Mayor Addresses Oil, Gas Smell In CT River Area In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Officials are investigating after oil and creosote buildup was released into the Connecticut River due to the heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Elsa, according to Mayor Ben Florsheim.

Florsheim addressed reports of an oil/gas smell in the area of River Road, along with the appearance of oil on the surface of the Connecticut River, in a post on Facebook.

“Middletown Fire and South Fire responded along with DEEP, and based on the initial investigation, it appears that this happened because heavy rainfall released oil and creosote that was accumulating underneath the railroad tracks over years of use,” Florsheim wrote in the post. “There are still many questions we need answers to, including the amount of hazardous material that entered the river. We will be working with DEEP, DOT, and the railroad operator to get those answers and I’ll share them as they become available. There is no active oil leak and no danger to the public at this time (although the smell is still there, so you may want to avoid the area for the time being).”