Measuring how harmful a #2 Fuel Oil spill is to the environment

The scale is based on the the three main environmental effects of all oil

Acute (immediate) toxicity — A measure of the amount of volatile compounds in the oil that readily dissolve into water and are capable of killing plants and animals by poisoning.

#2 Fuel Oil contains some volatile compounds that are acutely toxic to organisms (50 to 70 percent will evaporate).

Mechanical injury — A measure of how much harm oil causes to organisms and habitats due to its physical impact (coating, smothering).

#2 Fuel Oil is not viscous and present a minimal mechanical injury threat, but loss of insulation can be a significant concern for large spills.

Persistence — A measure of how long oil will stay in the environment before it breaks down.

#2 Fuel Oil is somewhat persistent, lasting one month to a year in the environment.

See where #2 Fuel Oil falls on environmental impacts as compared to other oil types in the chart in attached photos.

Information is according the the State of Washington Ecology Department

https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/1008001.pdf

The DEC says ‘booms’ have been deployed to control the Cochecton fuel spill

What are booms?

A floating barrier typically made of plastic or metal typically deployed using an anchor or landline used to contain or slow the spread of oil spills and/or make it easier to recover oil spilled.

What do they do?

Containment booms are used to control the spread of oil to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and to concentrate oil in thicker surface layers, making recovery easier.

Booms may be used to divert and channel oil slicks along desired paths, making them easier to remove from the surface of the water.

How do booms work?

Although there is a great deal of variation in the design and construction of booms, all generally share four basic characteristics:

• An above-water “freeboard” to contain the oil and to help prevent waves from splashing oil over the top of the boom

• A flotation device

• A below-water skirt to contain the oil and help reduce the amount of oil lost under the boom

• A “longitudinal support,” usually a chain or cable running along the bottom of the skirt, that strengthens the boom against wind and wave action; may also serve as a weight or ballast to add stability and help keep the boom upright

Information sourced from the EPA https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-01/documents/ospguide99.pdf

Where the oil spill absorption boom is located

6962 Co Rd 112
Lake Huntington, NY 12752 Lake Huntington

COCHECTON, NY — The largest oil spill in 2024 in Sullivan County, according to DEC spill records, occurred in the late morning on November 24. A flipped Cochecton Oil and Propane home delivery tanker spilled between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons of fuel oil onto the road and adjacent wetlands at the base of Shortcut Road (6900 State Route 52), according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Cochecton Oil and Propane, returning a request for comment in a statement emailed to the River Reporter, said the spill was caused by an “accidental rollover of one of Cochecton Oil’s trucks out on a Sunday making an emergency delivery,” and that “no one was seriously injured.”

The spill is less than a mile from Lake Huntington, around five miles from the Delaware River, and near numerous small streams, lakes and ponds.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that “oil spilled on land often reaches lakes, rivers and wetlands, where it can also cause damage.” Generally, the EPA says, oil spills endanger public health, imperil drinking water, devastate natural resources and disrupt the economy. 

“The spill is isolated to the wetland area where the spill occurred,” wrote the DEC in an email to the River Reporter. As of yet, the “DEC’s Spill Response experts have determined that no impacts have reached the Ten Mile River and Delaware River.”

The level and type of environmental effect caused by an oil spill varies based on the type of oil. The fuel oil spilled on Shortcut Road was categorized in the DEC spill report as “#2 Fuel Oil,” which is listed as having a “medium” level of environmental harm in a report by the state of Washington. See sidebar for more information.

The fuel was spilled onto wetlands, an ecosystem that typically has little water movement and, according to the EPA, is likely to suffer more severe impacts than flowing water. “In calm water conditions, the affected habitat may take years to restore,” states a report by the EPA.

The spill is located about three miles outside the Upper Delaware River Corridor—a designated area managed by the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) in conjunction with the National Park Service—outside the jurisdiction of the UDC, said Kerry Engelhardt, UDC Resources & Land Use Specialist.

A potable well is located on the property where the spill occurred, posing contamination and public health risks. The DEC said that, as a precautionary measure, a consultant for Cochecton Oil and Propane is scheduling sampling of the well. 

In an oil spill, plants and animals will be contaminated and some will be unable to survive, according to an EPA report discussing the general effects of oil spills. Oil spills put algae, plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals at risk of smothering, hydrocarbon toxicity, hypothermia and chronic long-term effects, according to the EPA.

“With the gracious cooperation of our neighbors whose land has been [a]ffected, the clean up continues to be monitored. We are hopeful that this accident and the environmental challenges it presents will be corrected by the team put together by our insurance company,” wrote Cochecton Oil and Propane owner Peter Pierce in the same statement. 

Mitigation efforts began immediately after the spill. “The Cochecton Fire Department diked the area with sand and gravel to prevent further migration,” and Cochecton Oil and Propane’s contractor, “Luzon Environmental sent a crew including a vac truck to assist with remedial efforts,” the DEC told the River Reporter. 

The statement from Cochecton Oil and Propane thanked the fire department, the Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Cochecton Highway Department for their “quick response,” “dedicated effort” and “help in containing the environmental spill.” 

Cochecton Oil and Propane has been owned and operated by the Pierce family since 1995, when Peter and Norma Pierce incorporated the company. Peter and Norma’s two sons, Patrick and Michael Pierce, also work full-time at Cochecton Oil and Propane, according to the business’ website.

According to the DEC, spill response experts have visited the site regularly to assess the situation and provide guidance, as well as to perform absorbent maintenance and product recovery via vac truck daily. 

Absorbent maintenance includes “booms” that the DEC says are “currently being utilized to contain and remove spilled petroleum at the site” and will be changed out as needed until all spilled petroleum is fully removed.” See sidebar for more information.

The DEC also used the assistance of an “underflow dam”—a barrier that traps floating oil and debris while allowing clean water to flow through—to recover spilled oil.

Neighbors and nearby residents of the spill can reach out with their experience and comments to ruby@riverreporter.com .