ATHOL — Weather-dependent cleanup work is still underway in Mill Brook and the Millers River after a diesel tanker truck rollover released an estimated 6,000 gallons of fuel on Dec. 22, and the state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) reports environmental impacts will be assessed as the work progresses.
MassDEP retained Environmental Services Inc., a state-funded contractor from South Windsor, Conn., to conduct most of the response to remove product from the river by using a vacuum truck and absorbent booms deployed at various locations. A second contractor, Western Mass. Environmental, also conducted response actions on behalf of Goguen Transportation, the owner of the truck that rolled over at the intersection of Hapgood and Fletcher streets in Athol shortly before Christmas.
Three boomed collection points had been installed in the river, with the final collection point placed in the center of Orange, where the river becomes wider and slower.
MassDEP spokesperson Edmund Coletta explained booms were removed from the river on or about Jan. 13 due to freezing conditions making work on the river unsafe for personnel, as well as rendering booms ineffective and potentially destroying them.
“At that time, there was very little to no oil migrating to the booms,” Coletta said in an email. “Further assessment of the waterway will be performed by an ecological risk assessor in conjunction with additional cleanup of the Mill Brook banks and river channels once the weather conditions permit safe access.”
Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera said he did not have an update on the condition of the tanker truck driver, who was taken to a hospital with what Guarnera believed were serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He said the clean-up contractors worked through Christmas to remedy the situation and he believes there is no detriment to the waterway as a result.
But David Small, director of the Millers River Environmental Center and president of its Athol Bird and Nature Club, said the effects on the water will be better understood in the spring or summer, when the ice thaws. He said he is particularly concerned about the impact on macroinvertebrates — small aquatic animals and aquatic larval stages of insects, including stonefly larvae, snails, worms and beetles.
“It’s not good, for sure, but we don’t necessarily know what the actual damage is until we get into the actual growing season,” Small said.
He also noted he was impressed with MassDEP’s response to the spill.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.