The Danger Is Not Over

It was heralded as "one of the largest spills in the State's history" for 4 days and then promptly disappeared from headlines. But the diesel hasn't disappeared.

http://compasspaper.com/the-danger-is-not-over-p1149-1.htm                     # # # # The Danger Is Not Over  •  Kelly Stettner  The Compass, Aug 19, 2010  •  It was heralded as "one of the largest spills in the State's history" for 4 days and then promptly disappeared from headlines. But the diesel hasn't disappeared.  •  Early on the morning of August 8th, an act of vandalism released over 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel into the Black River from the parking lot of the warehouse of Black River Produce in North Springfield. To say that "oil and water don't mix" is a gross understatement; gas fumes spread through town like a miasma, rainbows adorned the surface of the river and the Springfield Fire Department was promptly called to the scene. Booms were placed to capture as much of the fuel as possible. Within a couple of hours, a cleanup company was brought in by eBlack River Produce and the fuel was being suctioned off the river and into large metal drums.  •  The river level is low, so the slick fuel is spreading to the muddy shores and rocks, becoming a danger to shore animals such as mink, otter and raccoons, according to River Steward David Deen. The lowest levels of the food web will likely show signs of stress first, says Dave. That means river bugs. Some species are very sensitive to pollution and will not thrive in unpleasant conditions; they will either seek a new home downstream and away from contaminants or they will simply die. The folks at the State of Vermont Water Quality Lab, Steve Fiske and his crew, will be venturing into the water with nets and jars in a few days to collect samples of these aquatic insects. They will bring them back to the BASS lab at their facility in Waterbury, preserve the creatures, and then sort, classify and count them. Keeping an eye on these populations over the next year or more will be an important method for assessing the health of the Black River as it recuperates from the diesel fuel contamination.  • Another major concern is the town's drinking water supply, located just downstream from the impact site. According to Scott Bradley at Aquacheck, a nearby water testing facility, the wells will be tested for the presence of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) for quite some time. The fuel smell may diminish and the shiny rainbows on the surface may dissipate, but this issue should stick in our collective memory and our craw! This is our river, our responsibility. And we all live downstream.  •  So what can we do, you ask? For starters, you can keep watch over the drains in your neighborhood and in your community. I call it "Adopt-A-Drain." Pick a few drains that you see on a regular basis (near your home or workplace, for instance) and keep it clear of trash and leaves. Note if the drain seems clogged during rain storms or gets iced over in the winter. Be aware of anything unusual draining into it, and you can let our local Department of Public Works know what's going on. It doesn't take but a few minutes every so often and your contribution of those few minutes can inspire others to do the same. If enough people lend a hand, we can make a huge difference!  •  Take drain-awareness to the next level and modify your own activities to help keep the local waterways healthy. All sorts of things can wash into the streams and river through storm drains, since storm water is no longer sent to the waste-water treatment facility.  •  1. Go easy on fertilizing your lawn or garden. The extra nutrients can wind up in the river and cause algae blooms, which can kill fish and other organisms. 2. Keep oil, brake fluid and antifreeze out of the streams by washing your car at a professional car-wash facility where the rinse-water is collected and pollutants filtered, or do-it-yourself on a grassy or gravel surface instead of the driveway or street. The grass or gravel allows the rinse-water to "percolate" downward, filtering before it hits groundwater or a drain.  •  3. Curb that puppy! Pet waste can add all sorts of bacteria to the water, which is just nasty in so many ways. Bring along a plastic bag to gather Fido's fecal matter as you walk him.  •  4. Install a rain barrel under your gutter's down-spout. Capturing rain water before it sluices off onto the lawn is a win-win for you and the river! Use the water during dry times to keep your lawn and garden healthy, and keep the streets from flushing excess water into the streams and river.  •  We can all do our part to lend a hand to this beautiful resource; it doesn't take much and each drop makes a difference.  •  Learn more by contacting the Black River Action Team at blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com or www.BlackRiverActionTeam.org.   •