Household Consumer Electronics Disposal Day
Saturday, November 1st, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pawling Fire House, South Street, Pawling
this event is free and open to the public
for more information, see the brochure

 

Fuel Oil Spill - April 3,2008

Update given at Village Board meeting, April 7th, 2008

Representatives from Pawling Corporation were at the Village Board meeting on Monday, April 7 to give an update on the oil spill that occurred at Pawling Corp. The following bulleted points were made by Susan Thompson, Environmental Health & Safety and Human Services Manager, and John Rickert, Chief Operating Officer:  

• #6 Fuel Oil Spill occurred on April 3, 2008, 9:15 a.m.
   
• Oil delivery – third time driver delivered oil – did not follow procedure
   
• Pumping into a tank that was nearly full – 2 5,000 gallon tanks and 1 10,000 gallon tank – procedure is to notify one of three certified employees so they are present throughout the process
   
• Tank overflowed – Employees of Pawling Corp saw the tank overflowing out of building into parking lot
   
• 20 Personnel responded with bags of clay to protect storm drain
   
• Put protective devices on top of storm drain – rubber material, clay and sand
   
• Went to Swamp River and saw #6 fuel oil (very viscous, like tar) in the water
   
• Jumped in the water with all spill response material within 5 minutes to stop spill from getting into the main flow 
   
• Successful in stopping flow to main tributary
   
• Miller Environmental was called in and their response time was about 1 ½ hours with their vacuum truck and other multiple trucks with additional absorbent material
   
• Oil and Trucking Companies' representatives were at the spill site
   
• Calls were made to the DEC, EPA, Coast Guard, to the local emergency planning committee of Dutchess County, Mayor Liffland and Supervisor Coursen and the Health Department
   
• There was an oil sheen on the main river so they put balloons out about every five feet along their property and along Corbin Road
   
• They were in contact with and the Health Department was on site and at the wells
   
• Corbin Road Well was shut off as a precaution
   
• Miller Environmental is on site around the clock to watch for and absorb any material
   
• A three foot section sunk to the bottom and due to the rain it was not seen but once rain stopped it was located and picked up
   
• She said the oil and trucking companies' environmental groups were at the site to clean up the room where the spill occurred as well as the parking lot
   
• John Rickert said they began to tear up the parking lot that day
   
• Sue said the pipe that connects the storm drain to the Swamp River would be replaced because power washing it was not acceptable
   
• She said Pawling Corp already contacted their attorney about assisting them with getting everything they want done in terms of the oil company and their carrier
   
• Mayor Liffland commended Pawling Corp for the job they did
   
• The village contacted Severn Trent, the water operating company, to shut the well down and the County Board of Health said to leave it off – the village is conducting periodic testing.
  
• The village contacted a water company to keep the tank at Reservoir Road full because the village was a well down
  
• The village will continue the wells until the Board of Health says it is safe to turn them back on.

 

Report on oil spill in Village, April 3, 2008

An oil spill occurred at Pawling Corporation today during a third-party oil delivery.  The spill has been contained, and the residents should be reassured that the water supply is safe to use and drink.

An oil delivery driver filled a tank at Pawling Corp incorrectly and unsafely.  The driver was suspended, and the oil company has assured Mayor Liffland that steps are being taken to ensure that safety procedures are followed in the future.  Pawling Corp contained the spill quickly, but a small amount did get into the stream.  Miller Environmental was called in and contained the spill.  They will be working around the clock to ensure that the spill is cleaned up.  The Department of Environmental Conservation is also on the job working to resolve the situation.

The stream, which runs along the railroad tracks, flows north.  As a precaution, the Village has shut off the Corbin Road well.  Dutchess County Department of Health has been on site to test the well.  While there is no contamination in the well, the well will be shut off and monitored until the spill in the stream is cleaned up.  Another well farther north at Libby Lane has tested negative for contamination and will remain online.  Water will be hauled to the holding tank on Reservoir Road to replace the contribution from the Corbin well until it is back online.

The water is safe to use and drink.  Please refer back to this page for updates as they are available.  Thank you.