1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response Oil Release

1.1.2 Site Description

See Below

1.1.2.1 Location

44 Center Street Oil Release, Waterbury, CT

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Home Heating release from residence oil tank overfill

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Due to equipment malfunction or human error, while Santa Fuel while delivering oil, they overfilled a 4,000 gallon heating oil tank by approximately 1,500 gallons. The oil was #2 oil.

The overfilling caused a release of 1,500 gallons of oil.  The oil spilled onto the tank room floor, and then migrated to a nearby vault that is connected by drains/pipes, and finally by storm drains towards the Great Brook which is a tributary of Naugatuck River. Approximately 200 gallons were released into the Brook. 

2.1.1 Narrative

See Below

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

 OSC Banks arrived at the incident and integrated into incident command with CTDEEP (Ken LeClerc, Mark Liano, and Donnell Thigpen). A Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI) was issued to the representative agent for the Responsible Party (RP), Connecticut Tank Removal (CTR).  CTR is the RP’s cleanup contractor.  The RP is Santa Fuel.  CTR is currently conducting the cleanup activities. No visible oil on riverbank or river bank riprap.  Some visible staining near outfall bank area. Resident evacuations were not necessary at the Exchange Place Towers. No media was present during this time. 

 CRT collected approximately 800+ gallons of oil from the vault, and 500 gallons from the tank room floor. An earthen catchment / diked area and a weir system at the drain outfall. This action prevented the 200 gallons that entered the Brook from migrating into the Naugatuck River.  Local fire department flushed approximately 500 gallons of water into the storm drains to flush residual oil into the catchment areas. TRC vacuumed/collected the 500 gallons and any residual material from the FD flushing activities. Under the direction of the CTDEEP, TRC will leave catchment area up for several weeks to collect any residual sheen. 

 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Santa Fuel/ Santa Energy has assumed response to the release.  A Notice of Federal Interest was issued.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

None

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

CT DEEP provided oversight for cleanup activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

NOFI mailed to PRP  (Santa Energy) via certified mail - complete

2.2.2 Issues

None 

2.5.1 Safety Officer

OSC

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

OSC

2.5.3 Information Officer

OSC

3.1 Unified Command

CT DEEP

CRT

US EPA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

CT DEEP 3

CRT 9

USEPA 1

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
epaosc.org website

6.2 Reporting Schedule