Over 50 Gallons Of Diesel Spill Into Pond At Binney Park; Cleanup Is Ongoing

GREENWICH, CT — The cleanup at Binney Park is ongoing after an estimated 50-70 gallons of oil spilled into a pond last week, according to Greenwich Fire Marshal Chris Pratico. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is overseeing the efforts.

Pratico said the cleanup will go on for a little while longer. Containment booms were placed in the pond to collect spillage and sheen, and the process takes time.

According to Will Healy, director of communications for CT DEEP, the source has been eliminated and now it's a matter of getting good rainfall to wash the water out. Healy said Thursday that there have been no environmental impacts due to the spill.

At around 5:44 a.m. on May 26, a release of diesel fuel from a truck occurred due to an equipment failure, First Selectman Fred Camillo said in his weekly email last week, citing officials from the Greenwich Fire Department and CT DEEP.

The Greenwich Fire Department was called at 11:27 a.m. after a Center Drive resident reported an odor and a sheen on the water in the brook, officials said. The leaking truck was later found on I-95 just north of northbound exit 5.

The GFD tried to contain the impact to the main pond. Initial boom deployment was performed by the GFD to minimize the impact from the spill, which leached into a nearby catch basin, officials said.

When CT DEEP arrived, the leak had stopped and an estimate 50-70 gallons had been released. Environmental cleanup activities were initiated by the CT DEEP Emergency Response Unit. Control measures have been initiated and will continue likely for the next couple of weeks.

During last week's initial cleaning efforts, approximately 1,300 gallons of oily water were recovered and removed from the site.

A combination of pollen and emulsified material will likely be observed within the area for the foreseeable future, and is not cause for concern, officials noted.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the spill since the waterway ultimately reaches Long Island Sound.