Hazardous spill not delaying construction on Brookfield school
BROOKFIELD — After Friday’s hazardous materials spill at the Candlewood Lake Elementary School construction site, town officials said they do not anticipate any construction delays or clean-up costs associated with the incident.
A subcontractor’s pump truck, which was pumping concrete into the construction site, experienced a malfunction with one of its hoses that caused about 15 gallons of hydraulic fluid to leak in the far northwest corner of the site.
The subcontractor has already notified its insurance company and had made a deposit for the environmental clean-up company, according to Brookfield Fire Chief Andrew Ellis.
“On the scale of things it was a very minor incident,” said Ellis, adding this is a common incident at construction sites. “Hydraulic fluid is not a super hazardous, dangerous chemical. It’s just bad for the environment.”
As such, the focus has been on making sure local bodies of water and drainage systems are not affected by the spill.
Will Healey, spokesmann for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the local fire department had been placing absorptive materials around a drainage system on site, and officials do not suspect it will affect impact the drainage system, bodies of water, or drinking water sources.
Overall, DEEP deemed the environmental impact minimal, with no healthrelated hazards on-site.
The department said the contractor has been using a vacuum to remove and dispose of contaminated soil and material. About 20 tons of material have already been removed, Ellis said, and he expects another 20 to be removed before the job is done.
DEEP was on site within 45 minutes after being notified of Friday’s incident.
Ellis said Moran Environmental Recovery was called to work with the fire department late Friday and through the weekend.
“We were there ‘til probably 10 o’clock at night, Friday,” Ellis said.
Because the affected area is isolated in the back corner of the construction site, Ellis said regular construction has been able to continue while cleanup continues.
First Selectman Tara Carr, who began her term last week, was at the site early Monday to be briefed on the situation and meet with involved parties. At that time, the vacuums were still hard at work in the muddy pits to clear the area of contaminated material.
“It’s really been such a collaborative effort,” Carr said. “We thank our lucky stars, safety has been paramount.”