Pittsfield, Massachusetts — The State Environmental Protection Agency recently removed a “significant” amount of petroleum products from the eastern branch of the Housatonic River.
The Conservation Board on Thursday approved an emergency permit to reduce and clean up petroleum products released into the waters behind 103 Elm Street last month.
Work consisted of mitigation, cleanup, and mitigation measures from surface waters and surrounding areas. This included deploying a containment boom in the wetlands before the East Fork, removing contaminated soil and organic debris, and arranging a clean landfill to match former graduates as needed. .
“This was in response to the DEP emergency response team, and of course there was the cleanup for the Housatonic River petroleum product discharge that was cleaned up and properly addressed by DEP,” said conservation agent Robert Van Der. Kar said.
“They are currently investigating the cause. We will know more when they finish their investigation.”
He reported that there was a significant amount of product in the water before he arrived at the scene, and it is believed that someone dumped it down the drain, eventually flowing into the storm drain.
“DEP is very good at tracking these things, so I am confident we will find the source,” added Van Der Kar.
Petroleum products are derived from crude oil and include kerosene, domestic heating oil, diesel fuel and gasoline.
In other news, the commission issued a conditional order for Williams College to build a new boathouse, parking lot, driveway and curb cut at 5 Onota Lane.
The university plans to replace the existing 3,700-square-foot boathouse with a 7,500-square-foot structure in a similar location on the lot.
At the commission’s final meeting, concerns were raised by residents related to work related to rainwater drainage and encroachment on their property. The Commission then visited the site and the Applicant changed plans to put wastewater into the drywell leading to the reservoir and was not working on adjacent land.
Mr Van Der Kar said there was concern that reservoirs could be flooded if high-altitude water flowed into the porous pavement proposed for the project, and the applicant agreed to continue the discussion. .
tag: Pollution, MassDEP,
