A boom was deployed in the Connecticut River to contain an oil leak from a boiler at the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover. Authorities say about 350 gallons leaked into the river.
A boom was deployed in the Connecticut River to contain an oil leak from a boiler at the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover. Authorities say about 350 gallons leaked into the river.

HANOVER — About 350 gallons of heating oil have leaked into the Connecticut River from a New Hampshire facility, authorities say.

The Hanover Fire Department was dispatched to the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory at about 4 p.m. Saturday after a security officer discovered a leak, according to a statement from the fire department.

It was determined that the leak was coming from a newly installed boiler in the main lab. The boiler and leak were quickly isolated and shut down.

Some oil made it’s way into a floor drain and into the river.

The spill was contained with 550 feet of a rigid boom across the river. The boom will be in place for a couple of days while Clean Harbors cleans up the spill.

Boat traffic will be unable to pass until the boom is removed.

Mutual aid came from Lebanon, Hartford and Norwich.

“The swift response of all agencies involved … was paramount in minimizing the affects of this spill, said Captain Josh Merriam with the Hanover Fire Department in a news release. “We would like to thank all of our local, state, and federal partners.”