400 Gallons of Diesel Spilled, Spread Over 2 Miles In Rockaway River

More than 400 gallons of diesel fuel were accidentally spilled into the Rockaway River in Montville Tuesday afternoon, and recovery efforts will take days, officials said.

The fuel was being delivered to the Montville Township fuel station’s underground tank from the Finch Fuel Oil delivery in Kearny, officials said. During the transfer operation, the spill occurred and found its way into the storm water system which led to the Rockaway River because of recent heavy rains, officials said.

Members of the Morris County Hazardous Material Team and Parsippany Fire Department District 5 Hazardous Materials Team placed absorbent materials at the spill site and absorbent booms in the river at various locations to contain the spreading of oil, officials said.

The total distance of the spill’s impact to the river was approximately two miles.

A private cleanup contractor was hired by Finch Fuel Oil Company and started remediation the night of the spill.