ConEd Opens Info Center At LI Sound Oil Spill Cleanup Site

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Con Edison officials say they are still "working around the clock" to clean up the more than 17,000 gallons of dielectric oil spilled in the Long Island Sound, but now the company is also turning its attention to providing relief for boat owners and neighbors affected by the accidental discharge.

"Con Edison deployed the mobile Customer Information Center to answer your concerns," the company said in a statement to nearby property owners. "Con Edison will have staff on hand to answer any questions regarding the work and claims process as a result of this incident. We apologize for any inconvenience this is causing. Thank you for your patience."

The Customer Information Center van will be parked at the corner of Drake Avenue and Nautilus Place, according to the utility. The info kiosk will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until July 25.

ConEd has set up a mobile information center on Drake Street near Wright Island Marina (Jeff Edwards | Patch)

Staff working at the newly arrived information center said they were primarily walking boat owners from the nearby marina through the process of filing claims for any damage caused by the spill. Representatives said property owners do not need to come in person and that claims can also be filed online through the ConEd website.

An underground spill on Saturday discharged more than 17,000 gallons of dielectric oil, which is used to cool transmission lines, into the Long Island Sound near Glen Island Park. The discharge was reportedly triggered by a water main break.

Officials said the oil was released from underground utility equipment used by ConEd. The oil sent flowing into the Long Island Sound is described as non-hazardous by the utility company. The leak was stemmed on Saturday, but cleanup efforts are evident along more than a mile of the Long Island Sound shoreline in New Rochelle.

Cleanup efforts continue after an oil spill in New Rochelle. (Jeff Edwards | Patch)

The staff at the ConEd van were not able to answer questions about the overall environmental damage caused by the leak and said claims were being addressed on a "case-by-case basis." The representatives did confirm that two contractors were employed to help clean any seabirds or animals affected and that the animals would be returned once the cleanup is complete.

Birds and other wildlife suffering as a result of the spill aren't eligible to use the mobile information center and will have to rely on help from other advocates for now.

Initial cleanup efforts required everything from tanker trucks to hand-cleaning an area several city blocks wide. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)