Brookfield reports hazmat spill, says no one at risk
BROOKFIELD — There has been a hazmat spill at the Candlewood Lake School Construction Site in town, according to a release. No one was placed at risk from the spill, the town said.
On Friday afternoon, Dec. 10, Brookfield leadership was informed of a hydraulic fluid spill caused by a burst hose from a concrete pump truck on the site of the new school project, which led to a leak of an estimated 5 to 15 gallons of hydraulic fluid located to the far northwest corner of the property, at the new Candlewood Lake Elementary School construction site on the Huckleberry Hill School property, according to a report on the town’s website Sunday evening.
At no time were students, staff or neighbors placed at risk from the spill, the report said.
After identifying the leak was in fact hydraulic fluid, the owner’s project manager, Rob Tencza of Arcadis Inc., notified the owner’s construction manager, Gus Kotait of O&G Industries and the Town of Brookfield land use offices, both of which responded immediately, according to the release.
The Brookfield land use office reported the spill to the fire marshal, the fire chief and volunteer fire department, all dispatched to help contain the fluid, according to the report.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection emergency response coordinator and Moran Environmental, of Newtown, deployed to the site and were on the scene within 45 minutes of notification, the report said.
The spill was kept contained to a limited area by the fire department through the use of absorbent pads and booms, and the fluid on the ground’s surface was quickly picked up by vacuum trucks operated by MER. The success of this cleanup operation was a direct result of a collaborative effort which relied heavily on interagency cooperation, according to the report.
Brookfield's Schools' Facilities Director Dan Caldwell, and Brookfield’s Chief Sanitarian Paul Avery consulted directly with Licensed Operator, Water Systems Specialties RD Lemay about the school’s water systems and subsequently made notification to the Connecticut Department of Public Health of the incident, the report said.
The wells that service the school are not in the vicinity of the spill, so Huckleberry Hill Elementary School is deemed safe for students and staff on Monday, Dec. 13. Neighboring wells are sufficiently far enough away so as not to be a health concern, the report said.
State and local officials will be onsite on Monday to collect soil samples, direct any additional mitigation measures and to review and direct the scope of soil removal and remediation to protection of local wetlands and water sources, the report said.
Questions regarding this matter should be directed to the first selectman's office at 203-775-7301 or the superintendent of schools’ office at 203-775-7621.