02/20/1999

DEP is the one to call

By By KENNETH CONSIDINE

TORRINGTON - Whenever there is a hazardous material spill in Connecticut, the state Department of Environmental Protection is the agency everyone looks to for expert advice.

The state DEP receives nearly 9,000 hazardous material, or hazmat, calls each year. Such was the case Friday afternoon when a Klebe fuel oil truck out of Winsted experienced brake problems coming down Mountain Road, overturned and spilled more than 1,900 gallons of No. 2 fuel oil.

``The fuel oil entered a catch basin which feeds into the west branch of the Naugatuck River, which in turn flows into the Naugatuck River, said John Porter, one of several DEP investigators on the scene.

``We contacted the responsible party (Klebe Fuel Co.) and they hired Environmental Services as the cleanup contractor,'' said Porter.

Environmental Services Inc. is a licensed hazardous waste removal company based in South Windsor.

``We do this three to five times per week,'' said Bruce Devanney, vice president of Environmental Services. ``We'll be booming the water for the next week.''

Porter arrived on the scene simultaneously with Erik Gothberg, another investigator with the state DEP. ``We got here at the same time and immediately called for another inspector and a supervisor,'' Porter said. ``We then traveled downstream and stopped at Palmer Bridge Street. Right below the bridge we deployed the first containment boom. The oil had not reached that point yet. As a precautionary measure, the Torrington Fire Department called mutual aid and East Litchfield, Northfield, Harwinton, Watertown and Thomaston all responded and boomed down river,'' Porter said.

``We boomed down river for approximately 1 1//2 to 2 miles. It took about two hours for the product to make its way to that point. It was about 3:30 when we saw the product and and the first containment boom in place at that time,'' said Porter.

``It was at that time that we found where a large pool of fuel had collected in the area of Hotchkiss Place. We routed the first vacuum truck to that scene where recovery efforts were begun. We're bringing in skimmers now and we'll be in the recovery stage for a few days,'' Porter said.

``I can't give an accurate assessment because it's getting dark and it's getting tough to see,''said Porter.

``I would like to say that the Torrington Fire Department did a fantastic job in coordinating the effort. They got the ball rolling and the players into play. They took initial command and they brought in the other departments downstream. The other departments did a fine job also,'' Porter concluded.

All oil spills must be reported to the National Response Center, a national clearinghouse, where all hazardous material spills must be reported. The NRC is staffed by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. According to NRC statistics, there were 2,662 highway spills reported in 1998.

The National Response Center had no report of the spill in Torrington as of 5 p.m. Friday. A spokesperson said that there is no time frame for reporting, and they will receive reports at any time.