LIPA: Fluid Spill at Lindenhurst Substation 'Not Hazardous'

Residents living in the vicinity of the LIPA Substation on Cortland Street and New York Avenue in Lindenhurst might've noticed the WRS Environmental Services trucks working in the area since Memorial Day.

According to LIPA officials, WRS is working on a fluid spill that happened within the Substation's grounds.

"WRS Environmental is working for LIPA remediating the dielectric fluid spill that occurred on Monday, May 28, when the Lindenhurst Substation transformer bank failed," LIPA spokesperson Elizabeth Flagler told Lindenhurst Patch on Wednesday afternoon.

The dielectric fluid that leaked, she explained, is mineral oil typically used in electrical equipment and isn't considered hazardous.

"All work is being performed in strict accordance with New York State Department of Environmental Control regulations within the confines of the LIPA Lindenhurst Substation, and consists of a vacuum truck removing oil contaminated bluestone and soil," she said.

An official at WRS, the Yaphank-based LIPA contractor, also confirmed that, noting the fluid - which is used to "lubricate transformers" - got inside the surrounding rocks. And they're being removed and replaced.

All soil removed from the site will be disposed of at a NYS DEC-approved waste disposal facility, with "no material is being dumped or disposed of on site," Flagler stated.

She further assured the fluid leak didn't leak into any local drains.

The official added the job at the Substation - which takes transmission power from the power plants and steps it down to a lower voltage to be distributed to the customers in the local area - will be complete in another day or so.

LIPA officials also said this incident and the April 20 power outage that affected homes and businesses in Lindenhurst, North Lindenhurst, Copiague and North Amityville - and a transformer that was replaced at the Substation on May 7 following the outage - were unrelated.

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