At around 1030 hrs on 24 August 2016, 300-400 gal of hexavalent chromium was released on the roof of the Light Metals Coloring facility, traveled the down spout, onto the ground and asphalt and into a storm drain that empties into a small creek that flows into the Quinnipiac River. CT DEEP and the NRC were notified at 1230 hrs that only 50-75 gal of boiler condensate with chrome contaminate was released. The CT DEEP responder deployed to the incident and found that the spill was considerably larger (300-400 gal) and the contaminant was significant more hazardous (Hex Chrome).
CT DEEP called the EPA Region 1 Phone Duty OSC and provided the corrected details of the incident. Clean Harbors is on-scene with a vacuum truck removing hex chrome from the creek and river. Another contractor is digging up the contaminated soil and asphalt and removing the contaminated roofing material. The Phone Duty OSC offered EPA assistance. The CT DEEP responder spoke to the Southington CT Fire Department Chief and found out that they had not been notified by Light Metals Coloring of the spill and that this facility had a treatment system that did not have a City or State NPDES discharge permit.
Upon learning that the EPA had called and offered assistance, the Fire Chief asked the CT DEEP responder to call EPA back and request an EPA Region One Emergency Response OSC to deploy to this incident.
