The fuel spill in Sunapee Harbor on the evening of June 10th has been mitigated and high praise is being given to the Sunapee Fire Department, NHDES and Clean Harbors for their rapid and effective response to the emergency. Teams of individuals from the many groups worked tirelessly into the night to contain the spill. The water supply is safe and will continue to be tested carefully. The drinking water intake is 600 ft. away from where the contained spill occurred and 30 ft below the surface of the water. Booms were immediately set in place to contain the spill to the Harbor area and to protect the Sugar River. Much of the diesel fuel, which was on the surface of the water, was vacuumed out by Clean Harbors. Over 3,000 gallons of oily water was vacuumed out after the spill of approximately 70 gallons of diesel fuel occurred. We will continue to provide updates as we learn more from NHDES and as the results of their water quality testing becomes available.
LSPA is aware of the public concerns regarding the fuel spill and its environmental impact. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Emergency Response Division highlights several points about small diesel spills to take into consideration. One is that because of the property of diesel fuel, which “is much lighter than water (specific gravity is 0.82-0.88, vs. 1.00 for fresh water and 1.03 for seawater) …[i]t is not possible for diesel to sink and accumulate on the bottom as free oil.”
NHDES and Clean Harbors immediate response and careful clean up of the fuel spill was impressive and meticulous in its approach. LSPA is extremely grateful for their diligence and thorough attention to detail.