TOWN OF CHENANGO, NEW YORK — A tanker truck that overturned on Interstate 81 in the Town of Chenango on Monday, September 28, spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel into local waterways, triggering an environmental response that has deployed booms, vacuum trucks, and drone surveys across Castle Creek and the Chenango River.
According to shipping manifests, the tanker was carrying 9,800 gallons of fuel across five compartments when it overturned. First responders and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation crews recovered approximately 6,100 gallons directly from the tanker before it was righted. The remaining fuel entered roadside drainage and made its way into Castle Creek and a side channel of the Chenango River near the Town of Chenango Wastewater Treatment Plant.
DEC specialists have deployed containment booms across multiple sections of Castle Creek including areas upstream of the Upper Front Street bridge near Route 11. Vacuum trucks and absorbent pads are being used to extract additional fuel from drainage areas and the creek. The total amount of fuel recovered directly from the water has been difficult to quantify.
Officials are using drones and personnel in light watercraft to survey impacts along the Chenango River. Early observations Tuesday showed improved conditions, though DEC warned that visible sheens and slight odors may persist near active work zones. Long-term environmental impact assessments are ongoing.
The New York State OFPC Hazmat Team also assisted Broome County Hazmat at the scene, with DHSES noting that every responder had been trained by the OFPC team for exactly this type of incident.
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