Hattertown Road Oil Spill Cleanup Nears Completion In Monroe

MONROE, CT — Cleanup of the Hattertown Road fuel spill is nearing completion more than a month after a truck overturned and leaked diesel fuel, according to a new update from the town.

The spill occurred Aug. 3 when a Hi-Ho fuel truck overturned near Guinea Road during a heavy downpour. Police said the driver had been traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control on a curve. The driver was not injured and was cited for traveling too fast for conditions.

In the latest update from Republic Services, officials said excavation of contaminated material is 99 to 100 percent complete. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is determining whether a small area along the east side of Hattertown Road requires additional excavation after extremely low levels were detected.

Crews have also begun backfilling the area, with about 2,000 tons of material placed and compacted so far. Containers of contaminated soil continue to be transported for disposal, which could be completed by the end of the week.

Once backfilling is complete, crews plan to restore topsoil and vegetation in the affected wetlands and land trust areas.

Paving Hattertown Road is expected to begin immediately after the vegetation work is finished. The town cautioned that weather could affect the timeline.