The Norfolk Fire Department and the Emergency Management Department have issued this update in a continuing effort to keep the public informed about recovery efforts following Saturday morning's motor vehicle accident. A tractor-trailer overturned on Route 44, spilling 8,200 gallons of gasoline. Please note that the EMD also has a feed on the town's website, norfolkct.org.

And for more about what’s happening, visit norfolkct.org's calendar section, your daily directory to Norfolk living. Be sure to forward this newsletter to a friend so they can sign up for a free subscription.

To the residents of Norfolk:

A growing hole-currently about 10-feet-deep and 50-feet-long alongside Route 44—is testimony to the efforts to clean up an environmental disaster that occurred last Saturday when a tractor-trailer overturned and dumped 8,200 gallons of gas down Route 44.

Clean fill is currently being placed in the hole to stabilize Route 44 in anticipation of the weekend’s heavy rains. Soil testing at this site is ongoing in numerous areas and it does not appear that contamination reached the road bed under Route 44. This development is good news as it means that Route 44 should be reopened sooner than anticipated. However, we are told that may not occur until some point this weekend.

The majority of activity today was focused on Maple Avenue and Pettibone Lane. Vapors and gas products were still being found in the stream and catch basins in the area. Test holes were drilled in and around the road and removal of soils and sands in the brook started today, showed varying levels of contamination. 

We believe some of this contamination continues to make its way along the path of least resistance which is alongside sewer mains, storm drain pipes and water mains. Testing continues to show that no contamination has entered the water or sewer system since those are both closed systems

Residents should anticipate seeing cleanup crews and state officials throughout the area for at least several more weeks. Due to the sheer amount of gas that escaped, the geographic area affected is quite large, up to approximately 2,800 feet from the crash site.

Day Five of the cleanup continued to see activity by the Department Energy and Environmental Protection, Verdantas Environmental, and Environmental Services, Inc. at all three critical sites: Greenwoods Road East, Maple Avenue/Pettibone Lane, and the brook at the five-way intersection of Mills Way and Emerson Street. 
The testing of the water in the brook at Site #3-the five-way intersection-shows better quality while vacuuming continues. This proves that the contamination is being contained and removed higher up on Maple Avenue.

Air quality testing by the National Guard continues to show safe levels at all testing areas, including Botelle Elementary School, Norfolk Early Learning Center, Norfolk Town Hall, Norfolk Fire House and the intersection of Maple Avenue and Laurel Way.

The Norfolk DPW assists by monitoring road closures, fueling light trailers, and even trimmed several branches on Laurel Way in order to make it easier for the heavy traffic to pass safely. The fire department continues to meter for dangerous gas levels in houses as requested by the DEEP and by homeowners. As previously stated, anyone that has concerns should call 911 and the Fire Department will investigate further.

The State DMV Truck Squad is monitoring truck traffic and has worked with State DOT to increase signage in Winsted and along the detour route. Their presence has prevented numerous trucks trying to bypass the detour and has stopped them from entering the town.

The Norfolk Town Hall will be open tomorrow as planned for the Covid Vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Access should be gained from Maple Avenue and Route 44.

We have had several safety concerns with trucks and vehicles entering the blocked roads, specifically the area of the crash site and the small section of Maple Avenue near Pettibone Lane. While local residents can access their houses nearby, we ask that you do not cross over Route 44 and not to interfere with crews on Maple Avenue for your own safety and the safety of the staff that are working.

If Norfolk residents have any questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the cleanup operations, they are urged to call the Selectmen’s Office at 860.542.5829.

Submitted by Jon Barbagallo, point of information officer for the Norfolk Fire Department and the Emergency Management Department.