Massive Cleanup Underway, 1,200-Gallon ConEd Spill In LI Sound

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Cleanup efforts are taking place around the clock after a massive underground spill discharged more than a 1,000 gallons of oil used to cool transmission lines into the Long Island Sound near Wright Island Marina.

By Saturday morning, New Rochelle police had the area closed off. Boats, heavy equipment, pumper trucks and empty tankers were being staged nearby on Drake Street throughout the night on both Saturday and Sunday. Dozens of crews were still working to clean up the spill on Monday morning.

Having no way to control the flow without ConEd, New Rochelle HazMat units could only hope to divert and contain the discharge. Because, at the time, unknown fluid was flowing into the nearby marina through storm drains, the help of the Coast Guard and New Rochelle Police Department Marine units was requested by firefighters.

The firefighters placed booms by one driveway on Nautilus Place to keep the oil out. Then, with the help of police harbor units, they moved on to placing booms across the mouth of the harbor, to help keep the spill from flowing out to the Long Island Sound.

ConEd and the New Rochelle Department of Public Works arrived with an army of tank trucks and sand for the street and began efforts to contain the discharge and stop the leak. Fire officials said the scene was turned over to ConEd at this point.

The discharge was triggered by a water main break. Officials said at least 1,200 gallons of dielectric fluid 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 cleanup required everything from tanker trucks to hand-cleaning an area several city blocks wide. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)

“Right now, the only danger is slippage, things of that nature," New Rochelle Fire Chief Andrew Sandor told CBS News New York's Andrea Grymes. "We’re told that it's dielectric oil, not PCBs, anything like that."

Emergency crews were originally called to the site after calls began coming in about a possible explosion and street flooding. ConEd said it is still investigating the cause of the accidental discharge.

The dielectric oil fluid released into the Long Island Sound is described as non-hazardous. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)

The discharge started early Saturday morning and continued until after 5 p.m in the evening. Floating booms are still in use to help contain some of the fluid in the Wright Island Marina.

Once the spill was staunched, a major cleanup effort got underway.

Environmental cleanup teams have been skimming the water and pumping the fluid into tanks going into a third day now.

ConEd said the utility is responsible for cleaning the spill. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)

Although the dielectric oil is considered non-hazardous, the slick substance, described as similar to mineral oil, presents a hazard to motorists and pedestrians. While dozens of responders worked to limit the effects of the spill on the waterway, other crews tackled the challenge of cleaning the oil from streets and sidewalks between Pelham Road and the water.

Dozens of crews continued cleanup efforts around the clock this weekend and early Monday. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)