Residents outraged over Bay Park Sewage Plant diesel oil spill

About 200 gallons of diesel oil spilled early Wednesday at the Bay Park Sewage Plant as a result of a malfunction while delivering fuel to supply temporary generators at the plant, leaving some residents fuming mad over the odor.

“The smell is unbearable,” Trisha Kearney, a member of the Bay Park Civic Association’s board of directors, said.

The spill was reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Spill Response unit about 3:30 a.m., and DEC personnel supervised the cleanup.

“The spill apparently occurred when a truck that was delivering diesel to supply fuel for generators at the plant apparently had the pressurized delivery hose blow off during the delivery process,” DEC spokesman Bill Fonda said.

“The spill was cleaned and there was zero impact to the local waterways,” said Nassau County Department of Public Works spokesman Michael Martino, adding measures have been put in place including using a berm system to contain the area. “This is just another reason the county Democrats must stop playing games with County Executive Mangano’s plan to fully repair the plant.”

County Executive Edward Mangano has requested $722 million in borrowing to repair the plant, but the legislature’s Democratic caucus has opposed borrowing the full amount all at once, arguing additional oversight is needed.

Mangano’s office has said it expects 90 percent of that sum to be reimbursed by the federal government.

But County Legis. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), a ranking member of the Public Works Committee, said he has been calling for hearings on status of capital projects, including Bay Park.