LIVERMORE FALLS — A representative of the state Department of Environmental Protection does not believe any significant damage was done by an oil spill Tuesday.

About 10 to 30 gallons of what is believed to be used motor oil leaked from a Dumpster in a parking lot off Depot Street when it was emptied Tuesday morning.

Initially it was thought to be more, DEP responder Jason Fish said Thursday, because the heavy rain spread it quickly out into a thin layer over the paved lot and into storm drains, which empty into the Androscoggin River.

“I don’t believe more than a couple of gallons of oil made it into the river,” he said.

Firefighters and other responders reacted quickly to contain the oil with absorbent mats and booms, he said.

Fish said he believes the oil was probably in a container or containers and when the Dumpster emptied, the oil spilled out. However, there is no way of telling, he said. There were no containers left behind.

The oil probably got dumped in the Dumpster between Sept. 30 and Tuesday, he said.

Firefighters and a hazardous materials team’s quick response to put down absorbent pads and booms to contain the oil helped minimize the damage, he said.

“I do not believe any significant damage was done,” Fish said.

Environmental Projects Inc. of Auburn was hired to finish the cleanup and it was completed Tuesday afternoon.

Fish continues to monitor the site. When he visited it Wednesday, there was very little sheen left on the river coming from the pipe.

These things are tough to investigate, especially with no containers, unless somebody saw something, he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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