The town received was reimbursed $217,741 from a state education grant to offset nearly $527,000 in clean up expenses from a 2006 oil spill at Quaker Farms School.
The oil spill at the school in November 2006 dumped 2,950 gallons of oil into the ground — nearly half of the oil in the 6,000 tank.
It was caused by a 10-inch crack on an underground fiberglass tank. Upon further inspection land consultants discovered that the tank was placed on crushed stone, which is believed to have caused the crack.
The state Department of Environmental Protection fined $13,000 for the incident.
In addition, the state DEP cited the school district for failing to follow regulations regarding underground tanks.
Since the spill, the town formed a clean up committee to work with the State Department of Environmental Protection and other land consultants to restore the property.
The DEP wants the site monitored for the next nine years.
Committee Chairman David Haversat said expenses for the remediation activities have reached $526,989, which include removal of the old tank and replacement, water and air quality tests, pump installation and monitoring.
Haversat said the new tank, unlike the previous one, is above ground and made of metal.
Engineering consultants LFR, Levine- Fricke Inc., of Sandy Hook are coordinating the remediation activities in conjunction with the DEP.
LFR Project Manager Russ Dirienzo told the committee at its last meeting that so far 2,700 gallons from the spill has been recovered.
Dirienzo said the pumps closest to the building have been checked regularly and show no issues in relation to the safety of the children or the school.
“The oil seepage is starting to slow down,” he said.
Finance Director Jim Hliva said the grant funding would cover expenses for the emergency procedures conducted in November 2006 and the replacement of the tank.
An annual report on the remediation procedures will be reviewed by the committee and presented to the DEP by LFR, Inc. on Sept. 30.
