Crime & Safety

Vernon Officials: Vandalism Led to Amerbelle Haz Mat Scene

The removal of copper wire triggered the incident, officials said.

Vernon officials are investigating acts of vandalism that led to a haz mat situation at the former Amerbelle complex in Rockville on Wednesday. 

Mayor George Apel issued the following news release on Thursday: 

Local emergency responders, town officials, North Central District Health Department, Connecticut Light & Power and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded yesterday to a reported hazardous material incident on the privately owned property formerly known as Amerbelle Mill, located on 215 East Main Street in Vernon.

An initial report made by Connecticut Light & Power indicated a release of electrical transformer oil that potentially contained PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). This report triggered a full-scale HAZMAT response. 

CL&P and DEEP, in cooperation with local officials, determined that some time recently, unknown parties stripped four transformers of their copper wire, also breaching two of the transformers. The largest transformer (labeled non-PCB) leaked about 400-600 gallons of oil into a catch basin. Another, smaller transformer (labeled PCB) leaked approximately 14 gallons of oil. The oil that leaked from the transformers was confined to the Amerbelle site property. The nearby Papermill Pond and Hockanum River have shown no signs of contamination at this time. 

CL&P and DEEP have hired Environmental Services, Inc. to remove the transformers and conduct a thorough cleaning of the area. 

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The Vernon Police Department is investigating the allegations of the removal of copper wire. If anyone has information regarding the damage or theft of copper from the Amerbelle property, he or she should contact the police department at 860-872-9126 and ask for Officer Earl Middleton.


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