Post by Joshua Field on Apr 4, 2005 10:57:59 GMT -5
By Christopher Marcisz
Berkshire Eagle
Article Published: Monday, April 04, 2005 - 10:36:38 AM EST
ADAMS -- State environmental officials are working with the Holland Co. of Howland Avenue after a spill of an alum-based chemical into a brook that leads into the Hoosic River was discovered Thursday afternoon.
"It's not an immediate health risk for people at this point," Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Eva Tor said. "We're more concerned that it might affect the fish."
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, DEP staff members inspecting the nearby Adams waste-water treatment facility noticed a white, milk-colored product in the brook.
The discharge -- which has not been found in the Hoosic River itself -- was traced up to Holland Co., which makes alum-based chemicals used for water and waste-water treatment, as well as papermaking.
The white discharge -- known as floc -- is caused because the alum-based chemicals are coagulants, which trap dirt and other particles so they can settle out.
The company and DEP worked Thursday and Friday to establish short-term barriers to stop the leaks in anticipation of possibly heavy rains this past weekend.
"We want to make sure there are no negative impacts to aquatic life," Tor said. "These control measures should prevent any further releases."
DEP officials will meet with plant officials next week to discuss long-term options.
David Archibald, general manager at Holland Co., stressed that the material is nonhazardous, and that the response to the seepage is still in the early stages.
"There was nothing willful about it from the Holland Co. or any employees. It seems to be inadvertent," he said. "It may be rain and snowmelt that carried some of this material off our site. That's our best guess."
Archibald said it was unclear which product the plant manufactures that had gotten into the water, but said it was probably aluminum sulfate, which is the company's main product.
In June 1987, state regulators responded to a report of aluminum sulfate seepage into the river.
In November 1999, Holland Co. pleaded guilty in Northern Berkshire District Court to a criminal charge of failing to notify DEP of a spill of more than 50 gallons of sulfuric acid five years earlier. They were ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9054~2797634,00.html
Berkshire Eagle
Article Published: Monday, April 04, 2005 - 10:36:38 AM EST
ADAMS -- State environmental officials are working with the Holland Co. of Howland Avenue after a spill of an alum-based chemical into a brook that leads into the Hoosic River was discovered Thursday afternoon.
"It's not an immediate health risk for people at this point," Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Eva Tor said. "We're more concerned that it might affect the fish."
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, DEP staff members inspecting the nearby Adams waste-water treatment facility noticed a white, milk-colored product in the brook.
The discharge -- which has not been found in the Hoosic River itself -- was traced up to Holland Co., which makes alum-based chemicals used for water and waste-water treatment, as well as papermaking.
The white discharge -- known as floc -- is caused because the alum-based chemicals are coagulants, which trap dirt and other particles so they can settle out.
The company and DEP worked Thursday and Friday to establish short-term barriers to stop the leaks in anticipation of possibly heavy rains this past weekend.
"We want to make sure there are no negative impacts to aquatic life," Tor said. "These control measures should prevent any further releases."
DEP officials will meet with plant officials next week to discuss long-term options.
David Archibald, general manager at Holland Co., stressed that the material is nonhazardous, and that the response to the seepage is still in the early stages.
"There was nothing willful about it from the Holland Co. or any employees. It seems to be inadvertent," he said. "It may be rain and snowmelt that carried some of this material off our site. That's our best guess."
Archibald said it was unclear which product the plant manufactures that had gotten into the water, but said it was probably aluminum sulfate, which is the company's main product.
In June 1987, state regulators responded to a report of aluminum sulfate seepage into the river.
In November 1999, Holland Co. pleaded guilty in Northern Berkshire District Court to a criminal charge of failing to notify DEP of a spill of more than 50 gallons of sulfuric acid five years earlier. They were ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9054~2797634,00.html