Nephew, Seizure of More Than 80 Kilograms of Suspected Cocaine

 

Two Southwest Ohio relatives were arrested by federal agents for allegedly conducting large-scale cocaine trafficking.

Damian Galan, 31, of Cincinnati, and Diego Galan, 19, of Fairfield, will appear in federal court today for initial appearances.

According to charging documents, agencies within the Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) received information regarding the Galans’ potential drug trafficking throughout the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.

Surveillance of the men and intercepted communications led law enforcement officials to a Holiday Inn Express in Columbus on May 9. Damian and Diego Galan allegedly traveled to the hotel in tandem and obtained four 17-gallon storage containers from two Hispanic males staying at the hotel. The storage containers were placed in the trunk and backseat of Damian Galan’s vehicle.

The defendants then allegedly traveled to Diego’s residence and Fairfield, where they moved the four storage containers.

Law enforcement officials executed search warrants at both Galan residences. They discovered four kilograms of suspected cocaine and a firearm at Damian Galan’s home.  The search of Diego GALAN’s residence recovered the storage bins – which contained approximately 77 kilograms of suspected cocaine – along with bulk cash, firearms and suspected methamphetamine.

The men were arrested in the early morning hours of May 10, 2026.

They are each charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, a federal crime punishable by up not less then ten (10) years imprisonment and up to Life. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and members of the HSTF, including the DEA, Cincinnati Police Department, FBI, HSI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s  Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), announced the charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Another Member of Notorious Philadelphia ‘10th and O Crew’ Sentenced to 60 Months for Opioid Drug Conspiracy

 

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced in the District of New Jersey to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a highly addictive controlled substance.  

According to court documents, between July 2019 and July 2024, Michael Emma, 66, of Philadelphia, engaged in the unlawful sale of prescription oxycodone pills as a member of South Philadelphia’s notorious “10th and O Crew.” Emma obtained the pills from doctors’ offices in the area, and he and his co-conspirators worked in shifts to distribute the pills from a 24-hour restaurant.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased pills from one of Emma’s co-conspirators. A surveillance team then observed the co-conspirator counting the proceeds of the transaction with Emma. The photograph below captured Emma (on the left) after the transaction:

In June 2025, Emma pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Emma’s co-conspirators and leaders of the 10th and O Crew, Michael Procopio and Frank Procopio, were each convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and sentenced to six years in prison and four years and nine months in prison, respectively.

The FBI, DEA, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani Announce Additional Aid and State Actions to Stabilize New York City’s Budget

With new State funding and assistance, Mamdani Administration will officially close New York City’s budget gap  

Delivers an additional $4 billion in new support for New York City, growing on previously announced funding  

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced new state support and actions to help New York City close its budget deficit ahead of the release of Mayor Mamdani’s Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget. Governor Hochul, in partnership with the state legislature, has secured an additional $4 billion in gap-closing support, bringing the total new state assistance to nearly $8 billion over two years.       

With this latest agreement, the Mamdani Administration will officially close the more than $12 billion deficit it inherited from the previous administration, stabilizing the City’s finances while advancing investments that make New York more affordable for working people. These new investments build on the $1.5 billion in assistance announced in the Governor’s 30-day amendments in February and funding for universal childcare.”  

   

“From day one, I have been committed to ensuring New York City succeeds, because a strong and stable City means an even stronger New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we are fulfilling the promise to make free universal child care a reality, making significant investments in education, public safety, and infrastructure while providing the city the resources they need to continue to fund critical services for New Yorkers. This is what a results-driven, responsible partnership looks like and I’m proud to work with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for working New Yorkers.”   

   

“For years, the relationship between City Hall and Albany has been defined by dysfunction and infighting,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Governor Hochul and I, however, share a belief that government works best when we work together on behalf of the people we serve. We have partnered through every step of this process to protect the fiscal health of our city. I am thankful for her collaboration and deep commitment to securing a future for our city that working people can afford.”  

   

This budget agreement reflects a renewed partnership between City Hall and Albany rooted in a shared commitment to protect public goods and deliver the resources that keep libraries open, schools funded and streets safe and clean.   

DEA - PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY

 

Heightened Threat: Fentanyl Mixed with Emerging Synthetic Drugs

The United States continues to face an unprecedented and evolving drug threat driven by illicit fentanyl, which is increasingly mixed with a dangerous array of synthetic substances emerging in the illicit market. These combinations are making an already deadly drug supply even more unpredictable and lethal.

Law enforcement and public health officials are seeing fentanyl combined with highly potent substances such as xylazine, nitazenes, cychlorphine, and medetomidine. Many of these substances are not approved for human use and are often undetectable to the user.

Xylazine and medetomidine are used by veterinarians to sedate animals. Nitazenes and cychlorphine are potent, unregulated, synthetic opioids. New nitazenes tend to be introduced when regulatory actions, enforcement, and drug scheduling put pressure on existing analogues. DEA has reported 22 unique nitazenes compounds since 2020, 21 of which are listed as Schedule I controlled substances. 

Why This Matters:

• Extreme Potency: These emerging synthetic drugs can be significantly more powerful than fentanyl and greatly increase the risk of suffering a fatal overdose.
• Hidden Mixtures: These substances are frequently mixed into counterfeit pills or fentanyl powder without the user’s knowledge.
• Reduced Reversal Effectiveness: Drugs like xylazine and medetomidine are not opioids, meaning naloxone may not fully reverse their effects, complicating overdose response. Other synthetics, such as nitazenes and cychlorphine, might require several doses of naloxone to be effective. 
• Severe Health Impacts: Xylazine has been linked to devastating soft tissue damage, infections, and prolonged sedation, while other synthetics can cause rapid respiratory depression and death.

Public Safety Guidance:

• Never take a pill that wasn’t prescribed to you and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
• Assume all illicit drugs may contain fentanyl or other deadly additives.
• Carry naloxone and be trained in how to use it but understand it may not fully reverse all substances present.
• Call 911 immediately in any suspected drug poisoning or overdose. Time is critical.
• Stay informed and spread awareness. This threat is evolving rapidly.

Today’s illicit drug supply is more dangerous, more deceptive, and more deadly than ever before. One pill, one try can kill.

Public awareness and prevention are critical. For more information, visit DEA.gov/fentanyl free and DEA.gov/onepill. 

Statement from Speaker Julie Menin and Finance Chair Linda Lee on the FY27 Executive Budget

 

Today, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Finance, issued the following joint statement after meeting with Mayor Mamdani on the FY27 Executive Budget:

“We had a productive meeting with Mayor Mamdani on the Executive Budget, and we appreciate that the Administration has moved toward an approach championed by the Council that identifies savings and avoids raising property taxes or raiding reserves.

“While we await a final state budget, we are pleased with Governor Hochul and the state legislature’s commitment to providing the City with billions in additional funds and savings. The Council will closely review the Executive Budget and hold oversight hearings over the coming weeks as we work to deliver for hardworking families. We have important work ahead to advance key priorities including affordability, public transit access, and investments in the services New Yorkers rely on every day.”

Foreign Operators and Technical Superintendent of M/V Dali Indicted for Roles in Key Bridge Crash

 

Indian and Singapore Corporations and Company Official Charged with Conspiring to Defraud the United States and Causing the Death of Six Construction Workers

Two corporate entities and a shoreside superintendent face criminal charges in connection with the vessel crash that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.

A federal court unsealed an indictment today charging three defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with causing the death of six construction workers on the bridge, among other charges.

On March 26, 2024, the Motor Vessel Dali, a 900-foot foreign flag container vessel, registered in Singapore, crashed into the bridge. The indictment alleges that the economic loss in this case is at least $5 billion.

Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in Chennai, India, along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, an Indian national who worked for both companies as the Technical Superintendent for the Dali, are charged with conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements. The two Synergy corporations are also charged with misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act for the discharge of pollutants into the Patapsco River, including shipping containers and their contents, oil, and the bridge itself.

“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster. Six construction workers lost their lives, critical infrastructure was destroyed, pollutants were released into the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, and the economic damage now exceeds five billion dollars. This Department is committed to securing justice for the victims and ensuring those responsible are held to account.”

“This indictment is the first step in our efforts to hold those accountable who caused the tragic deaths of six people and catastrophic damage to our region,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “The safety of our residents, ports, and infrastructure is of utmost importance to the prosperity of the District of Maryland. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland will continue to pursue those who commit crimes that jeopardize those interests.”

“The indictment alleges criminal conduct that not only destroyed the Key Bridge but brought the regional economy to its knees and claimed the lives of six Maryland residents,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Adherence to laws governing safe operation of commercial vessels is essential to doing business in our nation’s ports. We enforce these laws to protect the public from future disasters like this fatal crash.”

“The indictment reveals a pattern of deception and egregious violations that led to the unsafe operation of the Dali which recklessly endangered the public and resulted in the ship striking the bridge,” said Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “This indictment should send a message to all ship operators that circumventing safety requirements and breaking U.S. laws will not be tolerated. I am proud of FBI Baltimore’s investigative teams who worked diligently over the last two years to find the truth and to hold those responsible accountable.”

“The United States will not be a safe harbor for violators who pollute our nation’s waterways. Today’s indictment alleges that reckless cost-cutting by dishonest foreign corporations on a foreign-flagged vessel with a foreign crew carrying hazardous cargo resulted in death, disruption of our economy, and the discharge of oil and other chemicals into the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA’s Office for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Such tragedy must not happen again. This EPA will ensure that foreign companies do not profit off of polluting American communities. The hard work of our criminal investigators, who were among the first aboard the wrecked ship, was critical for securing this indictment, and we look forward to working with the Department of Justice to prosecute this case.”

“At the core of the Coast Guard's mission is the protection of life and property and the facilitation of commerce,” said Acting Director Zinnia James of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS). “The charges announced today reflect the Coast Guard Investigative Service’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of our nation's maritime transportation system. This indictment alleges a reckless disregard for U.S. maritime laws and safety regulations, which had devastating consequences, leading to the tragic loss of six lives and catastrophic environmental and economic damage. Let this be a clear message: CGIS, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will vigorously investigate and hold accountable any individual or corporation that compromises the safety of our ports and waterways.”

According to the indictment, the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span, as it navigated out to sea from the Port of Baltimore, causing it to crash into the Key Bridge. The indictment alleges that a loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely caused the first power loss. Critical systems on the Dali were originally designed with reliable redundancies and automatic restart capabilities, so the Dali could quickly regain power after a blackout. But shortly after the vessel regained power, it lost power again. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators. However, the flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, so the ship ultimately experienced a second blackout. The indictment alleges that if the Dali used the proper fuel supply pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge.

Synergy and Nair are also charged with obstruction of an agency proceeding and providing false statements and documents to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as it conducted a casualty investigation. The obstruction charges relate to, among other things, Nair’s statements to the NTSB that he was unaware that that the Dali was using the flushing pump to provide fuel to the generators.

The FBI, CGIS, and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps, Bijon Mostoufi, and Kimberly Phillips for the District of Mayland and Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé with ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case. Richard Udell, formerly of the Environmental Crimes Section, also assisted in this matter.

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.