Oil spill still haunts portion of Byram

Byram - Ramifications of a November oil spill are still haunting Byram residents. The approximately 1,000 gallons of home heating fuel spilled into a tributary of the Musconetcong River on Monday, Nov. 26. The spill was 4,400 feet upstream from the township line, closest to the West Brookwood section adjacent to the Acorn Street/ Route 206 intersection. The tributary crosses Flanders Road in Netcong. A foul odor from the spill attracted at least seven private, local, state and federal agencies and officials to the site. The state Department of Environmental Protection Emergency Response team, Morris County Haz Mat Team, Atlantic Response, Inc., Division of Criminal Justice Police, Netcong Borough Police and Fire Department and the US Environment Protection Agency all converged on the site after the a passing motorist noticed a red liquid running into a storm drain, prompting a call to Netcong Borough Police. The spill occurred near an old oil company tank farm near the railroad tracks and the Netcong recycling center. The spill could be dangerous to the health of the Musconetcong River, the habitats that it provides for wildlife and the vegetation that grows along its banks. The Brookwood Musconetcong River Property Owners Association (BMRPOA) owns and operates three wells serving between 400 and 500 residences and is in close proximity to the river, just downstream from where the spill took place. The river and the wells run along River Road and Chestnut Street. Elaine Carr, Treasurer of the BMRPOA, said that “we are not too concerned” about any negative effects on the water. “The wells are close to the river” Carr explains “but the oil floats on the top and the wells are extremely deep. The DEP was on site and they oversaw the cleanup. Our wells are tested and monitored regularly by a licensed engineer and the results are submitted in accordance with state regulations. No problems have been reported.” Booms were used to help contain the oil and aided in the clean up efforts. According to a report by the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) “cleanup crews were bagging soil and vegetation” which could impact wildlife of both flora and fauna types. Within a mile of the spill site a Natural Heritage Priority Site begins. This site is about 1 1/3 miles long containing very rare and endangered species of plants and wildlife. Through natural filtration, the existing vegetation will clean polluted water, resulting in purified water further downstream past Waterloo Village. Chuck Gullage, a river watcher and avid cyclist who reports to the MWA was one of the first to notice that there was a problem. Gullage, after touring the site of accident said that “there is no enclosure around the tank farm. There is a basin around the area but it is in disrepair. There should be a watertight basin to keep this type of thing from happening”. Gullage also said that he was no evidence of hurt or injured wildlife because of the spill, but did witness the clean-up efforts of removing plants and soil from the ditch near the site. Gullage also said that he did not notice a fish kill. The Byram Township Environmental Commission discussed the spill at a meeting. Member and secretary Margaret McGarrity said that “the MWA is doing a good job. We will partner with the MWA as we monitor the situation. We will be keeping track of the situation and follow what the DEP is doing as well.” The sentiment of all of the responders is that it “seems that is was a neglectful situation that has allowed this to occur” as McGarrity summed it up, “which is very disturbing.”