Sleepy Hollow: Fuel oil spills into Hudson River Matt Spillane, mspillane@lohud.com 5:44 p.m. EDT September 13, 2016
An undetermined amount of heating oil was accidentally spilled into the Hudson River from the Kendal on Hudson assisting living center in Sleepy Hollow. Numerous area fire departments responded to the spill. Video by Seth Harrison/The Journal News
(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)
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SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY - A vendor apparently overfilled a heating oil tank at a riverside senior facility on Tuesday, with some of the fuel reaching the Hudson River.
The Sleepy Hollow Volunteer Fire Department, Westchester County police and a host of other agencies scrambled to the riverbank early Tuesday afternoon after the spill was reported, deploying booms to contain its spread.
Emergency personnel carry booms to the Hudson River on Tuesday after heating oil was accidentally spilled into the river from the Kendal on Hudson assisting living center in Sleepy Hollow. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)
Sleepy Hollow Village Administator Anthony Giaccio said preliminary estimates were that between 500 and 700 gallons of heating oil had been spilled at the Kendal on Hudson facility, with "much of the oil" flowing into a storm drain that empties into the river.
He said the spill had been contained, adding, "It's going to be a large cleanup, though."
Patricia Doyle, chief executive officer of Kendal on Hudson, said the fuel delivery was made Tuesday morning to the tank, located in a garage in one of the complex's buildings.
She said she did not know who was the first to spot the issue.
"All of the appropriate authorities are here and we are, of course, cooperating fully with them," she said.
She said an environmental remediation company was also on its way to the scene.
"Our only interest is in getting this thing cleaned up immediately," she said.
Doyle said the incident did not affect activities inside the facility.
Emergency personnel carry booms to the Hudson River after heating oil was accidentally spilled Tuesday into the river from the Kendal on Hudson assisting living center in Sleepy Hollow. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)
Giaccio said the Fire Department received a call about 12:45 p.m. of a "smell of oil in the area."
"We think the person filling the tank (from the outside) was unaware (the tank) was overflowing," he said.
He said the tank was in a basement and the fuel flowed from there into the storm drain in the driveway.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation sent staff to the scene, said agency spokeswoman Wendy Rosenbach.
The emergency response had resulted in a 30 mph speed restriction on train travel through the area, said Nancy Gamerman, a spokeswoman for Metro-North Railroad.
John Lipscomb, patrol boat captain for Riverkeeper, said in a statement, "We were glad to see a fast response to this accident. The only question is whether a heating oil tank located near a drain that goes to a water body like the Hudson is required to have any kind of containment tank" that would catch any spills.
Whether or not such a tank is required, he said, "we hope that Kendal would consider one, so that there's no chance that an error like this would happen again."
Anthony Borrelli, aborrelli@pressconnects.com | @PSBABorrelli 5:09 p.m. EDT September 14, 2016
(Photo: ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo)
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A fiery triple tractor-trailer crash Wednesday morning left one person dead and shut down a section of Interstate 81 South in Binghamton for nearly eight hours, officials said.
The wreck happened around 9 a.m., just south of the Broad Avenue exit on I-81. A swarm of police and other emergency response vehicles converged after one of the tractor-trailers burst into flame and sent up a plume of black smoke that was visible nearly 10 miles away.
Binghamton police investigated the crash with assistance from a state police accident reconstruction team. Investigators say the crash is believed to be a chain reaction: One tractor-trailer struck another from behind, then it was struck by a third tractor-trailer.
Firefighters work the scene of a fatal triple tractor-trailer crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 81 south near Exit 3 at Broad Avenue. (Photo: ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo)
The cause of the wreck remained under investigation late Wednesday, according to police. Officials did not release the identity of the deceased victim Wednesday, nor did they identify others involved in the crash or their conditions.
Heavy traffic in the north and southbound interstate lanes was re-routed within moments of the crash and many vehicles were forced to stop on I-81 while emergency responders worked to clear the wrecked vehicles.
Northbound I-81 traffic was re-opened by 10:30 a.m., and one lane on I-81 southbound re-opened at 4:40 p.m. — nearly eight hours after the crash occurred.
Officials say I-81 South traffic was detoured to Route 7, then Route 363, to Route 11 (Court Street) and back onto I-81 at Exit 2.
Traffic is backed up along Interstate 81 north after one person died in a triple tractor-trailer crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 81. (Photo: ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo)
From the Bigelow Street bridge in Binghamton, a cluster of onlookers watched the crash investigation unfold Wednesday morning. Among them was Denise Dean, whose home on nearby French Court sits about 100 feet from the site of the crash.
Dean, 54, said she awoke to the sound of metal on metal and rushed to her kitchen window for a better view. She was able to glimpse the blazing wreckage through some trees across the street and called 911.
"I turned to sheer panic when I saw the flames," Dean said. "Then, there was a series of explosions: Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Dan Hauer, 46, from Port Crane, described what happened next as a "mushroom cloud of smoke and flame."
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People look at the scene of a fatal triple tractor-trailer crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 81 south near Exit 3 at Broad Avenue. (Photo: ANDREW THAYER / Staff Photo)
Hauer said he was shopping nearby at Agway when he heard the crash. Watching from the Bigelow Street bridge as firefighters suppressed lingering hot spots in one of the wrecked tractor-trailers, Hauer praised the emergency responders for clamping down on the crash scene quickly.
"They did great handling it," he said.
Teens injured in 2-vehicle crash in Wilmington Manor
Updated 1 hr 11 mins ago
WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- Two vehicles collided injuring teens in Wilmington Manor, Delaware Thursday morning.
The crash happened before 7 a.m. at the intersection of Basin Road and Washington Lane.
The accident involved a sedan and an SUV.
Two vehicles collided injuring teens in Wilmington Manor, Delaware Thursday morning.
Police say a 17-year-old female was driving the SUV, and a 19-year-old male driver was in the sedan.
The impact of the crash caused the sedan to roll into a utility pole.
Both victims were treated at the scene, and then taken to Christiana Hospital for treatment.
The female suffered a possible head injury. She is in serious, but stable condition.
The male suffered bruises and abrasions. He is in stable condition.
The crash remains under investigation.
09/15/2016
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Lenexa,
Kan., Sept. 15, 2016) - On Monday, September 19, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency – in conjunction with federal, state and local
government and private sector partners – will kick off its fourth annual
SepticSmart Week (Sept. 19-23) to encourage American homeowners and
communities to properly maintain their septic systems.
More than 26 million homes in the United States – or one in five
households – depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. If not
maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate groundwater and harm
the environment by releasing bacteria, viruses, and household toxics to
local waterways. Proper septic system maintenance protects public health
and the environment and saves the homeowner money through avoided
costly repairs.
“By taking small steps to maintain septic systems, homeowners not
only protect our nation’s public health and keep our water clean, but
also save money and protect their property values,” said Joel Beauvais,
deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.
Simple tips for homeowners:
- Protect It and Inspect It: Homeowners should
generally have their system inspected every three years by a qualified
professional or according to their state or local health department's
recommendations. Tanks should be pumped when necessary, typically every
three to five years.
- Think at the Sink: Avoid pouring fats, grease, and solids down the drain. These substances can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.
- Don’t Overload the Commode: Only put things in the
drain or toilet that belong there. For example, coffee grounds, dental
floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products,
cigarette butts, and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage
septic systems.
- Don’t Strain Your Drain: Be water-efficient and
spread out water use. Fix plumbing leaks and install faucet aerators and
water-efficient products. Spread out laundry and dishwasher loads
throughout the day – too much water at once can overload a system that
hasn’t been pumped recently.
- Shield Your Field: Remind guests not to park or
drive on a system’s drainfield, where the vehicle’s weight could damage
buried pipes or disrupt underground flow.
EPA’s SepticSmart Program educates homeowners about proper
septic system care and maintenance all year long. In addition, it serves
as an online resource for industry practitioners, local governments,
and community organizations, providing access to tools to educate
clients and residents.
For information on SepticSmart Week or tips on how to properly maintain your septic system, visit www.epa.gov/septicsmart.
# # #
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 04:27PM
WESTTOWN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A crash involving a motorcycle shut down traffic for four hours Wednesday in Chester County.
Police say a car hit a motorcycle on Route 202 in Westtown around 9 a.m.
The motorcycle rider was thrown from the bike and hit the median.
He's in the hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the car was okay.
Route 202 was closed between Skiles Blvd. and OakBourne Road while police investigated.
The accident scene was cleared by 1 p.m.
