HALE EDDY, NY — The initial release of fuel oil into the West Branch of the Delaware River was estimated to be about 4,000 gallons. The release was caused by the derailment of 15 cars and locomotives out of a total of 63 on a train running on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) alongside the river on August 9. Two of the locomotives were partially submerged in the river.

According to a statement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), “While righting one of the engines on August 11, the engine’s tank released additional fuel at the site.” Estimates put this second release at about 300 or 400 gallons.

The DEC said further, “DEC Spills Response staff will continue to assess potential environmental impacts, but there are currently no restrictions on the use of the river outside the immediate area of the incident.

“Remediation of the site is underway. Currently, NYSW and its environmental contractor have excavated the impacted soil. The area where the backwater meets the West Branch has been completely boomed off. A slight sheen is visible on the river near the accident site and under the Hales Eddy Road bridge. Water samples were taken of the river, and the assessment of the river continues.”

The train was carrying cars with sulfuric acid, radioactive soils containing low levels of alpha radiation and non-radioactive contaminated soil. However, none of the cars containing hazardous materials were derailed in the accident, and there were no releases or spills of hazardous material.

Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River, said he thought the initial response to the incident was done pretty well, though he expressed some frustration that no single agency or organization seemed to be taking a position as the lead agency in the matter. He also said the response from federal agencies regarding impacted wildlife could have been stronger.

As to that wildlife, large birds and geese were the most visibly impacted. Missy Runyan of Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center, Inc. said that her organization had seen at least 10 birds that had been impacted by the fuel oil, and three of those had been rescued.

Skelding and Runyan agreed that if there were a silver lining to the whole incident it would be that the river was running so fast and high that it dispersed the contaminant quickly and pushed it downstream. Posts on social media said the smell from the fuel was detected as far south as Callicoon.

Initially after the incident, the National Park Service for the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (NPS) cautioned people who used the river not to do so in a way that would bring skin into contact with the water in the river. But by the next day, Friday, the NPS issued a statement that said, “NPS assessment of the river is that high river flows have carried the fuel oil out of the park. Some very small localized areas where river flows are slow may have some residual oil and, if observed, property owners are asked to notify the National Park Service by calling Superintendent Kris Heister at 570/729-8251, ext. 2225.”