Updated: Authorities Investigating Haz Mat 'Incident' At Amerbelle

State and local authorities were at the scene of the former Amerbelle factory in Rockville late Wednesday morning to investigate what a police spokesman called a "hazardous materials incident."

Police Lt. John Kelley said he could not elaborate on the situation until a crew from the state Department of Engergy and Environmental Protection inspected the area.

He said the situation was contained to an area outside the complex.

A Connecticut Light & Power crew was also at the scene.

Vernon police and fire officials were on hand as well.

Kelley said more information would be released when it became available.

Updated 2:56 p.m.

A DEEP spokesman said that sometime recently - and it is impossible to pinpoint exactly when - vandals broke into the complex and stripped four transformers of their copper wire, "breaching" two of the transformers.

The largest transformer leaked 400 to 600 gallons of oil into a catch basin and possibly into the Hockanum River, he said. The DEEP is still in the process of assessing if any of the oil made it to the river and if so, what was the impact, the spokesman said. The transformer was labeled non-PCB, he said.

Another, smaller transformer - labeled PCB - has also been breached and has leaked an unknown amount of oil and the DEEP is in the process of determining the extent of the spill, he said.

The other two transformers do not appear to be breached, he said.

CL&P has hired Environmental Services to remove the largest transformer Wednesday evening, according to the spokesman.

Cleanup will be determined by the extent of the spill and the PCB concentration in the leaked oil, the DEEP said.

Updated 4:57 p.m.

The DEEP issued the following statement: 

"It appears that the oil that leaked from the transformers is confined to the Amerbelle site property due to clogging of the catch basins. 

"The nearby pond and Hockanum River show no signs of impact at this time."