×

DEC handles oil spill in Saranac River

Erin Hanczyk, a public participation specialist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, looks at an oil sheen on the Saranac River Thursday afternoon in downtown Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Glynis Hart)
Boom placed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation contains an oil sheen on the Saranac River Thursday afternoon in downtown Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Glynis Hart)

SARANAC LAKE — State Department of Environmental Conservation staff worked to contain a mysterious oil spill in the Saranac River Thursday afternoon.

The spill, which spread from the Broadway Bridge past the pedestrian bridge behind Left Bank Cafe, smelled like and appeared to be fuel oil.

DEC spokeswoman Erin Hanczyk said the Harrietstown town supervisor called in the spill around 2 p.m. DEC staff contained the spill with 16 floating booms. DEC staff said it was difficult to tell how much oil had been spilled because all they could see is sheen, which can be caused by a very small amount of oil.

As for the source, the DEC was still looking.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today